who still uses a 303 british?

Sure, I use a nice old M10. I made my best shot with it... 344 yds on a 3 legged bull elk. Mercy shot.
A yeah... the old 303's ain't perfect. Ever had the luck to drive a mid 60's American made truck or muscle car? Classic auto, no doubt... but they ain't up to modern levels of comfort and control. But some folks love driving them anyhow.
And some folks like new SUV's, they are faster, warmer, safer and more economical.
I still like a classics, lol. Hence my enjoyment in an antiquated platform, a Ross M10.
Life is too short to shoot boring rifles.
 
how much attention do you guys give the end of barrel test with different size bullets
.309+ .310 .311 .312 Woodleigh
I know the basics..but find much difference??
 
Jim870 said:
Not a big fan. I understand its merits as a cartridge and the nostalgic appeal of some of the rifles so chambered. My opinion is probably colored by only having used it in home sporterized Lee-Enfields that offered less than ideal fit, awkward scope mounting and accuracy that was distinctly meh.
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I agree ........ I've never hunted with a 303 either, mostly because of the LE rifles that were most available. A modern rifle in 303 like the Ruger #1 or otherwise similar would be of interest.
 
iron cat that rifle looks amazing and looks like a joy to carry. I have seen you post it before but never noticed it has a half octagon barrel. The grain on the butt stock also looks so sweet, was that also custom?
 
SuperCub said:
I agree ........ I've never hunted with a 303 either, mostly because of the LE rifles that were most available. A modern rifle in 303 like the Ruger #1 or otherwise similar would be of interest.
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:)For the most part, I agree with you guys. Not complaining, but when I started out, cash in the family was somewhat limited. A 'sporterized' Lee Enfield and Dominion ammo @ $3.50/box got me a start into the game. With that rifle, I got my first three Moose and none of what I shot at, including a Black Bear and a couple of Deer ever got away. Its a while back, but I believe only one of the Moose took more than one shot, and that one took three, although after the second shot, Mr. Moose was pretty well history. But again, I agree that perhaps the level of tolerance, finish and quality didn't come close to matching that of commercial brands on the market at the time. The shocker for me came when a little more spare cash was available Dad & I made an upgrade in firearms. My move up was to a Parker Hale Super Safari in 308 Norma Mag. Working part time on a freight truck and my paper route money helped cover the jump in ammo costs from $3.50/box to:eek: $8.10!!!
 
GUB said:
how much attention do you guys give the end of barrel test with different size bullets
.309+ .310 .311 .312 Woodleigh
I know the basics..but find much difference??
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most ruger dudes slugg to get an idea, typically all fat, so bigger the number the better... mines shootin 150gr 311s alright! prefers woodleigh 312s.... its likely .313 or so lol
i tried 308 projies (170g for the 3030). fairly dismal but if i had nothing else, 100m would bring home bacon..

from what i gather, pushgin cup n cores harder will expand the miniscule difference from 311s to fill the gap per say... better than if loaded slow.?
 
I have shot moose, bear, wt deer and elk with the 303.
I have had only a few dropping in their tracks, but all were down within 40 yards.
I always try to get close with my longest shot being about 60 yards.
My main hunting gun is a Ruger #1 in 303, but I have a couple sporterized No 4s for rougher use.
I make my own .312" bonded projectiles in 174 and 200 grains, so a bullet shortage is not a problem.
With my own hand loads, my best benched group at 100 yards was .374" with the Ruger.
 
I have 2 Parker Hales, one scoped and one iron sight set up. Picked them up on a whim as a trade, need to work up some handloads for them and take some time testing and will maybe even take one out hunting this year. Not cause I need to cause I can and they're neat old rifles. Only shot a few rounds of winchester 180 grain out of the scoped one and it shot decent, but I'm sure I can do a lot better with a bit or of work. Won't take the place of my 270 or 300 Weatherby but may as well shoot them :)
 
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freddyfour said:
iron cat that rifle looks amazing and looks like a joy to carry. I have seen you post it before but never noticed it has a half octagon barrel. The grain on the butt stock also looks so sweet, was that also custom?
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Everything on That rifle us custom built except for the receiver itself !:cool:
It is a number three action with a modified lever .
The Wolf Springs and Kepplinger single set trigger were put on Before I sent it to Leeper to work his magic .
The barrel is a half round / half octagon McGowan with a banded Brno front sight , integral front doing swivel ,and the Quarter rib is milled right into the barrel instead of being screwed on like the factory number 1's
The express sighs are NECG.
It also has a rail on it that I can install a Leupold FXR 1-4x scope on if I want to . The rings are Zeiss QD's and the set up is totally repeatable .

The wood came from George Peterson of Treebone Carving in New Mexico and features an ebony forend tip shadow line cheek piece and Pachmyer old English recoil pad .
Leeper also did the woodwork except the checkering which was done by Dennis Davidson of Ft.St. John.
This rifle is an absolute joy to hunt with and is accurate out to 500 meters with any brand or size of bullet I have tried in it although I keep my shots within 300, it was designed as an English style stalking rifle .:(
This, BTW was the rifle build that was the inspiration for Prophet River to initiate the Ruger No.1 production in .303. I have killed animals with Barnes, Speer. Seirra, Woodleigh, C.I.L. Bullets from 150 to 215 grains.

I started a thread on the 24 hour campfire about doing something with a spare Ruger action, it rolled over to Alberta Outdoorsman forum and here , and people kept saying they would buy one if Ruger made them.
Clay lobbied Lippsey's as well, and Ruger decided to bring it out as a standard one item that year instead of the 250 needed for a special order !
That is the history of the origin of the Ruger no.1 in .303

There were also a very few made in the RSI configuration (25 I think) but Clay at Prophet River can tell you exactly if you ask him.
Cat
 
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rkm456 said:
Peasants mostly.
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Hardly, have you looked at the price of commercial ammo? For those of us that don’t reload that is.

tokguy said:
Common as dirt...proud of it. There is certain satisfaction in beating the latest offerings with 100+ year old rifle.
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Haha, yes it’s fun. Just goes to show you it doesn’t mater what the price tag is sometimes.
 
a j cave said:
Used on 1st deer, and many since. Some have to much head space so brass stretches to far. Still have the #5 I first used.
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:)My first 'sporterized' LE and my pride with that first, coupled with the success on big game using it,;) brings back memories from my youth I wouldn't trade for the world. In the 'safes' there have been, and are, numerous examples of some of todays commercially available products. Still, and holding a definite spot in my little harem, is a LE, a mint Jungle Carbine that still gets the occasional 'call':). There will always be one:d.
 
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Did somebody say .303 British?? My very first sporter was a BSA 1918 Churchill No.1 Mk3*, purchased in 1965 at the local MacLeod's hardware for $65. That was about 33% of my monthly income. I still have that rifle, 55 years later, and will hand it off to a family member with strict orders to keep it in the family.

It's been a good run since those days, with many more good old .303's added to the pile. I shot a nice fat buck with that rifle down in the Moose Mountain Park in 1966 and likely "shot at" a few more over the years.

Like some others here, I like to stick with the old stuff, being a nostalgic old bugger, I surround myself with old Dominion and CIL ammo boxes, etc. I recently unearthed some Winchester Silver Tip bullets for my .32WS 94. I admit to having some difficulty in bringing myself to actually use stuff like that. :p
 
Funny story. My buddy was ranging in a 300 weatherby mag on a rock at 712yds. (was a rock the size of a fridge). He was so proud of being able to hit it every time with his Weatherby with a bushnell yardage pro on it. I said let me try, took my no4 Mk2 POF rifle and proceeded to do the same thing. To say he was upset was an understatement! The .303 is a very accurate cartridge in the proper rifle (excellent condition and bedding). I have my FILs 1907 No1 Mk3 in the locker.
 
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