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I returned from Naum from my second tour in 67 as well. Tell him hello for me.

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ORIGINAL: James B

I returned from Naum from my second tour in 67 as well. Tell him hello for me.

I would James B, but he passed away in 1999 of a heart attack. He was a very good pops, but did not take care of himself like he should have and passed at 55 years old.

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ORIGINAL: cma3366a

The British enfields were great battle rifles, arguably the best bolt action ever in military service; but they dont make great sporters like the springfield and mauser did/do. The main reason it the action itself, It was built completly around the 303 round, Mainly for speed of use and reliability. It is not particularly strong, and requires the use of a two piece stock. The main disadvantage to the enfield IMO is its rear locking lug, this along with generous chambers, and the sloping sholders design of the cartridge means brass life is brutally short, I've had heads (S&B brass) seperate on the first reloading.

Overall if you shoot factory ammo, dont mind it's appearance, and dont mind the cartridge limitations, they're fine rifles, just dont buy one thinking it'll become a good sporter.

Not really sure how many of these rifles you've owned, but my experience has never been like yours. I still own and shoot several .303 Enfields and mine have all been sporterized and are great rifles. I have one in particular that I had restocked with a 'AA' fancy stock, reblued, head-space reduced, and custom mounts to hold a Leupold scope. The action is extremely strong, and I'll put it against any old springfield (of which I have several) or old Mausers (of which I have several also). This particular rifle is stamped on the side '1944', so it's been around awhile. I do admit, I reload for it and have never had a case separation or any other problems with reloading for any of them. The .303s can be very hard hitting and accurate.

The .303s can be very hard hitting and accurate.
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Even out to 500-600 yards as stamped on the stock apeture sight that was on mine at one time?

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ORIGINAL: Californiadoctor

I inherited a Savage model 1899 rifle from my grandfather that was chambered in .303 Savage. I keep the gun as an heirloom but rarely shoot it since ammunition is extremely hard to find for this "obsolete" round.

Caldoc

Of course, the .303 Savage and the .303 British are entirely different cartridges - the Savage is just a .30/30 in a slightly differentpiece of brass, and it uses .308" diameter bullets. The .303 British uses .311" diameter bullets, and, (factory loaded), is in about the same class as a the .30/40 Krag or the .308 Winchester-just slightly less powerful than the .30/'06. But if I had an '06, the .303 would stay home most of the time!

If it's a SMLE, it makes a good truck gun - you don't care if it gets a littlebeat up, and if someone steals it, it is no big loss. The .303 isOK for game up to moose, if you use a good 180 or 215 grain bullet in it.....