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303??
i may have a chance to buy a 303 of my uncles in the near future. but i am not really familiar with the caliber. right now i use a 30-06, but i will buy the 303 if the chance comes up, so can any of you give me some info on what you think about it and what differences there are between my 06 and it.
i looked at ballistics and the 303 doesnt seem too bad. anyways interested in your opinions!! |
RE: 303??
I have a sporterized Lee Enfield #4 carbine that is .303 british caliber. It is a solid shooter and is a decent caliberfor hunting deer and similiar size game. Ammo does not tend to be pletiful, but is available at places like Gander Mountain, Sportmans Warehouse and Cabelas. Depending what model andcondition of the 303 (I assume it is a Lee Enfield)you refer to, you should be able to get it fairly cheap, almost certainly under 2 bills.
Comparing performance of the .303 to the .30-06, the .30-06 isbetter. |
RE: 303??
Red Lion, I'll assume you're from the States because you say ammo isn't plentiful :DIt's everywhere in Ontario, and it's dropped it's fair share of moose and deer. My friends (2 of them, and their dads) use'em for moose and deer every year, and if they hit'em, they're usually toast. However, I would rather use a 30-06. The only reason I would use a 303 is because of less recoil.
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RE: 303??
The actions were great....their ballistics pretty dismal as compared to a '06 270 etc. Generally around 200'/sec slower than a same bullet weight '06. Not aweful, however, they were never that popular in the States cause the '06 was clearly a better caliber. I would say this is a fine 200 yard anything rifle , however, at 250 it drops like a rock. A 180 gr bullet at 2450'/sec zeroed at 150 yards is 1.2 inches high at 100, -3 inches at 200 and -15.4 inches at 300. Regards, Rick.
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RE: 303??
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 |
RE: 303??
A 303 Savage 99 would be a great round in a GREAT rifle.
You would need to reload to enjoy it |
RE: 303??
It is a very nice gun and its unique rotary magazine was considered advanced for its time. I think the .303 Savage cartridge was introduced around the same time as,and is balistically almost identical to, the 30-30 Winchester. I can only surmise that Winchester was more savvy at marketing their products than Savage was,and that is why the 30-30 Win and the guns chambered forit still thrive while the .303 Savage and the Savage model 99 are no longer in production.
I do not handload now but am considering it and having a reliable source of ammunition for this rifle is one reason to get into handloading. Caldoc |
RE: 303??
I had a enfield sportized when I was a kid around 14,15 & 16 thay old thing would flat put a whitetail down. I think it was around 75.00 when I bought it. I shot aleast 5 deer with it and they just fell in thier tracks.All were around 100 yards. I did trade it for a .270 now I wish I kept it for a hand me down.
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RE: 303??
Having both joined the Military at about the same time, the 303 Brit is about a balistic clone of the 30-40 Krag. The 303 British has killed every species of animal on earth and because it was a British round, it has been used accross Africa on all African Game as well. It is not up to the task as a DG rifle and has wounded more African critters than all other calibers combined. With good bullets and within its range, it is up to taking all the Non Dangerous NA game. I have one which was chambered in the P-14 by the U.S. for the british during the war years. I also have a couple in the British Enfield. It ain't no 06 but its a fair hunting rifle.
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RE: 303??
.303's are the reason moose are so bad mannered. The Canadians have been dropping them with that caliber for decades.
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RE: 303??
I can only surmise that Winchester was more savvy at marketing their products than Savage was, Oh yea, Other than the 99 I am NOT a savage fan |
RE: 303??
I had a .303 Jungle Carbine in the Philippines in 1960 and I got all my ammo from Hong Kong. I bought it at J.M. Fields in Hawaii. When I left the P.I., I gave it to a close Filipino friend.
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RE: 303??
thanks for the replies guys, im still gonna buy it if my uncle wants to sell it, he had another that was my grandpas but he sold it, i wish i could have got that one, or at least knew he was going to sell it. im glad there are sites like this, great info and a vast display of knowledge. im not sure what kind of 303 my uncle has got weather it is a british or savage or what, but im glad to hear that the caliber has a little bit of punch to it for my hunting needs, allthough i am kinda partial to my 06 since it was giving to me by my pops so its kinda my favorite!!
thinks again everyone and good luck hunting |
RE: 303??
I hope that all who have read this thread realize THAT THE 303 BRITISH AND THE 303 SAVAGE OR TWO DIFFERENT CARTRIDGES AND NOT THE SAME OR INTERCHANGABLE.
Just to be on the safe side. I borrowed a 303 british enfield once and hunted with it but did not shoot anything but a few target rounds. It is a Canadian tradition and I think I should get one and just shoot a few deer with. It is a popular round down in Australia for the same reason as it is in Canada, It was the "service round" of the "Commonwealth". They make an interesting wildcat down here they call a .303/.25. Good for roos and goats and hogs and some of the deer here. Robin down under |
RE: 303??
ORIGINAL: mybigredford thanks for the replies guys, im still gonna buy it if my uncle wants to sell it, he had another that was my grandpas but he sold it, i wish i could have got that one, or at least knew he was going to sell it. im glad there are sites like this, great info and a vast display of knowledge. im not sure what kind of 303 my uncle has got weather it is a british or savage or what, but im glad to hear that the caliber has a little bit of punch to it for my hunting needs, allthough i am kinda partial to my 06 since it was giving to me by my pops so its kinda my favorite!! thinks again everyone and good luck hunting |
RE: 303??
I hope that all who have read this thread realize THAT THE 303 BRITISH AND THE 303 SAVAGE OR TWO DIFFERENT CARTRIDGES AND NOT THE SAME OR INTERCHANGABLE. |
RE: 303??
It is a very good piont though about the 303 savage and 303 enfield being different rifles and "usually" using different ammo.
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RE: 303??
I have also had a 303 Savage take down model.
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RE: 303??
ORIGINAL: Rebel Hog I had a .303 Jungle Carbine in the Philippines in 1960 and I got all my ammo from Hong Kong. I bought it at J.M. Fields in Hawaii. When I left the P.I., I gave it to a close Filipino friend. |
RE: 303??
I returned from Naum from my second tour in 67 as well. Tell him hello for me.
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RE: 303??
ORIGINAL: James B I returned from Naum from my second tour in 67 as well. Tell him hello for me. |
RE: 303??
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. |
RE: 303??
The .303s can be very hard hitting and accurate.
[/quote] Even out to 500-600 yards as stamped on the stock apeture sight that was on mine at one time?  |
RE: 303??
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 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..... |
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