303 wildcats??

Who here has played with any of the 303 wildcats??

Been on my mind for years, have a few beat up old 303s, and always wanted to make something different with them

At this stage I'm leaning into .35/303 just for something different. I think going to .338 or .358 will get the best out of the case and work well with a shorter barrel. I've heard and seen some impressive speeds with these, but not sure how realistic they are. (lie 200-225gn projectiles at around 2500fps)

I know there has been nearly everything done from 22/303 up to the basically straight walled 375/303

Who has one?

Pros and cons?

and yes, I'm well aware they make 'better' rifles and cartridges........

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Originally Posted by JP100

Who here has played with any of the 303 wildcats??

Been on my mind for years, have a few beat up old 303s, and always wanted to make something different with them

At this stage I'm leaning into .35/303 just for something different. I think going to .338 or .358 will get the best out of the case and work well with a shorter barrel. I've heard and seen some impressive speeds with these, but not sure how realistic they are. (lie 200-225gn projectiles at around 2500fps)

I know there has been nearly everything done from 22/303 up to the basically straight walled 375/303

Who has one?

Pros and cons?

and yes, I'm well aware they make 'better' rifles and cartridges........

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25/303 here, Boyd stock on a MK111 action. Shoots 100gr and 75gr acceptably. Ideally a P14 or even MK4 action would make things a little less stressful for pressures. Beggars can't be choosers, I guess.

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Originally Posted by outlander

25/303 here, Boyd stock on a MK111 action. Shoots 100gr and 75gr acceptably. Ideally a P14 or even MK4 action would make things a little less stressful for pressures. Beggars can't be choosers, I guess.

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What velocities do you get roughly??

We have MK111s and MK4s in various states haha

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270-303 here. Once I get the damn thing back anyway. Short barrel. 90gr bullets at about 2900.

I've always liked the idea of doing the 6.5x53R, aka .256 Mannlicher, on a Lee or Ross action, which you could think of as a '303-6.5'. Not truly a .303 wildcat per se, but since it can be formed easily from .303 brass and is so dimensionally similar it could be.
I have a shot out Mk2 Ross which I will convert 'one day' when I can afford a new barrel to put on it.

there is fair bit on terminal ballistics sight about the SMLE conversions...pretty sure Nathan has one in the potent russian rimmed round,still with brass buttplate,definately would be a hard hold or get booted proposition.

While I still haven't shot my 25-303 yet there are also the Canadian Epps cartridges. He was the Ackley of 303s. Did several of them.
You could also go big and do a 375 2 1/2. And yes they were done in the on no1mk3s not just P14s.
Some were even done in 4570 but have to muck around with the mag to make it a single stack

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Originally Posted by JP100

What velocities do you get roughly??

We have MK111s and MK4s in various states haha

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Using Ar 2208 the 100grainers go at 2630. The 75gr varmint ones, I'm still experimenting with, but leave at 2900fps presently.

If you're really looking for an usual caliber to change to. Try the 303 pygmy.

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Originally Posted by Tararua Phil

If you're really looking for an usual caliber to change to. Try the 303 pygmy.

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A little less than .44 mag energy from a 20" barrel.

or just leave it as a .303 brit and reload it up down n sideways to do what you want.... 123grn 7.62x39mm projectiles right up to 220grn cast give a hell of a lot of variety.
you need to decide what your end goal is..and work from there. and then do maths,its probably cheaper to buy new than rebarrel...

Greetings,
The difficult bit will be getting a chambering reamer and loading dies at a reasonable cost. One option might be a rimmed .35 Remington. Cases can be made from .303 cases and standard .35 Rem loading dies could be used. You would want to check the feeding first though.
GPM.

I have supplied .359' Cast bullets to a couple guys running .35/303's, Barrels came from Tru Flite so some one has a chamber reamer
the .35 Remington is one of the perfect cast bullet cartridges is shoots cast and jacket at similar velocities the .35/303 fit in between it
and the .358 Win another perfect cast bullet cartridge, I have a Gunsmith mate that is quite good at boring out stuffed barrels and relining them.

For an old Canadian version google .303 Epps

I have one, I made a few years ago, 35/303 I used a 35 Whelen reamer, it was reamed into the 303 case length, all work was done at True Flite, fitted red and green fibre optic open sights.
I cut the bottom off the 35 Whelen die to match 303 case length, for reloading started with .35 win loading data, I use cast lead bullets for fire forming, load with Hornady 200 grain FTX and Speer 250 grain.
It took about half an hour to adjust the magazine feed lips and spring to get it to feed reliably. This has made an awesome bush rifle,

I own 2 38-303’s it’s kind of a wild cat but it’s based on the original 38-50hepburn you would use 30-40 krag to make brass for an original
My mate made his own reamer designed for 303 brass
Bugger all in it a couple of mm longer than the original so we just call it 38-50
I fact I think the chamber markings say 38-50 ex303

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Originally Posted by Morepork

I have one, I made a few years ago, 35/303 I used a 35 Whelen reamer, it was reamed into the 303 case length, all work was done at True Flite, fitted red and green fibre optic open sights.
I cut the bottom off the 35 Whelen die to match 303 case length, for reloading started with .35 win loading data, I use cast lead bullets for fire forming, load with Hornady 200 grain FTX and Speer 250 grain.
It took about half an hour to adjust the magazine feed lips and spring to get it to feed reliably. This has made an awesome bush rifle,

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Whats your final loads like??

Rough speeds? I was thinking AR2206H should be a good powder for one?

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Originally Posted by Micky Duck

or just leave it as a .303 brit and reload it up down n sideways to do what you want.... 123grn 7.62x39mm projectiles right up to 220grn cast give a hell of a lot of variety.
you need to decide what your end goal is..and work from there. and then do maths,its probably cheaper to buy new than rebarrel...

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Last re barrel i did was 900 bucks i think.
True flite has a reamer, from my understanding, so wont cost anymore than rebarreling any other rifle.

Already have a mint 303 that i can use as a 303

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At 50 yards with open sights was just over half an inch, yes I used 2206H, 44 grains for the 250’s @2250 fps, 48 for the 200’s @2500 fps YMMD
I guess a 358 Winchester reamer could be used as well with the 303 brass to make a rimmed 358 Winchester

DeLisle Carbine is another option if you can be bothered with the admin or modding the mag, or a .410 smooth bore single shot.

Saboted projectiles option seems off the table when playing with the .303 British. "Seems", because, if the projectile in a sabot is a lead or soft nose boolit then no way it can be considered intended/designed to be "armour piercing".

7.62 x 39

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Originally Posted by longshot

DeLisle Carbine is another option if you can be bothered with the admin or modding the mag, or a .410 smooth bore single shot.

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I have all the drills, reamers and hones here to do .410 shotgun barrels from LE barrels

Just haven't had the time to put one to the rest and see how it goes

A 410 chamber reamer and the set would be complete
But I can make one of I need too