Thread: Is the 303 obsolete?

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

Barrels are definitely being made and are available..... Agree it's not the cartridge that's the issue,just the worn out flogged to death options we normally see it in.if rossi did reproduction of the Winchester?88?? Oh boy oh boy look out.and yes single break open does have appeal.

What about single shot break open, but say 30 cal rather than 303 so you have more projectile options.. but wait, that's a 30-40 Krag, even more obsolete!

I have a brand new stainless steel 303 30" long barrel blank sitting in my hoard just waiting for the right action to hang it off

It was a toss up between 303 and 30-40 when I rebarreled my last 1885 High Wall build.
The 303 narrowly missed out to the 30-40s better bullet selection.
Now that 30-40 has become my primary big game rifle.

That 303 barrel blank is intended for a very specific purpose
I have a 303 live pilot chamber reamer
It's just taking time to find the other piece of that puzzle

I'm sure a SS barreled 303 will offend someone
Which is all the reason I need to do it

Originally Posted by bjp

What about single shot break open, but say 30 cal rather than 303 so you have more projectile options.. but wait, that's a 30-40 Krag, even more obsolete!

Now if I could just get hold of a 300blk Bergara barrel cheap and get it re-chambered....

Originally Posted by akaroa1

I have a brand new stainless steel 303 30" long barrel blank sitting in my hoard just waiting for the right action to hang it off

It was a toss up between 303 and 30-40 when I rebarreled my last 1885 High Wall build.
The 303 narrowly missed out to the 30-40s better bullet selection.
Now that 30-40 has become my primary big game rifle.

That 303 barrel blank is intended for a very specific purpose
I have a 303 live pilot chamber reamer
It's just taking time to find the other piece of that puzzle

I'm sure a SS barreled 303 will offend someone
Which is all the reason I need to do it

You'd get some pretty good velocity no doubt if you have a decently strong action and keep it around 30" long!

174gn at 2750 fps at a gentle 52k psi according to GRT...

Originally Posted by bjp

You'd get some pretty good velocity no doubt if you have a decently strong action and keep it around 30" long!

174gn at 2750 fps at a gentle 52k psi according to GRT...

I'm not after speed and power

Handy and pointy is what my 303 will be and it won't be in a modern action so I will be somewhere in the 35 to 40k pressure range.

But I already run vintage 303 and 30-40 No5 Rolling Blocks with 25k loads and know how effective they are.

Would never buy one. Never liked them. But it's the rifle, not the chambering.

I know someone with a brand new lithgow H barrel, they want close to $500 for it, dont know if its worth it, but I have a spare H barrel thats in good nick.

I have an unfired PH standard No1 SMLE sporter that I am tempted to fit up with a scope and relive my teenage years (albeit somewhat slower) when the Government was supplying me with cases of hollow-pointed pointed ammo to rid the hills of noxious animals. Strangely enough, since then I have hunted with .222, .223, .22/250, .243, 7x57, .308, .30-06, .318 NE, and .44 Magnum and all of them combined have not come anywhere near my tallies with the .303.

Originally Posted by bjp

What about single shot break open, but say 30 cal rather than 303 so you have more projectile options.. but wait, that's a 30-40 Krag, even more obsolete!

Wash thy mouth out you heathen!!!!!

Originally Posted by bjp

What about single shot break open, but say 30 cal rather than 303 so you have more projectile options.. but wait, that's a 30-40 Krag, even more obsolete!

IMO a good option. 308 would be great. In reality when hunting deer a fast second shot doesn't happen often.

Originally Posted by Oldbloke

Would never buy one. Never liked them. But it's the rifle, not the chambering.

Oranges aren't the only fruit

There are plenty of 303 rifle options that aren't Lee Enfield based.
Here are a few nice single shots

Fields Patent action Holland & Holland 303



Westley Richards 303



Daniel Frazer 303

I recently tracked down an original Winchester 1885 in 303 British i would love to own.
So there are some other types or 303s out there worth looking for and still entirely suitable for every day hunting

@akaroa1
Now, they do look nice.

Originally Posted by Oldbloke

@akaroa1
Now, they do look nice.

Well if you like those ?
Why not spend your children's inheritance on a very nice Charles Boswell hamerless 303

Originally Posted by akaroa1

Well if you like those ?
Why not spend your children's inheritance on a very nice Charles Boswell hamerless 303

Attachment 287000

Tell me more.
I have a Charles Boswell side by side shot gun which my grandfather gave my father for his 21st birthday.