Hunting rifle in .303 British?

Status
Not open for further replies.
cluttonfred

cluttonfred

Member
Joined
Feb 11, 2008
Messages
1,322
Location
World traveler
As I posted a couple of years ago -- Gramps comes through with a Lee-Enfield -- I was able to add a Savage-made Lee-Enfield No4 Mk1* to my collection. I am sure I will end up with another Lee-Enfield or two, maybe even a No5 jungle carbine, but I would also be interested in getting a lightweight hunting rifle in the same caliber.

Does anyone make new rifles in .303 British anymore? I've been looking around but not having any luck. If not, are there any particularly nice older sporting rifles I might want to look for, or would I have to go with a sporterized Lee-Enfield?

Cheers,

Matthew
 
Probably a sporterized military rifle is where you'll have to go. And there should be some around.
 
It's possible you'll find new .303 rifles from a few rare European manufacturers, but you definitely won't find any new American rifles chambered in it. The cartridge was already slightly inferior in power to just about every other world power's rifle at the start of World War II, so it has largely fallen out of favor. Additionally, many European countries have laws barring their citizens from owning firearms in "military" calibers, the .303 included. These factors have combined to make new firearms in .303 effectively non-existent.
 
I don't know about new rifles, but sporterized P14 Enfields are out there although they're not as common as the 1917s.

Matt
 
Take it out the way it is. Go totally old school. Not a big deal if you are stand hunting. I am going to try pig hunting with my M1.
 
Try Thompson Contender. I believe they chamber that caliber in the rifle. Don't bubba a military Enfield. You turn a 400 dollar rifle into a 100 dollar rifle by doing that and it won't shoot any better, most likely worse, than a stock rifle.....chris3
 
New? Nope. But there are thousands of sporterized Enfields on the market that were used in Canada.
 
Ditto that. Cruise GB for sporterized Enfields and you'll find a bunch. They are some of the best and most frequently used of the surplus arms as hunting tools. Esp. in the former Empire. Check out Woodleigh bullets (Midway sells them) for world-class .312" hunting slugs. They have a 215 grain one that's said to be fantastic medicine.
 
If you want to get exotic (and spend some fairly serious money), look for one of the commercial .303 hunting rifles made in England n the early 20th century, mainly for use in Africa. Those are some truly fine firearms.
 
I believe Ruger No 1 made one in 303 as well as the Winchester 1895. Look for some commercial BSA rifles like the Lee Speed. Parker Hale also made some commercial Enfield rifles.

Jungle Carbine would be your best bet for a hunting rifle.
 
If you want light weight and trim, a properly sporterized #1 Mk3 would be the way to go. Remove the clip guide lump and brass buttplate, get a flush 5 round magazine, a sporter forend, and you get a very handsome hunting rifle. The barrel Is already much lighter than the #4, perhaps trim it to 22" with a ramp front sight. I've seen a few English sporters done up this way, and they are tributes to to the days of wood and steel and craftsmanship.

IMHO
 
Ruger No.1 was around in Australia as a special batch a year or two ago, I think they're all hidden in the back of peoples safes now.....if I sound bitter it's cause I wasn't quick enough to get one
 
To see one of the most-beautiful .303 sporters I've ever seen, go to

www.auctionarms.com and search for 9059436

I bought this rifle several years back, and love it dearly. It perfectly illustrates just how svelte and elegant a well-done conversion can be. I've been a long-time devotee and user of the various .303 rifles, and my parents gave me a Parker-Hale conversion of the #4 for Christmas 1959.

In 2010, the Ruger #1 was introduced in .303 and one came to live with us. It's the same length and weight as a Marlin 336 carbine, meaning : very handy indeed.

I have personally killed a number of moose with .303 rifles using Canadian commercial loads in 180- and 215-grain versions. Chronographing one of those old C-I-L 180 loads, I was surprised to discover a velocity of 2580 fps. Compare THAT to more-modern .308 and .30'06 loadings, and you'll find the old .303 is right with them.
 
That is a pretty one, thanks for sharing. There are also some nice old lever-action Savages and a Winchester 1895 in .303 on that site, hmmmm....
 
Owlnmole said:
That is a pretty one, thanks for sharing. There are also some nice old lever-action Savages and a Winchester 1895 in .303 on that site, hmmmm....
Click to expand...
Them would have probably have been in .303 Savage, totally different round. If you are looking for one in .303 British there are some nice ones out there..............
http://www.gunbroker.com/Bolt-Action-Rifles/BI.aspx?Keywords=.303+British

Or you can build one your self, this one was just a barreled action when I found it.
 
Last edited:
303tom said:
Them would have probably have been in .303 Savage, totally different round. If you are looking for one in .303 British there are some nice ones out there..............
http://www.gunbroker.com/Bolt-Action-Rifles/BI.aspx?Keywords=.303+British

Or you can build one your self, this one was just a barreled action when I found it.
Click to expand...
For the Savage 99, it would have been a 303 Savage. That's correct. The Winchester 1895 was chambered in all sorts of interesting ways. 303 British, 7.62x54R, 30-40 Krag, among more standard offerings like 30-03, 30-06, 35 Winchester, and a couple of others. I'm still looking for one in 7.62x54R.

Matt
 
I've used a dead stock "jungle carbine" for pig, havelina and mule deer.
Love the sights.
Nice quiet-close bolt.
Flash hider is a great muzzle protector for scramblin' amongst the rocks and such.
Funky butt pad protects the other end from the same scenarios.

About the only thing I'd change is that I wish it had the rear sling on the left away from the bolt for slinging it across my back.
 
As already stated, yes, Ruger made a No. 1 rifle recently in .303; there are a lot of them for sale.

And please, do not sporterize one. :(

Geno
 
Id rather have a new rifle with the LE action on something like 7mm-08 than something new in .303 british.. :/
 
Last edited:
A buddy has been hunting with a sporterized Enfield No.4 Mk 1 .303 for about 25 years. Basically bone stock except for the forend stock being cut down and the handguards being removed.

He uses Remington 180 Grain RNSP Core-Lokts, and it trainwrecks deer and hogs.

They work.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr
 
Last edited:
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

dak0ta
  • Locked
Hunting rifle choice
Replies
20
Views
935
RevGeo
R
cluttonfred
  • Locked
The next WWII rifle for my collection?
2
Replies
34
Views
1K
cluttonfred
cluttonfred
Eb1
  • Locked
I think I found a stray that needs a home. Ruger No. 1 in .303 British
Replies
4
Views
508
lowerunit411
L
3
  • Locked
Lee Enfield help .303/7.62 Nato
2
Replies
26
Views
5K
Oohrah
O
R
  • Locked
S[portorized P = 14 .303 British
Replies
5
Views
416
robertbank
R
Back
Top