Straight wall .303

[hms365]

Not exactly reloading, but I figured a reloader did this.

Found some confusing brass the other day. Completely straight wall brass, torn up near the end, with a .303 British headstamp. Blowing it out to full diameter really wrecked the ends so I can't get a length.

Any ideas what this was made into? And why? .303 British does not seem to be very common as base brass.

 

[someguy2800]

There are quite a few 303 wildcats that were popular in countries that didn’t kick the British out.

.416 Strauss

https://www.google.com/amp/www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2009/05/30/416-strauss-a-303-wildcat/amp/

375-303

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?20340-303-Brit-375

 

[hms365]

I found an intact one. Looks like 2.20" for length. Outside diameter at the mouth is ~ 0.460.

 

[Riomouse911]

If the inside is .416-ish it may just be a Strauss round you found.

 

[Scooter22]

Possibly someone fired .303 cartridges in a .410 converted SMLE. I believe they will fit.

 

[hms365]

I think we have a winner. There are odd bulges on the side. They tried it 3 times.

 

[someguy2800]

Yep that definitely was fired in an oversize chamber

 

[Scooter22]

I think "Couldn't hit the side of the barn if you were shooting inside" applies here. Those .303 wildcats look very good. Puts serious power in those old surplus guns.

 

[someguy2800]

I think "Couldn't hit the side of the barn if you were shooting inside" applies here. Those .303 wildcats look very good. Puts serious power in those old surplus guns.

Yeah I like the idea of that 375-303 with cast bullets. I think I am going to keep my eye out for a cheap cut down sporter and get it re barreled or re bored to that. I bought a M48a yugo mauser with a bad bore a couple months ago with the intention of getting it rebored to 9.3x62.

 

[Jim Watson]

I recall little advertisements for plans to turn your Lee Enfield into a reasonable approximation of a Remington Lee in .405 WCF.
It would be just as easy to make it in .375x303 as a representation of a Lee Speed .375 Nitro Express.

 

[mcb]

There are a few thread/websites that talk about making brass 410 shotgun shell from 303 brass. I tried it myself for fun, annealing and then fire forming the brass in a 410 chamber. I got result very similar to the pictures up thread. I was not real impressed and stuck with modern plastic 410 hulls for my reloading.

 

[FROGO207]

I also made some 410 brass out of them as an experiment-----with poor results. Magtech makes brass 410 hulls and I found the 444 marlin brass will work passibly as long as your shotti will catch the smaller rim. Also you can use the 444 dies to deprime/resizeas well.

 

[12Bravo20]

Ishapor in India made Enfield shotguns (Ishapor muskets) that used straight wall 303 brass also. Quite a few that were imported into the US had the chambers reamed to fit a 2 1/2” 410 shell.

 

[Scooter22]

Yeah I like the idea of that 375-303 with cast bullets. I think I am going to keep my eye out for a cheap cut down sporter and get it re barreled or re bored to that. I bought a M48a yugo mauser with a bad bore a couple months ago with the intention of getting it rebored to 9.3x62.

Will a 9.3x62 fit in a M48? Its a medium length action. The 24/47 Yugos were a full length M98 action IIRC. Thats another excellent mid bore round.

 

[Scooter22]

Ishapor in India made Enfield shotguns (Ishapor muskets) that used straight wall 303 brass also. Quite a few that were imported into the US had the chambers reamed to fit a 2 1/2” 410 shell.

Funny how they wouldn't let guards or police use a standard rifle and made a special shotgun model. I have a Egyptian Martini/Greener single shot 14ga. Luckily mine is the first model with standard firing pin instead of the trident safety one used later. I wrap 16ga shells with 2" masking tape to fit and blast away.

 

[someguy2800]

Will a 9.3x62 fit in a M48? Its a medium length action. The 24/47 Yugos were a full length M98 action IIRC. Thats another excellent mid bore round.

I have not measured it but the length of a 9.3x62 is very close to the same as the 8mm mauser. It between the length of 8mm mauser and 30-06.