I have a Canadian Ross Mk III that is in great shape on the outside but the bore looks like rats have been living it. I want to shoot it in some local class competitions. So I'm going to re-barrel it. Krieger will make the barrel and a local gunsmith will cut the threads, chamber and install it, all 30.5 inches of it. Ross rifles are renowned for their accuracy.
Here's the problem. The original barrel was .311, 4 groove, 1-10, left hand twist. Well the left hand twist is out. So getting back to true original is a no go. But I can certainly make it a .303 British in .311 with a 4 groove right hand twist 1 in 10. Or...I could chamber it for 303 British but use a barrel with a .308 bore and 5R rifling and any twist from 1 in 8 to 1 in 18.
If I put a .311 barrel on it I can use factory ammo in it. It's tough to find and expensive if I do. But I hand load. So that's not such a big deal. However, bullet selection is, and it's meager at best. If I go with a .308 diameter barrel I'll have a myriad of bullets to choose from.
A lot of people say that 5R rifling is really just a fad and doesn't offer any real advantages. I have a couple of rifles that have 5R barrels and have nothing but good luck with them. They shoot great and also have the benefit of being extremely easy to clean and when the barrel is 30.5 inches long, that might be important.
I'm leaning toward towards the .308 just because the care and feeding of it will be easier...but what would you wise folk do?
Here's the problem. The original barrel was .311, 4 groove, 1-10, left hand twist. Well the left hand twist is out. So getting back to true original is a no go. But I can certainly make it a .303 British in .311 with a 4 groove right hand twist 1 in 10. Or...I could chamber it for 303 British but use a barrel with a .308 bore and 5R rifling and any twist from 1 in 8 to 1 in 18.
If I put a .311 barrel on it I can use factory ammo in it. It's tough to find and expensive if I do. But I hand load. So that's not such a big deal. However, bullet selection is, and it's meager at best. If I go with a .308 diameter barrel I'll have a myriad of bullets to choose from.
A lot of people say that 5R rifling is really just a fad and doesn't offer any real advantages. I have a couple of rifles that have 5R barrels and have nothing but good luck with them. They shoot great and also have the benefit of being extremely easy to clean and when the barrel is 30.5 inches long, that might be important.
I'm leaning toward towards the .308 just because the care and feeding of it will be easier...but what would you wise folk do?