Thread: Resurgence of interest in the old "Three Oh"?

Originally Posted by akaroa1

I would dearly love to own a left hand SMLE ( and yes I know it's no big deal to reach over and use the bolt ).
But I like things to be correct

Doubt there has ever been a true left hand version made but happy to be corrected

There have been a number of wrong handed ones passed on and down to me over the years and I have moved them all on
But it always left me longing for that special one worth keeping

I think it a technically brilliant rifle for what it was intended
I think the 303 is superb for what it was intended and considering when it was conceived and is still a cartridge that could do practically everything most NZ hunters would ever want it for
I can see a whole lot of reason why some of its features that irritate some are taken out of context
For instance a two piece stock is vastly more efficient if you are making a few million of them
Much easier to get a lot more units out of the same amount of materials
Regarding the light barrels. Once again it will be a saving in barrel steel and taken over millions at a time when resources were extremely valuable it all counts

Like I said I would love one in my gun cabinet And would have lots of circumstances where it would be ideal
So I will just have to build a nice 303 single shot or buy a friend's 303 double rifle if I really want to scratch that itch

Stop it you smooth talking devil. You will get us all into trouble. I have seen just one .303 double rifle and I really don't want to know what they cost. Had an old Martini Enfield but the barrel was shagged and the rest of it beggared. It is now a Martini Krag. It will have to do.
Regards Grandpamac.

Originally Posted by grandpamac

Stop it you smooth talking devil. You will get us all into trouble. I have seen just one .303 double rifle and I really don't want to know what they cost. Had an old Martini Enfield but the barrel was shagged and the rest of it beggared. It is now a Martini Krag. It will have to do.
Regards Grandpamac.

@grandpamac I have a good friend with a Bonehill 303 double circa 1895 and proofed for 215 grain projectiles
Bores are 9.5/10
Exterior is 9/10
I have handled it often but never shot it
He offered to sell it to me several years ago for 12k
Which I think was a fair price
When I asked to have a really good look at it some time later to dig in to it's value etc he couldn't remember which safe it was in
Just his way of saying he didn't want to sell it and maybe had thought 12k would kill my interest
My problem isn't the money it's that I would want to take it hunting
And it's better that I not own high end collectors pieces
But one day when his guard is down I might mention it again and see where he is at in it

I can't find my images of it but it's barrel widths are identical to a Merkel 20 gauge shotgun
So you could build a very nice hunting 303 double rifle on a good donor 20 gauge

For a single shot
Well a #5 rolling block action would be perfect as they are later production nitro proofed

Failing finding a #5 I have ordered two sets of Field's patent 1877 rifle action castings from the USA and one of them might become a 303 one day