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

Originally Posted by Bagheera

Great story @Gapped axe !

The pig hoof - what was it like under recoil ?

I'm the same, first deer with my dad's target III* and aperture sights then sporterised it and used it for 30 years.

Recently my strategy is to reduce number of guns in the cabinet and it was a choice between keeping the 303 or a Sako 85 as backup rifle ...
Gave the 303 away to a new hunter with all the old brass and Lee Loader. A line under that chapter and a good chapter it was.

I'd assumed the recent interest is as a substitute for MSSAs, although head to head semi 7.62x39 or 5.56 are better for rapid fire competition. My 303 used to occasionally have a rimmed round step over another so, while trusty, it wasn't 100% reliable for that sort of thing.

Suppose like getting back-kicked by a really big pig?

I thought that too, for the full 10rd capacity and I agree with your comments on rapid fire. You'd need to put a compensator or muzzle brake on it, or maybe download the rounds to something more manageable recoil wise.

The original spec for the .303 (like the 7.62x54R Russian) had radiused rim edges to help prevent rim lock, which few manufacturers bother doing, but it is easily done with a file and the round in a drill press. The magazine design also helps "arrange them right" when you push down on the back of the stach with your thumb - but ONLY IF the ammunition is loaded to full COAL so the bullet tips interact properly with the magazine front wall.

Originally Posted by Cordite

Suppose like getting back-kicked by a really big pig?

I thought that too, for the full 10rd capacity and I agree with your comments on rapid fire. You'd need to put a compensator or muzzle brake on it, or maybe download the rounds to something more manageable recoil wise.

The original spec for the .303 (like the 7.62x54R Russian) had radiused rim edges to help prevent rim lock, which few manufacturers bother doing, but it is easily done with a file and the round in a drill press. The magazine design also helps "arrange them right" when you push down on the back of the stach with your thumb - but ONLY IF the ammunition is loaded to full COAL so the bullet tips interact properly with the magazine front wall.

The charger clips for Lee-Enfield is base of bullets 1,3 & 5 hard down in the clip and bullets 2 & 4 sitting rim on top of the other bullets rims.
That’s the official army method.

While it seems counterintuitive it worked and I can’t recall any jams caused by one rim ‘snagging’ on another.

Originally Posted by Moa Hunter

Terrible action, pathetic slow lock time, awful trigger creep. Probably the best NZ calibre for pigs matched with a poor rifle.

Agree with all the above. Add clanky noisy magazine and trigger over-travel. It's a battle rifle which only does OK as a hunting rifle. It's ironic that it was often the beginner's rifle when it really should not be.

There are of course certain special features ... like the shorter travel of the rear locker bolt so you don't have to pull your face out of its way, only 60 deg lift so you don't lose your sight picture when cycling the bolt, and the ergonomics of cock-on-close bolt that allows fast follow up shots while maintaining a pinch grip on the bolt.