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.