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

Even though I have just bought a Howa Lightweight 308 I still love using the old SMLE. I love the fact of taking a 76-year old rifle out hunting and seeing the puzzled looks on the young fulla's faces when you drag the old girl out. I have to sight it in after taking the 2.5x Weaver off it and fitting it with a 2-7 Nikon Prostaff. It shoots well with Highland 150's. 3" at 100. Which is fine because to be honest that says more about my aging eyes than it does the rifle! Should do better with the 2-7. I'll also get a Lee Loader and have a play with some handloads; just for fun

I've had the old girl since I was 18; I'm 57 now. It was my pig gun back then and has walked a lot of miles! Shot pigs, deer and goats with it; not a shitload, but enough. I had the barrel shortened to about 17 1/2 inches when i bought it. It was already sporterised. And sounds silly; but I could never part with it.....

The rifle that has, and still will, keep my freezer full is the Howa Mini 223. As I mostly hunt goats for the freezer. but I am going to do more deer hunting this year. One of my dreams is to take a red stag (anyone with any bone on its head really!) with the three oh......



And back when I was about 20-years old with my dog pighunting with the old girl out the back of Whangamomona...