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

Originally Posted by csmiffy

@ROKTOY the way i'm going I will probably have a spare one for you.
@Cordite some seem to get theirs to shoot fine and the bores were OK. Maybe later models or just tighter?
here is a cut/paste from Nitroexpress forum-about halfway down. Must've been a kiwi on there that mentioned NZguns and hunting magazine and a review on one. The throats were way long and more suited 215grs as well. The pic is from the same nitro forum thread from another owner and his one in particular had a good sized bore but still a very deeply cut throat. he was happy with how it shot but not with the woodleighs. they shot crap in his rifle

"just thought I'd give an update of what has transpired in regard to my No 1 in 303 Brit. I started this thread after picking up my 303 and found the more the rifle was looked at, the more disappointed with its quality I became. I must admit that I really don't know how well it shoots because since I picked it up last November, I've fired only 5 shots with it. This is due to the completely "pissed off " effect and seeing how many were turning up for sale, I knew that being able to sell it and recover my money won't happen.
Then there was a little ray of hope when I saw that RULE303 had sent his back because the bore in his measured .315". Out to the safe I go and after doing a cast at muzzle and breech, mine turns out to be 315' too. So with high hopes mine is sent back to the importer here in Oz but in just a few weeks the gunshop rings and informs me it is back and I can pick it up. The importer says the bore is "within spec". A note at the bottom of the same letter states that "Ruger designed these rifles based on the the original 303 rifles which had a bore diameter of between 0.314 & 0.316 ".
So not only do I own a new rifle with poor fitting timber, finger prints in the stock finish and metal parts that should fit better, but also with a bore that is at least 3 thou. over any jacketed projectiles I can buy over the counter. I find it hard to believe that Ruger would dimension their barrels based on "original 303 rifles" when all the ammo available uses 0.312" pills ! As we all know these rifle were made in 2010. All modern 303 ammo uses 0.312 or even 0.311 projectiles so for the life of me I can't figure out, if its true, why that would make barrels at 0.315 or maybe even 0.316" !! To me a barrel this much over size is 3/4 worn out to start with. I don't mind playing around with oversize bullets to get a vintage rifle to shoot, thats part of the game, but its a bit rich to have to do it with a factory new one.
Anyway thats were I am at the moment, paid the money in good faith and ended up with a very suspect product that I believe will sit at the back of the safe for quite some time."

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Greetings Csmiffy,
There are likely plenty of .303 Lee Enfields out there with groove diameter's that large that shoot quite well, especially the two groove barrels. I think where Ruger may have gone wrong is copying the groove diameter and using the narrow US style of rifling. Enfield style .303 barrels can shoot pretty well with .308 diameter projectiles. I tried 150 grain .308 projectiles in my no 4 two groove and they arrived point on but strung vertically with my light load. I will try a bit more coal and see if that helps. Other reports I have heard have found the later Ruger no 1 .303 rifles shot well so maybe there was a change.
Regards Grandpamac.
PS This is a great thread. No mention of the latest whizo cartridges, super television scopes or 0.5 MoA groups at 1,000 yards. Excellent.