Printable View
A barrel liner is appealing as most LEs have worn (out) barrels. There is a sound economic argument of just replacing the entire barrel, which also discards every historical stamp and serial number. But does anyone in NZ do barrel relining?Quote:
Originally Posted by mimms2
How's the dogs ears?Quote:
Originally Posted by hebe
Probably keeps whining, head on a swivel looking around for another dog continuously whining somewhere nearby.Quote:
Originally Posted by Maxx
I shoot a suppressed 7mm08 over him normally so he got a bit of a fright..in saying that he seemed to be pretty happy letting me walk infront of him to shoot once he had indicated on a couple. Hardcase how they figure things out.Quote:
Originally Posted by Maxx
Greetings All,
After seeing all those photo's of pristine Lee Enfields a few pages back I thought I would share a couple of my scoped .303.Attachment 141088Attachment 141089
Almost every major component has been altered (others may use the words bubba'd or bodgered depending on country of origin) but it has an excellent barrel and shoots really well.
Grandpamac.
C'mon everyone..... No more pics of lovely 303's without an X-rated R18 warning please..... They are just too nice....... ;)
Thank you Bumblefoot and Cordite,Quote:
Originally Posted by bumblefoot
Yes it is something rather different isn't it. In spite of the rather unique stock I find it comfortable to shoot and the trigger (also altered) is quite reasonable. It also once belonged to a departed friend so it will not be sold? traded or given away at least not by me.
Grandpamac.
Hey pal, do you use cast bullets? if so I am keen to pick your brains... I slugged my bore and from memory it was .313 or .314 so Ill need a large mould...Quote:
Originally Posted by mimms2
Greetings 40 mm,Quote:
Originally Posted by 40mm
I did a little bit with cast bullets over 40 years ago with limited success (due to my profound ignorance at the time). I am thinking of getting back into it. I still have a couple of 30 calibre moulds so will probably start with them, I don't think I would go as far as Mimms2 with black powder though
Grandpamac.
Talking about 40 years ago, it always amuses me when people get anxious at ranges over 300 yards
40 years ago as a kid I shot a 30 through peep sights at 300, 600, and 900 yards every week over summer
Every now and then I could get on the target at 900 :-)
Despite being tiny (8 stone say) I never had any trouble with a flinch although my shoulder knew I'd done 20 rounds...
It's all good
.303 Creedmoor! I like it. As modern as tomorrow compared to the original 44-60 and 44-100 Creedmoor cartridges from around 1880.Quote:
Originally Posted by mimms2
Grandpamac.
The projectile was 520 to 550 grains and shot over long range out to 1,000 yards on the Creedmoor Range in New York. Velocity was 1,300 to 1,400 fps. Similar to the cartridges used in the US now for black powder metallic silhouette which is shot out to 500 metres.Quote:
Originally Posted by mimms2
Grandpamac.
my beloved.303 no4 mk1 is the quen of my collection-I do not give a iota of avian fornication regarding opinions about its deficiencies or age cause if i have to reach for it -tis a bloody serious issue and whats more when ilet a 180gn soft nose go off a short run up aint ever seen anyone (even a bloody aussie) wanna take on the wicketkeeper job.
I dontfirethe old sheila often but when i do wow the result is pretty spectacular !!
No its not for sale-its my version of an 18"naval gun!!
add to my collection -a 7.57 mauser -mate had a mannlicher schoaneur with 4x81 pecar scope -butter on a hot knife
the immortal 7.62x51 SLR-heavy as fuck but as reliaible as a D8 dozer-plus its company for the big sis .303
so along the lines of the .45/90 and the .45/110 just slightly skinnier barrel ???????Quote:
Originally Posted by grandpamac
Yes Micky,Quote:
Originally Posted by Micky Duck
The 44-100 Remington (Creedmoor) was a specialty load of the 44-90 Remington Straight intended for long range shooting, out to 1,400 yards. It had a 2.6 inch case. One of the go to cartridges for Black Powder Cartridge Rifle Silhouette shooting is the 45-90 aka 45-82 and 45-85 Winchester which has a 2.4 inch case. They shoot at silhouette's out to 500 metres (standing at 200 metres and prone with a crossed stick rest for the longer ranges) with iron sights. There is a class using period style scope sights for the old fudds as well. Black powder shooting is a rabbit hole I have not gone down, at least not yet.
Regards Grandpamac.
7.7 Creedmoor, anyone? :thumbsup: let's keep it metric and modern!
SAAMI may accept 7.7x56R VictoriaQuote:
Originally Posted by Bol Tackshin
Lets all remember that the 7.7 x 56 mm cartridge aka .303 was designed as a metric rimless cartridge by a Major Rubin in Switzerland. The only input the Brits had was to put a rim on it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bol Tackshin
Grandpamac.
Saw this on TM today; interesting. A rebarrelled Number 4 Mk2 .303 in excellent condition. Damn expensive; but interesting never the less!
https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/marketpl...ng/2937886324?
This springs to mind............
Attachment 158050
as does over capitalisation ..........May i be proven wrong.
Seller is a truly great guy, passionate about NZ shooting sports. Not out to rip anyone off.Quote:
Originally Posted by bumblefoot
I bought a 1943 No4 Mk1 star Longbranch on Sunday. It’s been refurbished and appears to have a new Criterion? Barrel fitted. All matching numbers, including forewood. Has what appears to be armoury stamp on the wrist like the Swedes did with their rifles. Also has NZ stampings. Shot it a couple of days ago using surplus Greek ammo. Not as accurate as any of my Swedes, but a completely different experience. I believe I will get used to it, esp now the trigger has loosened up so first and second stage are discernible.
Yea the old 3 ohs dont come anywhere near the sweeds
try box of 150 and box of 180 sporting stuff...one of the two will make it hum.....most SMLEs prefer one over the other.....if you have as you believe got one with a good barrel...for the love of God look after it,treasure it and clean it regularly...... I have fond memories of hunting with the 303.....funny having just purchased new rifle the comments about them are mostly good but folks whinge about 2 stage trigger......and its heavy......obvious they never cut teeth on a SMLE.....Quote:
Originally Posted by Ingrid 51
if you going to reload...get in touch with shootersnz/Robert he will sort you out with cast projectiles to feed the ol girl.... if you want low recoil (heck all 303 loads are low recoil) try some projectiles made for the 7.62x39mm 123grns loads of folks have had them work well...and if your barrel is new and unworn they should work even better.
I did the same thing a few months ago using GCs Greek surplus and was all over the place but 180gr PPU was bang on for my no4mk1*Quote:
Originally Posted by Ingrid 51
I shot my first deer with a Lee Enfield .303 Still have it. It has the long range sights on the side. I also had access to some aged ammo courtesy of my grandfather who was a gun collector and gunsmith. One day, I was wandering along a Urewera ridge and came face to face with a pig. Bolt closed, click...... All of a sudden all hell broke loose with her and piglets running everywhere. Very comical. I left the bolt engaged for a while after that. Tried firing that round later and it worked. After that, no more 50 year old ammo. Photo of grandad and I in his gunroom mid 70's I'm guessing. This was only one wall.
Attachment 158051
Thanks for advice guys. As a retiree, I intend to cherish this acquisition the same as I do my Swedes. I actually like the military trigger as was brought up with it. Will try a range of ammo as suggested.
Whoa @kiwiaviator ,l bet your grandad was a great Old School character, can you share any more details or photos etc ie how/why/when did he start collecting,did he have a particular favorite type he collected or a favorite gun from his collection . The older you get the more you realise what a shame a lot of these types of stories are lost too history apart from the immediate family .IMO if you have anymore info you would like to share it deserves its own post it would be of that much interest here,either way thanks for sharing .:thumbsup:
All good bunji. Unfortunately I don't have access to more photos etc as I'm stuck overseas until this pandemic settles a bit. Henry Victor "Vic" Ormond lived in Te Puke from the early '70's to his passing in 2008. He had a gunsmith workshop at his home and there was almost always someone there having a chat. He was also a very active Acclimatisation Society Ranger. My love of hunting, fishing and the outdoors came from him and my father.Quote:
Originally Posted by bunji
the Cartridge Yes, not so much those old wood smelly clunky things that made the 303 famous :D
Missed this thread somehow.
My three complete Enfields
1917 SSA III* bitsa rebuild
1942 Lithgow No1Mk3*
1942 Longbranch No4Mk1*
Attachment 171019
Have another 1915 BSA III butchered for parts and a 1917 Enfield III* I'm leaving sporterised but I'm in the process of giving some love to.
@dogmatix Please apply a XXX rating to such pics in the future please! :D
Wait to you see Ray Trembath's milsurp collection!Quote:
Originally Posted by bumblefoot
Hey anyone have a 303 enfield slingfor sale ? Thought this would be the best place to ask
Send forum member 'private joker' a PM.
After picking up my 303 tonight , and reading this thread....'
Im looking forward to putting a few rounds through my "new" 30
might have to dust off my Churchill 303 sporter and scope the old bitch up
I have my fathers .303 BSA re-barrel which he bought before I was born [now in my seventies ] Was first gun I used on big game,and I may take it out again.
just stepping into the world of cast for the 303 as a plinking load, save the jackets for hunting- had no luck testing today but possibly running them too fast , will need to dick around with it more than i thought haha- soo it can wait for another day-
still happy with the speer hot cor 311s and 174 ppsn 312s though.
Attachment 172428Attachment 172429Attachment 172430Attachment 172431
This thread has been a nostalgia trip for me.Of the 5 .303's I own this one will be pried from my cold dead hands.
