Thread: 303 Gun Oil

yes found it same as bottle in NZShoota,s photo - about 70% full - fairly good order label for age - has to be over 50 years old - got it from Dad - PM me if interested

Originally Posted by Marty Henry

The original verson of hoppes had oil of mirbane (nitro benzene) as an ingredient. It got pulled out when it was proved that it caused cancer with long term exposure. Perfume was added to keep the smell as close as possible.
Ah but the smell of youngs 303, real mans aftershave.!

I remember the late Kim Williams having the original recipe and giving me some. It also had toluene as an ingredient.
It was great stuff. That and ammonia used to clean the copper from omark barrels.

Yes that would be awesome mate.

60 years ago I worked in Tisdalls Sports in Palmy after school and during the holidays. One of my jobs once a week was to oil the rifles on display. There was a big line of them unlocked and open to the public to take out of the rack and look at so they got very finger marked. The oil used was Youngs 303. Just the mention of it brings back so many youthful and happy memories.
I loved that job. They offered me a full time job but my solo Mum said I had to get a "trade". Lasted 3 years and then ran away from home to go shepherding.

Originally Posted by Tahr

60 years ago I worked in Tisdalls Sports in Palmy after school and during the holidays. One of my jobs once a week was to oil the rifles on display. There was a big line of them unlocked and open to the public to take out of the rack and look at so they got very finger marked. The oil used was Youngs 303. Just the mention of it brings back so many youthful and happy memories.
I loved that job. They offered me a full time job but my solo Mum said I had to get a "trade". Lasted 3 years and then ran away from home to go shepherding.

ahhh youthfull memorys the old Tutamoe sports day and sniffing the emptys from the clay bird shooting (was 4-5 ) - Dargaville sports store and looking longingly at a Diana lever action BBgun ( 6-7 ) and then same store in awe at an engraved Steyr Mannlicher 270

I bought a tin of .303 when ?I bought my 1st rifle, no4 in 1979. Used it for years but never liked the smell. And the fact that if you got it all over your hands, you could smell it sweating out of your body hours later. I thought 'this is probably not good' and stopped using it.

Barry the Hunter. Are you able to flick me an email from my profile please mate?

Originally Posted by Lozza

Barry the Hunter. Are you able to flick me an email from my profile please mate?

no appears not text on 0276733881 out this arvo back tonight

I seem to remember an aerosol version of Youngs 303? Remember the old man using it.

now someone correct me if I am wrong the original in a bottle had a very distinctive smell and was rumored to contain whale oil - the later model stuff in modern containers smelt nothing like the original but rather a mixture of diesel and maybe engine oil - definitely not the same recipe

Originally Posted by NZShoota

Attachment 75062

You been raiding my gun cupboard?

Chop3r. Could you PM me please?