Thread: .303s

I spoke with a knowledgeable friend who attended Carvells and I was at the Whangarei show, not sure why, could be fear of registration, could be the recession is having an effect. What we found was things are just not making the previously high prices with many 303s estimated to be around a $K getting to $500 - $700.

Don't want to burst your bubble but that's just observations from recent events.

Cheers

Originally Posted by Fssprecision

I spoke with a knowledgeable friend who attended Carvells and I was at the Whangarei show, not sure why, could be fear of registration, could be the recession is having an effect. What we found was things are just not making the previously high prices with many 303s estimated to be around a $K getting to $500 - $700.

Don't want to burst your bubble but that's just observations from recent events.

Cheers

Ive been told by several shops that 303 prices skyrocketed after the buyback and people had money to buy other rifles and 303's became popular at the time.
I guess that makes sense, but he also told me the same thing that for some time now the prices of 303's have dropped significantly and fully wooded ones can once again be bought well under $1000.

In saying that, there are some years/variants that are worth more than others, so it comes down to what you are buying. I hate to think how many rare models were converted into sporters, but Im told many collectors are buying the things and converting them back to the original wood.

Originally Posted by Old_School

Ive been told by several shops that 303 prices skyrocketed after the buyback and people had money to buy other rifles and 303's became popular at the time.
I guess that makes sense, but he also told me the same thing that for some time now the prices of 303's have dropped significantly and fully wooded ones can once again be bought well under $1000.

In saying that, there are some years/variants that are worth more than others, so it comes down to what you are buying. I hate to think how many rare models were converted into sporters, but Im told many collectors are buying the things and converting them back to the original wood.

Buying the parts to do it is harder than the sportered rifles themselves - and back in the day they weren't 'rare' as we consider it then, a lot of the trials and other types were considered just odd and generally got a worse price than a new in wrap normal production model that all the accessories fitted.

Originally Posted by No.3

Buying the parts to do it is harder than the sportered rifles themselves - and back in the day they weren't 'rare' as we consider it then, a lot of the trials and other types were considered just odd and generally got a worse price than a new in wrap normal production model that all the accessories fitted.

Yes, and its even more difficult these days to find one that has a decent barrel and been looked after.

The missing ejector screw on the No4 Mk2 is an easy fix but before you do that check to ensure the rifle has not been rebarreled to 7.62x51. This was a popular conversion with the Mk2's as they were the best rifles for target shooting and many were rebarreled in the 1960's to 7.62. In such instances the ejector screw was removed and the ejector was a blade on the left rear of the magazine. In any event you have at least $3,000.00 worth of rifles.