Who still hunts with the .303?

[TargetRick]

Very interesting, might have to get one! Might be a nice pair with my 7.62 x 54R Mosin Nagant!

As a reloader, I find it amusing that a .303 bullet actually measures .311 inches outer diameter, while a 30 caliber bullet measures .308 inches outside diameter.

The reason I mention this is that .303 bullets, at .311 OD, are the perfect size for 7.62 cartridges! They load just fine.

Would they load up in 7.62 x 39? Might have to find out one day, if I ever buy an AK-47 Kalashnikov!

[catnthehat]

Originally Posted by Big Grey Wolf

I would venture a guess that a 30-30 probably killed more game than any other caliber. The 30-06 would probably be a close second place. However the 303 would score quite high then dropped off in last 30 years when we had dozens of different calibers. The 30-06 was the go to caliber for grizzly bears in Alaska for many years.

One must remember however that the .303 was the standard in the British Commonwealth for many many years and is still used around the Wirld, not just North America .
In Canada however I think the Enfield was King for quite a while , not sure now however .
The fact remains that in a good condition rifle it is deadly on any animal in North America
Cat

[Bushleague]

Originally Posted by Big Grey Wolf

I would venture a guess that a 30-30 probably killed more game than any other caliber. The 30-06 would probably be a close second place. However the 303 would score quite high then dropped off in last 30 years when we had dozens of different calibers. The 30-06 was the go to caliber for grizzly bears in Alaska for many years.

The .303 british however, was popular internationally well before the 30-06 or the 30-30 were. World wide I think it would be safe to say that the .303 British would be a contender for first place. On this continent I think you would be right, but I do think the common claim that the .303 having killed more moose in North America than any other cartridge probably has some merit.

The way new cartridges come and go these days, I don't believe that any of those old cartridges will ever be challenged in terms of the amount of game they accounted for.

[7magtime]

Originally Posted by Bushleague

The .303 british however, was popular internationally well before the 30-06 or the 30-30 were. World wide I think it would be safe to say that the .303 British would be a contender for first place. On this continent I think you would be right, but I do think the common claim that the .303 having killed more moose in North America than any other cartridge probably has some merit.

The way new cartridges come and go these days, I don't believe that any of those old cartridges will ever be challenged in terms of the amount of game they accounted for.

Agreed. My grandfather said he got all his moose in his earlier years with an old .303, he said a lot of guys used them in the Edson area back in the day....

[Bushleague]

Originally Posted by 7magtime

Agreed. My grandfather said he got all his moose in his earlier years with an old .303, he said a lot of guys used them in the Edson area back in the day....

Not to put too fine a finger on the exact situation, but in my observations, a pretty significant percentage of the cow moose killed in northern AB are still taken with the .303.

[Barry D]

if my memory serves me right, the Speers hand load book says the 303 has killed more game than any other calibre.

[Big Grey Wolf]

My Dad sold 303's in hardware store for years for way less than $100 bucks. He could not keep them on the racks as every farmer bought one for moose hunting. Some that came out of crate never used during WWII were super accurate as had not fired large numbers of steel shells. My understanding was the high quality alloy steel used for barrels was why they maintained their accuracy.

[tromanowski87]

Shot my first 4 deer with my sporterized MKII, and it has never failed me! It sat in the safe for a few years, until called upon to help my brother out down his first deer. I will shoot it occasionally out of nostalgia, and know that if I ever hunt thick bush or really extreme weather, I can call on it without fail. Hopefully my daughter will grow into it (she’s 3, so I’ve got some time haha) and she can also carry on the tradition.

[Sashi]

The 303 British makes an excellent back-up rifle, Camp rifle, And bush rifle, With the Magazine in your coat pocket, it is good protection (with bolt open) strapped on your back when riding your atv.

[Pioneer2]

Has been putting round holes in square heads since 1888.

[Puma]

I make a point to take my #5 out at least one day a year for Deer, usually around 11 November.

[Puma]

Originally Posted by Barry D

if my memory serves me right, the Speers hand load book says the 303 has killed more game than any other calibre.

The quote in the Speer Number 9 book is, "The .303 cartridge has probably killed more game in Africa than any other cartridge - and also wounded more "

The quote also refers to the fact that thousands of SMLE were sold to settlers after the Boar War along with hundreds of thousands of full metal cased cartridges, which maybe somewhat responsible for the wounding comment ?

[Pioneer2]

Bell had no problems braining elephants with a pair of .303's or later with the 6.5 MS and 7x57.

[SnipeHunter]

I was really leaning towards .303 No.4Mk1 but ended up making another good choice with a 6.5x55 M96.

Had I known about the Woodleigh .312 diameter bullets @ 130gr, 174gr & 215gr maybe I would have made another choice.

Is there really a better all-round option for North American big game inside of 200 yards than a .303?

[58thecat]

Originally Posted by Pioneer2

Has been putting round holes in square heads since 1888.

Rule 303......


As for the comment about wounding game....can be said for all calibres....on the planet....

[270person]

Originally Posted by SnipeHunter

Is there really a better all-round option for North American big game inside of 200 yards than a .303?

Yes.

[obsessed1]

Originally Posted by 270person

Yes.

Please explain. What would make a better sub 200'yard hunting caliber?

[6.5 shooter]

Not a fan of the .303 personally but they served our Ranger forces in the NWT for a long time.....Till Ruger came up with a better?? Idea...

My brother still hunts with a .303 and has done so for 55 years.

[Huntsman]

Originally Posted by 6.5 shooter

Not a fan of the .303 personally but they served our Ranger forces in the NWT for a long time.....Till Ruger came up with a better?? Idea...

My brother still hunts with a .303 and has done so for 55 years.

Ruger??
It was Sako/Tikka who won the bid.

[6.5 shooter]

Originally Posted by Pioneer2

Has been putting round holes in square heads since 1888.

High rates of volley fire does not equate to marksmanship .. just dumb luck.

[coyoteman]

The 303 war surplus rifle,was without a doubt the most used moose and caribou rifle used in nfld,in the beginning the full metal jacket bullets were ineffective.With the advent of lead tip bullet however that changed.My father got one new in the grease,Trimmed the forestock,and used it with iron sites.Near Badger after a hvy snowfall on snowshoes,he walked into a large herd of moose bedded down,He shot 5 moose in rapid succession,enough for everyone in the hunting party.The 303 very reliable low maintence rifle--Probably the best ever made in that regard.

[Bushleague]

Originally Posted by SnipeHunter

I was really leaning towards .303 No.4Mk1 but ended up making another good choice with a 6.5x55 M96.

Had I known about the Woodleigh .312 diameter bullets @ 130gr, 174gr & 215gr maybe I would have made another choice.

Is there really a better all-round option for North American big game inside of 200 yards than a .303?

6.5 is a great round, IMO one of the best deer rounds ever invented, and I've never had a M96 that wasn't a tack driver. In my experience the M-96 is, on average, one of the most accurate Millsurp rifles, while the Lee Enfield is definitely not. That said, the LE has more convenient safety, and neither the safety or the bolt handle need any modification to work with a low mounted scope scope... so I'd take an acceptably accurate LE over a M-96 tack driver for general hunting purposes any day.

And while I don't know if the .303 is the absolute best round at under 200 yards, I feel that within that range it leaves little to be desired. In short, I feel that if one is shooting with irons, those irons may as well be mounted on a Lee Enfield.

[Bushleague]

On a side note, I have a Tragically Hip sticker I've been contemplating putting on the buttstock of my Lee Enfield. Cant decide if that would be cool or cheesy.

[6.5 shooter]

Originally Posted by Huntsman

Ruger??
It was Sako/Tikka who won the bid.

The summer, the government signed a $32.8 million contract with Colt Canada to manufacture 6,820 rifles. The guns will be distributed to the Rangers starting in early 2017 and phased in over three years, until they are fully equipped in 2019.
The new rifle for the Canadian Rangers, the C-19, has red markings that will make it highly visible.
The guns were designed by Finnish gunmaker, Sako Tikka Rifle, but will be made at a plant in Kitchener, Ont., which is expected to hire an additional 30 people for the job.

And you would be correct my mistake....the just look like Rugers

[FellSwoop]

Just to keep this thread alive a little longer.
Just checked my ammo cabinet and I have 7 boxes of various factory loads for my SMLE. In addition, I have two remaining boxes of 10 british made 174 grain factory soft point hunting cartridges circa 1965. I had 5 boxes of these but gave some away to my BIL. These are what I'll take with me this year, they should fire as they do not show water damage, etc. I could ask my BIL if they worked in his SMLE.

[QBC]

I still hunt with my Mk4. I worked up a load using 174 gr Hornady round nose bullets. Shoots great and I don't hesitate on taking it out for any game.

[Tortex]

I got a mule doe draw this year... I anticipate being within 50 yards, so I might as well pull out the SMLE.

[catnthehat]

Jeepers, the wife got messing around in the bottom of the pantry this morning and found among other random stuff a spare magazine for a #4 and a complete rear sight assembly with !!
Going to take the scope off Dad’s rifle and put it on there fir this Fall
Cat

[Tortex]

What a great start to a Sunday morning Cat!

Best of luck with your Enfield this hunting season.

[catnthehat]

Originally Posted by Tortex

What a great start to a Sunday morning Cat!

Best of luck with your Enfield this hunting season.

Correction - EnfieldS - I have a bit of an obsession with them and the .303Brit cartridge itself , but in my own defence I think I come by it honestly through the family connection
Cat