The lee speed sporterised Enfield 303’s were often originally purchased by officers being sent to colonies. They would have done double duty as both a sporting arm as well as for military duty. But early 19th century officers didn’t do shooting if the enemy per se. That was for soldiers. An officer’s duty in the British army or the British colonial armies was to command.

However when it came to many of the nasty little colonial skirmishes the 303’s were definitely used.

And many farmers and others would have acquired 303’s - often slightly sporterised military rifles, as well as the lee speed style and they definitely where used in protecting homesteads and farms during many of the rebellions and bush wars. In Rhodesia, whilst the FN FAL was the military weapon of choice, if the farm got revved, anything that went bang was used in anger.