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NitroX
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Reged: 25/12/02
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Loc: Barossa Valley, South Australi...

.303 British – War Horse of the Empire
#386745 - 10/09/24 06:54 PM

.303 British – War Horse of the Empire

September 1, 2024
Updated:September 1, 2024
Guns
9 Mins Read

The .303 British is one of the most well-known cartridges of the 20th century. It served as the official British military cartridge for more than 60 years and although not popular in America, this rimmed cartridge was very popular for hunting in all the former British colonies. It is still going strong in South Africa, Canada and Australia.

https://africanxmag.com/2024/09/01/303-british-war-horse-of-the-empire/

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John aka NitroX

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Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"

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93x64mm
.416 member

Reged: 07/12/11
Posts: 4204
Loc: Nth QLD Australia

Re: .303 British – War Horse of the Empire [Re: NitroX]
#386746 - 10/09/24 07:46 PM

Nothing wrong with the old .303!
It flattens pigs pretty well if you do your part.

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DarylS
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Reged: 10/08/05
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Re: .303 British – War Horse of the Empire [Re: 93x64mm]
#386754 - 11/09/24 03:08 AM

My old buddy Keith still has at least a few of them, including one special with a .308 groove diameter, but chambered with a .303 factory reamer so he could use standard .303 in a pinch.
He wanted it for 220gr. Hornady RN's, but that rifle absolutely loves Hornady .308", 150gr. Interbond bullets, do that is what it gets exclusively and have worked a treat on deer, muleys and WTails, as well as moose and elk.
IIRC, he's only running them about 2,700fps. This is on a P-14 action.

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Daryl

"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V

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93x64mm
.416 member

Reged: 07/12/11
Posts: 4204
Loc: Nth QLD Australia

Re: .303 British – War Horse of the Empire [Re: DarylS]
#386755 - 11/09/24 05:50 AM

The P14 is a great platform to run the 303.
My load which I would not recommend in a normal SMLE is 46gn of AR2208 (VARGET) using Remington brass, federal 210 primers & 150gn Speer projectiles.
Measured velocity 2695fps average - but with a deviation of under 10fps.
It loves this load!

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DarylS
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Re: .303 British – War Horse of the Empire [Re: 93x64mm]
#386756 - 11/09/24 07:00 AM

Seems to me, Keith uses 46gr. IMR4064 in this rifle. I think it also has a 26" bl., IIRC- but might be 24".

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Daryl

"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V

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85lc
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Reged: 19/01/18
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Loc: Georgia, USA

Re: .303 British – War Horse of the Empire [Re: DarylS]
#386761 - 12/09/24 03:51 AM

Very good article. Growing up, I was ignorant and looked down on the old 303 as an out of date cartridge. Later, I learned that many of the older cartridges are very effective. The 303 and the 30/40 Krag are very nice cartridges and would meet 90% of our medium and big game needs, the exception being for long range shooting where their trajectory make kill shots very iffy.

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RB

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93x64mm
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Reged: 07/12/11
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Loc: Nth QLD Australia

Re: .303 British – War Horse of the Empire [Re: 85lc]
#386763 - 12/09/24 06:21 AM

Quote:

Very good article. Growing up, I was ignorant and looked down on the old 303 as an out of date cartridge. Later, I learned that many of the older cartridges are very effective. The 303 and the 30/40 Krag are very nice cartridges and would meet 90% of our medium and big game needs, the exception being for long range shooting where their trajectory make kill shots very iffy.

Basically twins the 303 & the 30/40 - close enough for a deer or pig not to notice any difference!

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Hendo
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Reged: 23/05/18
Posts: 45
Loc: South Australia

Re: .303 British – War Horse of the Empire [Re: 93x64mm]
#386764 - 12/09/24 11:20 AM

Among my collection of .303's I have a BSA model D magazine rifle. made by BSA in the late 40's using a P14 action with ears ground off, modified bolt , new stock and barrel etc. anyway. I use 43 gn of 2208 behind the Hornady 150 grain and its a one inch 100 metre accuracy rifle all day with a Weaver K4 scope. and a nice rifle to shoot. why would anyone bother with a new plastic stainless thing when these lovely old rifles are still around?

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Rule303
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Reged: 05/07/09
Posts: 5063
Loc: Woodford Qld

Re: .303 British – War Horse of the Empire [Re: Hendo]
#386773 - 13/09/24 05:42 AM

I have a No5 Jungle Carbine and a sporterised No4. The no 4 needs a way taller front sight but shoots well when using an Aimpoint. the No5 I can no longer make out the front sight clearly so gets little use. Also a Ruger No 1 in 303.

I have taken a few pigs with all of them and they don't complain, neither has the odd fox, rabbit and cat.

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DarylS
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Re: .303 British – War Horse of the Empire [Re: Rule303]
#386779 - 13/09/24 07:36 AM

I bought a #4 some time ago and with a stroke of "wisdom", used .300WinMag reamer to cut the chamber for a .350Rem. Mag. Case necked to hold a .312" bullet.
The barrel on the rifle had a .315" groove to groove "new" barrel with only 2 grooves. I was told it was a machine gun barrel. That I do not know for sure, but with a load of Re#19 and 174gr. .312" rn HORNADY, it makes 2,960fps and put 5 into 1 1/2" at 100 meters.
I've not hunted with it, but did install a higher front sight as the front "battle" sight puts the impact 14" high at 100 yds.
I have not shot it since changing the front sight. No alteration of the extractor was needed.
I fiddled with the mag. lips a bit, but it will only feed 2 rounds properly. No big deal as it has a 5 round short mag.
I thought I had made a new wildcat but found Ken Waters had already done this a year before I did. Ken called it a .312 Express.

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Daryl

"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V

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Rule303
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Re: .303 British – War Horse of the Empire [Re: DarylS]
#386794 - 14/09/24 06:22 AM

Daryl I am told the No4 made by Savage had the 2 grove barrels and apparently shot very well.

I would light to have a Bren Gun barrel fitted to mine. They are chrome lined and whatever the Parkerizing done to the exterior works. Saw quite a few Brens on the Kokoda Track. Some the receiver was just about rusted away to being in not to bad condition but all the barrels were useable. Not a sign of rust on them.

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DarylS
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Reged: 10/08/05
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Re: .303 British – War Horse of the Empire [Re: Rule303]
#386807 - 15/09/24 02:15 AM

Thanks for that, Greg. I was hoping with the wide lands that the would be enough upsetage to seal 220gr. Hornady's but that didn't happen.

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Daryl

"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V

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Rule303
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Reged: 05/07/09
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Loc: Woodford Qld

Re: .303 British – War Horse of the Empire [Re: DarylS]
#386810 - 15/09/24 07:59 AM

Shame about that Daryl. The two lands were a war time money and production time expediency. The Hornady's, even with the jacket I would have thought would have the base swell up and form the seal.

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DarylS
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Reged: 10/08/05
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Loc: Beautiful British Columbia, Ca...

Re: .303 British – War Horse of the Empire [Re: Rule303]
#386811 - 15/09/24 10:28 AM

I have a 6.5 to sort out first but do have some 220's for testing.

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Daryl

"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V

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