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nothing wrong with 22 lr and 12 ga

I have a historical interest in hunting guns of the post war years. the times were not sooo much better than before the war and cheap military rifles see a lot of use still in the 1950s, 60s.
was believing before the 303 was very common than in australia. the lee enfield was probably the common hunting rifle of the chaps in the northern territory for hunting crocodile or water buffs.

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The 303 was definitely a territory favourite for hunting pigs buff and scrub bullls.
But apparently the 25/20 was a very very popular buffalo hunting calibre with the professionals.
They used to ride after them on horseback and shoot them one handed in the head as they rode past.
But the 303 saw, a lot of use on many animals in Australia and was probably the most popular range rifle.
The wildcats were a way to sell flatter shooting rounds on by far the most abundant rifle action we have ever had in this country.
Most of those got sold to the well to do city hunters as the country folk used to use the standard 303 with cheap ex military ammunition, they used to file the tip off of them like the original dumdum round.

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.25/20? Or more likely the .44/40 common in many lever rifles in auctions in recent times from those years. And elsewhere in cattle Australia. Accounts of mounted buffalo shooters using the .44/40. Maybe other lever cartridges.

For the .25/20 in common use or any use on buffalo I would want to see it in evidence in writing from a reference from the time.

.303s were the National Rifle Association target rifles before changing to the 7.62.

I believe lots of SMLE .303s were in use all over Australia. Often cut down rifles to a half stock. Feral pigs and board hunting, donkeys, horses, deer etc. Used a lot in NZ as well.

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John aka NitroX

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

Edited by NitroX (05/02/22 08:03 PM)

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