.303 on land passed for .270

[Dieseljack]

I am still fairly new to deer stalking and just wanted to check views from people with experience with this.

I have put in a verification for a .303 with a deer condition (I know probably not the most practical deer calibre these days), I currently have a .243 with a deer condition and the land this was approved on is passed for .270 WIN but FL have told me that it needs to be passed for .303 as it's only passed for .270.
My understanding is that .270 is fast and higher energy so would of thought that .303 would be covered or do the police go on the bullet diameter rather than energy and range when approving land for calibres?

 

[12gsnapcaps]

.303 will not be covered. You will have to get the land re inspected/cleared or request/wait-for an open ticket.

 

[Tim.243]

I am still fairly new to deer stalking and just wanted to check views from people with experience with this.

I have put in a verification for a .303 with a deer condition (I know probably not the most practical deer calibre these days), I currently have a .243 with a deer condition and the land this was approved on is passed for .270 WIN but FL have told me that it needs to be passed for .303 as it's only passed for .270.
My understanding is that .270 is fast and higher energy so would of thought that .303 would be covered or do the police go on the bullet diameter rather than energy and range when approving land for calibres?

They work on the numbers scale with .303 being bigger than a .270. I have land cleared for .243 but shoot a .270 as I have for want of a better word "open " FAC

 

[VSS]

Just ask for "open" conditions. It saves all the faff of land clearance.
There's nothing to be lost by asking. They may not grant it, but you don't know until you try.
There is no set period that you must have held a FAC before getting open conditions. Some people get it at first grant, others after a year, and some not until first renewal.

 

[Tim.243]

Just ask for "open" conditions. It saves all the faff of land clearance.
There's nothing to be lost by asking. They may not grant it, but you don't know until you try.

This is fine, but best going in for a condition change with all your ducks T's and I,s in a line. The guidance is in print to read and use.

 

[Twodogs]

And .303 is bigger than .308, in bullet diameter, that really does confuse some FLO’s.

 

[12gsnapcaps]

And .303 is bigger than .308, in bullet diameter, that really does confuse some FLO’s.

Yup '.303' is actually .311 so a larger diameter bullet than .308

Many people don't know this though

 

[Lever357]

There's a gentleman in a club I am in who is having difficulty with his FEO granting a .303 for deer stalking due to the lack of suitable ammunition available.

 

[12gsnapcaps]

There's a gentleman in a club I am in who is having difficulty with his FEO granting a .303 for deer stalking due to the lack of suitable ammunition available.

PPU do a .303 soft point factory round which is readily available.

You even can get a handloader kit for £25 and self load yourself super easy without having to buy any presses or does.

 

[Donkey Basher]

There's a gentleman in a club I am in who is having difficulty with his FEO granting a .303 for deer stalking due to the lack of suitable ammunition available.

Was a put to say the same - an HBSA member has, I believe, been refused use of a .303 for quarry shooting due to lack of suitable ammunition now & going forward (non lead ammo).

 

[Dieseljack]

Thanks to everyone for the replies, much appreciated. I will see if I can change it to a .270 or 6.5x55, there's just something about old service rifles and I like the idea of deer stalking with even if its not the most practical option.

 

[VSS]

Thanks to everyone for the replies, much appreciated. I will see if I can change it to a .270 or 6.5x55, there's just something about old service rifles and I like the idea of deer stalking with even if its not the most practical option.

.270
Won't go wrong with that.
First choice for the more discerning stalker wanting a rifle with a bit of authority.


(PS: Ignore anyone who might tell you I'm biased).

 

[enfieldspares]

They've seen too many Forgotten Weapons videos! That or handled too many SMLE rifles with the sights graduated to two thousand yards and think that your .303 rifle will also need such a safety template!

 

[Tim.243]

Thanks to everyone for the replies, much appreciated. I will see if I can change it to a .270 or 6.5x55, there's just something about old service rifles and I like the idea of deer stalking with even if its not the most practical option.

I shoot muntjac to reds with mine, but also with the .243. The skin/ribs/heart/lungs are all quite soft so a 100gn round will soon deal with those!
Good luck.

 

[HonestJohn]

It’s all bollocks, there’s no safer caliber than another. You could be far more dangerous pinging a 22-250 around in the dark for foxes than a 500 Nitro Express for roe during legal daylight hours.

 

[Heym SR20]

Was a put to say the same - an HBSA member has, I believe, been refused use of a .303 for quarry shooting due to lack of suitable ammunition now & going forward (non lead ammo).

Fox Bullets make .311 non toxic bullets as do Peregrine in hunting as well as practice / target type bullets.

@Edinburgh Rifles import, stock as well as manufacture ammunition, and am sure that if you said please nicely they would do a 303 load if you didn’t want to roll your own.

The 303 did become obsolete as the traditional 174gn bullet was launched at about 2400 fps in standard loads.

Many lee enfields were converted to 308 - significantly higher pressure that 303 ammo, so meeting legal velocity thresholds with a lighter faster bullet should not be beyond capability. 1 in 10” twist stabilises most 308 lead free bullets, so same twist in the slightly bigger bore, hence short bullets of same weight should work just fine.

 

[Tim.243]

It’s all bollocks, there’s no safer caliber than another. You could be far more dangerous pinging a 22-250 around in the dark for foxes than a 500 Nitro Express for roe during legal daylight hours.

Any pictures?

 

[Heym SR20]

If asking for the additional calibre give as much information as you have available as to why you would like a 303, and why it offers no more danger to the general public than your 270.

Comment on the 270’s ballistics, muzzle energy and downrange energy and compare this with say the PPU softpoint hunting ammo.

Also compare it to the very widely used 308.

In other words demonstrate that there is not a lot of real world difference and that you are fully familiar with the ballistics, danger area etc

The authorities do have a “thing” about military cartridges. They often gain a mythical status in terms of effect - mainly because so many die during wars, especially the 303 as the likes of the Spitfire mounted 8 303 Brownings in its wings etc

Also read the Home Office guidance which should be in a sticky on the legal section.

 

[enfieldspares]

And maybe the OP has obtained one of the limited run of Ruger Falling Block or...which will help his case...one of the many, many, many various "grades" of P-Hale and Alfred Parker retailed conversions of both the SMLE and the No4?

 

[25 Sharps]

They work on the numbers scale with .303 being bigger than a .270. I have land cleared for .243 but shoot a .270 as I have for want of a better word "open " FAC

‘Unrestricted’ ?