A modern .303 Sporting Rifle

BRACES of Bristol - Sauer 100 XTA Stainless Package
I must say I've also always found it odd that it's not a chambering found more widely given it's incredibly long service life and the fact that rifles and ammunition must have been ubiquitous across the empire and Commonwealth. Lots of other ancient, one-time black powder cartridges were picked up by manufacturers. Or is it the fact that it's rimmed that complicates things? Or that it's just outclassed by modern offerings?

@karamoja - that thing is lovely. I like the idea of finding something like that for stalking but know I would pick or produce a lemon...
 
For sure WSSX if it had been an American service cartridge then it, like their .45-70 and 30-40 Krag might never have gone out of production by the ammunition makers. Whereas in the non-USA Anglophone nations I'm thinking that only there were two companies involved in large scale sporting ammunition manufacture Eley-Kynoch and Dominion (of Canada)?

The other disadvantage of it being a military calibre in non-USA Anglophone nations is that where it wasn't outright prohibited for a civilian to possess a weapon capable of chambering the .303 military cartridge that familiarity breeds contempt. Just a here people felt about the .308 Winchester when it in the guise of 7.62x51 was our military calibre in the 1960s through to the 1980s?
 
Hi wssx,
It's a standard PH supreme. The stock was worked over thirty years ago and the rear sight work was done by Ron Wharton. I had a friend copy the Parker Hale one piece mount in steel. Artisan Forge/Gary cut new dovetails to fit Talley rings. It has a long Lee bolt head safety and a long Lee magazine. All of those things are simple to achieve just time finding bits. My father bedded the forend. It will put two touching and one just off and up to the left.
Find one with a good bore and you should be able to make it shoot well.
I think the most interesting challenge will be making the switch to monometal bullets. I don't know why it seems more of a dark art than with any other calibre?
I will be looking at using GS bullets that Tabok kindly introduced me to in the near future. Any advice or help from anyone greatly appreciated!
I am interested in the .312 and .311 and how that may affect accuracy! It would be sensible to go lighter to 150gn ?
Cheers K
 
Having read a bit more, if I were to choose a rimmed cartridge I think I would take the Russian 7.62x 54R over the .303.

I would like to see how a nice Finnish Mosin compared to the best Lee Enfield.
 
enfieldspares said:
For sure WSSX if it had been an American service cartridge then it, like their .45-70 and 30-40 Krag might never have gone out of production by the ammunition makers. Whereas in the non-USA Anglophone nations I'm thinking that only there were two companies involved in large scale sporting ammunition manufacture Eley-Kynoch and Dominion (of Canada)?

The other disadvantage of it being a military calibre in non-USA Anglophone nations is that where it wasn't outright prohibited for a civilian to possess a weapon capable of chambering the .303 military cartridge that familiarity breeds contempt. Just a here people felt about the .308 Winchester when it in the guise of 7.62x51 was our military calibre in the 1960s through to the 1980s?
Click to expand...

Were ex-service types sniffy about .308? I guess I can see that.

It's a shame in a way when you think of the success of German and Scandinavian designs in the sporting world. History, traditions and a bit of performance maybe
 
karamoja said:
Hi wssx,
It's a standard PH supreme. The stock was worked over thirty years ago and the rear sight work was done by Ron Wharton. I had a friend copy the Parker Hale one piece mount in steel. Artisan Forge/Gary cut new dovetails to fit Talley rings. It has a long Lee bolt head safety and a long Lee magazine. All of those things are simple to achieve just time finding bits. My father bedded the forend. It will put two touching and one just off and up to the left.
Find one with a good bore and you should be able to make it shoot well.
I think the most interesting challenge will be making the switch to monometal bullets. I don't know why it seems more of a dark art than with any other calibre?
I will be looking at using GS bullets that Tabok kindly introduced me to in the near future. Any advice or help from anyone greatly appreciated!
I am interested in the .312 and .311 and how that may affect accuracy! It would be sensible to go lighter to 150gn ?
Cheers K
Click to expand...

It all sounds like good fun and it's not doubt very rewarding. Maybe one day when I can dedicate more time to tinkering!
 
caberslash said:
Having read a bit more, if I were to choose a rimmed cartridge I think I would take the Russian 7.62x 54R over the .303.

I would like to see how a nice Finnish Mosin compared to the best Lee Enfield.
Click to expand...
I collect Finnish Nagants and Lee Enfields. Without hesitation I would say that the Finns have a significant accuracy edge. No fussing with bedding. Excellent triggers. The Arctic birch stocks are tough and stable. Bore and chamber dimensions are consistent.
Of course, the Model 24s, 27, 28, and 39's will usually outshoot any of the original M91 configuration rifles. I have a "sniper" that is non-issue (I'm 99.99% certain) built by someone long ago with an original 3X Russian PU scope on a SAKO M39. I have shot groups that clustered on the tip of the vertical post. One rifle I would like to try is a SAKO-built, 1967 dated Model 39. Absolutely new condition and found in a sporting goods store in California of all places. Can't make myself deflower it. I don't know if they make it any more but (somewhere) I have 400 pcs of Norma "match" brass I purchased 20 years ago for that rifle.~Muir
 
Muir said:
I collect Finnish Nagants and Lee Enfields. Without hesitation I would say that the Finns have a significant accuracy edge. No fussing with bedding. Excellent triggers. The Arctic birch stocks are tough and stable. Bore and chamber dimensions are consistent.
Of course, the Model 24s, 27, 28, and 39's will usually outshoot any of the original M91 configuration rifles. I have a "sniper" that is non-issue (I'm 99.99% certain) built by someone long ago with an original 3X Russian PU scope on a SAKO M39. I have shot groups that clustered on the tip of the vertical post. One rifle I would like to try is a SAKO-built, 1967 dated Model 39. Absolutely new condition and found in a sporting goods store in California of all places. Can't make myself deflower it. I don't know if they make it any more but (somewhere) I have 400 pcs of Norma "match" brass I purchased 20 years ago for that rifle.~Muir
Click to expand...

Thanks for sharing!

I heard that Tikka made Mosins as well and in lower numbers than Sako, hence they are more collectable.

Good to see quite a few US collectors have saved Fin Mosins from being sporterised.

Do you have any Fins that are chambered for 7.62 x53R? The internet does not yield much info apart from the fact that Lapua still makes cases for them.

Took a quick look at the UK market and shops were wanting £500 for wartime Russian examples with cracked stocks, no thanks!
 
caberslash said:
Thanks for sharing!

I heard that Tikka made Mosins as well and in lower numbers than Sako, hence they are more collectable.

Good to see quite a few US collectors have saved Fin Mosins from being sporterised.

Do you have any Fins that are chambered for 7.62 x53R? The internet does not yield much info apart from the fact that Lapua still makes cases for them.

Took a quick look at the UK market and shops were wanting £500 for wartime Russian examples with cracked stocks, no thanks!
Click to expand...
All of them are, actually. There is really no difference between a 7,62x53R and a 7.62x54R. It is a manufacturing nominclature. The decimal points in the round were rounded up to 54mm by some and down to 53mm by others. I think there are some differences listed by CIP but everyone makes ammo that will interchange. Including Lapua, which by the way, is the maker of the brass I've been hording- Not Norma.
~Muir

PS: And yes: the Finn Nagants I was buying for $30 each in the early 80's are now $500 and up. My Model 24s are selling for $750 and up... My Model 27 Cavalry Carbine is pretty much priceless.
 
bogtrotter said:
Had a client that stalked with a sporterised LEE Enfield nice rifle ,he has passed now don't know what happened to.the rifle.
Click to expand...

Periodically a chap used to come on the BASC days at BSRC with a sporterised lee enfield. Also one of the regular members has a scope mount on a military configuragtion.

Scrummy
 
Muir said:
Only if you're willing to part with them... :( ~Muir
Click to expand...

I'm not selling mine , they are ridiculously accurate rifles . The M39's sell for well north of $1000 northern pesos these days , I paid $250 for mine about 15 years ago . I have been tempted to build something weird on a 91/30 Mosin Nagant that I have . Bubba had his way with it and made a mess of the bolt handle , so no collector value . Fortunately , Mosin bolts are readily available and cheap , they also have the advantage of a removable bolt head so there are no headspace concerns with a different bolt body . I can just install the original bolt head on the replacement body and I'm good to go . The 7.62X54 r is a very potent round , I wouldn't hesitate to hunt any of our big game with it , future project .

AB
 
Muir said:
All of them are, actually. There is really no difference between a 7,62x53R and a 7.62x54R. It is a manufacturing nominclature. The decimal points in the round were rounded up to 54mm by some and down to 53mm by others. I think there are some differences listed by CIP but everyone makes ammo that will interchange. Including Lapua, which by the way, is the maker of the brass I've been hording- Not Norma.
~Muir

PS: And yes: the Finn Nagants I was buying for $30 each in the early 80's are now $500 and up. My Model 24s are selling for $750 and up... My Model 27 Cavalry Carbine is pretty much priceless.
Click to expand...

Yes , that M 27 Cavalry carbine is a bit rare lol . I've heard that they have a nasty habit of blowing up , something that dangerous should be disposed of in a remote location .............. like mine . I will gladly dispose of that potential facial hand grenade for you ............ think of the children ................ you're welcome .

AB

PS Use lots of padding when you ship it , just in case .
 
Muir said:
All of them are, actually. There is really no difference between a 7,62x53R and a 7.62x54R. It is a manufacturing nominclature. The decimal points in the round were rounded up to 54mm by some and down to 53mm by others. I think there are some differences listed by CIP but everyone makes ammo that will interchange. Including Lapua, which by the way, is the maker of the brass I've been hording- Not Norma.
~Muir

PS: And yes: the Finn Nagants I was buying for $30 each in the early 80's are now $500 and up. My Model 24s are selling for $750 and up... My Model 27 Cavalry Carbine is pretty much priceless.
Click to expand...

I picked up a crate of twelve unfired Polish m44's ( factory 11 stamped ) for the grand total of $ 600 CDN in the early eighties . I gave half away for Xmas presents and traded the rest for what ever rifle I had to have at the time . Needless to say , I should have kept a few , they were extremely accurate little carbines and sell for about $ 750 to $ 800 dollars now .

AB
 
A friend has just brought a H&H double in 303 british. But as you con imagine, the price tag was eye watering!
Would make a nice deer rifle, but stspect this will only come out of the safe on special occasions.
 
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