ozarkhillbilly
New member
Does anyone make a bolt action in 303? I know ruger came out with a model 1 in 303 but has any one else, as popular as the caliber is/was I would think somebody makes or made a hunting rifle.
303 British
- Thread starter ozarkhillbilly
- Start date
Not that I know of, if you're wanting one you'll have to find an old sporter military rifle. If you don't want a two piece stock you'll need to find a P14 rifle to get a one piece stock. You could possibly make it work in a Siamese Mauser action as well.
Winchester built a few 1895 lever action rifles in .303 as well.
Winchester built a few 1895 lever action rifles in .303 as well.
trg42wraglefragle
New member
It's popularity, was due too so many cheap surplus rifles.
I guess no one made one due it being a rimmed cartridge, and most hunting rifles are not, and I don't think the market for a high priced 303 would've existed. Especially when buying a new rifle there were lots of other cartridges that were just as good.
Probably didn't help that it wasn't an American cartridge either.
It's like 7.62x54r, if there were no cheap Mosin Nagant flooding the market, it would be about as popular as 303 now is.
Out of curiosity, why do you want a 303 bolt action that isn't a Lee Enfield?
Just coz?
I guess no one made one due it being a rimmed cartridge, and most hunting rifles are not, and I don't think the market for a high priced 303 would've existed. Especially when buying a new rifle there were lots of other cartridges that were just as good.
Probably didn't help that it wasn't an American cartridge either.
It's like 7.62x54r, if there were no cheap Mosin Nagant flooding the market, it would be about as popular as 303 now is.
Out of curiosity, why do you want a 303 bolt action that isn't a Lee Enfield?
Just coz?
Cheapshooter
New member
Check around gun shops, pawn shops, etc. Not to hard to find a sporter in 303 British built on some sort of SMLE (Short Magazine Lee Enfield). Prices will vary from pretty cheap for a real Bubba model that can give you a barreled action for your own project, to near new commercial prices for a very well done sporter ready to go.
Enough around that have already been ruined as far as a military surplus rifle, so look for one of those rather than destroying the history of an original.
Enough around that have already been ruined as far as a military surplus rifle, so look for one of those rather than destroying the history of an original.
A No.4 (particularly a Savage or Long Branch) is allegedly a better, more accurate platform - many of them were converted to handle 7.62 NATO, which the SMLE can't handle, so the action is certainly stronger. Among other things, the iron sights (if you choose to retain them) are apertures on the rear receiver bridge rather than a rear V just in front of the chamber, which gives you a longer sight radius and better accuracy.
But the SMLE is excellent as a tough-as-nails, abuse-resistant platform to go hunting with if your ranges are short (around 200-300yd depending on the game you're hunting) and among the military bolt rifles it's got one of the largest magazines (where legalities don't interfere - they occasionally do) and fastest bolt actions on the planet. This is a firearm which is literally legendary for its rate of fire and toughness.
The P14, if you can find one, is probably more like what you're looking for and it has a five-round box and a Mauser bolt. The .303 version isn't anywhere near as common as the SMLE and the No.4, and if I ever found one I would not dare to offend the Gods by sporterizing it
. Many of them got converted to other calibres because it was originally designed around a military cartridge that would give the 7mm Remington Magnum a run for its money (0.287" 165gn Spitzer at 2785fps) and it could run breech pressures that would send an SMLE to the smelter.
Sadly, Ruger discontinued the No.1 in .303 some time ago and they told me (when I asked) that they had no plans to reintroduce it.
But the SMLE is excellent as a tough-as-nails, abuse-resistant platform to go hunting with if your ranges are short (around 200-300yd depending on the game you're hunting) and among the military bolt rifles it's got one of the largest magazines (where legalities don't interfere - they occasionally do) and fastest bolt actions on the planet. This is a firearm which is literally legendary for its rate of fire and toughness.
The P14, if you can find one, is probably more like what you're looking for and it has a five-round box and a Mauser bolt. The .303 version isn't anywhere near as common as the SMLE and the No.4, and if I ever found one I would not dare to offend the Gods by sporterizing it
. Many of them got converted to other calibres because it was originally designed around a military cartridge that would give the 7mm Remington Magnum a run for its money (0.287" 165gn Spitzer at 2785fps) and it could run breech pressures that would send an SMLE to the smelter.Sadly, Ruger discontinued the No.1 in .303 some time ago and they told me (when I asked) that they had no plans to reintroduce it.
Somebody must have wanted a .303 in a more traditional bolt action. The price is a little on the steep side IMO but here is an nice FN Mauser in .303.
trg42wraglefragle
New member
If you want a sporterized Enfield or P14, come to New Zealand for a holiday and grab 10 while your here. There are loads of them.
I would recommend no sporterizing one yourself.
You will pay more for an original one, have to spend time and/or money on it, destroy a piece of history (which are getting rarer) and you will probably halve its value. Especially a P14 in 303 in America, they'd be as rare as hens teeth!
I would recommend no sporterizing one yourself.
You will pay more for an original one, have to spend time and/or money on it, destroy a piece of history (which are getting rarer) and you will probably halve its value. Especially a P14 in 303 in America, they'd be as rare as hens teeth!
ozarkhillbilly
New member
Thanks for the info. I have a couple of SMLE's that I wouldn't dare sporterized and one that someone did a poor job of, but at least they didn't touch the barrel of.
I just thought it would be cool to have one in Remington 700 or a Winchester 70 or something like that to hunt with. Also it would be easier to scope.
I just thought it would be cool to have one in Remington 700 or a Winchester 70 or something like that to hunt with. Also it would be easier to scope.
ozarkhillbilly
New member
Taylorce1
Yes something like that, but you are right that is a little high.
Yes something like that, but you are right that is a little high.
Cheapshooter
New member
No, no, and never!
Unless you find one that some Bubba fool has already ruined!
1. They are more costly because they are more rare.
2. Their shorter barrel, and abreviated stock already make them look "sporty"
3. Unfortunatly for such a cool looking litle rifle they are well known for their "floating zero", and inaccuracy.
As a side note, the original No. 5 Jungle Carbine I had, and foolisly let go because of it's paper plate +@ 100 hard accuracy, is one of the reasons for rule #1 below Accurate, or not I wish I still had It.
kilimanjaro
New member
Unless you want to spend $1250 on the Ruger No.1 (which you won't regret, it's a fine rifle) , just pick up a sportered SMLE or No. 4. Still my favorite brush rifle.
I'd just remind you that there are other aspects to shooting than collecting.
The OP wanted a "sporting configuration" .303 British & doing a little (reversible, just swap the butt stocks back, work
) to a No 5 is one of the easiest, cheapest & fastest ways to do so.Another option would be to find a factory (Santa Fe or similar) sporterised No4 (not a No 1 the sight radius is a joke when that's converted), not a "bubba hack" job, & use that.
Incidentally the "wandering zero" has never been proven to be anything other than a myth, or an excuse to drop the No 5 in favor of the self-loading "Ess Ell Arr"
, which was replacing it. I know of at least 2 that hold zero perfectly.Cheapshooter
New member
But why bother? It's standard look is quite "sporty" without changing anything.
The wandering zero, or whatever, was an issue with the one I had. Not that it was a total waste for a hunting rifle. It was minute of deer accurate enough at 100 yards. But with a scope added (Yes, in my stupid days I did add a no gunsmithing, reversible scope mount) it never shot to the same zero every time I took it out. Close, but not exact.
I still contend an easy to find, already modified Enfield would be his best choice.
I nearly bought a very nicely done, but tragic to a collector Savage No4 Mk1 lend/lease gun from a shop in Macon Mo. last deer season for $250. Kind of sorry I didn't now.
BTW, I am not a "collector" as much as am acquirer of shootable military surplus guns. But with many already Bubbaed up old milsurps out there, and some reasonably priced commercial guns (not in the caliber of the OP however), why destroy the history, and charactor or a decent original?
Cheapshooter
New member
Their Jungle Carbines look very nice, but are not the originals. They are made from No4 Enfields.
The originals do have some differences in some extra milling to lighten them, and are marked No.5 MkI. Mine had a date of 1947 on it. Not sure when the originals started production, or when they stopped being made.
I'm sure that information is easy to fins though.
Here's another plug for a sporterized SMLE. This is the last No 4 I did. I've done a few and this is my favorite. It's not perfect, but it is my take on an African light rifle. What I had done: hole on bolt handle filled, bolt jewelled and parts blued. Action/bbl reblued, new stocks, rear flip up safari style sight, front hooded sight. Sporter mag. I also chopped the bridge off of the action. All-in I have $400+/- in this rifle. Glad I saw this thread. It reminded me that I need to pull it out and polish the feed ramp.
Let's try this again:
Let's try this again:
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