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Thread: 303 for hunting, finally.
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23-02-2020, 01:17 #1
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303 for hunting, finally.
Had the 303 for more than a year now, but always at last moment chose one of the other rifles. As per my previous posts, it’s a Lee (mod 1 Mark 11 I think) had barrel cut to 18 inch and a lie about old steel silencer put onto it.
It shoots a half inch at 100 m, but it’s still just a 303 always back of mind.
Took a guy from London to hunt Fri/Sat and he took .270, Cody took 7mm 08 and I just felt sorry for the old 303 and took it hunting for first time.
You know what, its short its light it comes up well and when I pulled the trigger the W/hog fell over, just like any other rifle.
I actually enjoyed the old Lee in the bush, there is something about it.
Shot the pig because it would not stand still for the Londoner, and he made me think with a comment he made.
"How old is the ol gun?" - 1918 I answered. He replied' Mmhu!, still does what it was made for"
Yea !!! it certainly does.
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23-02-2020, 07:32 #2
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Re: 303 for hunting, finally.
I've got a BSA No 1 MK 111 from 1914 and even with a barrel that resembles more of a smooth bore, it shoots 35mm - 40mm 5 round groups at 100m with handloads (took a while to fine tune it)
Every Kudu I've shot with it has gone down. Closet was 116m standing offhand and longest shot was 200m. It does the job!
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23-02-2020, 09:23 #3
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23-02-2020, 10:11 #4
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Re: 303 for hunting, finally.
Dunno, metallurgy of that era was not that sophisticated, and rifles were crudely mass produced, couple that with 100 years of exposure.
Over the years I have had many offers to get 303 rifles for free, turned them all down, simply don’t want anything to do with them.
But if it floats your boat treeman :)
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23-02-2020, 17:39 #5
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Re: 303 for hunting, finally.
[QUOTE=Messor
But if it floats your boat treeman :)[/QUOTE]
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The next rifle, the next rifle is what floats my boat.
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23-04-2020, 14:18 #6
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- Jan 2011
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- Somerset West
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Re: 303 for hunting, finally.
Treeman, don't be scared. MY old 303 took down Kudu, Njala, Bushbuck in your back yard (Patensie). Done Springbuck on 300m and Kudu on 40m. Last few years was all with 150gr GSC bullets, absolutely brilliant!
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23-04-2020, 15:05 #7
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Re: 303 for hunting, finally.
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Oh - no fear of it, it throws a projectile like any other rifle, perhaps a bit faster than some rifles, slower than most.
Just I know its a old .303, it can't be that good - you know mos
After hunting that last pig with it I realized it handles very well in the thick. Think I will put a few more rands into it.
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23-04-2020, 15:19 #8
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Re: 303 for hunting, finally.
You said it shot good groups, it carries and handles well and it killed what you aimed at. Keep it as a rifle for backup and rough terrain. You dont need to spend extra on it.
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23-04-2020, 15:31 #9
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Re: 303 for hunting, finally.
It has no recoil pad and I am using a piece of Boogi board(foam surf board insert as an recoil pad)
It also has no sling or sling mounts.
I have mounts aplenty, but no spare slings worth using and although I have 5/6 spare recoil pads none are the right shape, or even close.
So it needs a few Rands. I really actually enjoyed it in its 18 inch(including silencer) form.It carries well in one hand, a handy attribute in thick bush.
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23-04-2020, 16:43 #10
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Re: 303 for hunting, finally.
The advantage with the 303 is if you see your shot placement is off, you can run in the bullet and manually correct the path.
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