.303 British, good for nothing or classic African cartridge?

[farrokhrt]

The 450/400 is going to Zim next August for Buffalo.

I am struggling to decide what to bring for PG. It will either be the pictured 30-40 Krag or a Henry H010CC in 45-70, with Skinner peep sight.

Handicapping? Sure - but I'm ok with the limitations.

Tim, is your 45-70 an Alexander Henry?

 

[HWL]

The ultimative test will take place……

.303 British vs. 7mm Mauser.

Next week, I will go to range with a .303 British 150 gr. Federal Soft Point round nose and a 7x57 140 gr Sierra Pro Hunter.

What you guys think are the finest hunting bullets in .303 and 7x57?

 

[Odinsraven]

Have a load of rem corelok 180gr devastating on warthog .......1943 Shirley sporterised after the war ..rebarrelled .... ...1.5moa with a scope

 

[leslie hetrick]

out of my late dad,s rebarreled 98 mauser in 7x57(ww-2 bring back) a sst-154 gr bc 530 or a sst 162 gr bc 550 at 2500-2600 fps are very deadly combo,s. I would take the 7x57 over the .303 for most shooting, if you must have a heaver bullet the 7x57 175 gr bullet(spitcer or round nose) at 2400 fps is a deadly load.

 

[Odinsraven]

out of my late dad,s rebarreled 98 mauser in 7x57(ww-2 bring back) a sst-154 gr bc 530 or a sst 162 gr bc 550 at 2500-2600 fps are very deadly combo,s. I would take the 7x57 over the .303 for most shooting, if you must have a heaver bullet the 7x57 175 gr bullet(spitcer or round nose) at 2400 fps is a deadly load.

Have and own a 7x57 its efficient the 7x64 has a certain authority ...... however usual arguments actually no Doctari Kevin Robertson kinda wrote the book Perfect Shot ...........

 

[Rule 303]

I would think both would do a good job. A 160 grain 7mm might penetrate better/further than a 180 grain 303 but the 303 lets more light in and blood out. So swings and roundabouts I guess.

 

[bruce moulds]

never forget the 215gn Woodleigh for the 303.
bruce.

 

[Odinsraven]

never forget the 215gn Woodleigh for the 303.
bruce.

have been gifted a few packs of org Kynoch 215 gr SP - from 1960's - Warthog beware !

 

[bruce moulds]

that is the kind of load that the old dead guys used to make the name for the 303.
in a ruger no1 you could possibly load the bullet a little faster than in a lee action.
bruce.

 

[Velo Dog]

Hi HWL,

You have posted a photo of two beautiful hunting rifles.
Bravo !

I’m very fond of Mauser 98’s, as well as reasonable descendants of it, such as the Brno model 21 / 600 / 602 series, the Winchester Model 70 CRF, CZ 550 models and a very few of the Pattern 17 / Pattern 14 Enfield, professionally built sporters, I’ve seen (to name but a few of the many).

To a lesser degree, I’m also fond of some but, not all of the English built, Pre-War Lee Enfield sporters I’ve seen, now and again.
Likewise, I’m very fond of some single shots, such as the Farquarson, Martini and Ruger #1’s again, among other similar ones.
(Double rifles ? - truly a design made in Heaven for sure.)

Regarding the 7x57, I’d prefer the aforementioned repeaters.
For the .303, I generally prefer the single shots.
However, I’ve also seen a very select few repeaters in .303, slant box magazine, etc. that were wonderful examples of the Gunmaker’s art.

Last but not least ..... “Before the lions pull me down” so to speak, indeed I WILL HAVE a double (side by side) in .303 for sure.
Just haven’t found the right deal on one yet.

My 7x57 is a Model 98 Mauser sporter, on a very pristine Venezuelan action.
It’s currently at my favorite Gunsmith’s shop (Andy Hawk, here in Anchorage AK) being done up in a slim, lightweight / schnauble forend, Etc., Bastone walnut stock, Bavarian “hog-back” style, for iron sights only.
When finished, it will be a real slick beauty, I’m sure.
I have no plans to scope this Mauser but, if I ever change my mind, I will have JJ Perodeau claw mount it, set for a low power, Austro-German scope, in low rings.

Anyway, Andy is an Artist that favors walnut and proper rust blue for sure.
With the long throat and fast pitch rifling in my 24” barreled 7x57, I expect it will throw 160 to 175 grainers real straight.

Anywhooo, if I suddenly woke up in Bush Africa, with a well made rifle, in either of these classic African calibers, I’d be pretty blooming happy.
And with same, I believe I’d be able to keep the stew pot boiling with same, no worries.

I shall look forward to your range results with both your rifles.

Cheers,
Velo Dog.

 

[ZG47]

Worth remembering that:
Rim-jams in .303 require both a partially machined cartridge case, i.e. a cheap Yank (or similar) case without the bevel on the bottom of the rim; and a badly setup or damaged magazine IN ORDER TO OCCUR.

Use properly machined, i.e. genuine production .303 cases and ensure that you magazine is in good order.

In regard to slant-magazine Mausers, the Brno rifles supplied to Estonia after WWI were probably slant-magazine rifles, chambered for .303. Good luck trying to find one though!

 

[Dr Ray]

I found the 303 not particularly accurate.

 

[sestoppelman]

Depends on the rifle. The No. 1 Ruger I had was a damn fine shooter with its preferred load. 180gr Sierra with enough 760 to equal a .308 Win. Aint no flies on that. The LSA sporter I have now, shown earlier in this thread shoots factory Remington 215's very well with the open express sights. The round itself may not be as inherently accurate as a few rounds but will shoot along with most given a good rifle.

 

[HWL]

never forget the 215gn Woodleigh for the 303.
bruce.

I will not forget that,....it will be the next attempt

For the 7x57 I think about the 175 gr Sierra Game King or something like that.


HWL

 

[HWL]

Depends on the rifle. The No. 1 Ruger I had was a damn fine shooter with its preferred load.

This is why I choose the Ruger No.1

I did not wanted the .303 British be handicapped by a Lee Enfield.



HWL

 

[bruce moulds]

there were some poor old lee enfields that actually went through 2 world wars.
their basic design did not include modern knowledge of what made rifles accurate.
that said, some of the old range rifles would hold better than 2moa at 1000 yds with mkVII ammo, also not noted for accuracy.
the cartridge itself is not inherently inaccurate.
come to think of it, the lee action trigger did not encourage tight groups.
bruce.

 

[Rule 303]

I found the 303 not particularly accurate.

I have used and seen SMLE's that were shot 4MOA- the Military accepted no worse than this- and worse. However most I have seen shot or used were considerably better then this, from 3MOA down to around the 1 MOA. All based on 5 shot groups. Those that would group around the 1 MOA were few and far between, but there. My Ruger No1 is a 1 MOA performer with 3 shot group with prefered ammo. Have to try the 215 Woodleights yet.

 

[7x57Joe]

I became enamored with the 7x57 in 1984 and since then have used Nosler, Hornady, and Speer bullets for deer and elk. All have worked as intended, with the game dropping within 50 yards at most and never requiring more than one hit. Never recovered a bullet as all exited the animal. Cannot advise on the .303 because I've never used that fine round on any game which is my loss.

 

[WAB]

I use the 175 gr Swift AFrames in my 7x57. They are truly deadly.

I am toying with the idea of a custom No1 in .303. I miss the ‘95 Win I once owned in .303.

 

[tarbe]

Tim, is your 45-70 an Alexander Henry?

Sorry @farrokhrt - I missed this post!

No, my current 45/70 is a Henry lever action H010CC. Octagon barrel on the bottom in pic.

I have had two No1 45/70 over the years, both in the only model they chambered it in, the Medium Sporter with the 22 inch barrel and Alexander Henry forearm.