Which is a more "classic" African cartridge, the 303 British or the 7x57 Mauser/275 Rigby?

[csmiffy]

The 7x57 was designed in 1892 and adopted as a military cartridge by Spain in 1893. The Americans with their 30-40 Krag rifles in the Spanish-American war felt Spain had the superior weapon leading to the development of the 30-03 & 30-06. The British using the 303 with cordite had a similar experience in the Second Boer War. As you would expect, there's a lot of 303 usage in places that used to be under British control and many of the countries that used the 7x57 for their military were in South America or often had some connection to Spain as a territory. I would guess that quite a bit of hunting with a 303 British has been done in Canada, Australia & India for example.

And in NZ it was usually the starter rifle for govt deer cullers after ww2. 303s have taken hundreds of thousands and probably millions of deer in NZ alone back then

 

[7x57Joe]

Had my 1905 9x56 at the range yesterday. Love shooting that rifle.

Planning on having my 1961 MCA stutzen out mid week for a bit of target practice.

 

[leslie hetrick]

If you roll your own, you can get seriously impressive performance out of the 303 with that action.
The old Brit can exceed the .308 when reloaded properly.

as a owner and reloader-shooter of both the .303 and .308, i find that statement a little over the top. for the .303 action is not as strong as the actions you find the .308 in. however if the .303 is in the p-14 action i would tend to agree some what.

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

Best answer is to own both and imagine the stories they could tell.

My Rigby has enjoyed an opportunity to go back to Africa, my Lee Speed hasn’t had the chance yet.

 

[BC Tal]

I did my large game hunting apprenticeship as a young lad with a .303 British. Glad I did. The .303 killed a few Canadian critters quite dead and efficiently. Quite patriotic and traditional in my home country. But the SMLE rifle and the .303 cartridge are so "old school" that they have long passed their "best before" date.
In contrast, the Germans got their hunting cartridge design correct with the 7x57mm. And the Mauser M98 rifle made to use that cartridge was, and still is, a classic. In the entire world, not just Africa.
The .275 Rigby is a wannabe, limited, British adaptation of the classic German design, and instead of 175 gr. RN bullets or even 160 gr. spitzers, the original British .275 Rigby design stipulates 140 gr. PSP bullets only. That limits the .275 cartridge to smaller game and lighter duty than the original, wonderful and versatile 7x57 was designed for.
I don't own a .303 any more, even though it holds a unique place in my heart as my first large game hunting cartridge. It's effectively obsolete.
But I still own a Wonderful Brno 22F 7x57, capable of fine accuracy and killing power with 140, 160, and 175 gr. bullets.
And a Kreighoff drilling in 7x57R, a Merkel BBF in 7x57R and they both deliver efficient, deadly bullets on game with a minimum of fuss, boom, or kick.
If you think all of Africa is all about British colonialism, certainly the .303 wins. But the 7x57 is better, in all design respects, and has just as much glorious history. The .275 Rigby may not presume to such glory. But some like the .275 and that's OK too. Good marketing.

I think every young hunter in Canada for 100 years before this generation (no disrespect, just reality) started out with or had a 303. I know I did, and still do, Ghost in the Darkness and all that. As an aside, I bought a Lee Speed sporter back in 2006ish and when I came back to the store while they did the transfer, apparently it was accidently sold and they forgot to remove it from stock.... yaaa. To this day i believe someone working at the store saw it and bought it under me. Anyway...
303 is iconic as a hunting cartridge in Africa, just a byproduct of it's popularity in general during the first half of the 20th century really. I know the 7x57 is and was just as popular, I have a Mauser Oberndorf in 7x57 and can't wait to complete that build.
7x57 maybe a better killer of a cartridge, but my God, 303 holds a place in this Canadian's heart.
Time for another martini!

 

[MS 9x56]

I don’t think you can say one or the other is more classic in Africa. They both have impeccable histories and longevity. I would call it a tie.

 

[Sarg]

Best answer is to own both and imagine the stories they could tell.

My Rigby has enjoyed an opportunity to go back to Africa, my Lee Speed hasn’t had the chance yet.

Very nice but where are the PHOTOS of the Speeder ?

Please !