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

[coreydb]

The three are the trinity of the classic plains game calibers. The .303 is the oldest used, followed by the 7x57mm introduced during the second Boer War, and the 275 Rigby bringing up the last; which is the 7x57 Mauser re-named by the British after the Boer War. It was the most aerodynamic and devastating caliber of its time, proven again against us in the Spanish American War. Like the British, the US mimicked the Mauser with the Springfield 1903 and was sued by Mauser as a result..

 

[KoedoePoesPienk]

50 000 Boers say the 7x57

 

[Longwalker]

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.

 

[FlyGuy]

The 303 and 7x57 are classic African cartridges, and here in SA, many of us own and use both on a regular basis.
The 303 loaded with 174gr bullets for close Bushveld work and the 7x57 loaded with lighter 150 or 160gr bullets for more open country.

Both are quite capable of taking everything up to and including eland.

 

[Altitude sickness]

Ok it’s settled then

 

[Frederik]

You’ll rarely find a .303 British built on a true hunting action like a Mauser 98—aside from the occasional double rifle, most are based on military platforms like the Lee-Enfield or P14. A proper sporting .303, purpose-built for hunting rather than war, would be a rare and classic find—something truly special for a collector or traditionalist.

That’s why, to me, the 7x57 Mauser feels more “classic.” It was used in Africa before the Boer War as a working rifle—practical, reliable, and respected. While the .303 carries a strong military legacy, the 7x57 was the rifle of choice for hunters, farmers, and game wardens. It earned its reputation in the field, not on the battlefield.

 

[odonata]

While the .303 carries a strong military legacy, the 7x57 was the rifle of choice for hunters, farmers, and game wardens. It earned its reputation in the field, not on the battlefield.

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.

 

[PCC600]

.275 Rigby
or
Lee Speed in a .303

I have a 7mm Mauser which I really like . But my 1897 BSA&M Lee Speed is a ripper . Like it so much I got another retailed by Army & Navy circa 1904.

 

[PCC600]

What if I told you that you can like BOTH the

7x57mm MauserView attachment 707725View attachment 707726View attachment 707727View attachment 707728View attachment 707729View attachment 707730View attachment 707731View attachment 707732View attachment 707733View attachment 707734
AND the
.303 British
View attachment 707735View attachment 707741View attachment 707736View attachment 707737View attachment 707738View attachment 707739View attachment 707740

?

Obviously the correct answer is to get one of each…

Many excellent makers have turned out magnificent 7x57mm Mauser rifles over the years (including my above pictured Churchill Gun Makers Model Deluxe that was built on a 1943 military surplus Mauser Oberndorf action). But in terms of the .303 British, I personally consider the very best to be the pre World War I examples built by Holland & Holland on Lee Enfield actions.

Or on a Rigby slant box Mauser action . I think these are the ne plus ultra as far as far as Rigby bolt actions go .

 

[PCC600]

I couldn’t decide so I have both.

Rigby 275
View attachment 707815

Fraser 303
View attachment 707814

Ken

Two beautiful examples .

 

[PCC600]

The proper answer is a .275 magazine rifle and a .303 double.

Perhaps something like this ?

 

[PCC600]

7x57mm


Yeah, a bunch of game has been taken with the .303, but (IMO) it is pretty primitive cartridge compared to the 7x57.

A .303 British doesn't use .30 caliber bullets, which makes it pretty tough to find modern bullets.

Commonly available .303 bullets typically have less sectional density that most 7mm bullets, which lead to less penetration.

I wouldn't mind having an old Enfield for nostalgia, but give me a 7x57 for hunting.

In Australia it is super easy to find 303 bullets for and loaded ammo. It is a wonderful round . The sectional density on a 215 gr 303 bullet is excellent .

 

[PCC600]

What caliber did Bell use?

Bell did not use a 275 Rigby . But he did use a Rigby rifle firing the 7mm Mauser round . There is a big difference . The 275 Rigby fired a 140 Gr bullet and was primarily for stalking of deer in the Scottish Highlands hence the name of Rigby’s modern rifle . Rigby also marketed the 7mm Mauser which in Bell’s time fired a 175gr bullet . Rigby sales catalogues always differentiated between the 2 rifles.

 

[Witold Krzyżanowski]

275Rigby

 

[TOBY458]

The answer to the original question is quite easy. 30/06.

 

[Wyatt Smith]

You’ll rarely find a .303 British built on a true hunting action like a Mauser 98—aside from the occasional double rifle, most are based on military platforms like the Lee-Enfield or P14. A proper sporting .303, purpose-built for hunting rather than war, would be a rare and classic find—something truly special for a collector or traditionalist.

That’s why, to me, the 7x57 Mauser feels more “classic.” It was used in Africa before the Boer War as a working rifle—practical, reliable, and respected. While the .303 carries a strong military legacy, the 7x57 was the rifle of choice for hunters, farmers, and game wardens. It earned its reputation in the field, not on the battlefield.

The Mauser 98 is a true hunting action? I thought it was one of, if not the most, widely produced military actions ever.

 

[Wyatt Smith]

In another 100 years people will discussing the same thing, only the options will the AK, the G3 and the FAL.

 

[odonata]

The answer to the original question is quite easy. 30/06.

Which is why I have more rifles in the 30-06 chambering than any other (in addition to my 275 Rigby & 303 British). If possible, the easiest solution is always just to buy them all.

I've never sold a firearm & I've never regretted a purchase. I've only regretted the ones I passed on.

 

[steve white]

But...do we have to wear tweed with the 303 and loden with the 7x57? Probably don't want to wear either in Africa, by definition--A-frika literally means "without frost" LOL

Where is that write up on Tweed vs Loden, that was hilarious.

 

[dhughes66]

.275 Rigby
or
Lee Speed in a .303

I love the look of both a Rigby 275 and the Lee Speed in 303. Since the Lee Speed can be found for less, I will probably end up with it before the Rigby. I want both one day though!