a lithgow .303 rifle joined my collection, it took a while to find a good one.

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

i thought i would post pictures of my 7.62x51 2A1 RFI in 1965 #E2269, the rifle is in very good condition outside and ex inside. all numbers match with a ex bore. i load it down a bit as i think the pressure of the 7.62x51 may be a little high for the action, a 165 gr bullet at 2300 fps shoots very good with undue pressure on the action with cases lasting for 6-7 fireing.

@leslie hetrick
The Indian made Ishapore No1 Mk111 smle was a very beefed up rifle with far better steel than the original No3s and designed purely to handle the pressure of the 7.62x51 NATO round. This runs a higher pressure than the standard 308. So your rifle will handle the pressure of any 308 factory round without a problem. Loaded to higher velocity you should still get good case life if you neck size the cases.
Bob

 

[ZG47]

i thought i would post pictures of my 7.62x51 2A1 RFI in 1965 #E2269, the rifle is in very good condition outside and ex inside. all numbers match with a ex bore. i load it down a bit as i think the pressure of the 7.62x51 may be a little high for the action, a 165 gr bullet at 2300 fps shoots very good with undue pressure on the action with cases lasting for 6-7 fireing.

It is my understanding that the 2A1 receiver was made from a modern alloy steel BUT I do not have access to any authoritative works on the subject. I suspect that the Ishapore facility would have some sort of official archivist OR at the very least, a librarian to manage the arsenal’s technical library. You could make an inquiry via their website.