My next hunt will be with my .303

[Badboymelvin]

Hey guys,

I have decided that I am going to accomplish something that I have always wanted to do... take a deer with a .303
That might be a bit of a strange bucket-list thing, but ever since I was a kid and after watching the Australian movie 'Razorback' I've wanted a .303...
And I achieved that with the first centrefire rifle I ever owned being a No. I Mk III in .303

Over the years many, many .303's have come into my hands, some good and some bad. The one that sits in my safe at the moment is my favourite one... because I bought it for my Dad.
It's a Lithgow No. I Mk III and made in 1943 and when his gun licence expired and he decided to not renew it (too old apparently... ) I inherited his guns and his safe... and I actually sold them all off as I didn't really need any of them.
However I immediately regretted selling the .303...
My mate was looking at getting into deer hunting and didn't have a rifle so I sold him the .303 as a suitable first deer rifle. I think I knew I did the wrong immediately as when I sold it to him the stipulation was if he ever decides to sell it - it gets sold back to me.
Sure enough a couple months later he calls and says he's thinking of selling it as it's too heavy (wow! ) so I told him consider it sold and I straight away transferred the funds. As a bonus I got it back for $100 cheaper that what I sold it for...

So I know had it back and as I was going to use it as my loan rifle and wet weather rifle, I thought I'd better waterproof it!
This is where I had a few drama's with the old rifle. The buttstock and the fore-end were of 2 different types of wood and after I stained it and went to apply an oil finish, the finish would take the stain out of the buttstock. The fore-end was fine but try as I might, the buttstock wouldn't hold the stain.
I tried different finishes, Tru Oil etc... but all did the same thing. I would then have to sand back the stock again, steel wool smooth and re-stain. I had to do this probably half a dozen times and I was running out of ideas!
But then I was at my local car supplies store and in the paint section I saw a can of 2 part epoxy polyurethane clear coat. This was in a pressure pack and didn't require a spray-gun etc... I though to myself, "this just might do the trick!"
So I purchased a can and at $60 a can hoped it worked... it did. I applied 3 or 4 thick coats and it went on like glass with no runs. After 10 mins another coat was applied and the end result is a very hard, durable finish that is resistant to water, chemicals and almost anything else. The wood now is as tough as the rest of the rifle.

When I gave it to my Dad I fitted an old Japanese made Tasco 3-9 to it which I think suits it really well. It's not the clearest scope I own but it's rugged and reliable and certainly good enough for the type of hunting that I do.
So I had the rifle and I had a scope on it... what to feed it?
I got a good deal on some PPU 150gn ammo so I bought 100 rounds. I really wanted to stick with 150gn ammo if I could to achieve a flatter trajectory - but this particular rifle it seems hates 150gn projectiles. With the PPU ammo it grouped around 8" at 50m! I thought my gun was broken! And I had a 100 rounds of it...
Luckily I went with my mate and his Dad, and his Dad had loaded up some 180gn .303 ammo and he suggested I try that. The rifle shot this much better with slightly under 2" at 100m.
I was actually happy with this grouping considering the age of the rifle. When you take into consideration what the rifle may have been through in it's life, the varying tolerances of the barrel and chamber and the conditions it was made under - I'll take a 2" group any day.
And despite what people might say, it's plenty good enough for deer hunting.
The only fly in the ointment was his reloads were slow, only chronographing in at 2192fps. Still good enough for deer, but not really taking full advantage of .303 ballistics...
So I sold off the 150gn ammo that I knew it hated and purchased some PPU 180gn stuff. This was only $40 a box and much cheaper than the Winchester or Remington competition so I figured that's a good place to start...
I of course didn't mind spending more, but as all 3 were ballistically similar - and as the PPU was more available this was where I started.
The PPU 180gn stuff once again shot around 2" or slightly better at 100m and chronographed in at 2400fps, much better! This will do nicely...

So now I have the rifle, scope and ammo... what's the next step?
To get my first deer with a .303 - something I have always wanted to do and amazingly never done.
I've been hunting deer (or trying to!) for 30 years and owned countless .303's and have never taken a deer with one. I've gone out a few times armed with one but have never been successful... but that's going to change.
All my hunting trips from now on will be with the .303 until I tick getting a deer with one off my list.
The last few times I've been out deer hunting, I've had my Sauer .300WM. I feel extremely confident with that cartridge/ rifle combo in any situation, but that's going to stay in the safe until I take care of business with the trusty old .303.
Sure the .303 doesn't have the energy, trajectory or range that the .300WM does, but I don't think we need to discuss the effectiveness on the grand old .303 on medium game, do we?
If it hasn't taken more animals than any other cartridge - it would certainly be right up there.

So there's a bit of a backstory of my Lithgow .303 and my future plans for it.
In the next couple of weeks I have a Fallow and Sambar hunt planned and if successful I'll certainly be posting a hunt report.
As it's nearing winter and the rain and cold set in, I'm picturing myself in the thick bush and scrub. Wet and cold. And under these wet and cold miserable conditions I just can't picture any other rifle I'd rather have in my hands than my trusty old .303 ...

Wish me luck and thanks for reading.

Russ.

 

[Sarg]

Good luck bud.

Killed quite a lot with the old 303 & open sights back in the day, even Buffalo & Scrub Bulls, it has plenty of power with good bullets is even better !

 

[CBH Australia]

Great work and good luck.

 

[mark-hunter]

So now I have the rifle, scope and ammo... what's the next step?

Nice story of the family rifle, thanks for posting it! The rifle looks great!

First you haven't lost anything by dumping away light bullets.
With soft points always stick to heaviest bullets that hold good grouping.

Forget about flat trajectory myth. Hunting is all about getting close.
So, forget about sniping, and long range hunting.

Stick to point blank range of the rifle. I would guess 180 meters, cca, and zero the scope accordingly.
2 inch plus at 100 meters, cca.
Then go hunting.

Sambar is the largest deer. Dont take it lightly, get close.

Wish you luck!

 

[ofbiro]

Nice story, but there is one detail that my antique neurons dont allow me to understand: in which phase of the life of the Smelly was the furniture replaced?

 

[Zvikomborero Mudzamba]

Hey guys,

I have decided that I am going to accomplish something that I have always wanted to do... take a deer with a .303
That might be a bit of a strange bucket-list thing, but ever since I was a kid and after watching the Australian movie 'Razorback' I've wanted a .303...
And I achieved that with the first centrefire rifle I ever owned being a No. I Mk III in .303

Over the years many, many .303's have come into my hands, some good and some bad. The one that sits in my safe at the moment is my favourite one... because I bought it for my Dad.
It's a Lithgow No. I Mk III and made in 1943 and when his gun licence expired and he decided to not renew it (too old apparently... ) I inherited his guns and his safe... and I actually sold them all off as I didn't really need any of them.
However I immediately regretted selling the .303...
My mate was looking at getting into deer hunting and didn't have a rifle so I sold him the .303 as a suitable first deer rifle. I think I knew I did the wrong immediately as when I sold it to him the stipulation was if he ever decides to sell it - it gets sold back to me.
Sure enough a couple months later he calls and says he's thinking of selling it as it's too heavy (wow! ) so I told him consider it sold and I straight away transferred the funds. As a bonus I got it back for $100 cheaper that what I sold it for...

So I know had it back and as I was going to use it as my loan rifle and wet weather rifle, I thought I'd better waterproof it!
This is where I had a few drama's with the old rifle. The buttstock and the fore-end were of 2 different types of wood and after I stained it and went to apply an oil finish, the finish would take the stain out of the buttstock. The fore-end was fine but try as I might, the buttstock wouldn't hold the stain.
I tried different finishes, Tru Oil etc... but all did the same thing. I would then have to sand back the stock again, steel wool smooth and re-stain. I had to do this probably half a dozen times and I was running out of ideas!
But then I was at my local car supplies store and in the paint section I saw a can of 2 part epoxy polyurethane clear coat. This was in a pressure pack and didn't require a spray-gun etc... I though to myself, "this just might do the trick!"
So I purchased a can and at $60 a can hoped it worked... it did. I applied 3 or 4 thick coats and it went on like glass with no runs. After 10 mins another coat was applied and the end result is a very hard, durable finish that is resistant to water, chemicals and almost anything else. The wood now is as tough as the rest of the rifle.

When I gave it to my Dad I fitted an old Japanese made Tasco 3-9 to it which I think suits it really well. It's not the clearest scope I own but it's rugged and reliable and certainly good enough for the type of hunting that I do.
So I had the rifle and I had a scope on it... what to feed it?
I got a good deal on some PPU 150gn ammo so I bought 100 rounds. I really wanted to stick with 150gn ammo if I could to achieve a flatter trajectory - but this particular rifle it seems hates 150gn projectiles. With the PPU ammo it grouped around 8" at 50m! I thought my gun was broken! And I had a 100 rounds of it...
Luckily I went with my mate and his Dad, and his Dad had loaded up some 180gn .303 ammo and he suggested I try that. The rifle shot this much better with slightly under 2" at 100m.
I was actually happy with this grouping considering the age of the rifle. When you take into consideration what the rifle may have been through in it's life, the varying tolerances of the barrel and chamber and the conditions it was made under - I'll take a 2" group any day.
And despite what people might say, it's plenty good enough for deer hunting.
The only fly in the ointment was his reloads were slow, only chronographing in at 2192fps. Still good enough for deer, but not really taking full advantage of .303 ballistics...
So I sold off the 150gn ammo that I knew it hated and purchased some PPU 180gn stuff. This was only $40 a box and much cheaper than the Winchester or Remington competition so I figured that's a good place to start...
I of course didn't mind spending more, but as all 3 were ballistically similar - and as the PPU was more available this was where I started.
The PPU 180gn stuff once again shot around 2" or slightly better at 100m and chronographed in at 2400fps, much better! This will do nicely...

So now I have the rifle, scope and ammo... what's the next step?
To get my first deer with a .303 - something I have always wanted to do and amazingly never done.
I've been hunting deer (or trying to!) for 30 years and owned countless .303's and have never taken a deer with one. I've gone out a few times armed with one but have never been successful... but that's going to change.
All my hunting trips from now on will be with the .303 until I tick getting a deer with one off my list.
The last few times I've been out deer hunting, I've had my Sauer .300WM. I feel extremely confident with that cartridge/ rifle combo in any situation, but that's going to stay in the safe until I take care of business with the trusty old .303.
Sure the .303 doesn't have the energy, trajectory or range that the .300WM does, but I don't think we need to discuss the effectiveness on the grand old .303 on medium game, do we?
If it hasn't taken more animals than any other cartridge - it would certainly be right up there.

So there's a bit of a backstory of my Lithgow .303 and my future plans for it.
In the next couple of weeks I have a Fallow and Sambar hunt planned and if successful I'll certainly be posting a hunt report.
As it's nearing winter and the rain and cold set in, I'm picturing myself in the thick bush and scrub. Wet and cold. And under these wet and cold miserable conditions I just can't picture any other rifle I'd rather have in my hands than my trusty old .303 ...

Wish me luck and thanks for reading.

Russ.

Wish you the best in your quest mate. I have a .303 No5 Mk1 (Jungle Carbine) and this was my first calibre to use in the hunting field. I shot over 100 plainsgame here in Africa with it, from duikers to Livingstone's Eland. These British Lee Enfield rifles are great firearms and they get the job done. The furthest distance I shot was 150 metres on my baboon , open sight. I trust that everything will go well mate. Remember to enjoy your hunts mate, the hunt itself is the real thing not only shooting the animal.

 

[Psm1975]

I used to have a .303 No4 Mk1 (1941 dated). It’s almost the same round as a .308/7.62, which is a popular caliber that we use for deer hunting in the UK. Love the story behind yours.
Paul

 

[odonata]

Ever since I shot my first deer with a 303 British years ago, I've had an outsized nostalgic fondness for that particular chambering. Hunting in the woods of the southeastern USA, my longest shots rarely exceed 150 meters because of the trees & underbrush. I took my last deer at 144 meters with a Hornady 150gr InterLock SP entering the chest diagonally in front of the right shoulder & exiting the ribs behind the left shoulder. For the hunting that I do, it is a very capable round. Since I like hunting with a rimmed cartridge when I'm using one of my breech-loaded falling-blocks (a Ruger No. 1A with a scope & an Uberti Courteney 1885 with iron sights), the fact that the 303 British has one is a plus.

On a website that has a lot of reports about exotic safaris with bespoke rifles, it's kind of ironic how high my interest is in how you get along with your affordable rifle on a deer hunt. Good luck!

Fifteen minutes later, I took a deer with my 303 off of my "wrong" right shoulder to my left.

Since I rotate through all of my rifles on a regular basis, it's about time for me to blow the dust off of my 303 British and give it a chance again. I always enjoy toting this one through the woods.

 

[Badboymelvin]

Nice story, but there is one detail that my antique neurons dont allow me to understand: in which phase of the life of the Smelly was the furniture replaced?

I bought the rifle with this furniture already fitted, so have no idea when - and who did it?
The fore-end could possibly be the original that's been sporterised (you can see where the cut-outs for the rear sight protector have been filled in) but I've never seen another buttstock like it. It may well be a one off...
Personally, I would now never cut down a complete rifle... that's almost sacrilege these days, especially when you consider how many sporterised ones are about...

 

[Badboymelvin]

Nice story of the family rifle, thanks for posting it! The rifle looks great!

First you haven't lost anything by dumping away light bullets.
With soft points always stick to heaviest bullets that hold good grouping.

Forget about flat trajectory myth. Hunting is all about getting close.
So, forget about sniping, and long range hunting.

Stick to point blank range of the rifle. I would guess 180 meters, cca, and zero the scope accordingly.
2 inch plus at 100 meters, cca.
Then go hunting.

Sambar is the largest deer. Dont take it lightly, get close.

Wish you luck!

I agree, Sambar are big and tough and my favourite Sambar rifle to date has been the .458WM.
But I'm still confident that the old .303 can do the job
And yes, I have every intention of getting in close.

 

[Badboymelvin]

Ever since I shot my first deer with a 303 British years ago, I've had an outsized nostalgic fondness for that particular chambering. Hunting in the woods of the southeastern USA, my longest shots rarely exceed 150 meters because of the trees & underbrush. I took my last deer at 144 meters with a Hornady 150gr InterLock SP entering the chest diagonally in front of the right shoulder & exiting the ribs behind the left shoulder. For the hunting that I do, it is a very capable round. Since I like hunting with a rimmed cartridge when I'm using one of my breech-loaded falling-blocks (a Ruger No. 1A with a scope & an Uberti Courteney 1885 with iron sights), the fact that the 303 British has one is a plus.

On a website that has a lot of reports about exotic safaris with bespoke rifles, it's kind of ironic how high my interest is in how you get along with your affordable rifle on a deer hunt. Good luck!

View attachment 687309
Fifteen minutes later, I took a deer with my 303 off of my "wrong" right shoulder to my left.

Since I rotate through all of my rifles on a regular basis, it's about time for me to blow the dust off of my 303 British and give it a chance again. I always enjoy toting this one through the woods.

View attachment 687310

What a beautiful rifle!
The Ruger No.1 and the .303 just go so well together...
I certainly think you should blow the dust off it and get back out there!
Thank you for your kind words and I will certainly keep you updated on how I go