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

[PCC600]

.275 Rigby
or
Lee Speed in a .303

The Mannlicher Schoenauer was introduced in 1900, chambered for the rimless 6.5X54.

All model M1903 MS were chambered for it, as were the Y1903 military models and variants.

Mannlichers from 1891 had used the rimmed 6.5X53 (6.5X53.5mmR) which, other than the rim, is identical to the rimless 6.5X54MS. That cartridge has long been referred to as '.256 Mannlicher'.

The 6.5X54 MS uses a .264 projectile through a barrel with .256 lands.

View attachment 708134

A great cartridge with a wonderful rifle . Would I prefer a 6.5 Creedmore ? I don’t think so .

 

[mauser98]

My pick is the 7x57 Mauser. The 303 Brit is also up there, no doubt.

 

[FlyGuy]

War created our best plains game cartridges and actions.
Most 6.5’s, 30-06, 7x57, 303 etc.

DG hunting didn’t even feature when the Mauser brothers designed the CRF we all love so much. It was designed that way so that a soldier could reliably load the rifle while laying on his back, when he was taking cover with bullets zipping all around him.

The Lee Enfield design was to send as much firepower down range as possible.
Two well trained British riflemen could keep more lead in the air with their 303’s than twenty dudes could today with straight pull rifles like the Blaser R8.
The exact number escapes me, but they could average up to two shots per second if I remember correctly.

Bottom line for the OP, buy both! You won’t regret it.

 

[Muskox]

A great cartridge with a wonderful rifle . Would I prefer a 6.5 Creedmore ? I don’t think so .

I own a 6.5 CM, and while it may have be the K-Mart version of other classic 6.5mm rifle cartridges. It is available everywhere and it is accurate.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Opinions on which is a more classic African cartridge, the 303 British or the 7x57 Mauser/275 Rigby? What are your thoughts?

@dhughes66
Both are classic British cartridges for use in Africa but there's others that are just as classic depending on who ran what country. The Germans had the 8x57 and 9.3x62 as classics.
It's a hard question to answer as both/all have killed truck loads of game.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

What caliber did Bell use?

@Tanks
6.4x54 MS
Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha
Bob

 

[dhughes66]

@dhughes66
Both are classic British cartridges for use in Africa but there's others that are just as classic depending on who ran what country. The Germans had the 8x57 and 9.3x62 as classics.
It's a hard question to answer as both/all have killed truck loads of game.
Bob

Bob, I almost included those two as well. Haha.

 

[Flbt]

Bob, I almost included those two as well. Haha.

What was the classic cals where the French were in Africa?

 

[Elkeater]

Funny that I stumbled on this thread. I am currently debating between a Ruger No. 1 in .275 Rigby and a Uberti Courteney Stalking rifle in .303 British which is built on a reproduction Winchester 1885 action.

I’m leaning at the .303 because I don’t own anything like it. Why I’m itching for a single shot falling block rifle I have no idea other than I want one to mess around with.

 

[Flbt]

Funny that I stumbled on this thread. I am currently debating between a Ruger No. 1 in .275 Rigby and a Uberti Courteney Stalking rifle in .303 British which is built on a reproduction Winchester 1885 action.

I’m leaning at the .303 because I don’t own anything like it. Why I’m itching for a single shot falling block rifle I have no idea other than I want one to mess around with.

I like the stalking rifle.
I want one.
My brother in law has one he just target shoots no hunting.
That 303 needs to hunt. My grand niece was able to get a 3 in 5 shot group at 100yd standing. He was using hand loads I think it was hornday interlock.

 

[FlyGuy]

Funny that I stumbled on this thread. I am currently debating between a Ruger No. 1 in .275 Rigby and a Uberti Courteney Stalking rifle in .303 British which is built on a reproduction Winchester 1885 action.

I’m leaning at the .303 because I don’t own anything like it. Why I’m itching for a single shot falling block rifle I have no idea other than I want one to mess around

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.