Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Savage Collectors Got an original short rifle in 303

Correct mirror blue and varnish finish, windgauge rear, shotgun butt with the Screaming Indian, 22", no extra holes in metal or wood, front and rear wood excellent with very little damage, no cracks, vivid case where hidden, great shiny bore, some carry wear and surface rust speckles. Overall, sounds pretty good right? It actually turned out better than I thought. I bought it for the action and buttstock, but seeing how original and nice it is, I won't part it out.

Prepare the tar and feathers...

Problem is, to me the 303 is like the Rambler of the Savage line. Just no interest. I think I've reached critical mass in what I have time to fuss with unless it lights a pretty big fire. I'd take the leap for a different cartridge if it was well, different. Say 25-35 or 38-55.

I can sit on it, for the sake of it, but that's not really my style, owning it when it doesn't light my fire.

What to do?

1) Lay for ammo at gunshows or where ever and try to shoot it down the road. Who knows, maybe I'll like it, but it's a heavy little beast, so I doubt it.

2) don't really want to load for it

3) rebarrel it, swap somebody for a something interesting?

4) rebore it

5) sell it

You guys probably think I'm crazy not loving it.

If it didn't strike a spark for me I would find it another home. I'm sure it will light a fire in someone's eyes.

http://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/product/productId/6897

Give it a go before you dismiss it. It's one of my favorite calibers.

#5 and for sure not #3 or 4.

What's the serial range?

The 30-30 is an inherently accurate cartridge and I think the .303 has more going for it in the category of accuracy. Same ballistics but a longer neck for supporting the bullet. I've always wanted to work up a good cast bullet load with one of the bore riding Lyman designs. Maybe I'll get around to it after everything else is done.

I've been loading a Hornady 100 grain half jacket bullet in the 303 with success for a great plinking load.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/22...ameter-100-grain-short-jacket-box-of-100

Roy I'd be interested in it if you decide to sell it.
I'll give it a good home.
plab

When I come to grants pass I can bring some 303 cartridges. Shoot it then decide. I like the 303.

I like the SR's, accurate little buggers. But if it's not your thing, use it as trading fodder.

I wouldn't part with it until I tried it out. Get yourself some PRVI brass and a set of dies, and I'll send you a care package of 190 grain flat nosed cast thumpers. Put 28gr. 3031 behind them and sit back and watch the show. Such a load will knock any deer or black bear ass-over-tin cups.

What bullet mold do you use?

For the 190 flat nose? If so, it's a custom job from Saeco I got 30 years ago. As-cast diameter .310", nose riding portion .301 as cast from Lyman#2 alloy.

I've used the Oregon Cast Bullet version (with gas checks) of the Lyman 311041 with good results, which surprised me for a factory made bullet. But that's only been for paper punching. I followed Ken Waters cast bullet recipe for the 303 that was first published in 1966.

Little gunshop on the Oregon coast this weekend- couldn't pass these up for $15.

178,xxx.

I've got hundreds of those in Speer that I shoot in the barrel band 30/30.

Maybe yeah. Probably.

Put the same load in a 303 case and have a blast!

Be careful with those old loads. You could have splits in the necks when fired. I bought a bunch of old .303 years ago and had a fair number split on shooting. I don't know everything about what causes the splits but I think it has something to do with the age of the brass and it's exposure to the powder. I've heard of people annealing old cases at the neck to restore the elasticity of the brass. Of course that's after pulling the bullets and primers and dumping the powder.

I bought some ancient 303 Sav brass from a guy here on the classifieds. I annealed them, and still lost about half of them in resizing.