Daltond,
Thanks for the feedback. I had heard it both ways; .308/.311. Assumed mine might have been the .311 as it is from 1904. I have decided to part company with this rifle to make it a parts gun. Its all there. Number match and it functions/fires, but not very accurate. The external cosmetics/condition are fair to poor, but if a guy needs parts it is OK. Its all there in this post-stream. Know anybody who needs parts? Also, If i could find the classified on 24 HR campfire, I would post it there.
Lots of "reports" of how the early 1895's and 1899's were .311, but the large majority of rifles that have been checked have been .308. I'm not saying it's a final determination, but it seems to point to most rifles being .308 bore. Even early ones.
In 1918 Townsend Whelen wrote in his book that the 303 Savage was bored exactly the same as the 30-30, just the chamber was different.
In 1920 Horace Kephart wrote that the 303 Savage bullet is of .311 diameter, but the barrel is only .308.
Both of those guys were pretty knowledgeable.
