What can I excpect by using .308 bullets in my rifle wich is chambered and has a bore for .303 British(.312)?
Martin

[ 08-09-2003, 00:39: Message edited by: Martin ]

bullets or cartridge?

308 bullets in a 303 case, in a 303 rifle... The 303 bullet, wich the rifles bore is made for, has .312" diameter.
Martin

[ 08-09-2003, 01:00: Message edited by: Martin ]

Martin, slug your bore. Some of those rifles were bored on the tight side, and they handle .308 bullets very well. Other barrels are looser and require full .312 bullets for peak accuracy.

Martin I have only ever tried 308's in my no5 it shoots them very well i would be a little concerned about gas cutting up past the bullet but they may well flare out to suit the larger bore?

P17 is correct. I have seen one SMLE .303 Jungle Carbine (No.5) that produced 1" groups with both the Sierra and Nosler .308 200-grain spitzers with a charge of IMR 4350 that gave a muzzle velocity of 2100 FPS. Even moving this slow, it was a very deadly deer load! I also have an M1909 Argentine Mauser that does about as well with .308" bullets as it does with .311"-.314" bullets. I have not slugged this rifle's bore, but it must be on the tight side.

[ 08-09-2003, 18:43: Message edited by: eldeguello ]

I slugged the bore of my .303 1895 Winchester and It was .311". I made a bunch of loads up using the 165gr corlokt for plinking and it refused to miss at open sight distance. I quit using them because of the thought of gas cutting. I don't know if it had any effect on the rifle or not, maybe if they were a more high velocity round it may. I can't help but think It would be one way to keep preasure down in an old rifle.

I think they might "swage up" some on firing to seal the bore of a .311". Only .003" difference, or about half the thickness of a sheet of paper on each side....

My guess would be somewhat lower pressures and somewhat worse accuracy. But with a SMLE, the accuracy thing seems a moot point.

I don't know about accuracy being moot with the SMLE. I have a Parker Hale sporterized Lithgow SMLE that my father purchased when I was a kid. With good handloads using 150-grain Hornadys or Belgian FN surplus ammo, I can easily get 1 minute of angle with that rifle. In fact, it's one of my most consistently reliable shooters, and it's the only rifle I have whose accuracy improves as it gets hot and dirty.

Actually, I scared myself last year by trying a few spare 174-grain Sierra Matchkings I had sitting around over 37.5 grains of a surplus powder called "WC 845", ignited by a magnum primer. I only had five of these bullets left, and I loaded them all. I took these rounds to the range and proceeded to fire the single greatest group I've ever shot with any Lee Enfield -- 1/2 inch at 100 metres -- out of my Dad's rifle. I did this with the cheap Bushnell 4x scope I have sitting on that rifle. Needless to say, I've been too scared to buy more Sierras and try that load again!

N>B hunter:

Take good care of that 1895 Winchester in 303!

Very nice rare gun outside of Canada. I would not mind having one in my safe to shoot at times.! Bet that old gal has seen a lot of deer camps, and moose camps for that matter, would love to listen to the stories it would tell if it could talk!