Hi everyone I have a quick question I was given a 303 british Lee enfield it is in fairly poor shape and was wondering what I should do with it I love how slick the action is and was thinking it might make a a really cool big bore rifle I would like to know what my options are as far a caliber I know that they can be converted to 45-70 but would like something else any help or sugestions would be great

45-90?

You are not likely to make a silk purse out of this old warrior, but a one-piece stock like the original 1878-79 American made ones makes it look a lot better.

Rich

I have a mark iv. On the 303 the bolt lugs are at the back, not the front. That makes it a weak action.

Jackel

There was a fella named Epps [sp?] that did a bunch of wildcatting with the 303 cartridge.

He necked the 303 up and down. This would be the easiest option as feeding would probably not be effected.

You must, however not excede pressures of standard ammo for your rifle.

There are also plastic sticks avialable for the 303.

Make a Crocodile Dundee "walkabout rifle" out of it.
One-piece thumbhole stock, and otherwise original.
Australian version of an American Bubba-gun.

45/70 or 500 linebaigh

quote:

Originally posted by stubert:
I have a mark iv. On the 303 the bolt lugs are at the back, not the front. That makes it a weak action.

No sir, this doesn't make it a weak action. IN fact, the bolt itself is not the short coming of this action, it is the springiness of the action itself, which is often destroyed when removing the barrel. This are, in modern ideas, daintly actions.

Lugs in the rear make ZERO difference, remington loaded the 788, with rear lugs, with the 350 remmag, 62kPSI, from the factory ..

O.K. The SMLE, there were 4 and 5 if you count the jungle carbines, and you don't say which you have. #3's and #4's might be worth the work/expense. #1's and #2's I would put in a museum. Maybe #5 (made from #3's as I understand). Rear lugs works against case life if you reload, but the military doesn't.

Very late SMLE's were made in .308, excuse me, 7.62x51mm NATO, for competition. Again, case life is reduced, but if you don't reload...

.303 case is so close to the .30/40 Krag case of US use... You can follow along that line of thought. .25, .27, etc. have been done. .25 Krag improved rivals the .257 Roberts Improved and trails the .25/06 by little. Blown out straight (almost) you have the .405 Winchester. I think it will work in the SMLE magazine. There was a .35 WCF on the case that went no where fast. I guess .45/70 has been done which leads to .40/65 and .38/56. .38/56 Improved trails just behind the .375 H&H factory loads which were light for reliability in hot, HOT parts of the world.

Mr. Steve at .303british.com loves to rant about SMLE's and the Epps work and has a link on his sight to the Epps gun shop still in the hands of offspring. As I recall there was a .338 both unimproved and improved. I think there was a .358 Epps. If you have large numbers of .303 brass. Enjoy. Happy trails. Luck.

it is a very poorly sporterized No4 and the mag is missing and the bore is very black

just found a post on the internet about the 416 Strauss basicly a 416/303 wildcat 350 grain at 2300fps might be a good donor rifle for that

quote:

Originally posted by jeffeosso:
remington loaded the 788, with rear lugs, with the 350 remmag, 62kPSI, from the factory ..

When was this?!!