Greetings from Louisiana!
Guys(mates),how many of you actually use a SMELLY and the .303?.Mine is a 1918#1 thay was my 1st real rifle and after 50 yr.s I am still pulling it from the rack more than all my other rifles put together!I get pretty pissed off when people ask me if I REALLY hunt with THAT THING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Is there a cure?,or am I doomed (blessed) to go on killing tons more deer,swine,gators and what not?

303 shaped the modern world

If my SMELY would break down or lose it's grouping,( an honest 2 1/2 incher )or miss more than it hits,or something to give me a reason to leave it home!BUT NO!!it swings it's 25 inch bbl.easy,goes bang 10 times,puts 174 gr. BTFMJ's into 8" at 500 mt.s,drives 215 gr. woodleighs thru 600 lb. hogs from stem to stern,AND I don't cringe when I drop 'er in the bayou!It is the only non Mauser bolt gun that I would NEVER part with!

The .303 British rifle in its various forms was THE rifle in NZ , Australia and Canada for many years. I still have a SMLE with local history in my rifle accumulation, and it still shoots good enough to put meat on the table.

The 303 SMLE is one of the greatest, if not the greatest, battle rifles ever made and does a very credible performance as a sporter too.

Have owned and used various model SMLEs for hunting. Regretfully sold a nice original BSA Sporter model but also used and like the Mk5 jungle carbine.

Simple and fast bolt action, 10 shot box magazine also loadable from five round clips, can't ask for better than this in battle. Would sooner be carrying one of these than the puny 223 semi autos that are used around world trouble spots which can hardly penetrate a wet blanket.

I used to convert a lot of SMLEs to 410 shotguns, strong, safe and quite pointable on flying or running game especially for youngsters.

I have a huge soft spot for them as well. Although i don't hunt with one i shot one in competion with the army for many year and as much as i loooved my SLR it was always good to put a few rounds down range with the old no1 mk111 wish i still had the old girl

I still have my 1918 Union Defence Force {Old South Africa} BSA. It had already been cut down [sporterised ?] when I took possesion of it. It was my favourite on driven bushbuck shoots.

I bought mine from a mate who was in a bad way health wise. He is a 303 FREAK. He knows what screws going in what, he knows how to spot a faked sniper rifle etc. I'm not really a fan but I thought as an Aussie male its my duty to have at least one 303 in the safe. Took it out hunting in Katherine and ...well it just works.

Been wantin'to restock it with a straight,high comb thumb-hole like Hogan used in Dundee 2,because of a thing I got goin'on in my neck,but can't find anyone who cuts that style,OR won't charge me the perverbial arm & leg to custom cut one!I'd like to put a side mount for some glass as at 60 I don't see the issue sights too well to shoot much past 200 anymore!Is there any such out there?

I meant to add in my post above that the old SMLE would have to have one of the strongest stocks around with that big tough through bolt holding the butt stock in place. You could paddle the Titanic knocking icebergs out of the way with the SMLE stock or beat an elephant to death if your bullet failed to stop it.

interestingly - the reason for the 2-piece stock on the SMLE rifle harks back to the introduction of the original Bolt action .303 . The British military had vast stocks of butt stocks for the martini henry rifle so it was decreed that any new rifle accepted for service had to have a stock design that utilised those stocks of stocks. Hence the 2-piece woodwork.

An intrepid stock builder could make a one piece stock and remove the mount for the original , weld on a tang and be good to go.

I have a few SMLE .303 and some old combos, since I was a kid they have fascinated me. On top of my wishlist is a .3@3 double, let one slip through my fingers a few years back and still kick myself!

quote:

Originally posted by Hunt the Sun:
I have a few SMLE .303 and some old combos, since I was a kid they have fascinated me. On top of my wishlist is a .3@3 double, let one slip through my fingers a few years back and still kick myself!

So I shouldn't mention my Lancaster....?