.303

[Minihuntur]

Any one use .303 for deer? whats the drop @ 200, 300, and 400 yds when handloading? how can I tell if the rifle is shot out?
Minihuntur

[Gil Martin]

My first big bore rifle was a .303 No. 1 Mark III back in 1958. The drop at 200, 300 or 400 yards depends on the weight of the bullet and velocity. Remington, Winchester and Federal offer free ballistics charts.

You can tell if the bore is shot out based on the condition and how it shoots. Hope this helps. All the best...
Gil

[Adam Helmer]

minihuntur,

If you are using an "as issued" .303 rifle, the drop at 200, 300 and 400 yards will depend on bullets used and where you have set the "as issued" adjustable sights.

Only the Italian M1938 7.35mm rifle (and some Italian 6.5mm rifles) had a FIXED rear sight which would come into consideration at the yardages you mentioned. The MkIII and No.4 Mk1 made "allowances" for longer yardages. Hope this helps.

Adam

[Brithunter]

Hi There,

Yes I have used .303 British on deer before. I was using a handload with a Hornady 150 grain bullet. Only got a quartering shot, bullet entered just to the side of the breast bone and I recovered it mushroomed under the hide just after the last rib on the right hand side, range was about 75 yards, deer ran about 40 yards away from me of course and downhill . This is the rifle I used:-



It's a BSA Model E. I have also shot (Red) fox with the .303 this time with Winchester factory ammo. 180 Gr SP white box:-





As you can see the Fox turned his head just as I squeezed the trigger, range was a bout 60 yards and the Fox dropped on the spot though looking at the damage that 180 grain bullet it's no wonder.

The .303 British cartridge is a good one still. Sorry I didn't have the camera with me for the deer .

[Adam Helmer]

Brithunter,

Your .303 rifle looks like a "sporterized" P-14 Enfield .303 rifle. You advise it is a BSA Model E. Is it a WWI military rilfle refitted for the sporting market?

Adam

[Brithunter]

Hi Adam,

In 1948-49 the British Government decided to get rid of soem old stock of guns held at a certain depot. The guns were all from The Great War (WW1) and included P-14s and American US model 1917's in various conditions, there were soem 14,000 of them and BSA brought them and yes they built huntign rifles on them. Five grades were offered A-E with E being the highest. They offere three chamberings .303 British, .30 Springfield and .270 Winchester. Model A's just had an inspection and the handguard removed model E's had new BSA made barrels sporting sights and a new sporting stock all were drilled and tapped for a P-H 6E sporting aperture rearsight and the higher models also for P-H scope blocks.

Of the 14,00o rifles BSA recieved a lot were only fit for scrap or scavanging for parts and thsi went on from 1949-1953 when BSA Introduced the new Hunter Rifle of their own design. So yes it's a commercially sporterised P-14 .

[jplonghunter]

Brithunter

Thanks for the history lesson. Always good to know more about milsurps.

jplonghunter

[hnter]

That's a very good lookin rifle!
I had one years ago and I'd love ta have another one!!!

I'd even like ta have a P-14 action, sporterized (dun right not cobbled) or still military.

Hnter