British .303 Surplus
- Thread starter Jimbo53
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Jim Watson
Member
How strange. Who could the Germans have been making .303 for?
Speedo66
Member
Israel? India?
Carl N. Brown
Member
The .303 British is common in most Arab countries and Australia. I read an interview of an Australian forced to turn in his registered .22 Riger 10/22 for compensation who used the money to buy a Lee-Enfield. They are also popular in Canada.
I own a 1950s sporterized Lee-Enfield No.1 Mark III* (BSA 1917, FTR 1954) that groups 174gr military like Rem 180gr Corelokt, 2 moa, 174gr group center 1" above 180gr group center at 100yds.
I own a 1950s sporterized Lee-Enfield No.1 Mark III* (BSA 1917, FTR 1954) that groups 174gr military like Rem 180gr Corelokt, 2 moa, 174gr group center 1" above 180gr group center at 100yds.
Whiterook808
Member
I have an old SMLE that is Austrian marked. Post World War II occupation police usage, I imagine.
Jim Watson
Member
I guess. Lots of that went on. They seemed to think that a reformed Nazi was less dangerous with an Allied weapon than an Axis gun.
22250Rem
Member
That was an interesting link, thanks for posting. Haven't seen surplus 303 in years. In the early 1990's there was a lot of it on the market and I stocked up and still have a bunch of it. Lots of it uses cordite instead of powder and its corrosive but circa 1992 I was getting a 1000 round case of it for 100 bucks delivered. The price on that stuff seems pretty good for non corrosive surplus 303 in todays market.
There were also companies that made ammo in all kinds of calibres for the commercial market but to "milspec". It was never sold to any military nor ever intended to be. Just marketing.
Kind of like the boxes of ammo that are stamped FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT USE (or something similar). It was not always intended that ammo be really restricted. But they know there are some people who cannot resist it if something like that is printed on the box.
Kind of like the boxes of ammo that are stamped FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT USE (or something similar). It was not always intended that ammo be really restricted. But they know there are some people who cannot resist it if something like that is printed on the box.
AlexanderA
Member
The big drawback with this ammo is that it's Berdan primed. That makes it not really suitable for reloading. The Greek HXP ammo is much better in this regard.
Kaeto
Member
Here's a company that sells a rig to convert Berdan to Boxer.
https://sharpshooter-22lr-reloader..../berdan-military-case-loader-foreign-domestic
https://sharpshooter-22lr-reloader..../berdan-military-case-loader-foreign-domestic
rdnktrkr
Member
That is the first time I've ever seen that, it would be nice if you could use it on a drill press instead of a hand drill. The top of my SS press is about shoulder high and would be a little high to use the hand drill.
22250Rem
Member
Twenty something years ago I think I would have looked into that Berdan to Boxer setup as I had a couple buckets full of Berdan primed .303 British and 7 x 57 Mauser brass cases sitting around and wished that I could do something with them. Eventually I sold them all at the scrap yard but at least they got recycled. That setup looks interesting; and might even be cost effective once you weigh the labor of converting cases vs. purchasing new brass.
Kaeto
Member
Currently I have 250 Berdan primed rounds of .303 British and only 75 Boxer primed. So it would pay for me to get it.
illinoisburt
Member
I like the simplicity of this system. Seems much cleaner than the other I have seen.
someguy2800
Member
I would have to be pretty desperate to do that. You'll also need one of the berdan primer removers too. Going to take a soft touch to not break or bend a 4" long 1/16" drill bit.
Kaeto
Member
There is a guide that goes in the die for the drill bit, and you remove the primer after drilling with the primer removing pin that went with your full length resizing die.
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