Gibbs .303 British

[351 WINCHESTER]

Anyone know of the Gibbs .303 "conversions"? I have a chance to buy one that is in the "jungel carbine" configuration. It has been nickle plated and the owner claims to get 3/4" groups with rem. ammo at 100 yds. If this is true it should make a fine hunting rifle. It has a no. 2 bolt head. Is this an indication that the rifle has been shot a lot or is it getting close to having the bbl. set back?

 

[Dave Markowitz]

In my experience, Gibbs' gunsmiths made Century's drunken monkeys look like Griffin & Howe. I got the chance to evaluate a pile of them. (I literally had the loan of a pile of different Gibb's Enfields to play with for a week or so.)

A No.2A "Tanker" fell apart in my hands while shooting it, and the No.1 Mk.III "Tanker" shot 18" to the side at 50 yards.

Unless you know and trust the current owner and can get a money back guarantee, my suggestion is to pass.

 

[rbernie]

In my experience, Gibbs' gunsmiths made Century's drunken monkeys look like Griffin & Howe.

This has been the experience of most anyone who's touched a Gibbs product.

But to answer your specific question - many No4Mk1 rifles shipped from the factory with #2 bolt heads, so the presence of one means virtually nothing. The claim of 3/4" groups is incredibly, enourmously suspect.