Its coming. I sent an email to Ruger today and got a response today. Kudos for the quick response. They say it should be available in the US in May. I know I will be getting one. I have already broken the bad news to the wife. It will be in the 1A configuration. Thanks Ruger! I'm a huge .303 fan and can't wait for it!
Ruger No. 1 in .303 British!
- Thread starter brianr23
- Start date
- Status
What would be the Earthly purpose in making a new rifle in 303? Bullet selection and loaded ammo is limited and more expensive than traditional 308 calibers and the cartridge offers no advantage I can see over a 308 or a 30-'06 and really, I think most shooters would far prefer the two latter numbers over the 303 unless it's intended for market in countries where the 303 has a history.
Love the #1, though.
Love the #1, though.
alemonkey
Member
Personally, I think a No. 1 in .303 Brit is kind of appealing. I don't know why, it just seems to me that rimmed cartridges and single shots are meant for each other.
i think it would be really cool loaded with http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=746084
make a good low recoil moose/elk round.
make a good low recoil moose/elk round.
TexasPatriot.308
Member
Why, I bet it wont be offered for long, this caliber can be replaced by so many far more reasonable ballistically superior. then again, buy one, it should be a collectors item pretty soon.
R.W.Dale
Member
If you'll notice part of what sells ruger single shots is rugers willingness to do special run chamberings. As soon as they do a 30-30 no1 I'll go into debt to buy one
Afterall when you get right down to it it makes no sense to chamber a single shot for 308win when you can have a 30/06Spring. To me a 303 is just as cool as anything.
If we went by post 2's logic every rifle would be in one of four chamberings 22lr, 223, 30/06 and 375h&h
Afterall when you get right down to it it makes no sense to chamber a single shot for 308win when you can have a 30/06Spring. To me a 303 is just as cool as anything.
If we went by post 2's logic every rifle would be in one of four chamberings 22lr, 223, 30/06 and 375h&h
nicholst55
Member
The original market for this rifle was Canada, where the .303 is still hugely popular. As I understand it, a large Canadian distributor was persuaded to ask Ruger to make this chambering. It was fans of the .303, like me, who persuaded Ruger to offer this rifle in the U.S.
Cool!
Sounds like a good enough reason. The 303 in a strong action like the Ruger #1 should have good case life and you should be able to load it to higher levels of performance than you can in those springy Lee Enfields.
Even in British service rifle loadings, the 303 pushes a 174 grain bullet at 2500 fps. What is wrong with that?
murdoc rose
Member
- Joined
- Jan 25, 2009
- Messages
- 582
um cool i guess agreeing with the first guy that I have no idea why id need one with all the enfields laying around but if it makes you happy then great .303 is a fine cartridge
Arkansas Paul
Member
Saxon, you pose the question "why have a new chambering in .303 when the .308 and .30-06 do it better?"
You have one in 7x57. Won't the 7mm-08 do anything just as good and the .280 Rem do anything just a bit better?
I know you can handload the 7x57 to nearly equal to the other two, but couldn't you do that with the .303 as well?
Not trying to be a smarta$$, just asking.
That being said, I love the 7mms and would buy a 7x57 in a heartbeat.
You have one in 7x57. Won't the 7mm-08 do anything just as good and the .280 Rem do anything just a bit better?
I know you can handload the 7x57 to nearly equal to the other two, but couldn't you do that with the .303 as well?
Not trying to be a smarta$$, just asking.
That being said, I love the 7mms and would buy a 7x57 in a heartbeat.
jimmyraythomason
Member
I would not be interested in a modern arm in .303 British but I can understand someone else wanting one.
Rollis R. Karvellis
Member
I, bet there are plenty of UK'er's scracting there head's saying, Why Would anyone want one of those oddball .308 or .30-06's.
NCsmitty
Member
I first read the lead-in and thought to myself, "why waste a #1 on the 303 brit". The more I thought about it the more it made sense. Most of the problems with the 303 cartridge, can be traced back to the line of Enfields so chambered, and that's not to knock them, but it is a fact. Heavily used Enfields can exhibit a multitude of problems and also have pressure limits, especially in the older versions. In spite of that, the 303 Enfield has probably killed more African and Australian game than any other rifle.
I have always liked the Ruger and single shots in general, and I'm sure the 303 will be able to be loaded to higher levels, and will only compliment the Ruger.
Good luck there brianr23, and give us a report after shooting it, and don't forget the pics.
NCsmitty
I have always liked the Ruger and single shots in general, and I'm sure the 303 will be able to be loaded to higher levels, and will only compliment the Ruger.
Good luck there brianr23, and give us a report after shooting it, and don't forget the pics.
NCsmitty
DeepSouth
Random Guy
The most accurate rifle I have is a 303 Enfield, I would like one in a No1 but honestly if I was gonna get a No1 it would be in a .475 Linebaugh just for giggles. If I was going to get one for a hinting rifle I would certainly prefer a 303 over most other options.
GMFWoodchuck
member
- Joined
- Feb 18, 2010
- Messages
- 137
Hey....Why not go American and get the 30-40 instead????......
I bet that the following holds true:
If you believe that it makes no sense to chamber a new rifle in .303 British, you're probably the type of person that believes that it makes no sense to buy a Ruger #1 when there are these newfangled repeaters out there on the market. Progress, and all that stuff. On the other hand, if you're the sort of person that is willing to clunk down a purse full of coin on a Ruger #1, it probably makes perfect sense for it to be chambered in a redundant-though-not-obsolete old rimmed cartridge.
Makes sense to me.
Mike
If you believe that it makes no sense to chamber a new rifle in .303 British, you're probably the type of person that believes that it makes no sense to buy a Ruger #1 when there are these newfangled repeaters out there on the market. Progress, and all that stuff. On the other hand, if you're the sort of person that is willing to clunk down a purse full of coin on a Ruger #1, it probably makes perfect sense for it to be chambered in a redundant-though-not-obsolete old rimmed cartridge.
Makes sense to me.
Mike
They also made some in 9.3x74R. Wonderful old round! The person who likes a #1 is looking for a classic rifle, not the latest super-duper-short-fat-magnum-whiz-bang. Ruger has sold a bunch in 45-70, for many years. Even more out of date than .303. I have long thought it would be fun to have a 303 with a good barrel, and a min spec chamber. The Brits etc have done some mighty fine long range shooting with 303s. I hope they sell enough to make it a standard catalog item. Then they can make a batch in 6.5x55. I will buy one of those too. 7.5x55 Swiss would make a nice shooter as well as being an instant collector item. Any of the above calibers make more sense in a #1 than 7.62x39 or .357 mag, both of which I believe were offered in the past.
Kentucky_Rifleman
Member
While I won't buy one (.303 was never so much my thing), I LOVE the fact that Ruger is offering the .303. I shoot almost exclusively older "classic" cartidges (.222, 7x57, 257 Roberts, etc.) Ruger, more than the other domestic manufacturers, has always been good at listening to their customer base. Consequently, they just keep selling firearms, even when other manufacturers are seeing slow downs.
What would happen if Remington tooled up and produced new runs of their 788 or their 600/660 lines? Stores couldn't keep them on the shelves.
Kudos to Ruger for listening to the customers.
KR
What would happen if Remington tooled up and produced new runs of their 788 or their 600/660 lines? Stores couldn't keep them on the shelves.
Kudos to Ruger for listening to the customers.
KR
There's no doubt that the .30-06 is a superior cartridge as compared to the .303.
However, there's also no doubt that the .303 is a VERY effective round in its own right.
Canadian Industries Limited (CIL) made extremely good hunting ammunition for the .303 British, and I managed to chronograph some of it back in the 1970s. CIL claimed 2540fps for the 180-grain load, and my chronograph said that the stuff actually did develop that speed! I have chronographed a few .30-06/180 factory loads that did NOT make that much velocity.
A hundred feet per second plus or minus is essentially meaningless, but I can assure everyone, from PERSONAL experience, that the .303 British is a deadly round on moose, bear or whatever, and every bit as good as the .30-06 (for which I also have a deep and enduring affection).
Rimmed cartridges are a natural fit for classic single-shots, and the .303 and I go back a long way together. I also believe I saved my life with a .303, which tends to affect one's view of the round. Anyway, I have already placed my order for one of the new Ruger .303s, and eagerly await its arrival.
However, there's also no doubt that the .303 is a VERY effective round in its own right.
Canadian Industries Limited (CIL) made extremely good hunting ammunition for the .303 British, and I managed to chronograph some of it back in the 1970s. CIL claimed 2540fps for the 180-grain load, and my chronograph said that the stuff actually did develop that speed! I have chronographed a few .30-06/180 factory loads that did NOT make that much velocity.
A hundred feet per second plus or minus is essentially meaningless, but I can assure everyone, from PERSONAL experience, that the .303 British is a deadly round on moose, bear or whatever, and every bit as good as the .30-06 (for which I also have a deep and enduring affection).
Rimmed cartridges are a natural fit for classic single-shots, and the .303 and I go back a long way together. I also believe I saved my life with a .303, which tends to affect one's view of the round. Anyway, I have already placed my order for one of the new Ruger .303s, and eagerly await its arrival.
Ar.P- Note that I own the original. The 7-08 and the 280 are later products so I am being consistent with my statement when I say why bring out a new one that's not clearly superior to what's already available?
There are reasons to justify the 7-08 (short action platform) and maybe the 280 (for some increased performance) but I still don't see where taking a rifle already made in 308 and 30-'06 and offering it in 303 is any sort of improvement.
There are reasons to justify the 7-08 (short action platform) and maybe the 280 (for some increased performance) but I still don't see where taking a rifle already made in 308 and 30-'06 and offering it in 303 is any sort of improvement.
Who said there has to be an improvement? Some things are fun, just 'cuz. And, as was mentioned, the .303 is everywhere in that curious land to our north. I bet they sell a bunch up there.
FWIW, I don't have a dog in this fight. I'm not a fan of the #1, and the only .303 Brits I have are Lee-Enfields.
Mike
FWIW, I don't have a dog in this fight. I'm not a fan of the #1, and the only .303 Brits I have are Lee-Enfields.
Mike
- Status
Similar threads
