Having 2 303's made me realise that I would be lucky to ever use one let along 2 of them. So I decided to pick the one that wasnt in mint condition and see what I could do with it. I first sourced a new target barrel that was made in the 70's. It was brand new and still the plastic and grease. I got it for next to nothing so was pretty happy with that. I then had the barrel and some mounts fitted by a local smith. While I was at the smiths, I noticed a sporterised wooden forend that someone had given him. He threw it my way and I was just about fully setup. I worked up some handloads with 150gr sierra pro hunters and 39gr of 2206. It was a mild load in my rifle but would consistanly throw 5 shots into the magic moa mark with a few groups going even better. With this setup, and a 3-9 tasco, I'd made a cheap and reliable shooting beast. Over a few years, it's all I ever used to take countless goats and pigs. Those handloads never let me down and they really flattened game.
But with access to a new farm, I decided to see if I could sporterise it just a little further. I wanted something reasonably light weight for close range scrub work on pigs. So I sourced a Ramline synthetic stock and set about butchering it so the barrel was free floated. My next step was to do some work on the trigger. This part took me quite a few months to complete due to most of it being trial and error. But the end result was a single stage trigger set at 1.2kg (or close to) and no detectable creep. Great for snap shooting..... The last step was to mount a 2-8 x 33 tasco on it.
Finally the other day I got around to working up some loads using 180gr speer RN's. You'll see me in a weeks time down at the range finding out how they go!!!!
Pix to come shortly.
Project 303
I have done the same to my 303. I got the gunsmith to cut off the stepdown part at the muzzle and recrown it. He also tore off the safety and re built it much lighter. I am yet to put a good scope on it but the 135 grain sierras work real well. Its much lighter to cart around and looks much more appealing as well.
Dave
Dave
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foxhunter223
- .17 HMR
- Posts: 150
- Joined: Mon Aug 21, 2006 9:59 pm
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- Location: North Coast NSW
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303
Looks like a good job to me. I should have a tricked up 303 in my gun safe as well. At least Remington17 wouldn't pinch it off me. Way to much recoil for her crook shoulder.
Pete
Pete
