303.35 No1 Mk3 Progress report

looking forward to the photos

Evening folks. Called into Pine Rivers Gunshop this morning for a further progress report on how my 303.35 is going.

2 weeks ago they had not started it, today the rifle is sitting in a job tray, with everything done except the barrel and action blued. Drilled and tapped for the Recknagel Sights, scope mount, barrel docked to 22", crowned and most importantly chambered. Its all been fitted together and checked out fine and the synthetic stock's barrel channel opened out. They will not be blue it for a few more weeks yet as they have a couple more jobs that will be ready for the Blueing tank soon. So with luck I'll have shortly after Christmas.

Alan was telling me this morning that he run a file over the base of the Lee RGB dies and it did not touch it. He said he is not willing to run a reamer into the dies but instead will use either a masonry bit sharpened to a specific angle to assist with reaming the die or a Titanium drill bit. He told me the neck / throat of my chamber is .385 and the reamer was .380. From memory my Dummy rounds where .378 / .379. A chap who has a 303.35 and given me some advice and loads warned me the only issue he has with his rifle is that the mob in SA that chambered his rifle have the neck / throat quite oversize and his fired cases are .388 / .389 so he has to work his brass more than he likes to neck size.

Still no photo's, when the Rifles finished. I remembered the barrels No 5 profile much larger than it actually is which is somewhat of a relief as I do like a little heft in my Rifles for Off hand shooting but not full on muzzle heavy which is what my hazy memeory had imagined in the dimness of time.

I have been thinking about attempting to make my own Timber stock from Queensland Maple as a link to the Rifles past, perhaps join the local woodworking club etc so I have access to quaity tools. I would try to replicate a Lee Speed stock. In the mean while I will reshape and refinish the military stockset and see if I'm happy with this instead of the Synthetic stock as a stopgap.

A mate has stepped in and attempted to motivate my in next project - he gave me 50 rounds of loaded 45.70 ammo , 90 odd once fired cases, a red bullet lube and a hundred or so 500 gr cast projectiles. AAAAAGGGGGHHHHH - The paints not even dry on this one.

After less than 12 hours my memory is fading, should have written the details down at the time so if something does not ring true it's my lack of knowledge and my memory.

A chap thats lives about 100 miles from me has offered I spend some time with him and he'll teach me the ins and outs of bullet casting. He say's he has a .359 230 gr mould which sounds about right for this rifle. He also has offered me the use of some of his other moulds for my .357 mag and .44 mag Lever rifles.

There is so much to learn about these old skills and the rifles they are used around, I'm really enjoying the learning curve and the generous offers and skill sharing I've received.

regards Jacko

Australia is a very small market and we are often ignored or payed lip service too by the Firearms indusry. If it does make it Down to us it is double to triple the price of in the USA for example. PPU markets under the Highland banner and is only available as loaded rounds to the best of my knowledge. I have looked extensively.  I have 40 odd once fired .303 Highland cases that I've necked up Likely I will buy 3 or 4 more boxes of loaded cartridges and shoot em off in my old Lithgow I sold to a good mate. Expensive way to get good brass but 100 cases should last me quite a while if I'm smart with my reloading. I'll save it until I've shoot through the Remington brass I have. I'll find out soon enough if the Remington brass I have is going to be worthwhile.

G/Day Shamu you need a B709 Import permit to bring brass into Australia, pretty sure this means I can only purchase from an OS dealer and not privately , I do stand to be corrected. I do know that a great many USA dealers will not sell to oversea's countries due to restriction placed upon them by your State Dept and the hassle of dealing with such import permits. There is likely a State Dept regulation to cover deals between private citizens also, again I stand to be corrected.

Its the same here in the US. Remington & Winchester are about double the price of Prvi & it's better brass as well.
I usually buy the 150 Gr SP load, which shoots fine by itself, & then reload after I use it once.

Jacko, you have a great country and are a great people, it's a shame you pay so much for your ammo. Just drove home past an Autrailian friend our ours pub (Called 'Aussie Beach'). It's dark, -3 and snowing. There he is, pony tail, loud Hawaiian shirt and shorts on the roadside outside his pub cooking on a barbeque under an umbrella. Absolutely marvelous!

Desert boots mate - it is winter after all.

I'd like to hear more about that 375x56 styer.  The 303-35 is interesting enough and is something I would like.  I am considering doing a 40-303 but I'll see what barrel comes up first, 35 or 375 or 40.  303-35 does seem to be the best compromise though and it has a small shoulder to headspace on for better case life although the lower pressure of a straightwall might be a consideration.