303-25 1918 bsa?

Greetings All :)

I saw a rifle in the window, and well I purchased it :) It has had a very very hard life by the look of it, I am but a newbie, and felt that I would like to learn more, and if I broke it, it wouldnt upset me all that Much (I have a longbranch no4mk1* in fantastic condition, and I just can bring myself to disassemble this one!)

Its a 1918 SMLE I am Feeeling its a BSA, but there are a LOT of marks on the side of it,, but I am still trying to find out more information, it was cheap, as it is in bad shape, but the Bore is in goodish condition, The trigger isnt all that crisp, the bolt is well.. sad.. The stock needs some love (and is loose!) someone has tapped and drilled the receiver, and ground down the rear clip guide for a scope ... and the list goes on...

What I would like to ask is the following :)

1. The rear site, the spring on the flip up site (on one side is a small button, the other side looks like a toothed gear, that grabs the ribs on the sight) the spring or what is used internally has gone, and it flaps up and down ... well you get the idea. I can see that if you undo the scree (which is currently siezed and scored on the back so you cant remove it or it cant come loose) you can get to the slide... I am guessing there is a small spring to replace?

2. The trigger, there is a good 1cm of play in it, before you can feel it engage, and THEN there is is the pull before the pin is thrown. Anywhere I can get sine relevant information, I am guesing youtube, I will have to disassemble and get some drifts I think...

3. The Safety can be engaged in all modes, half cock, full cock, and safe... doesnt phase me to much, as it works, regardless, but I suspect there may be more. Is this a Bad thing?

4. The Butt and Body is in a bit of a poor way, I am just wondering if there are any good guides on Rubbing it down, removing the varnish and restoring it... Youtube?

5. The scope mount (See images) I am guessing it was something that was commercially made for the rifle, I am wondering if anyone has someting in mind that would fit, OR Cover these god aweful holes... honestly, why people did this to these weapons is beyond me (well I know why, I just dont like it !!)

6. The barrell exterior is a bit battered, any secrets on fixing the blue finish...

7. Just out of curiousity more than anything else, converting it back to a 303-303 not a 303-25, would it involve replacing the barrell, would you have to change the bedding and stock, because of the larger barrell?

Any thoughts?Attachment 58733Attachment 58734Attachment 58735

When you press the button the gears come off the spline so you can push the sight to another distance. The spring is not that strong.
The trigger is supposed to be a two stage one.
The finish may actually be BLO rubbed in over many years.
Scope mount holes could be tig welded. Find a scope mount that fits They are out there. It would have been done in a time when the only rifles to be had were SMLEs there fore the conversions. I have a 303/.243.
The finish can be rejuvenated with balistrol and elbow grease not returned to new finish but OK.
Leave it as is and enjoy the 25 it is a very efficient round. Finding loaded ammo maybe a problem but reloading for that rifle can give you very good results. Just DO NOT repeat DO NOT push for max velocities. Formed brass is easy to come by the dies a little more difficult but available. The barrel could be changed.

If you keep an eye on adverts in the Aussie shooting mags you will come across 303-25 brass offered at least few times a year - believe last I saw was from Rebel - Rebel Gun Works - but have seen various of the major Aussie gun shops advertising it on and off over last 12 mnths

I have one of the Lithgow-built "sporters" in this calibre; nice "high-comb" butt and "tastefully" bobbed ex-mil coachwood fore-end.

With the old "Super" 87gn soft-points, it is spectacularly accurate, but those bullets haven't been made for well over a decade. I look for them at every gun-show and out-of-the-way gunshop I find. The good news is that Hornady and Speer seem to have some likely candidates for replacement.

WARNING: the Sierra 90gn BTHP pills shoot abominably in the slow-twist Lithgow barrel as their nice "slinky" profile makes them too long to stabilise in the barrel's 1:14" twist. In a 1:10" twist barrelled .25_06, they are an entirely different beast, however.

Mine has a "period original" "Field" brand scope mount. The dreadful (period original) piece of oriental optical technology has been replaced by a 2-7 Leupold: MUCH better, especially in low light.

All that aside, you can spend some serious bucks to restore your BSA to original 1918 configuration or, go with it as a sporter, lots of fun either way.

I've had good success with the Speer 87gr projectiles. Dies are still available through Simplex, Western Firearms in Sydney also stock them. Forming isn't too difficult from 303 brass, just step down to 270 first. Alan Hibbs at Kingaroy Firearms will have some grub screws to blank off the scope mount holes if you want to go down that route without welding.

It's realistically not worth trying to restore to original, better to clean it up and keep as an example of Australian (?) postwar history. Maybe collect a set, 303/22, 303/243, 303/25, 303/270 and recently I even heard of a 303/35!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Bandit12

I've had good success with the Speer 87gr projectiles. Dies are still available through Simplex, Western Firearms in Sydney also stock them. Forming isn't too difficult from 303 brass, just step down to 270 first. Alan Hibbs at Kingaroy Firearms will have some grub screws to blank off the scope mount holes if you want to go down that route without welding.

It's realistically not worth trying to restore to original, better to clean it up and keep as an example of Australian (?) postwar history. Maybe collect a set, 303/22, 303/243, 303/25, 303/270 and recently I even heard of a 303/35!

---

There is 3 different sized 22 cases. Short medium and full length.

Looks like an interesting and maybe challenging project you have there.
To my mind, the first two things you need to do are tighten up the stock where it's loose and then get some ammo and try to shoot some groups, just to see if it will.
If all goes well with that, I'd keep it as a 303-25 and set about restoring it to a semi decent sporter configuration.
If you really are set on a 303, this one would be a dead loss due to the fact that, a) the charger guide has been butchered, and b) the cost would be way more than the rifle's worth.
SMLE's must be common enough that you can pick up a decent one for a few hundred bucks?
I just wish the various 303 wild cats had made it over here, I'd have a 303-243 in a flash.

Another place the conversions are is South Africa.
My 303/243 using 58gn Vmax is veeeerrry goood. The 25 with todays components is no slouch either. Several mates have them and the falcon 22 which leaves the 22 250 in the dust. Very good conversions in time of need from a large base source when military calibres were restricted.
303 prices are climbing in Australia particularly Lithgows in good order.