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    Springfield 303

    A friend called me today and wanted to know if I had ever heard of a Springfield rifle in 303.
    I looked it up in my Collector Grade book on Springfields and I let him describe what he saw. He told me what this one looked like and its exactly like the book. Does anyone know how many were made and are they worth much?
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    A Collector's View - The SMLE Short Magazine Lee Enfield 1903-1989. It is 300 8.5x11 inch pages with 1,000+ photo’s, most in color, and each book is serial-numbered.  Covering the SMLE from 1903 to the end of production in India in 1989 it looks at how each model differs and manufacturer differences from a collecting point of view along with the major accessories that could be attached to the rifle. For the record this is not a moneymaker, I hope just to break even, eventually, at $80/book plus shipping.  In the USA shipping is $5.00 for media mail.  I will accept PayPal, Zelle, MO and good old checks (and cash if you want to stop by for a tour!).  CLICK BANNER to send me a PM for International pricing and shipping. Manufacturer of various vintage rifle scopes for the 1903 such as our M73G4 (reproduction of the Weaver 330C) and Malcolm 8X Gen II (Unertl reproduction). Several of our scopes are used in the CMP Vintage Sniper competition on top of 1903 rifles. Brian Dick ... BDL Ltd. - Specializing in British and Commonwealth weapons Specializing in premium ammunition and reloading components. Your source for the finest in High Power Competition Gear. Here at T-bones Shipwrighting we specialise in vintage service rifle: re-barrelling, bedding, repairs, modifications and accurizing. We also provide importation services for firearms, parts and weapons, for both private or commercial businesses.
     

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    I've never heard of anything in .303 Brit. Very early '03's were in caliber .30-03, is that what you mean?

    Chances of finding a M1903 in .30-03 are very slim.

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    Remington made 3 of them for Englandicon, they didnt want them, all are in display in the Cody arms museum...i have some pictures of them someplace.
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    Quote Originally Posted by chuckindenver View Post
    Remington made 3 of them for Englandicon, they didnt want them, all are in display in the Cody arms museum...i have some pictures of them someplace.
    By all means, PLEASE post them when you get a chance, I would very much like to see them.

    I always wanted to go to that museum when attending school in Golden,CO in 1982, it just wasn't feasable. The distance looks small on a map, but the actual distance would require 2 days up and 2 days back driving time. I only had 2 days on a weekend off.

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    The Britishicon wanted them for very early in WWII. They signed the contract for .303 rifles. US Army objected and the contract was re-written for .30-'06 only. Remington had handmade the .303 rifles, toolroom samples. Never got into production. I did not know that are in Cody. Why and how did they end up there?

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    Quote Originally Posted by Calif-Steve View Post
    The Britishicon wanted them for very early in WWII. They signed the contract for .303 rifles. US Army objected and the contract was re-written for .30-'06 only. Remington had handmade the .303 rifles, toolroom samples. Never got into production. I did not know that are in Cody. Why and how did they end up there?
    Your information is not accurate. The British never signed a contract with Remington for .303 caliber rifles.

    I do not know how the rifles ended up in Cody unless Remington donated them when they closed down their Ilion factory. I understand that one rifle still remains on display in the Remington museum in Ilion.

    J.B.

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    As I understand it, the Brits wanted a .303 Springfield, but Remington said redesigning the rifle would take a long time. As they were in a hurry for rifles, they agreed (and signed a contract for) M1903s in .30-06.
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    rifles are pretty strange, lower box magazines, barrels made to accept SMLE type bayonets, weird sights, 17 type stocks, all the rifles are still in the white, and no serial numbers are stamped on the bridge.
    if i remember right they were donated by Remington, along with a pile of very very cool military weapons.. including a Remington made M14icon...very awesome.
    the guard when closing laughed at me for standing on a chair to take pictures of the 303 brit Remingtons, ill see if i can find the pics...
    the other weapons that stuck in my mind were the Winchester model 100,s parkerized, and set up with a bayonet lug for special forces in Nam,.
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    Chuck posted these photos a little while back, but I can't remember if it was on this forum. I would like to see them again, too!

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    I read a very good article on the .303 Springfields a few years back. Strictly by vague memory. "The British Purchasing Commission was a United Kingdomicon organization of the Second World War. Also known at some time as the "Anglo-French Purchasing Board", it was based in New York City, where it arranged the production and purchase of armaments from North American manufacturers."
    IF I recall correctly these people visited Remington and asked for a .303 rifle. Remington did the work-up and made a very few toolroom samples. When the US Army heard of the .303 caliber they objected and stopped the caliber conversion. People remembered the P14/M1917 issues of WWI and did not want a repeat of that. Once that was settled the M1903 Remington production started flowing to England. I know during WWII the Frenchicon asked for a Garandicon tool package, and the US refused. Too bad the British didn't get a Garand tool package, would have made sense.

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