Trying to identify this one

[Oneshot2008]

OK,

Thanks. I found a site on index where I can download a manual for it.

[Oneshot2008]

Your rifle is a Mk III not a Mk III*. The Mk III* were introduced around 1916.


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Appreciate all the help. Just so I do not give the owner any wrong info until he can take the gun to a gun smith, I have a last question. It is my understanding that this would be a .303 British caliber. Was it ever made in anything else? Possibly a 30-30? Now that they are not needed should I delete the albums?

[jmoore]

Appreciate all the help. Just so I do not give the owner any wrong info until he can take the gun to a gun smith, I have a last question. It is my understanding that this would be a .303 British caliber. Was it ever made in anything else? Possibly a 30-30?...

There have been post-military issue caliber conversions done, but it it has the military barrel it's very most likely still .303 Mk.VII SAA caliber, as aside from some 1960s Indian 7,62x51(.308 Win) "2A"/"2A1" rifles, all production issued SMLEs were chambered just for the one round. ETA: Well, almost- there's .22 rim fire training rifles, too.

Setting the barrel back enough to do a rechamber for .30-30 or .303 Savage just isn't practical as all of the features from the action forward would no longer fit the fore stock. Remotely possible that a barrel could have been sleeved, but another problem remains- reliable feeding from the magazine. .30-30 is right out! Too short AND too skinny. By the time the magazine was filled to capacity, I reckon you'd have quite a mess. However, having not tried it, I could be wrong. Feel free to try it, preferably at the range.

(Just don't try shooting a .30-30 in a .303 chamber- it may result in a case wall failure near the web of the cartridge- it will when fired in a 7,62x54r. Fair amount of gas leakage!)


.30-30 fired in a Mosin Nagant under "controlled " conditions (as shown below)- Note the ruptured area at the lower left of the case. Possible same result in a .303 chamber, but less likely.

Now that they are not needed should I delete the albums?

If you are referring to the photo album, I think this site auto copies the photos after a short time, so it should be OK to remove them from your computer and photo hosting site if you want. But give it a little time as we wouldn't want to lose context in your thread. This thread may "resurface" months later!

[Oneshot2008]

jmoore that was very educational. I have been reloading for over 30 years and I am well aware of what a case rupture can do. Never had the problem, but learned about during my early years. Big Thanks for reminding me. The owner is bringing some fired cases and live ammo over so I can check the fit. If the .303 British does not chamber, Then we will have a gun smith check it with a bore scope. I had all this equipment back in the 70's as a weapons instructor but no longer own one.

---------- Post added at 10:15 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:05 PM ----------

Hey all, I almost forgot to apologize to all for sounding so gruff. AND A BIG APOLOGY to muffett.

Not your concern but I need to stay of the computer when the meds have me in the nervous upset mode.

Bad enough I tend to use short clipped sentences, without being predisposed to quickly interpreting someone else post incorrectly. I do not form a sentence very well anymore. It is hard for me to convey what I mean, in just one attempt. I need to focus on re-reading before hitting submit.

[John Sukey (Deceased)]

Sure looks like 1923 NOT 1913. No it's not a cavalry rifle, ALL No1MK3's are that length. I will go with the headless cartridge case. stuck in the chamber. IF it was NOT a .303 the barrel would not look like that

[Oneshot2008]

I finally made it back to the owner's house. After cleaning out the bolt and polishing the inside as I described, .303 British chambers and shoots fine.

Thanks everyone for all the advise and help.

[RF4guy]

I believe some of these rifles were converted from .303 British to .308. Could that be the caliber?