Greek .303 Surplus

[limpetmine]

I hocked some stuff and got a bunch. All '76 dated; all clean and looking like just off the press.
Really surprised to see HXP on the market at this good price.
I guess there is a Santa Claus.

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[muffett.2008]

I guess there is a Santa Claus.

I guess hat explains all the snow over there then, nothing to do with Global Warming after all.

[aqbill]

I took opportunity of a slow day-before-Thanksgiving to take my two No.4MkI "T" rifles to the Crooked Oak range in northwestern Alabama to try out some of that Greek .303 HPX ammo at 50 & 100 yards. Twenty-two bench rest rounds later, I have the following observations.

First, all rounds fired as they should and made nice regular holes in the targets. Happy to find that the windage of both rifles was excellent.

Second, the accuracy at 50-yards - for both rifles - was about 2 inches. Each rifle shot the first round significantly higher (3 to 4 inches) than those which followed. The groups were both about 4 inches above dead on, 6 o'clock hold at 50 yards. I used the battle sights which were both set at a nominal 200 yards.

Third, the 100-yard accuracy - again, for both rifles - as measured by 5-shot groups was about 4 to 5 inches with 4 rounds within about 3 inches and 1 "flyer" which opened everything up a bit. At this range the shots were still about 4 inches above dead-on.

Fourth, it's been quite a while since I shot these, or any other centerfire rifles, and by the last few rounds, my technique was beginning to suffer and I think that, in part, opened the 100-yard groups. As you all know, the 100-yard sight picture with 5-inch bullseye target makes everything look like the dot on top of a front sight "i" which stretches my competence a bit.

Fifth, the barrels sure came back dirty! After an initial soaking with Ballistol to neutralize any salts, I dried the bores and, so far, have been subjecting them to Patch Out which does a great job on copper. Both barrels are in their second soaking of Patch Out as I write this. When it finally comes out clean. I'll follow up with Kroil and Eezox.

Finally, I'm encouraged to the point that next I'll mount my steel Weaver K3 post-reticle on a wonderful reproduction mount which Brian Dick mounted and see what they will do with the telescopic sights. Certainly, I could go to higher power scopes but I have the feeling that the K3 will be just about right for these milsurp rifles shooting ball ammunition.

Cheers,
AQBill