Having handled numerous rifle designs in the harsh conditions of wilderness traplines (from Coastal, southern interior, central interior and yukon border region)....it is damn hard to beat a #4 303 rifle....a #5 is a heck of a lot handier...the EAL would have been a great rifle for general issue to the rangers in my humble opinion.....having handled FN C1's in muddy trench situations I'd rather have a #4....I've had remington 700's fail, Pre-64 Model 70s fail....my 98 mausers in ORIGINAL chambering worked great but some of the 308's misfeed from time to time.....fact is I prefer the 10 shot #4 303 advantage in big bear areas...the only shots fired at a bear in anger was into the ground between me and a 5-600lbs grizz at 30 feet.....3 rounds into the gravel between us spaying him with gravel....he decided to withdraw....had he not I still had 7 more rounds... ....not 3 as in a Mauser..... I do have a action cover I use in realy harsh snowy weather as I have heard that #4's will misfire if snow and ice are allowed to build up around the striker.....I'd be in no hurry to trade off for some modern stainless 308 built to sporting rifle specs...a #4 is a fine shooting piece.....