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Originally Posted by
tiriaq
Speaking of reloaded ammunition, my II** will not accept full length sized cases previously fired in a Lee
Enfield Rifle. I found it necessary to make a die to size the FL sized cases to a smaller diameter back toward the head. The Ross chamber is not the same as a Lee Enfield chamber. No doubt this contributed to the accuracy of these rifles.
This my experience with a target and two sevice MkII**s. Used to have resize LE fired .303" brass in a Lyman hand sizing die. Then acquired an RCBS die that sized the base enough. My other RCBS die does not size the case enough. That one die must have been made with a worn cutter.
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12-17-2017 03:22 PM
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You've got a beauty there, and with that big fat "1" stamped in the bolt I would not be surprised if it was a team rifle from before or during WWI which got "left behind" by a Canadian team visiting the USA. Of course it could also be one brought down to FL by a Canadian "retiree" any time since it was built.
And of course Old Sir Charles himself retired to St. Petersburg FL and died there.
If you want a copy of "The Ross Rifle Story" PM me and I'll put you in touch with someone in Ontario who has copies from the second printing. Cost to your door would probably be about $100 USD. Only 100 copies were done and it is a big book.
You can email the moderator at rossrifle.com and he will sign you up, where you will get commentary from the few real experts on the Ross, if you're patient.
Have a careful look around for a small mark of a crown over an "I" over "Q"
If you're sure you can get the handguard off without any damage or scratching to the stock, you may find some markings underneath. The middle band will probably need to be slid forward slightly to get the handguard off. Don't force it even slightly, but the stock should have shrunk a bit over the years and it should move easily once the screw is out.
There may be a serial number on the inside of the butt plate, and have look in the trap with a light for paper.
Last edited by Surpmil; 12-19-2017 at 04:21 PM.
“There are invisible rulers who control the destinies of millions. It is not generally realized to what extent the words and actions of our most influential public men are dictated by shrewd persons operating behind the scenes.”
Edward Bernays, 1928
Much changes, much remains the same.
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Originally Posted by
Surpmil
You've got a beauty there, and with that big fat "1" stamped in the bolt I would not be surprised if it was a team rifle from before or during WWI which got "left behind" by a
Canadian team visiting the
USA. Of course it could also be one brought down to FL by a Canadian "retiree" any time since it was built.
And of course Old Sir Charles himself retired to St. Petersburg FL and died there.
If you want a copy of "The Ross Rifle Story" PM me and I'll put you in touch with someone in Ontario who has copies from the second printing. Cost to your door would probably be about $100 USD. Only 100 copies were done and it is a big book.
You can email the moderator at
rossrifle.com and he will sign you up, where you will get commentary from the few real experts on the Ross, if you're patient.
Have a careful look around for a small mark of a crown over an "I" over "Q"
If you're sure you can get the handguard off without any damage or scratching to the stock, you may find some markings underneath. The middle band will probably need to be slid forward slightly to get the handguard off. Don't force it even slightly, but the stock should have shrunk a bit over the years and it should move easily once the screw is out.
There may be a serial number on the inside of the butt plate, and have look in the trap with a light for paper.
Originally Posted by
Surpmil
Have a careful look around for a small mark of a crown over an "I" over "Q"
There is a 1 on the bolt, no Q or crown, and on top of the receiver ring is a 1 and the barrel has a 1 with a crown above it. Haven't tried removing the stock or upper hand guard as of yet.
---------- Post added at 06:08 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:02 PM ----------
I still think it would be nice if I had both the 1905 and 1910 rear sights. There are no long range shooting here in the Tampa / St. Petersburg area.
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Just looked in the stock butt and did find a Bill of Sale from Nov 1959 mailed to New Smyrna Beach, Florida. It was $30 shipped C.O.D. In discription it says, "M1905 .303 Caliber Ross, VG-IN, V-VG Out."
Last edited by LX Kid; 12-19-2017 at 07:27 PM.
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I did a "brief" read on reloading the .303 Ross and looks like my 7.7 Jap dies, which I have, will be useful in making this round. Gonna have to slug the bore and see what I have and fire form some brass.
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Well how about that eh? Once in a while you find something neat in a butt trap like that old bill of sale. Sold in 1959 by Martin B. Retting Inc. of Culver City CA for $27.50 to a J. Bowman of 604 North Peninsula Ave., New Smyrna Beach, FL.
Best thing you can do after scanning that is put it right back in the butt trap.
This rifle was designed for standard .303 MkVI ammunition. There is no such thing as ".303 Ross" that was simply Sir Charles' little vanity name for .303 British.
Get some 215gr. Woodleigh bullets or equivalent and load for them in new .303 cases. I'm not sure who makes the toughest cases with the smallest dimensions, but that IMO is what you want, unless the chamber has been reamed out, and that I very much doubt. Get a chamber cast made if you really want to reload for it.
Late 50s is around the time a lot of people who were young adults before WWI were passing away, and their possessions going up for sale, and of course a great many Canadians moved down to CA after WWI as well.
Of course that is just a guess; it could have come from almost anywhere in N.A.
The "1" on the receiver supports the team rifle idea IMO.
Not sure what you mean by the "1905 and 1910" sights ? It has the correct sights on it now.
Last edited by Surpmil; 12-20-2017 at 01:35 AM.
“There are invisible rulers who control the destinies of millions. It is not generally realized to what extent the words and actions of our most influential public men are dictated by shrewd persons operating behind the scenes.”
Edward Bernays, 1928
Much changes, much remains the same.
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Get some prescription shooting glasses and leave the rifle alone as it is.
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Thank You to AGB-1 For This Useful Post:
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Originally Posted by
Surpmil
Not sure what you mean by the "1905 and 1910" sights ? It has the correct sights on it now.
Reason for wanting both sights is when flipping up the 1905 sight, the "V" and the "aperture" hole, are for targets beyond 100-200 yards. Am I wrong and have not figured this sight out yet? In my area 100 yards is longest shooting range.
When I get a chance I'll do a chamber cast and mic it out. Guess I could fire form a case also. Neighbors might get "scared" of their evil neighbor firing rounds off and call the cops.
Last edited by LX Kid; 12-20-2017 at 07:40 AM.
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I finally found my magnifying glass and looked closely at the sight. The sight does start out at 100 yards! Those dang numbers are so frigiting small! As soon as I get some batteries for my lazer bore sighter I'll check things out for both windage and elevation.
I removed the upper handguard and there is no evidence of a rear sight mounting on the barrel. Just a smooth barrel.
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Would it be total taboo to add a lower butt stock sling swivel? I really like the ease that a sling allows when traveling to the front line! LoL