what to do...?

[bmurfee]

I recently aquired a Ross M-10 .303 from a friend. There is no butt-plate, hence no serial number. It has been badly "sporterized" (in my opinion), however, I can still read the number 742 stamped in the stock. also it has the letter "E" stamped on top of the barrel in front of the breach. Though the site guard is missing, the rest of the parts all appear to be there, including the flip-up adjustable sites. As this is my first milsurp, any help will be appreciated. Can anyone help with any info on this rifle, please?

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.

[Badger]

I recently aquired a Ross M-10 .303 from a friend. There is no butt-plate, hence no serial number. It has been badly "sporterized" (in my opinion), however, I can still read the number 742 stamped in the stock. also it has the letter "E" stamped on top of the barrel in front of the breach. Though the site guard is missing, the rest of the parts all appear to be there, including the flip-up adjustable sites. As this is my first milsurp, any help will be appreciated. Can anyone help with any info on this rifle, please?

Serial numbers on Ross weren't on butt plate, but on the butt stock (right side) ...

Check the MKL, specifically under Canada ….

1916 Mk. III Ross Rifle (Marked to 16th Battalion C.E.F.) (click HERE)


(Click PIC to Enlarge)(Click PIC to Enlarge)

Some pics of the rifle would help us to help you more ...

Regards,
Doug

[buffdog]

The E on the barrel indicated that it was reamed out a bit for an ENLARGED chamber. The serial number is a combination of numbers from 1 to 999 over the date plus two alphabetic numbers to the right of this. Example in your case might be 742 over 1916 FX or something similar.

If you know someone who collects stamps or has a "black light", then shining it on the right side of the butt stock MIGHT reveal the proper serial number or unit numbers, as it sometimes brings out the compressed wood visible.

ONE VITAL THING Read the sticky on the proper assembly of the Ross M-10 bolt. If you take it apart and assemble it wrong, then attempt to fire the rifle, it will BLOW THE BOLT BACKWARDS WHICH WILL HIT YOU BETWEEN THE EYES WITH THE POSSIBLILTY OF BEING FATAL.

The bolt, when assembled into the bolt carrier, should have about ONE INCH of space between the locking lugs and the carrier. If it has only about 1/4 inch, YOU HAVE A PROBLEM. If you shine a small flashlight into the receiver ring as you close the bolt, you can see the bolt head lugs revolve and fully seat. A bolt that is incorrectly assembled will only seat about 1/6 of what it should, and will fail and shear part of the locking lugs off when fired, come back at you, and at that point, your beneficiary will collect on your insurance policy.

BE WARNED.

[smellie]

BUFFDOG is absolutely right as regards black-light and bolt assembly both.

On the other hand, if you assemble a Ross bolt correctly, it is likely that you have the safest rifle ever built. The rifle can NOT get out of whack by itself; it REQUIRES human intervention to make it dangerous. A properly-assembled Ross is very much a question-mark when it comes to the pressures it will take, for the very good reason that you can't build enough pressure with smokeless powder to wreck one. Trials at 125,000 pounds per square inch failed to damage the action. It has even been reported that a rifle, on test, survived a 150,000-psi load which blew the barrel. NRA Rifleman had an article, many years ago, about a .280 Ross being fired with .303 ammunition: gas-leak from the ruptured casing wrecked the extractor but the bullet made it out the muzzle. I have no idea what pressure that took. Rifle was okay once a new extractor was installed.

And a Ross with a good barrel has very few peers on a rifle-range.... and that includes a lot of rifles WITH scopes.

Post a couple of photos so we can see exactly what you have.

And be sure to have fun with it.
.

[Surpmil]

There's another .280 around Smellie that had a box of .303 fired through it. A 20 round box probably! I think we both know the owner. The rifle is still useable reportedly.

[Ax.303]

Wow, that must of been something else. Be interesting to hear the rest of that story. If that doesn`t prove the M-10 action is tough nothing will.
I also know of a .280 Ross that ate a .303. The guy that was there said there it was quite a bang.
After the extractor was replaced, it was tied to a tree for a couple shots. Then back to dumping deer.
That was in the early 50`s this gun is still in use today.