.458 (45-70) minimum barrel thickness

[john.k]

If the OP uses a larger OD barrel than the 303,his stated aim of retaining the military stocking as original isnt possible......he would have to bore out barrel bands and nosecap to accomodate the new barrel..............He has already noted the rarity/value of the front metalwork.

[dnegative]

Just to state my opinion again. It’s a shame not to keep a classic arm as close to original as possible. Even if it went through conversations, why not ré-barrel it in the original or one of the conversation model calibers?

I agree but once you rebarrel any military rifle you cross the point of no return so you might as well do what you please with it.
At the moment, its a wall hanger or a curiosity. Its not a collector grade gun, it has no history aside from whats stamped in it.

In my mind, screwing a 45-70 barrel on is no worse than a 303 one, that said, I'm no butcher. I wont destroy anything that hasn't already been.
It was made to be fired and I'll shoot it till the forend starts to smoke

[missionary5155]

You an always cast a fatter slug ..............

[John Taylor]

Many years ago I took one of the shotguns made for India and installed a 45-70 liner. I didn't do anything to the ugly outside except install sights. Sold it to a customer and his comment was " it's as ugly as a 2X4, but it sure shoots good."

[dnegative]

You an always cast a fatter slug ..............

I could counterbore it about a foot too

[swheeler]

A JES rebore to 35-303 sounds interesting, to me any way.

[Jedman]

dnegative, If you want to make it a 45-70 I say do it ! I have a antique Austrian Werndl rifle that I bought with a bad barrel and broken stock and repaired the wood and made some of the action parts that were corroded to badly and put a 45-70 barrel on it. It shoots great and still looks and operates like the original so to me it makes sense !

Jedman

[Mike H]

The Martini .303 conversions were made for service use in Australia,the breech block has a insert fitted to the front by a dovetail fit,they would have been for Mk 6 ammunition but Mk 7 is no problem.