303-375 (375/303) who shoots one?

[303Guy]

Thanks for that, Jeff. Is "Hawkins .38-303" the name for the cartridge I am trying to 'invent'? (The problem with the name "38" is that it could also refer to the 357!) Do you have any pics or even cartridge specs?

[JeffinNZ]

The barrel is stamped ".38/303" and it is simply a .303 blown out to fit the chamber. I will measure for you.
Here it is with the .38 Hawkins bullet the mould for which I don't have unfortunately and that is a 100m group.

[elk hunter]

I went with a 375 Waters Express, 444 necked to .375, on a #4 SMLE. This one had been sporterized by the Muppits or some such. I've been working on it as I have time trying to get it to feed, it has been a bit of a trial, but is coming along. I hope to end up with a copy of the Lee Speed sporter. Don't know what I will do with it, but hey one can't have too many options when it comes to rifles.

[303Guy]

Thanks for that. So 38/303 Hawkins it is! Or is hawkins a barrel manufacturer? 38/303 then! (Since it's exactly what I am trying to re-create).

elk hunter, do you have any pics of your rifle and it's cartridge?

[JeffinNZ]

Tony Hawkins died some years back but was a VERY good barrel maker and was based in Tauranga. I have one of his .22RF barrels on my Roller and of course the .38 on my .38-303 plus a spare .38 MLer barrel for a project. He made moulds to match the barrels and they remain in big demand. I nearly fainted when the guy who gave me the 300gr bullets to try told me he sold the mould.

Shall I post you one of my cases???

[303Guy]

Thank you kindly, Jeff, that would be appreciated! Do you still have my address? (Could you spare a boolit?)

Say, have you done an article on the Hawkins 38? (That name has a 'ring' to it! Not to be confused with the Hawkins 36!)

[elk hunter]

elk hunter, do you have any pics of your rifle and it's cartridge?[/QUOTE]


303guy,

Here's a couple of pictures. As you can see I haven't done a whole lot on this project.

I fit the new barrel, removed the charger bridge, extended the bolt handle with a new knob, changed the contour of the trigger guard, worked on the feeding and test fired it. I haven't ordered the new wood yet.

The cartridge on the left is a 303 the 375 is the Waters Express version as designed by Ken Waters a US gun writer.

I intended to use the Speer 235 grain bullet, but have heard that it is too hard to expand at the lower velocity of this round. I'm thinking I'll try the 225 grain for the 375 Winchester for jacketed and make a mould for it also.

[303Guy]

Thanks for that, elk hunter. So you say it has some feeding issues? My idea of going 'straight walled is to avoid any need to deal with such issues and besides, how much power does one need? But then again, looking at that cartridge, I can see its appeal! Mmmmm..... (Perhaps you should just send it over the equator to me for evaluation and checking for safety and safe keeping!
And of course the fitting of a noise reducing, shrowded muzzle break. )

You know, a Lee Enfield, when fitted with an 'after market' butt-stock, makes a wonderful hunting rifle.

[elk hunter]

303guy,

I would suggest that you pull the barrel from your action and then try to feed a dummy round of the caliber that you decide on from your magazine. If your cartridge of choice is based on the 303 you should meet with at least some success. The 444 parent case of the 375 Waters Express is quite a bit larger in diameter than the 303 and as such it creates some issues, but I believe it can be made to work. I have a number of other projects that I need to finish before I get any more involved with this one so it might be some time before I finish it. I do believe it will make a very nice cast bullet shooter. I might even try to take an elk with it one day.

Good luck with your project.

[303Guy]

Thanks. I intend making a dummy barrel to test the catridges with before I embark on the project.

[deadkelly]

i know this is a old tread i'd like to know how the 375 303 turned out ?

[Pepe Ray]

DeadKelly;
For results, you should P.M. 303 Guy.
Pepe Ray

[BRUCE MOULDS]

for 375/303, read 38/50 remington-hepburn.
with a 12 twist barrel and appropriate bullets, this cartridge is suitable for 1000 yard shooting and sillywet with black powder.
the 303 cae necked to 40 is the 40/60 maynard.
just a bit of historical interest.
sometimes a bit of size juggling can be done by replacing the 303 casewith the 30/40 krag case.
bruce moulds.

[303Guy]

40-60 Maynard it is. (Very nearly). Look up 40-60 Maynard on the web or click on; news.webshots.com/photo/1102168776043890194BeJRmi

[BRUCE MOULDS]

303guy,
if using black, try large pistol primers, and when seating the primer use it to cut a paper wad which it then pushes to the bottom of the primer pocket. this will sometimes improve accuracy.
don't forget to wash with a brush your fired cases in vinegar and water to maintain case life.
if you run patched to bore dia, you can seat bullets out further, thus gaining powder capacity.
bruce moulds.

[chrispy]

The 40/60 Maynard looks like the go to me. The largest you could possibly make your 303 brass to be. Just Awesome!

Chrispy

[nanuk]

what weight of boolit is normal in the 40/60?

i'm gonna guess about 300--375 at 1250fps?



nevermind found it at the site 303guy posted... 400gr at 1200fps.

[deadkelly]

yeah the 38 rem-hepburn & 40-60 maynard both look very interesting to me . i have had the 40 cal 303 on my mind for a long time . i'm looking at building a lee enfield no1 mk111* . i'm looking for a cartridge with similar power to the 375 win , 444m , 45/70 . i'd like to stick with the 303 british case , mainly because it's easy to get & quite cheap , but teamed up with a smooth & fast smle with 8-10 rounds in the magazine + the option of being charger / striper clip fed appeals to me . 303 , 30-40 , 405 win & 9.3x74r all are similar cases apart from length , with the 303 being easyer to obtain .

[slug]

The .38/45 Bullard uses the same back end as the .303B. I had a chance to pick up an unused reamer and die set and grabbed it. I will probably never use it, but it is a neat idea.