KCSO
03-07-2011, 01:18 PM
When I was young I was determined to go to Africa and hunt and therefore was enamored of the 303 British rifle. After all Stewart Granger hunted Africa with one! So in about 1966 I stopped in the GEM store and for $15 I bought a 1915 BSA marked enfield with magazine cut off and volley sights. I took it home and promptly cut it into a semblence of a sporting rifle throwing the worthless volley sights and magazine cut off in the trash. I then hiked myself to the local gun shop and bought a paper sack of 303 surplus ammo for 2 cents a round, count it yoourself. I also bought a box of REAL 303 loads Remington 215 RN at 2300 fps, guarenteed to stop charging lions for sure. I shot the rifle for some time and even stopped a charging coyote with what we call here a ,Texas Heart Shot. A coyote was no match for a 215 Remington I'll tell you.
Eventually I got a Lee Loader and began reloading the 303 and discovered the meaning of chamber tolerence and headspace. It was then I saw an ad for a Parker Hale 303 Sporter rifle. In 1967 the rifle was selling for right at $70 and was about the same price as a new Remington 700 and therefore well out of my reach. But "If man's reach does not exceed his grasp then what is heaven for?"
Fast forward 40 (no sh!#, 40???) years and a buddy comes over with a paper sack. I got it at a gun show in California and I think it's all here. Inside were the bits and pieces of a Parker Hale Enfield 303 for which I promptly dished out a Franklin and a half.
I put the gun together replacing several small parts that were missing, rear sight, front hood, and a magazine. The rifle itself had a mint bore and the action was marked Lithgow 1920. Oh Boy a dream come true no more streached brass and a 303 bore!
The fact is that the Parker Hale, even though it has fine walnut wood with figure and a nice polished blue, is nothing more than a factory sporter. The clip charger guide has been removed and polished and a 5 round magazine supplied. The mint bore with sharp shiny lands and grooves is 313 and the chamber is no better or no worse than a regular miliitary rifle. The 22" barrel has all the military proof marks and is stamped in the middle PARKER HALE BIRMINGHAM.
Shooting cast bullets sized to 314 and lubed with Carnuba Red the gun with the 2.5 Simmons scope will hold under 2" at 100 yards, but it shoots no better than my military #4 with the target bedding. The trigger on the rifle was a standard doulble pull military trigger that broke at 5# and i replaced it with a Huber trigger set for 3# crisp.
All in all the Parker Hale is not a bad rifle but I am sure glad I didn't spend $70 for one in 1967! The rifle is in no way comparable to a contemporary sporting rifle. The Remington 721 or 700 was a much better gun for the money in 1967 and I am assuming that the reason for the high price at that time was import duty on the Parker Hale as it was really just a well done sporterizing job rather than a true sporting rifle.
Eventually I got a Lee Loader and began reloading the 303 and discovered the meaning of chamber tolerence and headspace. It was then I saw an ad for a Parker Hale 303 Sporter rifle. In 1967 the rifle was selling for right at $70 and was about the same price as a new Remington 700 and therefore well out of my reach. But "If man's reach does not exceed his grasp then what is heaven for?"
Fast forward 40 (no sh!#, 40???) years and a buddy comes over with a paper sack. I got it at a gun show in California and I think it's all here. Inside were the bits and pieces of a Parker Hale Enfield 303 for which I promptly dished out a Franklin and a half.
I put the gun together replacing several small parts that were missing, rear sight, front hood, and a magazine. The rifle itself had a mint bore and the action was marked Lithgow 1920. Oh Boy a dream come true no more streached brass and a 303 bore!
The fact is that the Parker Hale, even though it has fine walnut wood with figure and a nice polished blue, is nothing more than a factory sporter. The clip charger guide has been removed and polished and a 5 round magazine supplied. The mint bore with sharp shiny lands and grooves is 313 and the chamber is no better or no worse than a regular miliitary rifle. The 22" barrel has all the military proof marks and is stamped in the middle PARKER HALE BIRMINGHAM.
Shooting cast bullets sized to 314 and lubed with Carnuba Red the gun with the 2.5 Simmons scope will hold under 2" at 100 yards, but it shoots no better than my military #4 with the target bedding. The trigger on the rifle was a standard doulble pull military trigger that broke at 5# and i replaced it with a Huber trigger set for 3# crisp.
All in all the Parker Hale is not a bad rifle but I am sure glad I didn't spend $70 for one in 1967! The rifle is in no way comparable to a contemporary sporting rifle. The Remington 721 or 700 was a much better gun for the money in 1967 and I am assuming that the reason for the high price at that time was import duty on the Parker Hale as it was really just a well done sporterizing job rather than a true sporting rifle.