Ruger #3 what to rebarrel it to?

[andym79]

Hi, guys I have been flitting between ideas for this one and I mean a whole myriad of different thoughts!

Like anything from 218 bee, 220 swift, 257 Roberts, 277 Weatherby Magnum, 7x57R, 300 Win Mag, 33 Winchester, 358 Norm Mag, 375 H&H, 405 Winchester, 40-82 and more!

Mostly when I do a project I have a limitation, this size rim or that size head, or that maximum length!

The Ruger gives me non of those constraints so the options are vast.

I got the Ruger cheap in 45-70 but because Bubba had visited it and taken the barrel down to 16".

I could put a nice 45 -70 barrel on it, but I want to barrel it in 40 cal or less.

I am going to open this one to the floor, if you had a Ruger #3 sat there what would you make it into?

[Petrol & Powder]

Well this is going to start a caliber war :smile:

[Petrol & Powder]

OK, I'll start; Because of my fondness for the cartridge, the lack of current production rifles chambered for it and the overall nostalgia - My first vote would be for the 7mm Mauser (7 x 57)

If I wanted something a little more mainstream I might pick 7mm-08.

[Jedman]

I might try the 40-50 strait wall. In a light no. 3 it wouldn't recoil to bad and is useful for most anything at moderate range.

Jedman

[gewehrfreund]

Mine is currently at the gunsmith getting changed into a 32-20 with a relined 1S barrel.

For your rifle, I'd say the classic 32-40 or 38-55

[andym79]

A 38 Cal barrel was one that crossed my mind, would give me the choice of 38-55, 38-56, 375 NE or 375 H&H

[Green Frog]

327 Federal Magnum with a fairly fast twist. Shootable wth 32 S&W, 32 S&W Long, 32 H&R (almost magnum) and the designated 327 FM. In addition, with the extractor arrangement on the #3, you could probably shoot 32 ACP in it as well. The existing factory stock would work well with it or better yet make a more svelte stalking rifle design, and you’d be good to go.

Froggie

[sukivel]

375 NE, 358 Norma Mag, 405 Win are interesting...


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[marlinman93]

I'd personally stay away from the .405 for two reasons. First is recoil. I know you can download them, but it's still a light gun and will not be too comfortable. But the 2nd is a better reason to avoid the .405 Win.! Hornady dropped it from their lineup, and now everyone is out of stock on .405 Hornady brass. So finding brass for this caliber is extremely hard, and not cheap anymore. I have 5 guns that I used the .405 brass in for other calibers, and wish I'd known Hornady was going to drop it!

I'd stick with calibers that brass is easy to find for, whether you use the brass as is, or use it to form from. There are cartridges like the .303 British that are great, and very cheap brass. But also the .38-50 Remington that's easily fire formed from .303 brass, or the .40-50SS that's also made from .303 brass. So there's 3 choices I'd recommend for a good chambering, and cheap brass.

[pietro]

.

I'd make it a clone of the VERY rare .30-06 Ruger #3 (yes, there were a few made - I've personally seen two, over the years, that had accompanying factory letters of authenticity).

.

[country gent]

I would opt for 38-55 or 38-50 with a 1-12 or 1-14 twist barrel. this would allow for bullets up to 360 grns to be used and the 38-XXs are mild mannered with lighter recoil. Brass is available though with 38-50 it is formed from 303 britsh or 30-40 krag brass. The 38-XX with this combination will perform well out pas 500 yds

[Wayne Smith]

What do you want to do with it? That is more determinative than any other question. Just a wildcat, or a varmit rifle, or a deer rifle, or something to plink with walking the woods? All different.

[Nobade]

What do you want to do with it? That is more determinative than any other question. Just a wildcat, or a varmit rifle, or a deer rifle, or something to plink with walking the woods? All different.Finally the voice of reason...

[LynC2]

Finally the voice of reason...

That and what other rifles do you already have? Is there a gap or you just want a new toy?

[Harleysboss]

How about a 40-65 WCf? Taper octagon barrel. I had a #3 re- barreled to 50-70 govt. Replaced the #3 wood with #1 wood. I would think that the existing extractor from your 45-70 will work with the 40-65.

[andym79]

I did think and still like the idea of one in 6mm BR, but is the Ruger 3# inherently a rifle accurate enough for such a thing?

[EDG]

I tend to only want to build something that I cannot buy.
Since the Ruger is a single shot that works best with rimmed cartridges I would stick with rimmed rounds.
I might resort to old and obsolete rounds but I would avoid wildcats.

1. Light varmit - .218 Bee
2. Light cast and plinking .327 Magnum

3. Light hunting and deer 6.5X53R Dutch or 8X57 Rimmed

4. Heavier cast rounds - .33 Win using 45-70 brass or .35 Rem using rimmed .303 Brit brass

5. large caliber plinking and cast .45 Auto Rim or .44 Special or .357 Max

[LynC2]

I did think and still like the idea of one in 6mm BR, but is the Ruger 3# inherently a rifle accurate enough for such a thing?

They can be very accurate, but depending upon your criteria, I certainly wouldn't make it my first choice and I shot BR competition years ago. There is a very good reason why bolt actions dominate that game. As for a varmint rifle, it would be fine.

[pertnear]

If you're gonna do it, go all the way & make it into a Ruger #2. That's what I did & chambered mine in 6.8mm SPC-II. I like the .218 Bee idea & .220 swift idea. What about a nice .219 Zipper or Donaldson-Wasp?

238355

[stubshaft]

The venerable 30/30.

[Drm50]

I'm thinking of taking one of my 375win-#3s and rebarrel with 26" in same cal. Now you got me thinking and might look into 405w. Only have these for Ohio Deer. We are limited to 38cal min and straight case. The 405w
might be ultimate Ohio deer gun. I have 45/70, 44mg and 223 in #3 also. Have been playing with 375w to see
what it will do with spitzer bullets. It does well but would do better with longer barrel. I bought the stock extenders that look like recoil pads. Adds 1" to stock and it is noticeable improvement. Wish I could find bubba
#3 cheap. I have traded off most of my late model lever actions for #3s & #1s. My goal is to come up with flatist shooting and lightest rifle I can and be legal.

[Good Cheer]

238368

To each his own. This was mine.

238369

[dverna]

As I get older, I have come to detest recoil. So none of the larger calibers you or others mentioned would be of interest. Also, a light rifle is appealing.

I am not fond of casting, and I enjoy an accurate rifle. This leaves a jacketed bullet as my choice. Alas he Ruger is not always stellar the in accuracy department.

I like the first suggestion...7mm Mauser. It is a special little round that is underappreciated.

[No_1]

22 TCM - It is a modern day 22 Hornet but with cases easily formed from 223. Depending on twist you could shoot heavier than the factory 35 grain. lil’gun will get 2900 FPS easily with jacketed. A couple grs unique is a pip squeak pop gun load - a pinch of bullseye is the same. I sent two #3’s to McGowan to be rebarreled. Both are 20”, both threaded, one with 12” twist and the other with 10”. The 12 twist went to my Dad and has been passed down to Hatch. Bonus was no extractor mods were needed.

[marlinman93]

What someone wants to do with a cartridge is important. But I also get tired of paying high prices for oddball brass, and expensive dies. Or searching everywhere to try to find brass!
So what I plan to use it for is in the decision, but tempered by availability of brass and dies.

[DocSavage]

327 Mag,6 or 7mm BR,7.62x39,45 Schofield. As someone opined what do you want the rifle for plinking,hunting serious target work. Another choice that was a standard caliber 30/40 Krag. Any large bore calibers in the relatively light No 3 are going to kick like a mule. Ages ago a gunsmith I was going to hire to do some work on a pistol was reboreing a No 3 in 450 NE a customer. Just thinking about the conversion makes me flinch.

[andym79]

I would like to do something like a 220 swift or 6mm br, but is a Ruger 3 good enough for the 6mm BR?

Or would I be better of do my 243 Howa in 6 mm br?

As I think the Ruger #3 is too small for a heavy recoil rifle. Still a lot of larger rim cases appeal to me.

The 375 Ruger is a real hitter, but if I were doing a 375 on the Ruger it would be the H&H it has that nostalgia but also brass is easier to come by.

I would definitely change a bolt action in 300 win mag over to 375 Ruger though!

The 7x57R is a nice case, but I can get bullets in 224-270 and 30 cal a fair bit cheaper than 7mm ones, don't know why?

[M-Tecs]

For me with my current needs or wants it would be a 220 Swift. I love this cartridge. If you want something different 225 Winchesters are nice in single shots.

[Outpost75]

To my way of thinking, the .303 British would be ideal for a No.3. Because the action is strong I would go ahead and use a normal .30 cal. barrel in 10" twist for the greatest flexibility in bullet choice. Use the SAAMI-dimensioned .303 British chamber dimensions so as to provide adequate neck release clearance and throat diameter to use factory and military surplus .303 British ammo, squirting the fat bullets down the .30 cal. barrel, which poses NO safety issue whatever, in a suitably strong action.

In fact, in the 1980s Ruger produced several thousand .303 Brit. No.3s for the Canadian trade which were in exactly this configuration and shoot splendidly with either .303 British MkVII or MKVIIIz service or commercial softpoint ammo, as well as with handloads using common .30 cal. bullets, either jacketed or cast.

I no longer have the No. 3 Ruger, but do have a No.4 Mk1* Long Branch barreled in this configuration, which is my "Go-To" general purpose rifle. I am well satisfied with it.

238382238383238384

[pertnear]

Frank De Haas book "Mr.Single Shot's Gunsmithing - Idea Book" has some very good information on accurizing the Ruger #3. As you know the barrel is the heart of an accurate rifle & while it won't shoot like a bolt gun it can be made very accurate. My rifle has a medium heavy Shilen barrel & with light forend pressure regularly shoots 3/4" or less at 100 yards.

[nicholst55]

To my way of thinking, the .303 British would be ideal for a No.3. Because the action is strong I would go ahead and use a normal .30 cal. barrel in 10" twist for the greatest flexibility in bullet choice. Use the SAAMI-dimensioned .303 British chamber dimensions so as to provide adequate neck release clearance and throat diameter to use factory and military surplus .303 British ammo, squirting the fat bullets down the .30 cal. barrel, which poses NO safety issue whatever, in a suitably strong action.

In fact, in the 1980s Ruger produced several thousand .303 Brit. No.3s for the Canadian trade which were in exactly this configuration and shoot splendidly with either .303 British MkVII or MKVIIIz service or commercial softpoint ammo, as well as with handloads using common .30 cal. bullets, either jacketed or cast.

I think I'd just go with .30-40 Krag (or Ackley Improved) in that case - since that's essentially what a .30-303 is/ Brit brass might be slightly easier to find than Krag brass these days, so that might be a wash.

[ulav8r]

30/30 case, 25, 30, 32, 35, 375, or 38 caliber barrel. For a lower power round, 32/20 or 30 Badger. Set it up as a change barrel and do one of each.

[Texas by God]

25-35 Winchester or its fraternal twin the 30-30. Light recoil, accurate, rimmed case.

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[bob208]

the best answer make it a takedown then you can mutable calibers pick and chose.

[3leggedturtle]

In no particular order: 38WCF, 7-30 Waters, 25 Souper or 357 B&D.

[andym79]

I am seriously considering a 7x57r but bullet price is a problem.

For some reason 6.5 and 7 cost a lot more than 224 243 257 270 and 308 bullets.

I don't have a problem with normal cartridges though most of mine are non standard, most of mine get re done for better or heavier barrels. Too many factory barrels are either not good or are in a #1 or #2

[sukivel]

30/30 case, 25, 30, 32, 35, 375, or 38 caliber barrel. For a lower power round, 32/20 or 30 Badger. Set it up as a change barrel and do one of each.

35-30 looks fun but finding dies?!?! Whoa!


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[Thin Man]

If I had a spare #3 to start on, I would consider the 38-55 cartridge first off. Rimmed case, readily available, option to drop a 375 Winchester load into the chamber if I had that itch to scratch. The parent caliber would be loaded mild, and the warmer loads on reserve as desired. As a second thought I would consider the 32-40 Winchester caliber which can be made up from the parent 30-30 brass by a single pass through a sizing die. Short case length be hanged, you still get the correct COL with jacketed .321" bullets properly seated to the cannelure in the 32-40 short length case to match your chamber. Either of these calibers would make a very satisfactory stalking rifle with the option of going mild to more than mild as your needs change.

[Rich/WIS]

I have a restocked No 3 that started out as a 30/40 but a previous own had chambered to 30/40AI. In a No 3 action I have a full range of power, from mouse fart to near 06. Restocking raised the weight a bit which helps with recoil on the upper end of the loads and makes it a pussycat with low end loads. I wish it was still a 30/40 but at the price I couldn't turn it down.

[1hole]

There is so much overlap in present hunting cartridges it hardly seems reasonable to try to fill any big game rifle gaps. You have a terrific specialty action, why not make it into a specialty rifle that actually means something?

In my mind, a nice little falling block single shot is made for a classic walking varmint rifle; it cries for a 22" high grade medium weight barrel chambered for .17 K Hornet or .220 Ruger. And it should wear something like a 10x or 12x Unertl 1 1/2" target scope (you can still find them on eBay).

I don't know about any "inherent accuracy" of the #3 (or #1) compared to competitive BR bolt rifles. If it grouped as much as 3/8 MOA more, which is huge in BR, but - think about it - at 100 yards that translates to being "off" no more than 3/16" from point of aim! Meaning no crow, groundhog, etc., (nor any human) would ever see a real world difference in the field, not even the most serious BR shooters.

What ever you do with it, I hope you enjoy your little treasure!

[jonp]

6.5x55 SM

My favorite round after the .308. Boring, not a speed demon or a 1,000yrd flavor of the month let alone the next hottest thing in a black rifle. Just getting it done for over 100yrs.

[jonp]

As I get older, I have come to detest recoil. So none of the larger calibers you or others mentioned would be of interest. Also, a light rifle is appealing.

I am not fond of casting, and I enjoy an accurate rifle. This leaves a jacketed bullet as my choice. Alas he Ruger is not always stellar the in accuracy department.

I like the first suggestion...7mm Mauser. It is a special little round that is underappreciated.

7mm never a bad choice. All of the Mauser's seem to be out of favor in this 1,000yrd era.

[slug]

In fact, in the 1980s Ruger produced several thousand .303 Brit. No.3s for the Canadian trade which were in exactly this configuration and shoot splendidly with either .303 British MkVII or MKVIIIz service or commercial softpoint ammo, as well as with handloads using common .30 cal. bullets, either jacketed or cast.

I'm a bit surprised to learn this.
Back about 1987, I had a business with a firearms license, and since the 100 th anniversary of the .303 British cartridge was coming up, I asked Ruger if they would make up a run of the #3's in .303.
They said that they had no interest in such a project, and basically blew me off. I would have ordered a thousand.
In talking with friends, some reasons put forward were that Ruger was too busy with huge military orders from Israel, and/or there was no-one making .303 barrels in the US at that time. In over a half century of shooting, I have never seen or heard of a #3 in .303 B.
Before the run of #1's in .303 about a decade back, I had one made up with a stout octagon Shilen barrel.

[MostlyLeverGuns]

I like the Rimmed 35 Rem. Standard 35 Rem dies using 303 British brass. You can leave the case full length 303 by extending neck with neck only reamer or just trim to 35 Rem length. All dies, components standard. For a light cartridge, the 30 Mauser or 7.62 Tokarev using 38 Special brass, standard brass with a rim and standard dies again. The 32 Winchester Special is a very good cast bullet cartridge, cases are available or easily formed from 30-30, standard dies, bullets.

[onelight]

The 356 Winchester might be a good choice rimmed American cartridge and could use 308/358 brass in a pinch 308 cases worked great out of a marlin we have .
Don’t know if you would have any issues with the no.3 extractor.
I have a No.3 45/70 one of my favorite rifles and allways watching for a good deal on one in 375 Winchester.
Keep us posted sounds like a fun project.

[Lance Boyle]

What someone wants to do with a cartridge is important. But I also get tired of paying high prices for oddball brass, and expensive dies. Or searching everywhere to try to find brass!
So what I plan to use it for is in the decision, but tempered by availability of brass and dies.


Ha I was thinking 25-20 or 32-20. Your brass comment is wise.


.32 H&R or .38 special would make a nice pinker.

[Walks]

7X57 or it's offspring .257Rob'ts. Had, still have both for 42yrs & 64yrs, respectively.

[gewehrfreund]

In fact, in the 1980s Ruger produced several thousand .303 Brit. No.3s for the Canadian trade which were in exactly this configuration and shoot splendidly with either .303 British MkVII or MKVIIIz service or commercial softpoint ammo, as well as with handloads using common .30 cal. bullets, either jacketed or cast.

I'm a bit surprised to learn this.
Back about 1987, I had a business with a firearms license, and since the 100 th anniversary of the .303 British cartridge was coming up, I asked Ruger if they would make up a run of the #3's in .303.
They said that they had no interest in such a project, and basically blew me off. I would have ordered a thousand.
In talking with friends, some reasons put forward were that Ruger was too busy with huge military orders from Israel, and/or there was no-one making .303 barrels in the US at that time. In over a half century of shooting, I have never seen or heard of a #3 in .303 B.
Before the run of #1's in .303 about a decade back, I had one made up with a stout octagon Shilen barrel.

You're not the only one who's never heard of a No. 3 in 303. I think this person is confused/confusing it with the later run of No. 1s that you mention.

I have an article from a gun magazine (1990s?) dealing with the author's production and testing of a very nice Ruger No. 1 in .303using a heavy Shilen barrel. It shot VERY well with his handloads.

[GARD72977]

I think any of the WCF's would be great or a 45lc. It would make a nice offhand rifle.

[Drm50]

The #3 is Rugers 788, I don't know why they stopped production of it. With very minor changes they could have kept up with runs when ever a new cartridge came out and had a good rifle at a reasonable price.I sold a bunch of them in 223 while they were made. Now in this area shows they want $600 for beaters.

[jaguarxk120]

Because the production run was so short, the No.3 has become a collectors piece.

There are only so many of them out there and collectors want them in any caliber.

Original is best, even better with shipping box.

[onelight]

I sure wish somebody would bring out a copy or something similar.The Ruger single shots are one of favorites but are pricey.

[pressonregardless]

238368

To each his own. This was mine.

238369

I had to look this one up & found your post from 2010. I like it.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?89611-38-Long-Cox

[Mica_Hiebert]

256 win mag (357 mag necked down to .25)

[Drm50]

Ruger had a winner in the #3. They are handy little carbines. I have seen many guys have restocked with more western style wood. Nice graceful stocks that are longer than the clubby short military stock. Nice slender forearms with no barrel band. Not that many have rebarreled. When they came out I wanted one for a walk around groundhog gun. I picked 223 over Hornet because I didn't want to carry full size rifle in Hornet. I'm glad I did because the Hornets were known to be finicky shooters. Win is coming out with 350 cartridge that is actually a .357 bore on 223 case. I think a legal straight case for deer hunting with ARs. If you had use for it maybe a god choice for rebore of a 223 with little other work.

[izzyjoe]

How about 6.5 CM, cause everybody knows its the most accurate caliber ever devised! LOL! Seriously I would think long and hard about what it would be intended for, and then make a decision on caliber, personally I would pick something with common brass. Now I'll throw out a wild card, how about 250 savage!

[BigEyeBob]

A number of Australian wildkats based on the 303 British case ,22/303 ,25/303 ,6mm /303 , 243/303 ,270/303 , 308/303 ,35/303 and then there is the 416/303 developed in Sth Africa .All excellent cartridges with the 25/303 being the most prolific in OZ .Ive a mauser 96 Sporter in 25/303 and a KAR98 in 270/303 . Brass is cheap enough ,easy to reform ,dies are available from Simplex in Australia .I use PPU brass exclusively for reforming into the 25 and 270 .It all depends what you want to do with the rifle .There is also the Canadian Epps range of 303 based cartridges .

[Jedman]

A number of Australian wildkats based on the 303 British case ,22/303 ,25/303 ,6mm /303 , 243/303 ,270/303 , 308/303 ,35/303 and then there is the 416/303 developed in Sth Africa .All excellent cartridges with the 25/303 being the most prolific in OZ .Ive a mauser 96 Sporter in 25/303 and a KAR98 in 270/303 . Brass is cheap enough ,easy to reform ,dies are available from Simplex in Australia .I use PPU brass exclusively for reforming into the 25 and 270 .It all depends what you want to do with the rifle .There is also the Canadian Epps range of 303 based cartridges .

Plus the 40-50 strait wall. A very nice cartridge and made from the 303 British case.

Jedman

[GARD72977]

Was this #3 ever rebarrelled?

[weik]

.225 win or .221 fireball

[scattershot]

Bearing in mind that anything above, say, a .308 is gonna hurt, I’d probably go with a 30/30.

[flint45]

do something interesting and rare like the .38-72 WCF

[rking22]

My choice would be 30 badger.
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?256118-30-Badger-30-Reece

[Tracy]

1. .32-40
2. 7x57R
3. .32-20

[Texas by God]

44-40 is fun. So is 38-55.

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[oldhenry]

6.5X55: enough for most occasions & gentle on the shoulder.

[Cheshire Dave]

25-20 wcf. It's hard to find a good single shot in this caliber and brass is easy to make from 32-20's. Just did 200 of them. Got a Stevens 44 and a Savage Sporter. It's addictive.

[Drm50]

I just got a new copy of Cartridge Conversions for Father's Day. Since I'm going for ultimate Ohio deer gun based on trajectory only the 405win is at the top of the pile of straight wall cartridges. I don't care about bullets any bullet of 38cal and bigger is more than enought for a deer, basing that at 150gr minimum. Having said that I'm going to scope out what may be better in wildcats. Also what's the specs on some European cartridges. I'm
pretty sure the 38 or 40 cal is where the most velocity is possible and still maintain accuracy. A cartridge such as 405 can be pushed in a modern rifle past operating pressure of 45000 which is 1895 Win pressures. I don't want something that is a problem to get brass but I don't need hundreds for a hunting rifle.

[webfoot10]

6.5X55: enough for most occasions & gentle on the shoulder.

I happen to have a extra 6.5x55 barrel blank. PM if interested.

[No_1]

I happen to have a extra 6.5x55 barrel blank. PM if interested.

As a reminder sales outside of S&S are not allowed. Take it to a PM.


Take care,
Robert

[Good Cheer]

In one of Paul Matthews' books he discusses loading a 45-70 as a 45-110.
What he did was muzzle load the powder and the soft alloy paper patched boolit.

So as a something to ponder while deciding upon a caliber, rifling geometry, twist...
A 45 Colt chambering with a barrel long enough to make the No.3 feel good for off hand shooting might also make an excellent .45 caliber black powder rifle. Same for .41 Mag, .44 Mag or .460S&W.

[Thomas Creek]

Have to go with suggesting a 38/55 for a big bore, 30/30 for medium and 25/35 for light work. Lots of fun and many choices.
Enjoy.

[Idaho Mule]

I'll throw in another for 303 British. Fine cartridge, lots of brass and bullets, and boolits. If going 308 barrel I would go with the Krag case, longer neck. JW

[rmark]

310 Cadet, don't want to overwhelm the action strength.

[l h jenkins]

I have converted two #3 in 45-70. a 25-20 and a 17 khornet. you only need to shoot a 45-70 in #3 once to know why most have been shot very little. one the hornet got #1 wood.
oh, previous post mentioned a 25-35 I have one that was rebored from a 22 hornet. I purchased it that way.

[sukivel]

So OP, what did you go with?


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[bigted]

Andym ... I have recently discovered yet another use for the 223 rem chamber.

I had a #3 a hundred years ago so chambered and enjoyed it immensely. Had to have a mini so it got traded.

Recently I loaded 223 cases with red tipped Hornaday 50 grain jacketed with 4.1 grains of Trailboss sparked with a CCI small rifle prime ... this is so much fun ... like a reloadable 22 mag. Low noise and NO recoil. Extremely accurate.

So I would go with a factory original 223 rem.

[M.A.D]

454 Casull

[M.A.D]

What twist rate on the 223?

[Cheshire Dave]

As I said before I would go 25-20 WCF. In fact I will put my money where my mouth is. I just bought a Ruger#3 in .22 Hornet on Gunbroker. Still waiting to receive it. Unless it turns out to be a great shooter I will send it to Oregunsmithing in Pendleton to be bored out to 25-20. I can choose my twist rate so I think I will go with 1-12 to better stabilize 85 to 90 grain bullets at low velocity. Most likely the closest I will come to a custom rifle.

[40-82 hiker]

I think .357 Mag/Max would be fun. .256 Win. Mag. would be a hoot as well.

I owned a #3 .22 Hornet for a number of years, and it accounted for many Montana gophers. If I still had my #3, I think it would be fun to go with the .357 Max. Brass is a pricey but available.

[richhodg66]

Dad had one for quite a while when I was a kid chambered in .30-40 KRag. Wish he had kept it. Personally, I can't think of a better chambering, call me old school, but a cartridge for a single shot should have a rim on it.

A .30-30 or .25-35 would be cool too, or .38-55.

Next question, what's wrong with it as it is? Why rebarrel an already good rifle?

[bigted]

What twist rate on the 223?

The barrel is the stock Encore 223 and tho I have not checked it ... I believe it to be a 10 or 12 twist.

Further, I cut it back to 17 inch. This is so fun with my Encore that I have cast Lee's 55 grain boolits and PC'd them Ford blue, then sized em .225 inch. Same load but have not tested them yet.

[6string]

303 British has been mentioned a few times. I'll go one step further and suggest looking into the various 303 wildcats designed by Ellwood Epps of Orillia, Ontario, Canada. He had a series of them in .25, 6mm, 6.5mm, 303 (improved), a .35, and probably a few others I'm forgetting.
These were designed about 50 yrs ago, Ellwood is long gone now, but the shop still exists and thrives.
Jim

PS: There are similar wildcats originating in Australia. The .25-303 is considered a good kangaroo gun. There's also an Australian book called "The Accurate Lee-Enfield" with a whole chapter on Mr. Epps.

[BAGTIC]

If I had to shoot it with that atrocious factory stock I would stay with a small low recoil round. Also that underlever is not very compatible wit h heavy recoil.

[Don Purcell]

With richhodg66, 30/40 Krag.

[onelight]

With richhodg66, 30/40 Krag.
I think that 30/40 was one of the first No.3 calibers if I remember right along with 45/70 and maybe 223

[ironhead7544]

30-30 would be my choice. Plenty of brass available. Recoil is low. Classic rimmed case. Good cast bullet cartridge.

[missionary5155]

Good morning
If we ever re-barrel our #3 which is 375 Winchester it will be to a 50 Alaskan.
We have a 86 repro in caliber .50 Alaskan and it is a fun one. From round ball at 600 fps (loaded single shot) to a 525 GC slammer at 1850 fps it will do any task I can dream of.
50-100 will do the same but the brass is rather expensive. 50 Alaskan at Starline is 1/2 the price and gets the job done all the same.
Mike in Peru

[Texas by God]

Consider the .44-40.

[CamoWhamo]

I recently re-barreled mine into .357 Maximum.

But if i was to do it again i would go with .38-55 or .375 Win.

246623

[Groo]

Groo here
How about 41mag????????????

[Good Cheer]

Handi rebored to .41 is nice.
Looking forwards loading black.

For a #3 I'd love to have one in .45 caliber but .451 diameter instead of .457.
460S&W would be just about right seeing as nobody seems to have a 45-70 necked down to .451.

[RICHP]

Groo here
How about 41mag????????????

Bought a no. 3, with no.1 wood in .41 mag., haven't, done anything with it yet. Also have another barrel for .41mag.Does anyone know ifthe barrel threads are the same on no. 1 and no. 3 actions?

[Doughty]

They are the same. 16tpi

[skeettx]

My #3s are in 22 Hornet and 30-40 Krag
Both great shooters :)
But I do like my #1s better for lever comfort