Came across a 303?

[Willyp]

Is it worth buying? It has "No4MKI" stamped on the receiver and the numbers on the bolt and the rear stock strap match? It has the stock[wood] cut down. The barrel is 23 inches long and has the blade sight on the front and a adjustable rear flip up peep.
On the strap,on the rear stock,that goes to the trigger guard,i can see M/45. Is this the year it was made? No rust on it,just dust.
What would it be worth????????

[Bloodman14]

Matching numbers? Worth it. All parts (with exception of the bubba'd stock) there? Worth it. What is the price? Who made it? Got pics?

[Willyp]

How do you tell who made it? All i can find is" England", on the right hand side of the receiver.
Pictures? I have a heck of a time trying to put photos on these places!

[bruce drake]

M45 stands for Royal Ordnance Factory in Maltby, England. It was made in late 1945.

Bubbaed No 4's (depending on overall condition) have been running around $200-250 on Gunbroker.com.

In full kit and not messed with, the same rifles are running around 100-150 more in price.

Bruce

[303Guy]

If the bore is good it's worth a lot more than you'll be expected to pay for it. Even with a rusted bore it's not a bad rifle and over here in my parts they go for more than I'm willing to pay, like NZ$450.

[PAT303]

I shot my Maltby No.4 yesterday with AR2217,H1000 for our American friends and it clover leafed three shots with 40/42/44/46 grns under a CBE 225grn bore rider. Pat

[Willyp]

So,this maybe a decent rifle?
It sure is different than another one i have here! The receiver is different,alot,than this MKIII.
The MKII will ruin case! 2 times shooting and they may split at the rear,with a medium jacketed load of 4064 powder,but it shoots well?

[Hip's Ax]

Willy, you should be neck sizing for your 303, the chambers are generous as the head space usually is. If you full length resize everytime I am not surprised you are getting 2 or 3 reloads. Look at the difference between a fired and new unfired case.

I have some Enfields and a No4Mk2 I am expecially fond of. I tightened up the headspace with the higher number bolt heads but I still neck size (and bump the shoulder with a body die when it needs it) because the diameter of 303 chambers are rather large.

[303Guy]

Yes, one needs to head-space on the shoulder, not the rim. There is no choice with first time firings but the 'O' ring trick works pretty well.

[Dead Dog Jack]

The barrel is 23 inches long and ...
On the strap,on the rear stock,that goes to the trigger guard,i can see M/45. Is this the year it was made?

At 23 inches, sounds like the barrel was cut down.

Although bruce is probably correct, it would still be good to see a picture of the M in M/45. Maltby generally used a stylized M. What is the serial number, that too can tell us the manufacturer?

BSA Shirley also made No. 4 rifles and their designation code was M47C.

Pictures of the markings would really help.

[Willyp]

All the numbers start with"BZ".
The barrel still has the military front sight pinned on. The bolt has slot in it and down in the slot are the letters BR?
Pictures,i will try,but !!!!!!!

[303Guy]

Pictures,i will try,but !!!!!!!

Yes, please do. I struggled with pictures at first until I finally got the hang of it. Now I've learnt how to make them small enough to post easily. The good news is it gets easier.

[Dead Dog Jack]

All the numbers start with"BZ".

All three makers were allowed to use BZ. The difference between their serials is how many numbers and what is the first number.

[Willyp]

The first number is a 1 and there are 5 digits.
It is not taking the pictures,it is getting the darn things on to the threads!!!!!!!!!! I aint no kid and don't play well with computers??????????

[pdawg_shooter]

I bought a No4 Mk1 a few years ago for $85 plus shipping. When I got it is was a No4 Mk II. I could still see mild reamer marks in the barrel. A couple hundred paper patch bullets and the bore looks as good as a custom barrel. It will shoot around 1 3/4 inches for 5 at a hundred yards with full power paper patched 311446s.

[303Guy]

.... it is getting the darn things on to the threads!!!!!!!!!!

Yup. That's what I meant. Took me a long time. The only way I know of is by opening a Photobucket account. It's best to get a kid over to do it for you.

[bruce drake]

According to Stratton's Collector's Guide for for Lee Enfields, the BZ numeric and the 5 digit serial number were the domain of ROF Maltby during WWII era.

[Bloodman14]

In "Classics and Stickies", there is a post by Buckshot on how to post a pic in your post; it can be done from a file on your computer. It isn't that hard to do, we even have a 'Testing' area to play in.

[Dead Dog Jack]

The first number is a 1 and there are 5 digits.

Confirmed. Made at Maltby.