Author Topic: What to do ? (Read 327 times)

Pike · « **on:** February 15, 2006, 11:26:48 AM »

I have a brit. 303 #1 mk 3 that has been my only rifle for the past 20 plus years and I am now having problems with it . It is shooting one inch groups at 50 yards but anything past that it starts going all over the place. I have cleaned it and let it cool between shots and it is still doing the same. I like this rifle and don't want to have to get another is there anything else that I can do. I am also having trouble finding commercial hunting loads for it and have read in Peterson's hunting magazine that some companies are not making this caliber anymore. If this is true do I bite the bullet and look for a new rifle[best bud]? please advise.

Blammer · « **Reply #1 on:** February 15, 2006, 07:42:07 PM »

check the muzzle crown to make sure it is true.

jack19512 · « **Reply #2 on:** February 16, 2006, 02:00:14 AM »

I know this may sound stupid, but how is your eyesight? The reason I mention this is because 50 yards seems to be the number for me also. With open sights I do good up to that number and past my groups open up a lot.

That is the reason most of my rifles have scopes on them. If your rifle holds good groups at 50 yards it should do fairly well at 100 yards. As far as ammo goes no reason to give up your "best bud".

The answer to that one (for me anyway) is reloading. It doesn't cost much to do reloading on the cheap. I started out with the Lee Anniversary kit and reloaded some very good ammo.

Pike · « **Reply #3 on:** February 16, 2006, 02:53:04 AM »

Jack,
The rifle is scoped with a Simmons scope and everything is tight. Right now with kids in college I don't have the money to start reloading. I know lI sound cheap but that is the way that it is. Can you get used reloading material on the net ?

jack19512 · « **Reply #4 on:** February 16, 2006, 03:16:44 AM »

I know exactly how you feel. I was putting my youngest son through college and I had to pay every cent. I didn't have any extra money for anything.

Yes, you can get used and new equipment on the net from sources such as Ebay and from forum members also.

Did you notice this problem with your rifle happening all of a sudden or has the problem just been getting worse over time? Did you check the crown and is your bore good and clean?

Do you have someone else that shoots well that could shoot the rifle and see if this happens to them also?

I had a scope do me that way one time. Do you have another scope you could try?

Pike · « **Reply #5 on:** February 16, 2006, 05:32:37 AM »

Jack,
Not sure how to check crown other than looking at it and it looks normal to me. I am going to re-clean it with a good bore cleaner and then have my son shoot it also since he is left handed like I am. I did not notice it until this last fall when getting ready for deer season so I really had to limit my shots. It still accounted for two does at under 30 yards.