I Hear Bagpipes Playing In The Distance

[beartooth]

Man am I excited about how my No. 1 Mark III .303 British turned out as a sporter. I will be doing load work next week and looking forward to the fun of find a good hunting load for this rifle. I want to use it in the swamp when Jordan and I go hog hunting. I am making him learn to use open sights on his gun so I am not going to scope this one. We will both go into the swamp with open sights. I don't expect to take any shots over 75yds because all the hogs we have killed were shot within 50yds so far in the Old River Swamp where we will hunt next fall. I will be trying 174gr RN, 180gr Spitzers and 215gr RN. Here are some pictures of my .303.


Yes, I hear bagpipes playing in the distance.

 

[beartooth]

A few More

 

[beartooth]

It was a 1919 Lithgow No. 1 Mark III that was test fired by the factory and then sent to an amory in Australia but never issued. That is why the finish looks so good. I am the only one who has fired it. They used and inferior wood and it crack very easily. When I got it I took it all a part to oil the part of the barrel that was in the stock, I notice that the wood that supported the recoil pads was cracked. This must have happened when it was test fired at the factory.

So I glued it back in place and then went to shoot. Well, that crack gave way and it also cracked the forearm all the way up the center. This happens often with the Lithgow rifles that used this certain wood. So I order a drop in synthetic stock and it fit perfect, and I was pleasantly surprised. So now I have a rifle that is a little lighter than the battle version and it feels great. Can't wait to shoot it.

 

[ADfields]

Looks great, a faster bolt rifle you will never find!

 

[beartooth]

Looks great, a faster bolt rifle you will never find!

AMEN!!! You can really put out five rounds fast!! :topjob:

 

[377PFA]

Beartooth - Good to see you taking that classic rifle out! Kudos on what looks to be a fine rifle. Regarding brass, what is you estimate on the number of firings one can expect with a .303?

 

[beartooth]

Beartooth - Good to see you taking that classic rifle out! Kudos on what looks to be a fine rifle. Regarding brass, what is you estimate on the number of firings one can expect with a .303?

I expect five times at best if I keep pressures on the low side choosing the right powders for the weight bullets I send down range. For example, I will keep the 215gr RN between 2175 and 2250fps. If I don't have much pressure at 2250fps I will up my loads 1/2 grain at a time.

 

[sayak]

From a fellow Lithgow #1 Mk.3 fan, good on ya!
I put mine in a Boyd's stock but have to say your ATI stock looks great! I decided to mount a scope on mine which makes it impossible to use a charger, and so I try to be real careful when removing/replacing the magazine. I have to say I am a real big fan of the Lee Enfield and I am looking forward to moose hunting with it again this year.
I am not currently a reloader, but for the .303 I may just become one soon.

 

[beartooth]

sayak, if this stock for some reason does not allow me to get good groups I will try a Boyd's.

 

[Matt]

That just looks cool. I would like one of those.

 

[beartooth]

Matt, I have decided to name this rifle "BLACK WATCH" after The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland, tough fighting bunch indeed.

 

[sayak]

sayak, if this stock for some reason does not allow me to get good groups I will try a Boyd's.

I don't know why it wouldn't.
I'm more of a wood guy when it comes to old guns, but I have been learning lately that plastic is good too, and I now have four plastic stocked guns.
One thing I do like about the Boyds stocks is that they give you lots of wood to mess around with and customize. Also, plenty of room for bedding the action and floating the barrel. That is great when you consider the changeability of an organic material and its propensity for messing with accuracy.

 

[beartooth]

I agree with you and don't see why my .303 would not shoot good in this synthetic stock but is nice to know that I have another option just in case.

 

[Smokey]

Sweet BT, where did you find the rifle at ?
I could see that being a great knock around toy....

 

[beartooth]

A Friend of mine went to Australia and worked over there with the Military. The rifle was made in 1919 and the factory test fired it and then it was sent to an armory. This rifle was never issued and it is a Lihtgow No. 1 MK III. He was able to obtain the rifle years ago and then left instructions to give it to me when he died. So I have had it for about five years and I am the first to fire it since the factory did. I am a hunter and not a collector. He also told them to tell Mike to hunt with it. So I did some load work for it but the type wood they used is not strong and the forearm split up the middle. That is why it is a sporter today.

 

[MontanaRifleman]

BT, really cool rifle and story behind it and I love the bag pipes

 

[beartooth]

Thanks MontanaRifleman, yes, it is a cool rifle and story and I thought the bag pipes would be a good touch along with naming it "BLACK WATCH", kind of all fit together.

 

[beartooth]

The .303 Cartridge

 

[BrownBear]

That's as nice a sporter job as I've seen, beartooth. I've always liked the round, but been put off by the hack jobs I've seen on original wood stocks. You've altered the situation considerably. Keep us posted on the shooting. I'm betting it moves to the front of your rack for hunts.

 

[beartooth]

Brown Bear, thanks, I did not want to put a .303 British Lightgow No. 1 MK III that was in this excellent of shape in a piece of junk or make it look like junk. I wanted to keep that look of a great bolt rifle that looked like it needed to be taken on the hunt for critters in close quarters to medium range shots. That is also why I did not put a scope on this rifle nor will I ever do so. I believe the 215gr RN Woodleigh that is .312" will end up being my load and will also be accurate. I plan on moving it between 2100-2250fps using a slow powder like MRP and that will keep pressures down while allow me to hit my game at perfect velocities with this RN that was actually made for the .303 British by Woodleigh. Of course I will try a few other bullets and weights to compare.