by SSC » 12 Jul 2019, 11:13 pm
Just found this site.
so I am newbie to Enough Gun.
.303 fan I am, though I have always had a soft spot for the .303/25.
Why? well because it is Australian, I believe it was popular in Canada as well?
However, someone may put me right on that because I am not certain of this.
A Caveat to start, this is general information.
Some scenes I witnessed as a small boy.
Other Information; I have obtained by speaking to many older
firearm knowledgeable, gentlemen,over the last 40 years or so.
Sadly, many of these people have now passed on.
No doubt there are many people on this forum.
Who have much more knowledge, than me on the .303/25.
Happy to be corrected, that's how I learn.
Background
The 303/25 in Australian use. fitted into a niche, for professional Roo Shooters and many others.
that seemed later to be filled by the more modern .243.
Until 1975 when Australia signed the Lima Declaration.
Australia had Tariff Walls up to protect our Australian industries.
Which is why we now have no domestic car industry, among other related issues.
However, that is another story.
Prior to this time, lets go back to say, around 1965.
Sporting Firearm Imports were restricted in number, particularly from the USA.
Taxed by Customs when they landed dockside in Australia, always a pleasant experience!
Yes, we had some, for example 32-20?, , 30-30 WIN, among others.
Model 94 and some Marlin lever action rifles were common and always seemed to be readily available.
At the time and up until about 1973.
Australia still had preferential Import/ Export deals with the UK.
Under residual agreements from the various, Old British Empire, Trading Schemes.
Such a system allowed for the home ground, advantage.
This is one reason why .303/25 flourished, also ammunition was locally produced for the.303/25 in quantity.
People did reload it and surplus WW2 .303 ammunition was both professionally and privately resized and converted.
Hence.303/25 ammunition and components were affordable and easily obtainable, unlike later years.
Remember too
In NSW, apart from the Govt sponsored .303 Target Rifle Clubs.
For many years possession of a full Military .303 calibre rifle in that state was not legal.
This also underpinned the .303/25 enduring popularity.
This NSW law was also the reason the 7.7 X54 Rifle and ammunition came in to being.
Looks like a .303 SMLE, weighs nearly the same. Even smells like one, but from a technical and legal standpoint it is not.
(This is why gun laws, always work so well!)
However that is another Story.
(NB: 7.7 X 54R Aussie is Not to be confused with Russian 7X54R. or 7.7X56R, JAP!
OK! You can be Confused! Just understand, they are not the same rifle rounds, OK )
BTW, does the heart good to see .303/25 Ammo, back in production, and reminds me that many young people
are still proud to be Australian. That's a Good thing!
In the late 1960's you would still see British made Shotguns and Parker Hale, rifles in racks.
at sporting goods and commonly, too mens, clothing stores.
As small boy at Mum or Dad's side.
I did see on several occasions
Where a gent would walk into the store for say a sports jacket or trousers.
Where he would be measured and fitted for the item by the attentive staff.
Customer service was taken very seriously.
Usually if the gent had to take a seat whilst waiting for an alteration or
a free attendant to come by.
Customer, chairs always seemed to face those stunning gun racks.
Always a well lit area and backed by wonderful wooden paneled veneer, behind.
Those rifles and shotguns would appear to glow a shiny reflection of glistening, metallic blue and black,
with the stock timbers, polished to a tee.
They did know about Product Placement, back then.
However, it probably was not called that.
So our pondering, gent.
Now fitted with his outdoor sports jacket would occasionally, say.
After some consideration of calibre and rifle pull etc
I will take that Rifle too!
.
The gent would then pay his bill.
If he was well heeled and had money
He may well also purchase a good looking canvas covered case or
leather clad gun-bag, for the trip home.
For the Chap who was on a budget or maybe just a Tight Wad!
Remember not all family's had cars, either.
The staff were also happy to wrap your firearm in stripped brown paper,
from a big roll on the counter.
Many a man left the store with his new rifle, brown paper wrapped, under his arm.
Proudly wearing his new sports jacket, as he boarded the bus/train for the trip home.
Struggling now with his package to give the bus driver or conductor the right change.
or maybe have his bus/train ticket clipped.
The new jacket now appearing to be somewhat ill fitting or slightly bulging .
From the two, twenty round boxes of ammunition.
Stuffed into each side pocket of the twill jacket.
Looking back, no one on the bus or train seemed to give those gents.
More.than an initial glance, before again heads down in their newspaper.
However, I digress
.303/25 rifles were still reasonably popular, in North and outback QLD.
In our many groups of shooters from 83- 93 there always seemed to be one and sometimes two
Till around the 90,s
From 1995 on
Friends of mine who had them, still loved them.
However, apart from DIY reloading, factory ammunition, seemed to just dry up.
Your .303/25 in good hands will do everything,
your mates,243 can do.
BTW, that is No Disrespect at all to the.243,
Being the fine calibre and cartridge that it is.
it is just that .303/25 was on hand in this country.
In both good and austere times, when the .243 was not.
Presently not aware of new production rifles, chambered for .303/25.
But that means nothing.
Look at the 45/70 Revival, Wow!
45/70, In the Seventy's whilst not quite dead.
Certainly was comatose for a long period and
on life support at the time.
I am certain that in Australia
.303.25 will always have a following.
It is my sincerest hope that a senior gent out there
will remember a similar past, sports or clothing store experience.
From a very different Australia.
Kindest Regards
SSC
.
Kind Regards
SSC
You can Ignore the Facts!
What You Won't be Able to Ignore.
Is the Consequences! of Ignoring the Facts.
Ayn Rand