As new Savage No4 Mk1* .303...

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As new Savage No4 Mk1* .303...

Post by Andrew.22 » 11 Sep 2015, 5:45 pm

I have just taken ownership of a rifle that has been in my family for some time.

This Savage No4 Mk1* was purchased by my Dad years ago in Melbourne. We used it for 'heavy plinking', you know what I'm talking about. Punching big holes in things and destroying stuff that before hand seemed indestructible.

It remains to this day the largest calibre rifle I have owned and shot.
Despite its mild recoil, it's a heavy bugger and my dad's ailing arms are no longer up to the task of shooting it enjoyably.

After applying for the Permit To Acquire, sending the permit to Dad for him to sign, Dad sending the permit back to me, having Dad take it to the gun shop in Melbourne, having the gun shop in Melbourne send it to the gun shop in Queensland and me picking it up from the gun shop in Queensland all up costing $204 in postage and brokerage fees - it is here and now its mine.

I remember a time when you could walk into the post office with a gun in a box, hand it over the counter, declare it was a gun and send it straight to the buyers house for him to sort out. Anyway, times are a changin'.

More about the rifle - It was purchased by the original owner as military surplus. That unknown gentleman then proceeded to commit sacrilege and had the receiver drilled and tapped for the Millett scope mount that is still on it today. We were told he used it for military target shooting but I don't know if that's true. Is there a modified military rifle category? Regardless, my dad thought it was a good buy and we've had it ever since. Of course, that was when surplus military ammo was available for next to nothing. Now days it's not cheap to fire. I was told I was getting a good deal when I got 50 FMJ rounds for $65.

It's a 1942 model but as already mentioned, has never seen action. The condition is as close to new as a second hand rifle from 1942 gets. I was contemplating shooting the 50 rounds through it and then selling it. What I really want is a Winchester 73 in 38/357.
Now that I've got it home and I've cleaned it up I remember how much fun my dad and I had with this old gun and I think I'll be keeping it.

The el'cheapo scope on it is a Bushnell Sportsman 3-9x32. It's cheap but not nasty. It's held up to the use we've put it through but I'll be able to make a better assessment once I take the rifle to the range for some group work.

I hope you like it. I know there are a lot of military rifle enthusiasts that will enjoy the photos. It's clear now that I see the machining up close, that fit and finish were not on top of the list of priorities when they were banging these out for use in the war.

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Last edited by Andrew.22 on 23 Sep 2019, 12:17 am, edited 5 times in total.
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Re: As new Savage No4 Mk1* .303...

Post by <<Genesis93>> » 11 Sep 2015, 6:10 pm

Very nice savage there.... keep it, even if you think you need to let it go, keep it along with the associated memories...

Assuming you dont have the rear sight, try to find one so that if/when you want to take the glass off you can 'heavy plink' or shoot in standard class military 3p other than sniper class...

I'll be shooting the No.1 this weekend, popping its cherry actually, been sitting in the safe for several yrs waiting for one of the young ones to show an interest, which has now occurred .... so I picked up a box of S&B 180grFMJs(x50) @ $60, which isnt too bad, never shot that brand before other than 12g...

Nice clear pics too (I would probably edit out the serial, thats just me) :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
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Re: As new Savage No4 Mk1* .303...

Post by FuzzyM » 11 Sep 2015, 7:29 pm

I also know the Savage No4 Mk1* feeling :)
At least yours still has gorgeous wood.
Mine has boring plastic.
I'm planning on shimming the scope mount and sighting it in this weekend.
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Re: As new Savage No4 Mk1* .303...

Post by aaronjo » 11 Sep 2015, 8:20 pm

Aw man! I need to stop seeing these pics of nice old rifles....
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Re: As new Savage No4 Mk1* .303...

Post by Andrew.22 » 11 Sep 2015, 8:45 pm

<<Genesis93>> wrote:Very nice savage there.... keep it, even if you think you need to let it go, keep it along with the associated memories...

Assuming you dont have the rear sight, try to find one so that if/when you want to take the glass off you can 'heavy plink' or shoot in standard class military 3p other than sniper class...

I'll be shooting the No.1 this weekend, popping its cherry actually, been sitting in the safe for several yrs waiting for one of the young ones to show an interest, which has now occurred .... so I picked up a box of S&B 180grFMJs(x50) @ $60, which isnt too bad, never shot that brand before other than 12g...

Nice clear pics too (I would probably edit out the serial, thats just me) :thumbsup: :thumbsup:


Thanks for the kind reply.
Note, serial number now gone.
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Re: As new Savage No4 Mk1* .303...

Post by Andrew.22 » 11 Sep 2015, 8:47 pm

FuzzyM wrote:I also know the Savage No4 Mk1* feeling :)
At least yours still has gorgeous wood.
Mine has boring plastic.
I'm planning on shimming the scope mount and sighting it in this weekend.



So true about the wood. It's really good isn't it?
I showed a friend tonight and that's the first thing he commented on. Must have got lucky. I believe they started to run out of the good wood towards the end and were using anything they could get there hands on to continue production.
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Re: As new Savage No4 Mk1* .303...

Post by YoungBuck » 11 Sep 2015, 8:51 pm

That is one very solid looking rifle. Looks to be in great condition, nice one.
It'll shoot the fleas off a dog's back at five hundred yards, Tannen, and it's pointed straight at your head!
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Re: As new Savage No4 Mk1* .303...

Post by Rocker » 15 Sep 2015, 2:42 pm

Like it? Love it.

Best one I've seen by no small margin.
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Re: As new Savage No4 Mk1* .303...

Post by simmo » 24 Sep 2015, 8:59 pm

Mate you have an amazing specimen considering the drilling and other slight mods done to it. I, and I'm sure others here, would love to how it groups with the factory rounds and with hand loaded customized rounds... if you ever decide to go down that path.
Enjoy it!!
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Re: As new Savage No4 Mk1* .303...

Post by juststarting » 24 Sep 2015, 10:12 pm

Nice.
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Re: As new Savage No4 Mk1* .303...

Post by FuzzyM » 25 Sep 2015, 8:21 am

Attempted to sight mine in on the weekend.
Wasn't great, not sure if it was me or the setup.
Was shooting with a bipod on a table.
This was my best group at about 100 yards.
With a leupold vx1 2-7.
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Re: As new Savage No4 Mk1* .303...

Post by Andrew.22 » 27 Sep 2015, 12:29 pm

FuzzyM wrote:Attempted to sight mine in on the weekend.
Wasn't great, not sure if it was me or the setup.
Was shooting with a bipod on a table.
This was my best group at about 100 yards.
With a leupold vx1 2-7.


Hmmmm, not good. You know these old guns. Could be one of 20 different causes or a combination of many. I do know that they are supposed to shoot a lot straighter than that. Should be able to hit a water balloon at 100m.
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Re: As new Savage No4 Mk1* .303...

Post by <<Genesis93>> » 27 Sep 2015, 12:51 pm

It should definitely be doing better than a 7 inch group....

Maybe take the scope off and check the group....use the peep if its still there, I'd expect an off hand open sight group of better than what you did with the scope...... and scope/bipod/plastic stock?? on a No.4??? I'd find a timber set, and junk the rest of the paraphernalia ... :thumbsup:
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Re: As new Savage No4 Mk1* .303...

Post by wrenchman » 27 Sep 2015, 1:38 pm

i love them old guns i would take a old gun any day over a new one
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Re: As new Savage No4 Mk1* .303...

Post by FuzzyM » 27 Sep 2015, 9:43 pm

It's got a great bore too. Going to try some different ammo and try it without the bipod. Pretty sure the stock was hitting the barrel under recoil.
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Re: As new Savage No4 Mk1* .303...

Post by <<Genesis93>> » 28 Sep 2015, 9:10 am

FuzzyM wrote:It's got a great bore too. Going to try some different ammo and try it without the bipod. Pretty sure the stock was hitting the barrel under recoil.


touching the barrel/bedded, is ok, but moving under recoil not.
Probably not the ammo, if commercial will make minor difference if anything at all in relation to group size....
What did you use? Recently I ran through a box of S&B 'training' ammo (=FMJ)
I had a greenskin shoot offhand with a lithy - 100m groups of about your size.... I was impressed :)
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Re: As new Savage No4 Mk1* .303...

Post by FuzzyM » 28 Sep 2015, 10:19 am

Ppu 150 grain softpoints.
I'm not ruling me out yet. Not used to decent recoil yet.
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Re: As new Savage No4 Mk1* .303...

Post by Heckler303 » 28 Sep 2015, 5:32 pm

How have I not been to this thread before? Daaaaaaaaaaaaamn that Lee Enfield looks so good.


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Re: As new Savage No4 Mk1* .303...

Post by SendIt » 01 Oct 2015, 9:05 am

Heckler303 wrote:How have I not been to this thread before? Daaaaaaaaaaaaamn that Lee Enfield looks so good.


Must be losing you edge :P
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Re: As new Savage No4 Mk1* .303...

Post by Andrew.22 » 05 Oct 2015, 4:45 pm

I'll be at Belmont this Saturday shooting groups and taking pictures for the next post. If you're there, come and say g'day.
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Re: As new Savage No4 Mk1* .303...

Post by Sender » 07 Oct 2015, 8:50 am

FuzzyM wrote:Ppu 150 grain softpoints.
I'm not ruling me out yet. Not used to decent recoil yet.


Don't lose heart, you'll get used to it :thumbsup:
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Re: As new Savage No4 Mk1* .303...

Post by Andrew.22 » 12 Oct 2015, 12:27 pm

The results are in. The Savage shoots straight.

As reported, I went to Belmont on Saturday to shoot some groups through the .303. Initially I wasn't impressed but once I factored in the cheap S&B ammo the heavy as buggery trigger and the 15-20km cross wind, I guess the groupings weren't too bad. Hunting accurate is what I would call it.

To report on the scope... it is what it is. It's adjustments worked accurately and it didn't lose its point of impact. The sight picture is adequate but not very bright so over all I'm happy with it. There's no need to replace it at this stage.

The groups were shot at at distance of 100m. I had the point of impact set one inch high on purpose for a 150m zero (estimated)

The S&B ammo was disappointing with a bullet drop of 8-10 inches at 200m. Hand-loads would improve this problem. The S&B's are after all only a training round.

I'd be interested to hear what other .303 owners think about these results.

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Last edited by Andrew.22 on 14 Oct 2015, 8:14 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Re: As new Savage No4 Mk1* .303...

Post by Wobble » 12 Oct 2015, 1:07 pm

Andrew.22 wrote:I'd be interested to hear what other .303 owners think about these results.


Not unexpected with only trying one kind of ammo.

Sure to tighten up a lot with hand loads like you said :thumbsup:
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Re: As new Savage No4 Mk1* .303...

Post by Andrew.22 » 12 Oct 2015, 9:59 pm

This could spark the beginning of my reloading adventures.
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Re: As new Savage No4 Mk1* .303...

Post by Andrew.22 » 12 Oct 2015, 10:00 pm

Not sure why but when I post from my mobile it appears in triplicate.
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Re: As new Savage No4 Mk1* .303...

Post by Wobble » 14 Oct 2015, 2:08 pm

Andrew.22 wrote:Not sure why but when I post from my mobile it appears in triplicate.


Happens for 1 or 2 others guys too :unknown:
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Re: As new Savage No4 Mk1* .303...

Post by <<Genesis93>> » 14 Oct 2015, 4:22 pm

'Training' refers only to the fmj projectiles...as opposed to expanding/soft point/HP/ hunting; and not a lighter load or lower quality round....the quoted velocity of 755 as I recall m/s is equivalent to ADI loads with similar mass bullets... :thumbsup:
So if you're spraying them like a firies first go with the hose..... its probably the rifle or you or a combination :lol: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
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Re: As new Savage No4 Mk1* .303...

Post by Andrew.22 » 14 Oct 2015, 8:18 pm

So if you're spraying them like a firies first go with the hose..... its probably the rifle or you or a combination :lol: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:[/quote]

No one said anything about spraying them around. The group sizes were fine. The bullet drop was the issue. 8-10 inches low at 200m with a 150m zero points to ammo.
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Re: As new Savage No4 Mk1* .303...

Post by <<Genesis93>> » 15 Oct 2015, 6:15 pm

The 'spraying' was a picture in my mind... :lol:

but although it is a relatively heavy, relatively slow projectile, 180gr/2477fps; the drop from 150 to 200m should be about half of that....
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Re: As new Savage No4 Mk1* .303...

Post by Andrew.22 » 15 Oct 2015, 10:56 pm

<<Genesis93>> wrote:The 'spraying' was a picture in my mind... :lol:

but although it is a relatively heavy, relatively slow projectile, 180gr/2477fps; the drop from 150 to 200m should be about half of that....


Agreed. A fellow shooting friend of mine reloads .303. If I give him my once fired cases and a carton of beer I think my 200m groups can be improved.
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