bigrich wrote:Back in the day 303 was wildcat into all different calibers. I’m not sure about 22, but of the top of my head they went from 243 up to 375 . Back in the day lots of fellas had modified 303’s cause it was cheap compared to a new foreign made sporter. And it was uniquely ‘straylan. Lol
Mostly correct, kind of.
Yes there was a 22/303. From memory it was called a 303/22 Falcon.
All these wildcatted 303's date from an era when the Australian government policy was to protect Australian industry rather than let it die a natural death as is the case now.
The imports were expensive because they were subject to stiff import duties and quota limits. As these restrictions began easing in the late sixties the 'poor relation' sporterised 303's became undesirable and there was a period when they were unloved and unwanted to the extent that sometimes you couldn't even give one away.
Those days are well and truly gone.