Is .303 British Ammo Still Commercially Available?

AlphaHunter88 · January 18, 2017, 08:44 PM

Got a friend of mine who knows a guy that has a #4 Enfield in good operating condition for $100 cash. Doesn't come with a magazine or scope mounts, but for a buck I'd settle for iron sights. My only concern is that the ammo would be hard to find especially in a good soft point round. Anyone know of any chain stores that may carry it? I lfound plenty online, but by the time shipping is factored in I'm looking at $30+ a box for even the cheapest box of 20. I know it'd be a lot easier if I reloaded, but for now my only option is factory ammo. ANY help would be greatly appreciated and the answers I get may determine whether or not I make the purchase.

kilimanjaro · January 18, 2017, 09:05 PM

Try SGAmmo for online, they generally carry Sellier & Beloit, or the Serbian PPU. That's running $22 a box here.

Save your brass, and consider a reloading setup, it pays for itself in a short while with calibers like 303 British or 7.5 Swiss, stuff like that.

If the rifle is nice, don't hesitate. The ammo isn't difficult to find. Don't bother with surplus, it's very old and corrosive.

Magazines run $30 or so.

B-Shot · January 18, 2017, 09:10 PM

I have seen some at Sportsmans guide as well

Tidewater_Kid · January 18, 2017, 09:35 PM

These guys almost always have some. FMJ is $14.50 a box.

http://www.aimsurplus.com/catalog.as...e=.303+British

TK

DubC-Hicks · January 18, 2017, 11:11 PM

Cabelas here in Michigan has it for $15-20 a box for PPU FMJ and SP.

emcon5 · January 18, 2017, 11:24 PM

You probably aren't going to find it at Wal-mart, but I have bought it off the shelf at Cabelas.

Readily available online, and these guys are great:

http://www.sgammo.com/catalog/rifle-...3-british-ammo

Duster340 · January 18, 2017, 11:31 PM

Ditto on Cabellas & SG... Never been a problem finding 303 Brit stuff.

Gunplummer · January 19, 2017, 04:55 AM

For that price, I would jump on it. I have had a few Brits over the years and most shot really well. You can always get a lemon, but overall I had good experiences with them.

BoogieMan · January 19, 2017, 07:08 AM

I bought a bunch from SGammo for $13.95 a box PPU. They also had a great deal on .32acp at the time. I would stay away from the steel cased stuff for $7.95.
http://www.sgammo.com/catalog/rifle-...3-british-ammo

AlphaHunter88 · January 19, 2017, 10:14 AM

Thanks for the info. Next paycheck I'll definitely jump on it if he still has it. I'm a late 80s baby, but I'm in love with old quality milsurp guns that tend to get lost in the modern gun craze. I've owned a Moson 91/30 and my uncle's old Garand. This will be my first Enfield if it makes it home with me. For $100 I really can't go wrong. I'll probably refinish the stocks and definitely get a mag.

kilimanjaro · January 19, 2017, 09:30 PM

Make certain it's not the older No. 1 Mk.III magazine, you want the No. 4 only. Ignore the Indian magazines for 7.62 Nato, as well.

T. O'Heir · January 22, 2017, 02:30 PM

If you're talking milsurp ammo, no. Commercial hunting ammo is loaded by every American ammo maker. Means you can order it through your local gun shop.
"...$30+ a box for even the cheapest box of 20..." Applies to nearly all commercial hunting ammo. However, Midway lists Prvi at under $20 per 20. 174 grain FMJ's and 180 grain SP's.
No No. 4 (that is not an SMLE)mags at Gunparts. A No. 1 mag can be converted by grinding off the lower locking lug. Only one lug on a No. 4 mag.
New, aftermarket No. 1 mags run $39.95 at Gunparts. Suggest you avoid Pro Mag brand mags too. They're flat on the bottom and squareish. And unreliable.
Real No. 4 mags seem to have entirely disappeared Stateside.

shuvelrider · January 22, 2017, 10:00 PM

Was the rifle altered to look like a civilian rifle, meaning, has the front stock been cut back or altered in other ways? If that's the case, generally bubbafied rifles go 100-200 dollars. If it's unaltered and just missing a magazine, run as fast as you can with that $100 bill and buy it quick. Military unaltered rifles seem to be in the 300-400 range these days, depending on condition and features of course. You can always shoot it as a single shot for the time being.

OneFreeTexan · January 29, 2017, 10:19 PM

Just buys the sucker, and deal with the problems later, You know they aren't making anymore of these, I have many of them and will buy all I can find.. Grat shooters, and reasonably accurate, and if you reload,,,,,,cheap.

Blindstitch · January 30, 2017, 03:35 AM

MidwayUSA is having a sale right now. 250 rounds for $80.
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/175...-of-250-rounds

**44 AMP** · January 30, 2017, 09:48 PM

The .303 was the service rifle and machinegun cartridge of the entire British Empire & Commomwealth from the late 1880s through the 1950s. You might not find it dirt cheap and on every store shelf in the USA, but its going to be available long after you and I are not.

January 18, 2017, 08:44 PM	#1
AlphaHunter88 Member Join Date: June 24, 2016 Location: Tallassee, Alabama Posts: 35	Is .303 British Ammo Still Commercially Available? Got a friend of mine who knows a guy that has a #4 Enfield in good operating condition for $100 cash. Doesn't come with a magazine or scope mounts, but for a buck I'd settle for iron sights. My only concern is that the ammo would be hard to find especially in a good soft point round. Anyone know of any chain stores that may carry it? I lfound plenty online, but by the time shipping is factored in I'm looking at $30+ a box for even the cheapest box of 20. I know it'd be a lot easier if I reloaded, but for now my only option is factory ammo. ANY help would be greatly appreciated and the answers I get may determine whether or not I make the purchase. __________________ "The only defense against evil, violent people is good people who are more skilled at violence." - Rory Miller

January 18, 2017, 11:11 PM	#5
DubC-Hicks Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2009 Location: Backwoods, Northern MI Posts: 1,031	Cabelas here in Michigan has it for $15-20 a box for PPU FMJ and SP. __________________ ”Gun control is like trying to reduce drunk driving by making it tougher for sober people to own cars.” ~Unknown

January 19, 2017, 07:08 AM	#9
BoogieMan Senior Member Join Date: April 4, 2012 Location: South Jersey Posts: 2,217	I bought a bunch from SGammo for $13.95 a box PPU. They also had a great deal on .32acp at the time. I would stay away from the steel cased stuff for $7.95. http://www.sgammo.com/catalog/rifle-...3-british-ammo __________________ Concentrated power is not rendered harmless by the good intentions of those who create it. Milton Freidman "If you find yourself in a fair fight,,, Your tactics suck"- Unknown

January 19, 2017, 10:14 AM	#10
AlphaHunter88 Member Join Date: June 24, 2016 Location: Tallassee, Alabama Posts: 35	Thanks for the info. Next paycheck I'll definitely jump on it if he still has it. I'm a late 80s baby, but I'm in love with old quality milsurp guns that tend to get lost in the modern gun craze. I've owned a Moson 91/30 and my uncle's old Garand. This will be my first Enfield if it makes it home with me. For $100 I really can't go wrong. I'll probably refinish the stocks and definitely get a mag. __________________ "The only defense against evil, violent people is good people who are more skilled at violence." - Rory Miller

January 22, 2017, 02:30 PM	#12
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	If you're talking milsurp ammo, no. Commercial hunting ammo is loaded by every American ammo maker. Means you can order it through your local gun shop. "...$30+ a box for even the cheapest box of 20..." Applies to nearly all commercial hunting ammo. However, Midway lists Prvi at under $20 per 20. 174 grain FMJ's and 180 grain SP's. No No. 4 (that is not an SMLE)mags at Gunparts. A No. 1 mag can be converted by grinding off the lower locking lug. Only one lug on a No. 4 mag. New, aftermarket No. 1 mags run $39.95 at Gunparts. Suggest you avoid Pro Mag brand mags too. They're flat on the bottom and squareish. And unreliable. Real No. 4 mags seem to have entirely disappeared Stateside. __________________ Spelling and grammar count!

January 18, 2017, 09:05 PM	#2
kilimanjaro Senior Member Join Date: November 23, 2009 Posts: 3,963	Try SGAmmo for online, they generally carry Sellier & Beloit, or the Serbian PPU. That's running $22 a box here. Save your brass, and consider a reloading setup, it pays for itself in a short while with calibers like 303 British or 7.5 Swiss, stuff like that. If the rifle is nice, don't hesitate. The ammo isn't difficult to find. Don't bother with surplus, it's very old and corrosive. Magazines run $30 or so.

January 18, 2017, 09:10 PM	#3
B-Shot Member Join Date: October 25, 2016 Posts: 77	I have seen some at Sportsmans guide as well

January 18, 2017, 09:35 PM	#4
Tidewater_Kid Senior Member Join Date: July 3, 2005 Location: Alabama Posts: 925	These guys almost always have some. FMJ is $14.50 a box. http://www.aimsurplus.com/catalog.as...e=.303+British TK

January 18, 2017, 11:24 PM	#6
emcon5 Senior Member Join Date: July 10, 1999 Location: High Desert NV Posts: 2,850	You probably aren't going to find it at Wal-mart, but I have bought it off the shelf at Cabelas. Readily available online, and these guys are great: http://www.sgammo.com/catalog/rifle-...3-british-ammo

January 18, 2017, 11:31 PM	#7
Duster340 Member Join Date: December 27, 2014 Location: Illinois Posts: 92	Ditto on Cabellas & SG... Never been a problem finding 303 Brit stuff.

January 19, 2017, 04:55 AM	#8
Gunplummer Senior Member Join Date: March 11, 2010 Location: South East Pa. Posts: 3,364	For that price, I would jump on it. I have had a few Brits over the years and most shot really well. You can always get a lemon, but overall I had good experiences with them.

January 19, 2017, 09:30 PM	#11
kilimanjaro Senior Member Join Date: November 23, 2009 Posts: 3,963	Make certain it's not the older No. 1 Mk.III magazine, you want the No. 4 only. Ignore the Indian magazines for 7.62 Nato, as well.

January 22, 2017, 10:00 PM	#13
shuvelrider Senior Member Join Date: October 2, 2011 Location: West Coast of Michigan Posts: 132	Was the rifle altered to look like a civilian rifle, meaning, has the front stock been cut back or altered in other ways? If that's the case, generally bubbafied rifles go 100-200 dollars. If it's unaltered and just missing a magazine, run as fast as you can with that $100 bill and buy it quick. Military unaltered rifles seem to be in the 300-400 range these days, depending on condition and features of course. You can always shoot it as a single shot for the time being.

January 29, 2017, 10:19 PM	#14
OneFreeTexan Senior Member Join Date: September 15, 2002 Location: West, Texas Posts: 280	Just buys the sucker, and deal with the problems later, You know they aren't making anymore of these, I have many of them and will buy all I can find.. Grat shooters, and reasonably accurate, and if you reload,,,,,,cheap.

January 30, 2017, 03:35 AM	#15
Blindstitch Senior Member Join Date: April 14, 2013 Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin Posts: 2,693	MidwayUSA is having a sale right now. 250 rounds for $80. http://www.midwayusa.com/product/175...-of-250-rounds

January 30, 2017, 09:48 PM	#16
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 28,832	The .303 was the service rifle and machinegun cartridge of the entire British Empire & Commomwealth from the late 1880s through the 1950s. You might not find it dirt cheap and on every store shelf in the USA, but its going to be available long after you and I are not. __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.