.303 Magnum

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.303 british
TypeRifle
Place of originEngland
Production history
DesignerW.J. Jeffery & Co
Designed1919
Produced1919–1932
Specifications
Parent case.276 Enfield
Case typeSemi-rimmed or rimless, bottleneck
Bullet diameter.312 in (7.9 mm)
Neck diameter.345 in (8.8 mm)
Shoulder diameter.462 in (11.7 mm)
Base diameter.530 in (13.5 mm)
Rim diameter.557 in (14.1 mm)
Case length2.35 in (60 mm)
Overall length3.35 in (85 mm)
Case capacity73.6 gr H2O (4.77 cm3)
Ballistic performance
Bullet mass/type Velocity Energy
174 gr (11 g) 2,850 ft/s (870 m/s) 3,050 ft⋅lbf (4,140 J)
Source(s): Cartridges of the World.[1]

The .303 is an arguably obsolete but capable medium bore rifle cartridge.

Overview[edit]

The .303 Magnum was a bottlenecked centerfire rifle cartridge that was produced in both semi-rimmed and rimless versions. The cartridge fired a projectile of 174 grains (11.3 g) at 2,850 feet per second (870 m/s). The cartridge's case capacity was the same as the .30-06 Springfield, although performance was considered to favour the .303 Magnum.[1][2][3]

The .303 Magnum was developed by W.J. Jeffery & Co by necking up the experimental .276 Enfield to .312 inches (7.9 mm), it was introduced in 1919 for target shooting and was used for some time by the British Match Rifle Committee. The cartridge had a brief life, only appearing in the Kynoch catalogue until 1930 and it appears to have become obsolete by 1932.[1][2][3]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Frank C. Barnes, Cartridges of the World, 13th ed, Gun Digest Books, Iola, 2012, ISBN 978-1-4402-3059-2.
  2. ^ a b Don Davie, "The other .303 cartridges", acant.org.au, retrieved 25 January 2015.
  3. ^ a b Imperial War Museums, "7.7 x 59.4Sr: Kynoch; .303 Magnum", iwm.org.uk, retrieved 10 November 2017.

External links[edit]