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Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 1:24 pm
by DuncaninFrance
I ALWAYS carry spares Joe - just got to remember to pick up the camera bag :roll: :roll:

AND HERE IT IS!

Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 2:10 pm
by DuncaninFrance
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f392/ ... ic-WEB.jpg[/pic]

I have not had time to strip and photograph yet but thought you might be interested to see a pic!

Price was 650€ / £512 / $1015 ! That incluse the bayonet, 20 rounds and a set of .303 Sporting RCBS dies.

This is a 100mtr target from the old girl!

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f392/ ... et-web.jpg[/pic]

And here is the difference between .303 British and .303 Sporting!

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f392/ ... ng-web.jpg[/pic]

I will post more pics later but this was parachuted to the resistance near Royan in Charente Maritime in 1944! It is Stamped 1943. Bore is very crisp and the action is silky smooth - cartridges feed perfectly.

Posted: Fri May 02, 2008 11:36 am
by joseyclosey
Congratulations on a very nice purchase Duncan, do you have a load sorted out for it yet?

Looking forward to more pics and a range report please.

Joe

Posted: Fri May 02, 2008 12:02 pm
by DuncaninFrance
Early days Joe. Got the dies but need a trimmer and shell holder as well as some boolits and brass. I have 20 cases but that isn't going to satisfy my needs much!

Here is the oil bottle that came with it to be going on with. Can anyone suggest a good site for markings info please?

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f392/ ... se-web.jpg[/pic]

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f392/ ... en-web.jpg[/pic]

Posted: Fri May 02, 2008 5:26 pm
by Woftam
Nice score Duncan. I can see by the pricing why you haven't bought more :shock:

The .303 sporting sounds very much like a round developed in Australia post war. You weren't legally allowed to own rifles in military calibres - so everyone shortened the .303 a bit and voila - 7.7 x 54mm.

Nice stamping on the oiler, you rarely see them that clear.

Posted: Sat May 03, 2008 5:44 pm
by Strangely_Brown
Duncan, try this site for oiler info.

http://www.enfield-stuff.com/oilers/fas ... _index.htm

Posted: Sun May 04, 2008 2:30 am
by DuncaninFrance
Thank you Mick. I should have said ( it's an age thing!!) that I got the info for the oil bottle at Enfield-Stuff.

I am shooting it today but with only 20 rounds to play with it is just going to be a 'jolly'. Am waiting for some brass to be available here. A box of 20 rounds .303 sporting costs £42 + postage which puts it at about £50 a box!!!!!!

I will post some pics of the markings I find in the next couple of days so get ready to comment guys!

Posted: Sun May 04, 2008 5:43 am
by awo425
Can .303 sporting made from .303brit?

If so, you can get some brass from me, FNM or S&B.

Posted: Sun May 04, 2008 6:02 am
by DuncaninFrance
Yes it can Chris, the 20 rounds that came with the rifle are NORMA .303 British PM me with some details please.

I put 10 rounds down range this morning at 50mtrs. Loads sweetly and shoots well. I had forgotten just how nice a sound a .303 makes when chambering a round :razz:

HISTORY UPDATE

Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2008 7:39 am
by DuncaninFrance
I have now got my sticky little hands on the DZ marker that was used when the drop containing this rifle was made.

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f392/ ... MARKER.jpg[/pic]

This is a part of the local area Michelin Map that shows the DZ area.

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f392/ ... al-WEB.jpg[/pic]

Here is a modern satellite pic of the same area.

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f392/ ... -2-WEB.jpg[/pic]

And a further 2 versions of the same information.

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f392/ ... -3-WEB.jpg[/pic]

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f392/ ... -1-WEB.jpg[/pic]

At the same time I picked up some cast bullets and 5 loaded cases with cast bullets to try out. Adam, send the frogsnot and gas checks now!!!