We just acquired a 303 British rifle and we are trying to find out the year that it's made and it's value.

Question

We have figured out that it is a 303 British rifle made by the Ross Rifle Co out of Quebec. We are guessing that the rifle was made around 1911. We also have the serial number. Is there any one out there that can help us find out the info that we are looking for?

Answer 1

Its made around 1880 to 1890. The price is about 25 dollars. not very much because lots of these were made.

Answer 2

The Ross Mark I (1901) was a joke the Mark II (1907) was a little better but still fouled easy and the Mark III (1911) was a danger to the Canadian forces that carried it in the Boer wars and WW I.

It's only saving grace was that it was capable of firing a common military round. Lee-Enfield would not give Canada rifles due to political bull, so Ross attempted to use an Australian design. Ross made the gun unforgiving, tolerances were way too tight.
The gun is worth a little more to a collector but on the open market is worth $50 bucks. A collector might triple that.
The gun must be cleaned often even during outings (about every three clips or 32 rounds). Keep ammo clean and watch close for any dirt that may enter clip breach or chamber. It fouls easy and casings can stick in the chamber.

Answer 3

The Ross is NOT an ENFIELD, SMLE, LEE ENFIELD or any other British rifle.


The Ross was a Canadian made rifle in .303 British caliber that was adopted by the military in the early 1900s and scrapped after disasterous performance in the muddy trenches of Europe in WWI.

It's bad reputation was somewhat ill-deserved as it wasn't a bad rifle per se it was just a bad rifle to have in the mud with a soldier who was wet 24/7 for months on end. The tolerances were too tight and dirt mud and rust often made them jam, causing more than a few Canadian soldiers to lose their lives in combat.

Also, there was some problem with the bolt failing and, being a straight-pull and not a locking bolt action, people getting injured with them.

Value for military bolt action rifles depends on condition and rarity. There are quite a few Ross rifles around, but they are getting rarer on the market. I have seen a few that have been sporterized and well used in the $100 to $150 range. I saw a full military version in excellent condition that went to a collector for $250 with accessories.

Be careful with surplus .303 ammo on the market. There is a lot that was made in third-world hellholes like Pakistan without modern manufacturing processes and some of this ammo is super-hot, meaning Apu put too much powder in there and it may just blow your rifle apart, or not enough and the projectile gets stuck in the bore waiting for your next shot to blow it apart.

If you want to shoot it, get the headspace checked by a competent gunsmith and use new commercial ammo until you know what you are doing.

Answer 4

http://www.surplusrifleforum.com/index.php

try this site,look under lee enfields as these rifles are grouped together in this section,if you can/t find info on the British .303 here it probably doesn't exist

Answer 5

There are lots of these around, so unless in super condition then not very much.

Answer 6

might look here-
http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=76300


it is a start.