.303 British
The Empire's cartridge — a smooth-cycling piece of history that still takes deer and moose every fall wherever Enfields went home with veterans.
Family
Rifle
Introduced
1889
Origin
British War Office, UK
Military
Mk VII ball (British and Commonwealth service)
History
Adopted in 1889 with the Lee-Metford, the .303 British armed the Empire and Commonwealth through both world wars in the Lee-Enfield family, whose fast bolt and ten-round magazine became legendary. It soldiered into the 1950s and beyond in Commonwealth service. Millions of surplus Enfields made it a global hunting and collecting staple, especially in Canada.
What it's used for
Iconic platforms
Lee-Enfield SMLE and No. 4 rifles, the Bren gun of history, and P14 Enfields.
Common load types
Surplus-style FMJ and soft point hunting loads.
Reference only — not loading data, not ballistics advice, and KitID links to no ammunition sellers. Know your local law before you buy anything that goes bang.