[archy]

The cartridge was originally designed to stop a cavalry charge by killing the horses at 600 yards.

That was back in the black powder days of 1888, the year of the adoption of the .303 for the service rifle and cartridge of Great Britain.

When developed to the Mark VII loading most commonly used during the Second World War- and the Australians wouldn't give up their SMLEs until after the Korean Conflict, in which they participated- it was also suitable for use as a long-distance machinegun round...the firing tables and ballistic *slide rule* for which was graduated out to 2800 yards, just a bit over a mile and a half.

[Travis McGee]

“Was it like this?” fiercely answered Morant. “No; it was not quite so handsome. As to rules and regulations, we had no Red Book, and knew nothing about them. We were out fighting the Boers, not sitting comfortably behind barb-wire entanglements; we got them and shot them under Rule 303,” referring to the .303 calibre Lee-Enfield rifles the Carbineers carried.

Breaker Morant

[DuncanWaring]

The slide rule may go to 2800 yards, but my No. 1 rear sight only adjusts to 2000 yards, and my No. 4 adjusts to 1300 yards.