[bogie]

Okay, campers - how hard is this to do? I know I've got to replace the trigger too...

[Mike Irwin]

Does anyone still make this modification?

I've not seen it advertised in many years...

[bogie]

Dayton-Trawhoever does... At least the kit (which requires use of their trigger...) is in my (admittedly a coupla years old) Brownell's book.

[dfariswheel]

Gun Parts still offer the kit for .303 or Us 30/06 models.

Replacement speed-lock cocks the rifle on the up-turn of the bolt, reducing lock time to help improve accuracy. Speed lock inserts into bolt, the regular safety works as usual. Ready to install. Fits 1914 or 1917 Eddystone, Remington and Winchester models. For use with service trigger only.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Model: Enfield 1914 303 CALIBER
Item No. 303560A
Retail Price: $21.40


Model: U.S. Military ENFIELD 1917
Item No. 303560B
Retail Price: $21.40

[Andrew Wyatt]

Why would someone want something like this?

[bogie]

Because the "cock on close" makes the bolt harder to push in/down, and if something is getting ready to eat me, or do a dance on me, I don't wanna have to worry about that... The Enfield's "cock on close" just isn't as smooth as a Mauser-type "cock on opening" action.

This rifle is likely gonna get a .458/.460 type of barrel...

[Jim K]

You might get arguments about cock on opening being smoother or better, but I do have a word of caution about that conversion. If you look at the P-14/M1917 bolt, you will see that the cocking cam has a step. The cocking piece is actually partially withdrawn on opening to retract the firing pin from the primer, and it sits in that step until the bolt is closed. But this is only about 1/3 of the way to the full cock position.

The conversion kit makes use of that step by using it as the only cocking point. The bolt then cocks on opening, but only part way. Since the firing pin fall is only 1/3 of what it would normally be, the conversion unit uses a heavy spring and a light firing pin to get enough momentum to fire the primer, but it is right on the edge, and they have been known to give misfires.

What all this amounts to is that the conversion may not be reliable, especially under adverse conditions (dirt, dust, cold, hard primers). If something "wants to eat me", I want a rifle that can be depended on to go bang, no matter how it cocks.

Jim

[Andrew Wyatt]

Because the "cock on close" makes the bolt harder to push in/down, and if something is getting ready to eat me, or do a dance on me, I don't wanna have to worry about that... The Enfield's "cock on close" just isn't as smooth as a Mauser-type "cock on opening" action.

That has been contrary to my experience, as the cock on opening stacks the resistance of primary extraction atop the resistance of cocking the striker. I find it easier to deal with a cock on close since i have momentum on my side.

I prefer the cock on close. In fact, is there a way to modify a mauser 98 to cock on close?

[Matt G]

I completely agree, Andrew.

It is the "cock on close" feature that has made the Enfield perhaps the fastest bolt action battle rifle, IMHO.

[BigG]

What Jim Keenan said. The "cock on opening mod is actually more like "half cocked." ;) May still get eaten.

[bogie]

Well, thanks - y'all just saved me some cash...

Now to go work that bolt a few hundred times...

[Jim K]

Hi, Andrew and Matt,

Those stories about the speed of the Enfield are true, but the rifle in question is the SMLE Mk III, not the P-14/Model 1917, which is not nearly as fast or easy to operate, cock on closing or not.

Jim

[bogie]

Well, after playing with it a coupla hundred times, I'm getting more used to "push hard" to close it.

I hate to think about what I'll do to my Panda at the next match...

[Andrew Wyatt]

aye. is it faster than a 98 mauser bolt? I've never handled one, so i don't know.

[bogie]

Can't say that it's faster or not. If I'm trying to close it fast, I've gotta really put some oomph into it on the "chambering" stroke. Pull the trigger, then it opens VERY easily, pull it back, then jam it forward, with the ball centered in the palm of my hand so that when it's all the way forward, it rides down.