bolt alteration

[tkendrick]

I am getting ready to build a .264 WinMAg on a 1917 Enfield action, and have two questions.

The first is, what should I realisticly expect to pay to have the bolt face altered?

Second question is other than corrosion resistance, is there any advantage to going stainless for the barrel. I'm not a big fan of stainless barrels, simply because I don't like how they look.

Thanks

 

[Big Az Al]

If it can worked with

1st

Depends on where and whom, some where around or under a hundred.

2nd

I Started to write a page of things I believe and where to find them.

But it is your Rifle, Your Project.

Go with what you like.

Personally stainless barrels are over-rated.

Find an Ackley Handbook for reloaders, I forget wether it is in book 1 or 2, but he goes into it at length. He did not seem to be on the side of stainless.

 

[Big Az Al]

After I posted my reply

Find a P14 Enfield bolt, if it isn't to costly, no machining required.

 

[tkendrick]

Already have a 17 rifle with the barrel shot out. I guess your telling me that a p14 bolt will interchange?

 

[tkendrick]

This will be my third custom rifle. I am not a gunsmith, so I usually farm-out the real gun smithing, but do the stocks and minor stuff myself.

I've done one 17 enfield in 375 H&H and one 03A3 in .280. The 375 turned out really nice, ....the 03A3 was a real "learning" experience, that I'm still working on. The 03A3 has a stainless douglas airguage barrel, and while it is accurate enough, it looks like crap,

I know I'll spend more on them than buying a factory gun, and not everyone agrees with my choice of calibers....oh, well.

 

[Big Az Al]

in WWI the English needed rifles quick

So they ordered a bunch in 303. The P14 was actually their design, to improve on the SMLE, when we where getting into that, we needed Rifles even quicker, very slight modifcation, and we got the 1917 Enfield, off of the P14 Enfield. After WWI They decided to stay with their Version, and the P14 mostly made on this continment was dropped.

Their bolt face is made for the rimed case, barrel chambered 303, and the Mag box angled for the rimmed case. everything else is the same.

I am trying to place Whitman Az. How far from I-10 and say Grant road (Tucson) are you?

 

[tkendrick]

It's near Wickenburg. Actually about halfway between Wickenburg and Surprise. Not really a town, just a wide spot US 60 with a post office. Unfortunately, Phoenix is spreading this way fast.

I knew the history on the P14 and P17. I guess if I'd thought about it, I would have realized I might could do that.

Wish I thought of it when I started on that 375 I had built a few years back.

A buddy of mine is trying to talk me into doing a 300 H&H instead of the 264, but that looks like it might involve opening up the receiver. Any thoughts on that?

 

[brickeyee]

"Find an Ackley Handbook for reloaders, I forget wether it is in book 1 or 2, but he goes into it at length. He did not seem to be on the side of stainless."

Of course the quality of stainless has not changed since PO Ackley wrote the book.

 

[tkendrick]

Of course the quality of stainless has not changed since PO Ackley wrote the book.

The quality might have changed,but the appearance hasn't. They're ugly

 

[Jim Watson]

Most target shooters don't care about the looks, they use stainless because it is more resistant to erosion from hot loads. I do. I have heard of 20% longer barrel life. Is the .264 Winchester a hot load?

 

[tkendrick]

264 has a reputation of being hard on barrels.

It has amazed me over the years the STRONG reaction you will get from some people when this cartridge comes up, especially considering that I've yet to have anyone that's actually owned one say anything to me.

Looking at the balistics over the years, and having owned two of them, I put it down to about half fact and half regurgitation of some 50 year old article in some magazine. My own experience puts the barrel wear at about the same as what you would find in an M1 match barrel.

After 4 to 5 thousand rounds the group size will tend to open up, Mine went from a one inch group when new to about 2.5 inches after twenty years and about 4500 rounds. Still more than good enough for a hunting rifle.

A 20% increase in barrel life isn't sufficient reason for me to put up with the cringe I would exhibit every time I saw a half surplus, half stainless Frankenstein in the gun cabinet.

My son snagged mine a few years back, so I've been thinking about replacing it. As a note, I rarely hunt any more, when I do I generally use black powder.
When I go to the range I generally shoot pistols or one of my "fun guns".

I'm in my mid fifty's, got a bad ticker, and doubt very seriously I would ever shoot it enough to wear it out.

 

[Jim Watson]

I'm a target shooter and a barrel shooting one inch (at 100 yds) is ALREADY a tomato stake.
The smaller 6.5x284 is considered to be a 1200 (match accurate) shot rifle.

I am sorry I talked a co-worker out of a .264 with tales of short barrel life, though. He'd never have worn it out at the worst of conditions and would have had a lot of fun bragging.

 

[tkendrick]

There is something to be said for throwing a 140 grain bullet 3000+ FPS!

I can say that while I wasn't ever too worried about barrel wear, I went through a LOT of brass. Not only do you get a lot of stretch compared to other cartridges, I think the pressures must work harden the brass as well. I would start seeing cracks at the neck and burn outs in the shoulder area after just one or two reloads.

 

[JesseL]

If you're not in a big hurry, and willing to take a chance on a relatively novice gunsmith; you could send me the bolt & money for return shipping, and I would open up the bolt face for you at no charge.

I've got the lathe, steady rest, and carbide bolt facing bit. I managed to open up an 03A3 bolt for my 308 Norma Magnum conversion with no problem.

 

[tkendrick]

JesseL Haven't quite decided yet what I want to do.

I have kin folk in Prescott, get up there fairly regular. If you want to PM me with your contact info, I'll give you a buzz when I decide 'xactly what I'm going to do.