Cheap, Bubba Enfield...Rechamber?

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Thefabulousfink

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I have got a lead on a $62 bubba enfield No4 Mk1. The stock has be cut and is in bad shape, the action looks good and is untouched, the barrel looks ok but not great.

So here's the plan, I want to turn this into a nice shooting sport gun. I don't see how it's worth it to restore it when you can get complete No4s for under $200, so why not make something unique? I had thought about leaving it in .303 and just re-barreling it if it needs it, but then I heard about converting it to 7.62x54R. I know that there are a lot more ammo choices for 7.62x54R, and it is supposed to be a simple conversion.

Are there any other reasons why I should or should not convert to 7.62? Are there any other hunting calibers that I could convert the enfield to?

Right now I am just kicking around ideas.

Thanks for your input.
 
Shotgun News had an article a ways back about converting one to 45acp. There is a kit that has a new carbine barrel and a block that converts the mag-well to accept regular 1911 mags. Normally I would frown on someone butchering one like that, but if it's already bubba'd...why not. It would probably be a fun little gun.
 
I have seen those .45 kits from Rhineland Arms, but I kind of wanted to stay with rifle calibers. And yes, I would never cut up an intact rifle, but this one has allready been worked on and there are plenty of other good rifles out there.
 
From what I have read, 7.62x54R would be fine as long as you didn't shoot really hot loads. I did some more digging on this site and found that the general opinion is: unless the throught is eroaded from the corrosive ammo, the cost vs gain is not worth it.

It would be nice to have a steady supply of non-corrosive mil-surp, but I can always get some .303 reloading dies.

Does anyone else know of any other calibers that the Enfield can be safely be chambered for. I want to use the rifle for medium to large game at @ 200 yards. .303 is a good caliber, but I have a lot of time to work on this project and I have an itch to turn it into a "one of a kind white elephant":D
 
Well, you could convert it to 7.62 NATO. The No. 4 action can handle it, it was an official conversion (L8, L39, L42, etc. series). I'm not sure about boltheads but the extractors can be obtained without undue difficulty.

For one of a kind, though, I dunno. Something that doesn't exceed the Nato round's pressures should be fine. Hope you know a good machinist though. ;)
 
go to
303british.com !!!!
There are at least a dozen 303 based cartridges. ( I would like the 6.5x303)
And the .45-70 will go, if I could find a 'smith to tackle it! Yes there is a
factory version of this but only with an 18 inch barrel, and they won't work on customers weapons.
 
To me, alot would depend on the condition of the barrel...If the barrel is junk, then I would look at the different options available. But, if the barrel is a "shooter", with reasonable accuracy (may need re-crowning, or counterboring), the .303 British is just about a good a round as 7.62x54R or .308. There are enough ammo choices available, and you can handload for more.

If the only salvagable part is the action, then I would consider some other chambering, although it'll be costly to the point where you could by a "modern" gun, by the time you get it all together.
 
Speaking of conversions to a different cal but in an enfield #1 MkIII type rifle; I've thought about a .243 Win conversion for the Ishy 2A1 (7.62 NATO). All it would take is a new barrel. The .243 and .308 Win use an almost identical case except for neck/bullet diameter; the .243 will feed, chamber, and eject from the original magazine with out a hitch (just dont forget and try to fire the thing with the wrong cartridge in the chamber!). So a new barrel in .243 Win should be a drop in and head space conversion (any barrel makers out there?) and shouldn't require any rework of the receiver or bolt.

Just my .02 worth.

Umm, sorry...

we now return you to your regular thread... :D


MG
 
All it would take is....

a lot of money. In the end, you would still have a 62 dollar rifle........see them by the dozens in pawn shops.......chris3
 
Thanks for the input, it wont be until next week that I can get my hands on the gun and examine it upclose. I'll test fire it first, and if the barrel and through are all right I think I'll keep it in .303brit. Thanks for that website Robert, .303British.com is awsome! There is enough infor there that I should easily get preformance out of the .303 equal to or greater than the 7.62 for what I want to use it for.

A .243 enfield might be a neat little gun. I'll keep that in mind if the barrel is junk.

Thanks for the ideas, I am the type of person that see a rusted hunk of metal and starts imagining the possibilities.
 
Well Ball3006,

I am not making this rifle with the intent of selling it, I am making it with the intent of shooting it.:rolleyes:

And spending a few dozen hours sanding, polishing, staining, and checkering. Who knows, I may even try my hand a inlay.

The prospective resale value is something I consider when buying property, a car, or stocks...not firearms.

*Edit: Sorry, that came off too harsh. I didn't want to be combative. Tinkering with things and restoring them is a hobby that I greatly enjoy. I consider the $62 and all the other costs to be fair payment for the pleasure I will get out of this rifle.
 
They, that 7.62x39 conversion is pretty cool. I've been looking for a x39 bolt rifle. Some people have been reporting probs with the CZ and headspacing so was considering the new Zastava-made Remington 799...but I like this better and would be at least $100 less than the Rem. Cool.:D
 
Seems to me that an important consideration is whether or not to keep the original barrel. If so, then you'll have to stay with cartridges that use .311-.312" bullets. I'm sure there are others, but the two that come to mind immediately are 7.7 Arisaka and 7.65 Argentine.

Most 7.62X54 and 7.62X39 cartridges use .310" bullets. These would be OK conversion options if your bore is .311", but some Enfield bores run as high as .314". Additionally, I'm skeptical that you could rechamber to the shorter 7.62X39 cartridge without rebarrelling.

If rebarrelling, a .243 Enfield would be an interesting conversion but the bolt head would have to be modified for a rimless cartridge (that would also be true for the 7.7 & 7.65 cartridges mentioned above). Possibly a bolt head from one of the Indian No. 1 Mk III's in .308 could be adapted, but I don't know what all might be involved. Staying with a rimmed cartridge will be less problematic.

Personally, I always thought that the Gibbs conversions to .45-70 were a great idea and they're certainly unique. The .45-70 cartridge would be good for pretty much anything on the North American continent. Typically the No. 1 Mk III is the preferred platform for this conversion, although I suppose a No. 4 could be made to work. No cheap surplus ammo here, although factory ammo is readily available.

Whatever you choose, let us know the outcome. I'd be interested to know what obstacles you encounter and what you have to do to overcome them.

-Bob
 
The 45-70 would be a lot of fun. I know it is a lower pressure round, Does anyone know how it compares to the pressure of the .303 (40,000-42,000 for WWI era rounds). I know a couple smiths that are pretty handy, I'll ask them what they think (and how much $$).

Thanks for all the help, I was worried that I get labled a heretic for wanting to change a milsurp.:uhoh:
 
The Enfield receiver is plenty strong....

I witnessed an experiment by some gunsmith students at the Trinidad Jr College gunsmith school try to blow up a No1 Mk3 Enfield. They tried all kinds of powder combinations and loads and the reciver worked ok. They then chambered the barrel in 300 win mag and still couldn't blow it up. They then put an obstruction in the bore and all that did was lock up the bolt. I am not saying it is ok to go to those extremes but it showed a bunch of us how strong the Enfield was. I believe the rim diameter of the 303 is close to a 45-70. That would be an ok cartridge to work with as it is a rather low pressure round that can ge hot rodded.......chris3
 
Hey Fink!

If ya do find a willing smith for either conversion Please let me know!
My first choice would be .45-70 but 6.5x303 wouldnt leave anything desired.
Especially with a 24" bbl !
I recommend both books available at 303British fascinating weapons.
Luck
robert
 
.45-70 Enfield

That does it! You've talked me into it, assuming I can find a willing smith. I don't have a big bore rifle and this should work great on elk and moose. I'll post updates as it progresses.
 
A .45-70 Jungle Carbine would be a very nice parlor gun, but some of us would have to travel with our chiropracters just to put our shoulders back in place after a few rounds. I had an old Siamese Mauser that was converted to .45-70. It weighed almost 9 lbs and still recoiled like hell. I'd hate to think how much a 7 lb Jungle Carbine in .45-70 would kick. On the other hand, if you're not recoil-sensitive then go for it.

-Bob
 
Well, you could forego buying the Jungle Carbine buttstock, use the standard buttstock without the routing, sand the butt flat and put a Limbsaver recoil pad on it. That would save a few bucks, too. Limbsavers live up to their name.

Marlin's Guide guns weigh 7 lb., also.
 
ive seen one of those turned into a pistol. ive never seen it fired but i hear its frightening. its definately a one of a kind sort of thing. maybe you could do somthing like that.
 
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