Cheap, Bubba Enfield...Rechamber?

[Diomed]

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.

I'd have to check to be sure, but I think the only difference between the SMLE and the 2A bolthead is the steel used and the extractor. No design difference.

It couldn't be used in a No. 4, completely different designs.

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.

I've heard of some Aussies doing that mod, usually it gets fired once and that cures whoever fires it of wanting to do it again!

Re: 45-70 recoil - if weight doesn't bother you, try putting lead in the butt trap. Should hold maybe a pound or so? Supposedly works great at reducing the felt recoil.

 

[Thefabulousfink]

UPDATE!

Well I had put this on the back burner for a while, but I've started stirring the pot again.

I found a local (in WA State) barrel maker who will crank me out a brand new .45 caliber chrome-molly barrel for $230 and I know a smith who is up to the challenge. The .45-70 Enfield just might make a comeback

Here's what I am invisioning:

1. All of the metal parts are going to be blasted, sanded, and smoothed with steel wool and rich, deep blueing added.

2. In front of the action will be a 2-leaf express sight for 50 and 100 yards. The action has a ladder-sight for .303, I think with some trigonometry and ballistic data I can modify it to work for .45-70 out to 600 yards (Just because I can).

3. The wood that came with the gun is in very nice condition, but unfortunately has been cut in such a way as to render it un-useable. I am leaning towards Boyd's monte carlo stock, but I may just put the ATI synthetic on it first so I can save up for higher quality wood.

With a little $$, some time and effort, this could turn into quit the work of art.

 

[R.W.Dale]

I'ed keep it .303 and spend the mone on stock work and other finery. But that's just me

 

[dm1333]

If you want to try 7.62x39

Send it to Special Interest Arms in Nevada. I stopped by there this summer and was impressed with the work he does. I handled one sporter version and one Jungle Carbine look alike. He uses new barrels from a US company and they are sized properly for the 7.62. I have a broken Enfield that I am slowly saving up money to have converted. I love the idea of a nice little carbine in that caliber.

Don

BTW Krochus that is seriously pretty rifle!

 

[Thefabulousfink]

Krochus, were did you get that beautiful stock? Was it custom made from a blank? That is the look I am going for, sans scope.

I choose .45-70 over .303 and .762 because I wanted this to be a "White Elephant Gun", some thing you don't see every day. I have rifles that would fill the roll that a .303 or .762 would, but I don't have any big-bore rifles. Couple that with the beutiful lines and function of the enfield action and this rifle will be the star of my collection.

 

[dm1333]

That's cool. I'm going to get mine redone in 7.62 and put in a nice sporter stock from Boyds. This will probably be a project for the winter after next. I want it to look like Krochuses. I'm a lefty and I love how easy it is to work the bolt on an Enfield with out breaking my cheek weld. Post a picture here when you get done with it.

 

[R.W.Dale]

All I can add is the stock is a Fajen and it came with the gun.

 

[CaptainCrossman]

old thread worth reviving

if you have a shot-out 303 barrel a good alternative would be rechamber/rebore to 32, 8mm, 348, or 358 wildcat using the 303 case

just keep the handloads on the low-mid sane side of pressure

a cheaper quicker way would be screw on a new barrel and keep it 303

 

[Robert]

+1 for the 45-70. That is just an awesome idea.

Awwww this is 4 years old... damn zombie thread bit me...

 

[OpelBlitz]

Hmm... An Enfield in 8mm Mauser. I'd speculate if 7.62x54 would work, so would that?

 

[mio]

could it go to .35 rem? that would be my first choice.