lets see some sporterized army surplus!

[Molasses]

Another commercially sporterized military rifle:



This started out as a Soviet SVT-40 that ended up in Finnish hands and was eventually sold to a company in Canada, where it was restocked, the gas system shortened and a different barrel in another caliber installed:




Probably not the smartest, or safest, sporterizing ever performed, but it's certainly...different.

 

[win71]

1903 in 308 Norma Mag


Pages show a 95 which was also done. It's in 30-40 krag

 

[johnnydollar]

Pages show a 95 which was also done. It's in 30-40 krag

I remember almost ordering that book. I wish now that I had.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

I had that book years ago(mid to late '70s). It was loaded with information for converting military rifles, especially sight selection. Wish I knew what became of it.

 

[agtman]

Saw those Lee-Enfields above, and thought I'd contribute my 2-cents ...

Back in the mid-90s, my local 'smith and I took a "rescued" Lee Enfield #4 (i.e., already partially sporterized) and transformed it as a sort of homage to the early Lee-Metford .303 sporters that British hunters took to Africa, much like the one that Val Kilmer chased those nasty man-eaters around with in the movie "The Ghost and the Darkness."

After my 'smith finished the metal work, I found some really nice dark wood (English walnut, IIRC), and sent the barreled action off to a stock 'smith whose specialty was mainly fitting and finishing two-piece stocks - shotguns mostly, but also Ruger #1s and lever actions too. He fitted the stock to the barreled action perfectly, did the checkering, added a grip cap, a 1/2" Pachmyr recoil pad, an ebony foreend piece, and then finished and sealed the wood beautifully.

At the time the rifle was being transformed, I was a big "Ching sling" fan for field-shooting purposes - hence, the 3-point set-up is what we went with.

I've thought of hunting with it (the Williams peep sight is zeroed for 100-yds), but over time it's just become a really great target rifle - very accurate.
Early on, I reloaded for it quite a bit and found several pet loads, using different bullet weights, that it really likes. It also shoots the factory 180gn .303 loads well too.

 

[Choctaw]

Agtman,

I love your Lee Enfield and the idea behind it. Good job!

 

[johnnydollar]

Ditto! Very nice job on the Lee -Enfield.

 

[kBob]

Molasses,

Thanks for sharing your "Mohawk" photos with us.

I am of two minds

On the one hand I am appalled that the Russian rifle got "butchered"

Then I look at it can go "You know that is neat" Shoot a 1950-60's era semi auto .303 must have been something special!

-kBob