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Maximum Caliber Recommendation for Enfield

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13 March 2023, 19:42
Macs B
Maximum Caliber Recommendation for Enfield
Have a buddy offering a sporterized Enfield chambered in 300 Weatherby. My first thought was that a 300 weatherby was too much power for a Enfield. Thoughts or opinions welcome.

This was the listing:
This Eddystone (subsidiary of Remington) made Enfield 1917 (P17) is in a custom Bishop/Fajen stock. It has beautiful figuring in the butt-stock and it has a beautiful tiger maple end cap. The barrel is floated. I modified the bolt to Cock-on-Open over the original Cock-on-Close. I have the original firing pin to return to Cock-on-Close. The scope is original Weaver K6. The is normal wear around the top of the receiver on the left and right side around the ejection port. There is some light handling marks on the stock. There is no travel to the trigger just a 3-5lb pull and it breaks clean and crisp. I have added quick detach sling swivels, just push a button and they’re out. The barrel is 26” long and the magazine holds 4+1 in the tube.


Macs B
U.S. Army Retired
Alles gut!
14 March 2023, 20:33
Macs B
ttt


Macs B
U.S. Army Retired
Alles gut!
15 March 2023, 00:28
Bobster
M17 plenty strong enough. Many mags built on them. Conversion back to COC will require a new bolt or a weld-up re-harden, as the bolt has to be modified for the conversion.
15 March 2023, 02:15
crbutler
I’ve seen numerous dangerous game guns done on the 1917. It’s a strong action and long enough.

I’ve shot a .450 Watts made on one, and seen a .416 Rigby one.

No concerns with a .300 magnum.
15 March 2023, 08:44
Peter Connan
Do not confuse the P17 Enfield with the Lee Enfield in any of it's various forms.
17 March 2023, 07:38
dpcd
There is no way a 300 Weatherby will fit on a Lee Enfield, and no one would ever do that, so that is not a concern.
As for cock on opening, I have seen plenty of conversions that did not alter the bolt. They just use the retracting cam to cock it; and a strong mainspring. I personally never convert them, because there is nothing broken about cock on closing; just that American shooters do not understand it nor know how to use it.
As to your question, it will be fine. I've done a ton of them in 375 H&H; actually more P14s because the bolt face and extractor don't need any modification.
29 March 2023, 17:38
Peter Connan
For interest's sake, here is a bit of testing and fooling around with a Lee Enfield chambered in .300 Win Mag:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bhWxFbYdyw

Not something I would do myself.
02 April 2023, 23:22
dpcd
Very cool video and test.
03 April 2023, 14:19
Peter Connan
Thanks

The Bloke (and his colleague the Chap) gets into the weeds on some interesting topics from time to time.
02 June 2023, 06:41
JTEX
I dont think he's referring to a lee ...... I think he's asking about a 1917......

And its big enough and strong enough for about any "sporting rifle" cartridge.
03 June 2023, 03:31
dpcd
Mr Connan is indeed referring to a Lee.
Of course, the OP is not, and he said it was a P17 up front.
11 June 2023, 00:12
Bill/Oregon
Peter, thank you for that link. Astonishing what the test did and did not show.


There is hope, even when your brain tells you there isn’t.
– John Green, author
16 June 2023, 05:43
Atkinson
Ive seen a 500 Jefferys and a 505 Gibbs IMP I owned once on a drop box -17 enfield sporter..Recoil sent her to the gun show on one and to the internet on the other...


Ray Atkinson
Atkinson Hunting Adventures
10 Ward Lane,
Filer, Idaho, 83328
208-731-4120

rayatkinsonhunting@gmail.com
20 June 2023, 04:01
Duane Wiebe (CG&R)
Only done a couple P 17's Anyone have opnions /experience with the Traister cock on opening conversion?
24 August 2023, 22:29
Atkinson
They seem to work, I shot and seen a bunch of them on safari in various big bores, beautiful guns and my choice for the big bores..I shot a 505 Gibbs Imp at one time, all cocked on the opening and would not use cock on the closing that pushes the gun away from you when the chips are down as I've seen that happen on occasions under light stress of the need for quick follow up shots of escaping animals..A good Enfield custom is hard to beat and best of the bigbore conversions IMO


Ray Atkinson
Atkinson Hunting Adventures
10 Ward Lane,
Filer, Idaho, 83328
208-731-4120

rayatkinsonhunting@gmail.com
01 September 2023, 18:16
Timan
quote:
Originally posted by Duane Wiebe (CG&R):
Only done a couple P 17's Anyone have opnions /experience with the Traister cock on opening conversion?


I've done two COA conversions. The conversion is quite simply done, comes with instructions and a replacement main spring. My opinion is the replacement spring could be more powerful, although no misfires where ever encountered.



26 September 2023, 08:45
Bad Ass Wallace
Not to confuse the P14 (303) with the M17 (30.06) two different rifles.

If gunsmithing for a large Magnum case then use an M17 action for it's length and a P14 bolt which is already opened up for a magnum case head.


Hold still varmint; while I plugs yer!
If'n I miss, our band of 45/70 brothers, will fill yer full of lead!

27 September 2023, 10:57
Peter Connan
quote:
Originally posted by Bad Ass Wallace:
Not to confuse the P14 (303) with the M17 (30.06) two different rifles.

If gunsmithing for a large Magnum case then use an M17 action for it's length and a P14 bolt which is already opened up for a magnum case head.


Surely if a P17 action is longer, the P14's bolt won't fit?
28 September 2023, 08:49
WJW
The P-14 and 1917 actions are the same except for magazine opening, the bolt face, extractor and the face of the barrel. Bolts are the same length and are identical except for the blot face. Triggers, bolt stops, safeties and action screws are identical and sometimes the bottom metal interchanges.

The 1917 is a modification of the p-14 to adapt it to work with the .30-06 cartridge.
28 September 2023, 17:36
jeffeosso
We've done 550 Giggs, 550 Mag, 550 Express, 500 wells/a2, 500 Jeffe, and 500 Accrel on the action, 505 Gibbs is a "common" caliber on the action ..

reserve the puny 300 for a springfield


opinions vary band of bubbas and STC hunting Club

Information on Ammoguide about
the416AR, 458AR, 470AR, 500AR
What is an AR round? Case Drawings 416-458-470AR and 500AR.
476AR,
http://www.weaponsmith.com
11 December 2023, 00:22
Atkinson
Yes sir Jeffe tell'em how it is! spot on, the world is your oyster with a P-17 even Win and Rem figured that out!


Ray Atkinson
Atkinson Hunting Adventures
10 Ward Lane,
Filer, Idaho, 83328
208-731-4120

rayatkinsonhunting@gmail.com