Okay - a gunsmith I know has a customer that's unloading an Enfield - it's either a 1914 or a 1917, he didn't really look that much until I told him I was interested - in .300 Win mag.

Now, I mostly shoot benchrest (6PPC and .22PPC), but a friend has been bothering me to go bear hunting with him and since I'm basically interested in avoiding becoming griz feces, I'm figuring on the biggest and ugliest chambering feasible... Of course the other option is to run very fast after shooting my buddy in the leg, but I suspect that he'll take issue with that...

Obviously I'll be cooking up my own loads. Which leads to my primary concern: Finding components. I _know_ I can find brass and bullets for cartridges like the .458 Winmag, etc... What about the really INTERESTING calibers? What sources do people use?

Still not sure on which chambering - I'm sorta tempted to stay with the .532 "magnum" boltface to keep the costs at least semi-down, unless opening up the bolt and magazine well would be a fairly simple proposition... Saw John Ross at Knob Creek, and he was telling me about the .510 Wells (?? I think...)...

Starting with an Enfield is just about the most expensive route to take, due to the extensive and difficult machining and feeding problems that need to be addressed.

May I suggest starting with a CZ550? It will save you bucks in both the short and the long run.

Get this:
Gunsamerica CZ 550 Safari Magnum

And save yourself a lot of hassle and money.

[ 11-07-2002, 01:17: Message edited by: ksduckhunter ]

I agree, go with the CZ550 in either 375 H&H or even better, the 416 Rigby.

Ditto!

CZ 550 Mag = Ditto.

Look at either www.auctionarms.com or www.gunbroker.com and you can find one in almost any caliber they make for around $600 new and $550 used. I have the Rigby and really like it.

CZ 550, I agree you can't do better for the money spent! Some don't like the stock, till they shoot it, then it becomes beautiful!

Let me add a little info...

I haven't seen the rifle yet - The gunsmith who is getting it for me has done some of my benchrest/varmint stuff in the past.

The Enfield has been sporterized, and was rebarreled. I understand that it's in an aftermarket stock. Works for me.

He also said that he's paying $150 for it, and I don't think he'll hurt me too badly. I can drop $400 or so to have him cut a good barrel, and then it's just a matter of finding dies and brass.

Assuming that it reliably feeds the .300 Winmag, what other larger cartridges should I consider that would require minimal alterations? If I need to have the mag well/ramp altered, who does this, and what does it cost?

Converting an Enfield to a .510 Wells or better yet a 500A2 from a .300 win mag is a Major issue. I frankly would not even consider it if it was not an action made by winchester. To do it properly, I'd expect to spend well over $1200. This would include a new barrel, rechambering, almost certainly a new stock, and all the extensive machine work required for the action. In the end you have a non-typical rifle that may or may not function properly.
If your moving up from a 6PPC, you might first consider a CZ550 in .416 Rigby. It might meet all your needs for about $600 new.-Rob

Bogie, I've owned and been around a lot of Enfields, customized and variously changed into this caliber or that. Some worked pretty well and some didn't. It depended on the skills of the gunsmith doing the work. I look at it sort of like rebuilding the motor in a car and repainting the body. It may look better and may run a little better...but it's still an older car and will be difficult to get your investment out of it.

When there are good, off-the-shelf NEW rifles out there for very little more money, i.e. the CZ, I have to ask why make this hard on yourself?

I think your chances of being happy are better with a new CZ as other have suggested and your investment will be better protected. JMHO.

Gents,
I would also seem to be the odd man out here,personally I like c-z's for the c-z 75 Pistol and the 452 22lr rifle----However I just can't seem to buy factory rifles in anything but lever action's. I happen to prefer guns that have history. Correct me if wrong (and I'm Sure you will) but new c-z 550's have not "been there".
My thinking is rifles that are built for me,to my specification will shoot better FOR ME. I know there are plenty of fine rifles out there that I can shoot,and shoot well,but knowing the rifle I hold has been built for me gives me a warm feeling. Having said that I Confess to owning plenty of old,wartime production,Enfields. I have 303's,30-06's,35 Whelen,375-338,416 rem mag,458,and soon a 500A2..all on the but-fugly P-14 or Model 17. Yes I accept all the flaws ,,all have been built for me however and I have confidence in my smith not to let something leave his shop that he doesn't have complete confidence in. I just cannot bring myself to buy new when something used will do,except food
I drive an old car,ride a old gold wing,hunt out of an old pick-up,live in an old home,and surf with an old computer. But,,,my car is paid for,as is everything else including my home. And when I told my smith I wanted a 500A2 for my next Enfield he just asked when,not why. To Each His Own. 45nut

Nothing wrong with your philosophy, 45Nut, and I'm not going to "correct" anything. As I kid my wife about some of the old things we have, "There are a lot of miles left in that." And it goes double for guns. I sort of look at guns as "eternal things." I've had and used the dickins out of many old mil-surp rifles and pistols and they ALL served me well. Some I wish I still had but I could never afford to KEEP every gun I owned so my firearms have always been in sort of a state of flux.

There's a lot to be appreciated about lever action rifles. One of the great loves of my life was a lever action .357 that I just basically wore out. It was so light and handy that it was like carrying a switch.

The thing I don't like about lever guns is the way they look and feel with a scope on them. Besides, John Wayne never used a scope on any of his saddle guns. Who am I to fly in the face of tradition?

Anyway, Bogie, let us know what you pick!

Pecos,
Nary a one of my lever guns wears a scope.
I have levers in 22,357,38-55,38-56,375Win,45Colt and 45-70 and I have never been tempted to mount a scope on any of them.

Well,Let me correct my self,I left out 2 rifles and one of them wears a scope,,,308's in Savage 99's. They are in a different class though,,,sort of hybrids in my opinion===lever action bolt guns. I think most of you know what I mean here. 45nut

Bogie,
Precise Metalsmithing's Jim Wisner published an article in the ACGG "Gun Builder"? magazine years back on his alterations to the basic P-14/P-17 Enfield action to handle the big bores. There is a bit of work involved as well as expense in new bottom metal, bolt, trigger, safety, etc. as those here have mentioned. A friend has several of Jim's modified Enfields and they are very nice! Jim used to sell all these Enfield components but since 9/11 this market has gone "soft" so who knows what he has left. Give him a call if you're interested.

The CZ-550 Mag is definitely a less expensive route to follow. Jeff P

45 - I agree, the model 99s just somehow don't seem like true lever guns...even if they are.

Well, I still haven't had a chance to connect with the gunsmith, but I'll try to call this coming weekend. I'm giving him a takeoff Savage .243 skinny barrel for one of his projects, and I've gotta get it in the snail...

Basically, the rifle, already "sporterized" (whatever that means) in .300 Winmag, costs less than what I'm going to spend on a new barrel. I'm probably also going to do a new stock, and maybe a new trigger. What the heck - it's not like I'm dropping $2,300 on a new benchrest rifle. Even if it takes some work, shouldn't be that big a deal.

If the thing is already set up feeding .300 Winmags reliably, what calibers am I safe with for a new barrel? I'm guessing that a .458 may work okay, but I know diddly.

Mac,
I accept the correction. I have been looking for 602's forever here in Oregon and have yet to find one for sale. Just my luck I guess....My main beef was with "NEW" actions which seem to be lacking the fit and finish of old. I still stand by my claim that with the technology available today the manufacturer's leave much undone and waiting for a polish by a smith that cares. With that in mind,why not just get a custom rifle to begin with ? That point alone will keep me searching out for actions for my smith to build on. 45nut