I was thinking of picking up a m17 enfield action that had been sporterized for a pretty good price. I was thinking of what calibers I could make it into. I already have a custom 9.3x62 scout built on a m17 action so I was thinking something big was in order. Some possiblities I have thought of were 358norma, 358 STA, 375 ruger, 404 jeffery, 416 rem/rigby, and 458 Lott. I'm kind of leaning toward the lott because of availability of components. I have a few thousand 405gr JSP reming bulk bullets that I shoot out of my 45/70 for practice shooting. I would probably load it down a bit for most shooting I will do with it, mainly use for moose/griz. Probably load it down to around 2400fps with 400gr bullet for most of my uses but wouldn't hurt to have the capability to hot rod it if I wanted.

This action has already had the ears ground off and rear site removed, in pretty good shape for pretty cheap price. Will probably drop it in a B&C carbelite stock and have it teflon coated with stainless barrel. A set of express sights from NECG, and 1-4x leupld. Shouldn't have too terribly much invested by the time it is done.

What do you guys think? Any ideas or info about the above calibers will be appreciated.
Also is 22" enough barrel length for a lott or will it benefit from the extra 2".

enfield action = lott
at full speed, you'll want a weighted BC stock.
unless you are going just for looks, a set of remmie takeoff sights, with a right replacement front bead, would be all I would do with that. i WOULD do a barrel band sling mount.

as for scoping it, if the BC is long enough in LOP for you, great, otherwise you may wind up with a "knot" and leaking from your eyebrow

jeffe

Is it an Eddystone?

Go with the Lott. The Remmy 405gr, have worked great for me on hogs at 2100fps, at 2400fps best left to breaking rock and mik jugs.

As for sights, a ghost ring receiver sight, gets my vote for a fast sight picture.

Hog Killer

My last P17 project was a .450 Rigby. It is a great rifle, capable of amazing flexability. It will do everything from light cast bullet loads to 7000fpe loads. and .458 bullets are everywhere.To me, the length of the action warrants one of the longer ctgs.

Looks like its a moot point now, my dad took a closer look at the action and found that it was cracked, I'm not sure where or if its repairable but I'm doubting it. He is going to take it to a gunsmith friend of his to see if its salvagable. Looks like I'll just have to get that swap barrel job done on my 300 win 70 classic to 458 win mag. That wouldn't be too bad for a one gun two barrels setup.

I've got one of those, it is still a 30-06, made by Winchester. It was customized by some cobber in the 70s'. I don't much care for its original bottom metal. It is screaming from the gun rack that it wants to be a 450 Rigby, however there are many projects in front of that one. But if I was to do it today I would first make a new bottom metal for it and use this extra 458 barrel blank for the job, it is uncontoured and only a 1.250 blank which limits contouring to an integral recoil lug and possibly an integral sling swivel. I suppose a set of bases that look like bridges would be made to screw and solder down, maybe set them up to accept the smithson rings, the dogleg bolt handle would have to go and also do something with its chunky tange area. I'd go with a good solid piece of walnut that just looks a little better than normal, say keep it in the 350 to 400 range, basically get the best wood I could find for that amount of money. NECG front sight, make a q-rib screw and solder it on. Use a nice round Dressel grip cap for a more round grip. I'd go for an English style stock with it. Pancake c.p. no flutes in the comb, short forend. Maybe Color case the gip cap and floorplate. Possibly go for a minor engraving job, grip cap,caliber on the barrel, just a few quick little things. NO more than 24 lpi checkering and very simple patterns. The trigger could have a nicer yanker applied, otherwise it would stay bascally the same, I suppose one could come with gaurd screws with invisible sockets that take a special wrench made from the tooth of a Sabare tooth Tiger. Make a nice but simple case for it that is sturdy and very utilitarian and whole bunch of ammo, say, 500 rounds with some good 500gr woodleigh bullets. Then get a one way ticket to Africa and see if you and the 450 could make a living hunting, whatever,? Hey if your going to dream it may as well be a big one right? Big dreams don't cost any more than small ones the way I see it.
That is until you act on it.
Timan

quote:

Originally posted by Thebear_78:
Looks like its a moot point now, my dad took a closer look at the action and found that it was cracked, I'm not sure where or if its repairable but I'm doubting it.

I've never heard of a salvage for this.

I'm afraid it's junk now.....sorry friend!

i bought a 1917 eddystone today for $150....and got other goodies also.... other than the stock has been hacksawed off, the bore is nice...[URL=

Here is a photo I copied of one that was on this board awhile back. Might give you some inspiration. I forgot who did the work or who owned the it. Maybe somebody will claim it.



And if you really want some inspiration, here is a photo of one done by Tom Burgess. they don't get any better.

I really like that burgess rifle, got any more photos of it? Do you have any idea what its caliber is?
Timan

I think its a .416 Remington

If I ever figure out how in the #^%%!*&+*^S*%@ to post, I am currently doing load work for an Enfield Jim Wisner built for a friend in 505 Gibbs with lead bullets. He has a set of three, 416 Rigby, 450 Rigby, and 505 Gibbs.
I popped a test round off Friday, before heading for the Oregon coast for the long weekend. My gunsmith mentor showed me how to make a push-thru sizer die, and I am shoving standard .511" bullets thru it and getting .5055" out the little end. Ask me what a taper pin reamer is...just ask me! I have 450 and 650gr cast bullets in front of 120gr of 7828 to try out in the morning. Wish me well.

As for the Enfield, I believe you will be better served by a model of 1930 Remington. Shop a bit, they are out there. They also came in "L", "R", and "M" versions. These marked rifles had Lyman, Redfield, or Marbe rear and front sight combinations on them. My $375 "L" version is a 30-06 with a banded front sight, and the micrometer "click" adjustable rear. The bolt also has a guide rib on top, and a slot cut into the receiver. They make beautiful DGR's.

Rich

marble, can't spell..

Rich

22WRF-

Thanks for posting the picture of my 1917 Enfield (work-in-progress or top picture).

That one, Dennis Olson did the metal work on and is a .300 H&H. Dennis is presently working on a .375 H&H to match except that the .375 will have NECG (Racknagel) exterior sights. The .300 has a Wisner 3 position safety (the predesessor to the LaPour). The .375 will have the LaPour 3 position safety (note, Ed LaPour's safeties are top notch).

I have to admit, I have become a bit of an Enfield "freak." I was in Austin this weekend and was at a well known gunshop there and they had a beautiful Enfield, complete with three position safety, English Walnut stock, really good looking metal work and the caliber was of all things a .300 H&H. Friends, I had lust in my heart. It was priced at about 50% of replacement cost.

Here's the reverse side of the .300 :