Not sure if this is the correct section, but.....Does anyone have any information on the old big bore calibre conversions for Lee Enfieds ?
I'm looking for info on factory conversions like the .375 2 1/2 inch nitro express, and these sorts of things, usually on long .303 brass, etc.

Roger

the lee-speed is the "name" maker for these .. IIRC, that is the rifle/cart that was val kilmer's first rifle in the ghost and the darkness

Do a search for 45-70 conversions on this and some other forums, directly on the web, and also on the Lee-Enfield military weapons forums.

There have been many conversion to 45-70 factory and gunsmith.

The easiest is to use a Marlin 444 case, 458 WM case or 450 Marlin case. You can also use a 348 Win case to make a 45 or 50 Alaskan.

Depending on how much research you do and who you talk to the easiest is either a 458 WM or 450 Marlin. It is hardly more than a barrel swap, a bit of grinding on the extractor and a bit of mag tuning.

I built a 458 American (458x2") on aN Ishapore 2A 308 action...I can single load 45-70 and 45-90, the 308 mag will hold 6 down, and I can also shoot 458 WM rounds...AS LONG AS I LOAD TO <45KCUP...THE SAMMI PRESSURE SPEC FOR THE 2A RECEIVER.

WIGGLE WORDS...ANY CONVERSION IS INHERENTLY DANGEROUS AND NOT TO BE DONE WITHOUT A GREAT AMOUNT OF THOUGHT AND A THOROUGH KNOWLEDGE OF THE POSSIBLE REPERCUSSIONS.

Thanks Foobar, but I wasn't really looking for "modern" conversions ( I have a smle in 45-70 )but more the original turn of the century factory conversions. The sort of thing your less affluent big game hunter could buy back in the '20s or whatever.lee Speeds were typically in 303 with a few in 375

Roger