I recently sold a high dollar 404 and a .416 Rem on Enfield actions, and they make up into beautifull rifles and can be made to look like a Mauser for that matter, but its costly and not for everyones pocketbook.

I am presently puting together a custom P-17 Enfield (Win.) and am making an attempt at a low dollar gun that is functional but without all the bells and whistle as I have a number of barreled actions around.

The one I'm working on has a plain straight grained piece of wood that is hard and pretty nice looking, its presently a 416 Rem but could be a 416 Rigby pretty easy or I could use one of the 404 barreled actions. It will have no quarter rib or barrel sights, but will have a barrel band swivel and front sight, to work with a talleys QD peep on talley scope bases, and thats a great option for irons IMO. The bolt handle will be a Talley and it will keep the Enfield safety as its a fine safety, especially on a DG rifle. It will feed and function and be accurate. I will use the original bottom metal cleaned up and contoured. I am also entertaining the idea of Laminated stocks done in english styling for both the 505 and 404, as they are strong and heavy and will be glassed and have cross bolts.

Anyway thats where I am headed on this one if I can keep the price down and see if there is a market, if not I use proto type for myself, or go ahead and do it up with all the bells and whistles.

What do you guys think, is this a good idea or not, is there a market out there for a 404 or even a 505 for around $3000, if it can be done..

If not I need to get rid of some inventory. I have 5 or 6 Enfields barreled actions with Lothar Walthar barrels I will sell 4 of them as is and you can finish them up anyway you want.

Ray, your proposed Enfield in .404 would represent a significant risk to my financial health and marital serenity ...

Given the $$$ and labor I have invested in my 404, I think $3K would be a good value. I think most folks would want a walnut stock, though, versus a laminate. But think a plain field grade would be fine for that price.

I would be skeptical, given that old model 70's that have had the stock shortened can be had in the $700-900 range. There were several in that price range at the last Boise gun show well under a grand.

The Boise Cabela's has a mid-50's era one for sale for $700 +/- for a complete rifle with uncut stock that was rebarreled with a Winchester 300WM barrel.

I guess it boils down to whether you are an Enfield guy or not. My last Brownell's catalog had CZ550 Magnum actions for less than $700.

I'm turning into an OM 70/M98 fan, especially the FN commercial ones.

Rich

Ray,
You are well known here on AR and have an excellent rep. Will that suffice? I don't know how well known you are in general, except that a few years ago when I was damp behind the ears you answered some questions for me. Thank you.

As a lefty, the Enfield isn't of much interest.
Brice

I like the "ugly ears and dog leg bolt handle" of the Enfield...I would like to find a "reasonably priced" action...but "reasonably priced" to me means "Get Lost" to you, and as Rich says...Winchester 70's are cheap and available.

"Reasonably priced" means very different things to different people.

Discerning folks that want a custom rifle and don't mind paying the price are getting fewer and farther between and the govmnt keeps phu***in us to death about ANYTHING connected to those nasty guns, and coming in the back door, the side windows and out of the ground under the house in any effort to destroy this industry.

Look at the price of a CZ 505...if you can beat that then you might have a plan.

BUT...as soon as you "cheapen" your product you are on that slippery slope heading "down hill like a snowball headed for He**".


What do YOU think is a "reasonable price" for an Enfield action rifle for those cartridges???..and what bells and whistles are included???

I could do an action for about $2000 with Lothar Walthar barrel installed and chambered, barrel band front sight, barrel band swivel, custom trigger, cock on the opening..At that price you would need to get the feeding tweaked, that is so damn time consuming for me..The barrel cost me $460.threaded, short chambered, crowned and polished.

I have a .416 Rem P-17 glassed into decent wood stock, action surface ground, D&T with scope bases, Lothar walthar barrel, barrel band front sight fitted, barrel band swivel fitted, Island rear sight base soldered and screwed on, stocked is rough shaped and I will glassbed it. Almost done so to speak...$2000 out the door shipped. A great deal if your handy.

To be done would include:
1.May need action tweeking to feed
2.sand and apply finish to stock (needs recoil pad)
3. Solder barrel band front sight, and swivel, they are fitted.
4. Needs a one or two leaf rear sight for the base.
5. blue

Just an idea I had as I have more barreled actions than I need..otherwise I will just build complete custom rifles out of them.

I don't feel like I'm cheapening my product, just offering something that perhaps someone would prefer to drag thru the Jesse..Sometimes it not so nice to have a full custom on a hunting trip.

If its not a plan then I won't lose any sleep over it, I might just finish it out as is for a using gun for myself..thats why I was seeking some imput on it, sometimes I get hairbrained ideas!