I have a Lee-Enfield 2a MkIII, 308 WIN with a belled chamber and questionable bore and want to install a new barrel but different caliber, 9.3 - 375 - 416 using a 284, 308, or 444 M case. Max OAL of 2.85" and Max pressure around 48 kCUP. ON THE CHEAP.!!!

I'm looking for someone who has "donnit" or knows something about rebarreling a lee-enfield receiver. I've done wildcatting, rechambering and rebarreling, just not on the Lee enfield action.

It's nothing more than an interesting project, I'm not trying to make a silk purse out of a sows ear and I have a rack full of other rifles and a drawer full of "mouser" clones.

Just want to make a knockaround, <50 yd "larger bore" of "some value", out of basically a rifle of no value whatsoever right now.

Any input would be concerning conversion applications will be appreciated.


Thanks

FOOBAR

I think a .358 Win. would be an interesting choice. I don't have much faith in the strength of the Enfield action....even though they claim it is safe in a .308. I am not sure about the 2a's but both my surplus Mk. 4 rifles really stretch the brass...per design I believe.

hard one to call, as the enfield actions are stretchy.. and the 308 boltface limits you to what you can do, with cost concerns being a case.

might be best to sell that action, get a 303, and rebarrel to 45/70?

I think I would have to pay someone to take this hound off my hands. It's a rear locking lug action and should be limited to <48 kPSI even though it was designed for the 308 Win, originally.

The 45-70 case is out, just too many mods. I've tried WSM, 450M, 458Mag, and 284 cases in the magazine. They just spring the walls and makes it hard to insert.

Realistically speaking, I've eliminated all but the 308 case today, then made up some dummys using the 270 gr Hornady 375 cal and 350 gr Speer 416 cal bullets. They look like bad news to anything standing in their way, and Load Disk comes up with some fairly good numbers.

A minimum SAMMI chamber and correct bore size would eliminate some of the problem areas that OEM chambers and barrels have, i.e., long throats, oversized chambers and loose or tight bores that can cause some of the stretchiness.

I was hoping for someone who came before to give up their secrets and show me the way.

Absent that, I will order up a Shilen, or ER Shaw barrel and get Dave Kiff at PT&G to make me a reamer. I've already talked to Dave Davidson at Ch4D previously, about 375-356/358 dies so I have most of the ducks all lined up already.

This is basically a very simple rebarrel job unless I go nuts and do something strange. Been know to happen.

Thanks FOOBAR

Here is a No 1 mark III I converted to 45-70 it is somewhat time consuming but then I have a lot of time and at times a strange imagination.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y44/RollandH/smle/000_0169.jpg

ABSOLUTELY AWESOME!!!!!

Beautiful wood and stock work.

Please tell me what you did to the receiver.

What pieces and parts did you use, i.e., magazine, bolt head?

What thread pattern - 55° Whitworth and 14 tpi?

Any interchangeable parts I can use between the MK I and my MKIII that you know of or where I can find that information?

Any other specifics?

I read about SMLE conversions way back in the 60's or before. Today is quite another story. Commercial actions are so cheap and MilSurp are almost gone, it doesn't much pay to play.

Your information just told me I can use the 45-70, 444M, 450M, any smaller rimmed case, and also, possibly,a belted mag cases as long as the pressures are kept to SAMMI spec for the receiver.

What load do you use - pressure, velocity, bullet weight, etc.

Thanks, Rolland, for any and all information.

Enjoy
FOOBAR

Foobar
To answer some of your questions, I used a 458 barrel 1-14 twist and threaded and chamber it to 45-70. The barrel threads are 55 degree 14 tpi, but...they vary a little on the outside diameter depending on where the rifle was made. You will have to measure the od after the barrel is removed to determine the exact size.
To get it to feed you have to open the feedrails and the inside diameter of the receiver ring to allow for the larger diameter rim it doesn't take much just go slow.
I don't know much about the Enfield 2A in .308 so I can't help you there altho I did use the .308 magazine on the second rifle as it is easier to modify for the larger cartridge, I can send you some photos of what I did if you deside to go ahead with the project.
The only modification I did to the bolt was reshape the extractor which involves putting more of a hook in it and shortening the lip and cutting the inside of the lip for the thicker rim.
You will have to play with the headspace as the rim is thicker. On mine I added a shim to the face of the bolt head and reset the firing pin protrusion which is easy to do. Another way is for you to set the head space by cutting a shoulder on the barrel so in sets in side the receiver ring rather than flush but since you are talkin about .006 to .007 it might be easier to shim the bolt face as the cartridge headspaces on the rim just like the .303.
I got the stock from Great American Gunstocks in Californa, Talk to Henry he can tell you what the pattern is, as I remember it is a H&H or Rigby pattern. The stock on the second rifle was from Boyds I won't use them again.
If you decide to go ahead with the project I can mail you some close up photos of the action.

I only shoot factory ammo either Federal 300 grain or Hornaday leverevolution. Both rifles shoot under 1 1/2 inches. Since I wanted a 100 yard pig gun I see no reason to reload for these rifles when factory shoots so well.

This is a pig I shot with the first rifle I did last year with a Federal 300 grain at 125 yards. I knocked him right down.

Here is my 2A, still 308Win. Took 7" off the barrel and reset front furniture. Great 4-wheeler or tractor rifle for pigs and such. No need to carry extra ammo, as it will hold 12rds in the mag.



Keith

quote:

Originally posted by Rolland:
Foobar
To answer some of your questions, I used a 458 barrel 1-14 twist and threaded and chamber it to 45-70. The barrel threads are 55 degree 14 tpi, but...they vary a little on the outside diameter depending on where the rifle was made. You will have to measure the od after the barrel is removed to determine the exact size.
To get it to feed you have to open the feedrails and the inside diameter of the receiver ring to allow for the larger diameter rim it doesn't take much just go slow.
I don't know much about the Enfield 2A in .308 so I can't help you there altho I did use the .308 magazine on the second rifle as it is easier to modify for the larger cartridge, I can send you some photos of what I did if you deside to go ahead with the project.
The only modification I did to the bolt was reshape the extractor which involves putting more of a hook in it and shortening the lip and cutting the inside of the lip for the thicker rim.
You will have to play with the headspace as the rim is thicker. On mine I added a shim to the face of the bolt head and reset the firing pin protrusion which is easy to do. Another way is for you to set the head space by cutting a shoulder on the barrel so in sets in side the receiver ring rather than flush but since you are talkin about .006 to .007 it might be easier to shim the bolt face as the cartridge headspaces on the rim just like the .303.
I got the stock from Great American Gunstocks in Californa, Talk to Henry he can tell you what the pattern is, as I remember it is a H&H or Rigby pattern. The stock on the second rifle was from Boyds I won't use them again.
If you decide to go ahead with the project I can mail you some close up photos of the action.

I only shoot factory ammo either Federal 300 grain or Hornaday leverevolution. Both rifles shoot under 1 1/2 inches. Since I wanted a 100 yard pig gun I see no reason to reload for these rifles when factory shoots so well.

This is a pig I shot with the first rifle I did last year with a Federal 300 grain at 125 yards. I knocked him right down.

What scope mount did you use on the 45/70?

Hogkiller
that has to be the ultimate "truck gun"

ireload2
I used the williams mount with over the bore rings. Its the only one I could find that fits that rifle.

quote:

Originally posted by Rolland:
Hogkiller
that has to be the ultimate "truck gun"

Kind of what I thought about it. A $100 bucks well spent and it can't be hurt.

Keith

Nice pig...and I might add...in the correct position. The 45-70 is a big hammer...or if you prefer...a PIG hammer. Just couldn't resist. you so funny I get too sick...I garontee.

Nothing wrong with your imagination that I can see...we both rowing the same boat.

I would like any pictures you could provide concerning the mods, especially the box mag, rail mods and receiver ring. There is a difference in magazines and I think rails and lower trigger group. I have already tried my 308 mag with several different "fatty" cases and all it did was bulge and make it hard to insert.

I will email you and give you my email box. Won't post online, had way too much trouble doing that.

I talked to my favorite gunstore/shop to see if he would look around for a #1 for me just for the action.

As it sets right now, I pulled the 2A barrel yesterday and have it sitting next to my keyboard. I measured the thread dia and it came out 0.995" =/- 0.0002". Slightly undersized for the OEM numbers I came up with but that doesn't matter much.

The chamber was so far out I stopped trying to develop a load. Fired shoulder was 0.015" to far forward, fired base was 0.475", throat was 0.240" too long even for a 180 RN.

I thought about just rebarreling to 308 and call it good but I already have 3 - 308's, 300 Sav, 30-06 etc, etc, etc. I also have a Marlin 356 Win I just finished. Going larger on the caliber, 9.3, 375, 416, just costs way too much for the reamer and dies...$300 plus, to waste on this action. I looked at the 45-70, 444,450M and decided they were out because of magazine problems so I said "tohalibut" and decided to do a 260 Rem. I've never worked with that caliber and for less than $250 I can have a "new" rifle...barrel, stock, scope, the whole futz.

Now...you have shown me I can get to 45-70 and maybe by using the 444 or 450M case I can get away with not messing with the receiver ring. I will check that using those cases now that the rifle is stripped and maybe reinforcing the mag with a small steel or brass band will solve the expantion problem.

New 2A 308 mags are available but a bit pricey through Numerich, so I have some wiggle room in that department, but the 303 mag looks like it will work even better.

I will have to look at all the costs of any kind of modifications in relation to just buying a Marlin 450M levergun, new or used, so I will probably stay with one of the large caliber "standard" calibers. Who knows...maybe a "switch barrel" Brit is on the horizon.

I will work on some of these problems as time passes.

Thanks again all for your input.

Enjoy

FOOBAR

Keith, that is one tough looking Enfield! I like!

quote:

Originally posted by lee440:
Keith, that is one tough looking Enfield! I like!

Can you say, CUSTOM RIFLE.

Works out just fine riding on the tractor. It started life FUGLY and time had not changed a thing, still FUGLY. Loosing 7" makes it very handy. It is now 18 1/4" barrel.


Keith

I've got an article around here somewhere, I think it was from Handloader Magazine, about converting them to 45-90.

How about a 375 2 1/2 inch like the Lee Speeds?

I am currently thinking of finding a 1901 style No1 action with dust cover and having the barrel reamed to 375 and then rechamber to 375 x 2.5" and stock in classic british style with express sights as a fun hog gun.
Timber won't have to be fancy but I will be looking at rust blue and keeping in period finish.
If I could find a Lee Speed with a daggy barrel that would be the easier alternative.