I've heard that this can be done somewhat easily. Anyone here ever do one? Can you use the original mags with some modification? I'm interested in doing one even if it becomes a single shot rifle.

Thanks.

that would be cute.. and would require a totally fabricated mag...

the "easy" conversion is supposed to be to 45/70

jeffe

Is the .45-70 conversion easier than .405 Winchester or .444 Marlin? I ask because those cartridges are closer to the body dia of the .303 Brit round than the .45-70. I'm not even considering length here.

Hobie,
you raise a good point... one i hadn't thought of.. the 444 is automatically "out" to me, as this one doesn't have bullet selection

the 405 would be a neato choice... and I think guys are converting p14s to 405 these days..

i believe the case length is a wash....


since these are rimmed rounds, the RIM is the critical dimension, raher than the case dia, right?

jeffe

Your post doesn't indicate where you are from. If you have reasonable access to sending firearms into and receiving them back from Canada, the Ellwood Epps firm of Orilla, Ontario, does an excellent job of converting almost any magazine to feed almost any cartridge (within the realms of sanity, of course).



For instance, they converted my P-14 to feed .219 Improved Zipper flawlessly, by building a single-stack magazine inside the double-stacker factory mag well.



Although Mr. Epps is unfortunately deceased, it is my understanding that the firm lives on... From my experiences with them, they are true service-oreinted, highly skilled, honest workmen.



AC

I can just see it now. A nice little jungle carbine in .405 Winchester. Nice 22" barrel with enfield front sight. No flash hider though. That thing just looks goofy. I want one!

NH_Hunter

Sorry I didn't get right back, I was NOT ignoring you.

Yes, rim dia should be more important, at least within reasonable bounds. That would make the .405 and the .444 the best choices, but length... I'm not sure about the .444 but the .405 might well be too long (although I guess you could do up a shorter version...) Heck, you're right back to the .375 NE 2�"...

I don't know why, but I keep coming back to that cartridge. 270 gr. at 2000+ fps.

PS, yep I was too lazy to drag Donnelly's book out to check lengths.

Why convert a SMLE to 405 Winchester when you can newly manufacture Winchester M1895? The M1895 Winchester is significantly stronger that the SMLE ever dreamt of being.

You would have to modify the magazine box to get optimum fedding, ie the bottom of the box would need to be "flattened" out some (read less steep angle). Other than that the 405 Win feeds relatively well from an unmodified SMLE rifle as is.

Just my 0.02 cents.

ASS_CLOWN

During WWII the Brits had the Lisle or Lysle silenced Lee Enfield carbine for Commandos in, I think, .45ACP. Also I have read an article maybe ten years ago on converting the Lee to .45-90.

I also have thought about a modification to my Jungle Carbine to get a "big bore". According to the Epps shop, previously mentioned, a 338/303 is about the maximum a #4 or #5 barrel can be rebored. Anything larger will require a new barrel and of course more $$. Another way might be to rechamber to 303 Epps (an improved 303) and reload with some of the 200 or 215 grn bullets now available. Not a "big bore" but in the absence of inexpensive big bore barrels, something to think about, IMHO.