I have a patern 14 enfield action. I am considering rebarreling to a .45-70 or maybe a .450 marlin. Is this a viable combination?

I have a P14 converted to 444 Marlin. I like it, but there may be some feeding issues to work out.

It is. but the bolt face would still have to be opened up some to take the .45/70. The .450 Marlin might fit w/o bolt alteration (.540" - 303 Br. vs .532" - 450 Marlin), but action feed rails will probably need to be opened some. Get a .450 Marlin round and see if it will work through the magazine.

A number of P14's have been converted to big African calibers.....

total JUNK

send it to me for disposal....


any of the standard mag caseheads will fit on it, feeding can be a huge challenge...

jeffe

45-70, it works great. Consiter the Siamese has the same diameter bolt. That consiteration is not a problem. Just open the face up a bit. The extractor needs to be modified a bit. You want a couple of thousands end play between the rim and the boltface. The rim should fit side to side with the extractor just barley snug.

The magazine, I fiddled and fiddled with making the magazine a bit wider. I ended up using the as issued mag box. The follower needed a little build up with brazing rod to compel the last round to jump out of the rails.

The rails need to be opened up. Leave the little rim notch. As you go foreward the skinnier part where the 303 neck and bullet goes need to be made wider. Work slowly and try the fit often. the idea is to make the cartridges nestle in the rails and stay put until you push the bolt foreward. That sounds obvious, to put it another way, the issue rails make the cartridges sit cockeyed and tend to not stay put. I did all my rail modification with a dremmil tool. When you do that be sure and polish and clean well before you check the feeding. The grit and roughness will give a false idea of what is going on. The gap between the rails may need to be opened up a tiny bit. Don't over do this.


Anyway, it can be done. It makes a nice rifle. Better I think, than a Siamese. The Siamese I have seen are very clunky. I removed the bolt stop spring pad and clip guides. The bolt was straightened. I did fiddle with cock on opening kits but went back to the issue set up. Rear bridge was done to use M-700 bases. I would set up the bottom metal like a M-70. I think the metal rails around the box make the stock look boxie. I did a P-14 in 7mm rem mag. this way and it looks very trim. The 45-70 was put in a clasic stock. The barrel is 22" and I put the front swivel on the barrel to avoid wacking my hand during recoil. Get the thinest contour you can find for the barrel.