I just finished this rifle this past weekend, its SMLE No 1 Mark III in 45-70. I used a Holland & Holland pattern American black walnut stock from GAG.

Cool!

How hard was it to get your rifle to feed 45-70 reliably? I looked a Gibbs Sumit carbine once at a gunshow and though this was a neat idea. How does your shoot?

I have a No4 Mk1* that I've been slowly working on lately. These old Enfields are different, but hard to beat aren't they?

Way to go!

Very nice! Give us some details!

Hey Rolland,
You really like those Enfields! Nice rig. What sights did you use? Will the stock get some checkering?

Hope it gets you many hogs.

- stu

I don't see the H&H style or stocks for the Lee Enfield listed at their site. Who do you talk to there?

well that looks cool and fun!!

how does it shoot
jeffe

Hey Rolland

Don't keep us all waiting, can you get back here to all these questions ??

My question is how that stock shape handles the recoil from decent 45-70 loads, maybe in comparison with some other stock shapes of your experience ??

Cheers - Foster

How hot can an SMLE be loaded, like the +P stuff? My father-in-law was looking over a Gibbs, he told me the sales guy said it wouldn't take more than the standard "safe" factory loads.

I've had my eye peeled for a few years, looking for a Pattern 14 action to maybe one day having made into a 45-70; I got it peeled, too, for one of those Persians that Century (?) used to sell.

If anyone wants to break down and give me a No.1, I'll take it

and my apologies, Rolland, that's a good lookin' rig.

In regard to the stock design, I talked to Henry at GAG, actually he talked me into the design. It handles the recoil pretty well altho I used a limb saver recoil pad.
It has a Adams & Bennett 458 barrel with a 1-14 twist cut to 24 inches with Williams sights.
As far as handling the load, I have never shot anything other than factory loads in both this one and the first one I built, but I would think that a person could increase the load some, but it works so well with factory I have just left well enough alone......for now.
The only problem getting it to feed is getting a magazine, I was lucky in finding a Gibbs magazine and copied it other than that the action needs to be opened up to allow the larger cartridge head to feed, that includes the feed rails and inside the ring but it doesn't take much. The extractor also has to be reshaped altho I used the same configuration for the extractor cut in the barrel.

Tentman, this stock works much better than the Boyds stock I used on the first one I built, the Boyds has a little more drop in the butt stock and they would not make me one in the better quality wood or so the man on the phone said.

Stu, I was going to checker it but the more I look at it the more I think I will leave it plain.
I will put a scope on it prior to hog season most likely a 2.5 to 8 Leupold. This one shoots really well, the barrel sights are dead on at 100 yards.
This is what happens when you retire and have too much time on your hands.
thanks for all the compliments it is fun working on them

quote:

This is what happens when you retire and have too much time on your hands.

Absolutely nothing wrong with that! I envy you.

How will you go about scoping it? I am considering a Cad Teknic mount for my project.

Tex
I used a Williams side mount last time and will most likely use the same one on this one.
I don't recall seeing a Cad Teknic mount. Who has those? Where could I see one?
Rolland

http://www.chuckhawks.com/gibbs_summit.htm

Here's a interesting article on the action strength for the 45-70 Enfield. I suppose I see the point on being able to handle a heavier load, but I personally wouldn't want to try it.
By the way that is one awesome piece of work there! Congrats!

Too bad Gibbs isn't producing at the present (at least I can't find anyone who has them).

Surely would buy one but not build one (due to cost)

Metalsmith
thanks for posting the article, I have not seen that one.
Dustoffer, the last place I saw a Gibbs advertised was in the Zanders Sporting Goods catalog I think they were $299

Rolland,

could you post a closer picture or two of the action from the top or side.

Greg

Just one of several options I'm looking at:
Click Here
Expensive but fairly well liked from what I've read.

Do you have a close up of the Williams mount?

I want to be able to mount a removable scope and use the peep sight. What other options are out there?

Tex
Go to www.williamsgunsight.com the sight is a SM-71