I just came from the gunshop where I just picked up my P-17 (By winchester). This is going to be the basis of my first big bore. I have some questions on it that this forum might have the answers for. I was thinking of having it barreled for .458 Lott or .416 Rem Mag. I has already been sporterized. About all it needs is barreling, the bolt face opened, and the feed rails worked. I noticed the magazine box is too short for the .375 H&H. Can it safely be opened up for a longer cartridge? Also I noticed it is cock on closing. Can it be converted easily to cock on opening? Or is it really no big deal?If the box can't be opened up I will probably have it barreled for the .458 Winchester. I appreciate any information.

Thank You,
WyoJoe

Well a friend of mine has a remington 30 which is a copy of the P-17 enfield in 30-378 wty mag and thats about the longest round you want to put in a repeater. you may need to lengthen the opening on the rails, Set the bolt stop back a little and open the ejection port. my friend has had his rifle since Roy wheatherby introduced the cartridge back in the early sixty's. as for cock on opening ??? i seen one on a sporterized 30-06 but could not tell you where to find one
Kerry

[This message has been edited by Kerry.S (edited 12-05-2001).]

[This message has been edited by Kerry.S (edited 12-05-2001).]

I haven't dabbled with Enfields, but I have gone over my dad's converted P-17 with a microscope. Quite a gun. I think I remember reading in a post here, about e-gunparts.com (Numrich) selling a magnum length magazine box for about $15, for Enfields. I know they are commonly used for long rounds, so it can't be that much trouble to open it up.

Good luck -- sounds like fun. BTW, I believe Bell & Carlson make a sporter synthetic stock for Enfields, it might have been Midway USA where I saw it.

Todd

Gun Parts has replacement magazines that are longer than the originals.

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NRA Life member

Todd,
You are right Bell & Carlson does have synthetic stocks for the P-17. This one has a brand new walnut one so I think I will keep it on it. I think somebody was in the process of building this gun when they had to trade it in. I got it with the new stock for $260 plus tax.

WyoJoe

When you get around to working on it be aware that the barrel is tight beyond belief. You will not beable to unscrew it unless you remove the shoulder with a lathe. P-17s by Enfield have a reputation for being cracked. I believe, that is partially because they are so dog-on hard and partly because the barrels are set in so tight. So before you begin trying to remove the barrel, remove the shoulder. If not expect to damage something. Once knew a smith who ended up crushing the barrel in a hydrolic vice before he could spin the receiver, using a 4 foot cheater bar and big hammer. Don't get in that mess.

What Scot says is true about the barrels -- this is a trick I have read about in several gunsmithing books; you cut into the shoulder of the barrel at the front receiver ring, and (unless the threads are rusted in) should be able to remove the barrel by hand at that point. The same book said if you try the brute force method, you WILL a)crack the receiver or b) twist/warp the rails.

As you might guess, I'm drooling at the thought of making a real 'big one' from a P-17/14, but due to the $$$ involved, probably won't for a few years. How much work is left to do on yours?

Todd