What are my options and What is the best parent case to use when rebarreling a Lee Enfield.?

The specs I find on the .303 are:
Case head diameter = 0.540",
Rim thickness = 0.064",
Case diameter inside of rim = 0.460"
and COL = 3.075"

I will reload only so can do proper pressure regardless of case; Don't want to do much if any bolt face/extractor work; Need to keep magazine to original length.

Thanks in advance for your help!

There have been a host of wildcats off the parent .303 case in .25 on up through .35 cal. Some of these are still popular in Australia where they were born.

Gibbs offered a .45-70 cal Lee-Enfield as their "Summit" carbine a year or so ago.

I have heard interesting rumors of Lee-Enfields being successfully converted to the ever cheap and plentiful 7.62x54r soley by rechambering. Not sure about the specifics but bears looking into.

.444 Marlin maybe?

the Canadians and the British produced versions chambered in 7.62x51 Nato.

I've seen a couple in 30-40 Krag.

Ray,

How about Ken Waters 375 express, AKA 375/444. I haven't finished mine yet, still waiting on the reamer.

elk hunter

The 375 Express/375 JDJ, would be a great cartridge for the Lee Enfield.
I have been giving a lot of thought on doing one in Express style, chambered in 375 Nitro Express 2 1/2.
I would like to see pictures of yours when finished.

James

quote:

Originally posted by J Bennett:
elk hunter

The 375 Express/375 JDJ, would be a great cartridge for the Lee Enfield.
I have been giving a lot of thought on doing one in Express style, chambered in 375 Nitro Express 2 1/2.
I would like to see pictures of yours when finished.

James

That is exactly what I have in mimd for mine... at a much future date. too many other irons in the fire now. It looked like the most resonable of the bunch. A touch expencive for dies but the COL and rim dimensions are perfect.

quote:

Originally posted by RaySendero:
What are my options and What is the best parent case to use when rebarreling a Lee Enfield.?

The specs I find on the .303 are:
Case head diameter = 0.540",
Rim thickness = 0.064",
Case diameter inside of rim = 0.460"
and COL = 3.075"

I will reload only so can do proper pressure regardless of case; Don't want to do much if any bolt face/extractor work; Need to keep magazine to original length.

Thanks in advance for your help!

I guess I'd have to ask why spend so much time & $ on one unless you just love the action? The original caliber is a good caliber & you should be able to find good (cheap) barrels for it if yours is bad. Just curious

quote:

Originally posted by brayhaven:
I guess I'd have to ask why spend so much time & $ on one unless you just love the action? The original caliber is a good caliber & you should be able to find good (cheap) barrels for it if yours is bad. Just curious

Greg,

Good question! I do like the action but, I have to admit, I really haven't given it much thought. I'm just in the planning stage for this project. It came about yesterday when a friend at work showed me a No.4 MKII he has coming. Neither he nor I have any real spot (need) for another 30 caliber rifle. He wanted me to help him with the project planning, stock work and bedding.

I suggested that I could get one too. Then he and I could build them together. If he was willing to wait until I finished the 2 projects I'm currently doing.

We have a great local GS that we can use. We talked generally about going up in caliber as that would best fit our "needs". He's leaning toward a 45/70 - I'm open to all suggestions at this point up or down in caliber. Our projects are at least a year out so we have plenty of time to do our research.

So.....to answer your question = Just because it'll be fun to build a good rifle around a great action!.

Could a 405 Win be done?

A "friend" is building a 303/35 on a No4 action. I call him a "friend" as he bought the same basket case No4 I had lined up for the same conversion . When loaded up it should match the 356Win and have a 10 round capacity
Any larger rimmed case could have its rim turned down to 303British specs to minimise on any bolt-face work/feeding work ... I believe a 45/90 has been done in this way although the magazine would require obvious modification. I've also seen a 444Marlin in a No4 with the magazine mods being a major pain for the 'smith building it.
Cheers...
Con

The Lee- Enfield magazine is a mizerable thing to try to get to feed a different cartridge case.
Take anything you can get your hands on and try it.

Lee Enfield magazines are not hard to modify if you use the 308 mag. It will adapt to staight cases like the 444, 45-70 much easier that the 303 mag.
I have converted two to 45-70 and they work just fine.
My two cents

A 405 Winchester would work with very little modification.

You may need to cut and cap the magazine, as I don't think it will hold more than 2 or 3.

Also, if you take a stock Enfield and load a couple 405's in the magazine, they will feed very well, until they hit the bottle neck of the chamber.

I've often pondered how cool of a rifle this would be. You could even put on a .416 barrel so you have more variety in bullets.

-Spencer

.405s or .444s do not come close to working in my magazine.

quote:

Originally posted by ireload2:
.405s or .444s do not come close to working in my magazine.

That's interesting!

Saturday, my GS showed me a M-1917 Enfield action in 303 British. The magazine measured 3 1/8" - Way too short for some of the rounds mentioned!

303 British for reference:
Case Head Diameter = 0.540â€,
Cartridge Overall Length = 3.075â€


Here’s a summary so far:

1) Possible Epps wildcats – 303, and 35 (RCBs dies are available but $$$.$$)

2) Nostalgia Cartridges - CHD - COL

• 348 Win. - 0.610†- 2.795â€
  
• 375-2 &1/2†- 0.540†- ?
  
• 405 Win. - ? - ?
  
• 40-65 WCF - 0.605†- ?
  
• 40-70 Sharps - 0.540" - ?
  
• 40-82 WCF - 0.605†- ?
  
• 50-90 Sharps - 0.665†- 3.062â€

3) Useful/Still Alive - CHD - COL

• 444 Marlin - 0.514†- 2.57â€
  
• 45-70 Govt. - 0.608†- 2.55â€

4) Modern Cartridges - CHD - COL

• 375 JDJ - ? - ?
  
• 450 Marlin - 0.532†- 2.53â€
  
• 350 Rem. Mag. - 0.532†- 2.80â€
  
• 358 Norma Mag. - 0.532†- 3.27â€
  
• 338 Win. Mag. - 0.532†- 3.40â€
  
• 458 Win. Mag. - 0.532†- 3.40â€

Any help filling in the cartridge dimension blanks or any more options will be appreciated.

The list of "nostalgia" cartridges can include the following:
.40-50 Sharps Straight - 1.875" case
.40-60 Maynard - 2.20" case
.40-70 Sharps Straight - 2.5" case

Cases for all three of these are made from .303 brass by necking up/blowing out.

Note: the .40-70 Sharps cases made from .303 barss will be somewhat short.

Because .40 bullets of significant weight tend to be long (and thus C.O.L.) the two shorter of these rounds would probably better suited for use in the Lee Enfield action and probably offer all the powder capacity one would need with smokeless powder.

Keep in mind that before this action became the Lee Enfield in it's various Nos. and Marks it was the Lee Metford and before that the Lee. The Lee bolt action was originally chambered for the .45-70 Gov't and manufactured by the Sharps company in Connecticut.

quote:

* 450 Marlin - 0.532†- 2.53â€
* 350 Rem. Mag. - 0.532†- 2.80â€
* 358 Norma Mag. - 0.532†- 3.27â€
* 338 Win. Mag. - 0.532†- 3.40â€
* 458 Win. Mag. - 0.532†- 3.40â€

I wonder if these are not a bit much for the action in both dimensions and especially pressure.

Fireplug

quote:

Originally posted by Fireplug:

quote:

* 450 Marlin - 0.532†- 2.53â€
* 350 Rem. Mag. - 0.532†- 2.80â€
* 358 Norma Mag. - 0.532†- 3.27â€
* 338 Win. Mag. - 0.532†- 3.40â€
* 458 Win. Mag. - 0.532†- 3.40â€

I wonder if these are not a bit much for the action in both dimensions and especially pressure.

Fireplug

Fireplug,

The 450 Marlin and the 350 RM will fit.
The 358 Norma may fit?
Your correct - the 338 and 458 WM may not.

Also correct - Pressure from these factory loads is a concern. As I will reload only, I can do lower pressures as needed.

...perhaps a Lee Enfield in 9.3x57R..??

Maybe Lawndart could see something in that..?

try 45 acp it works on the 308 bolt face and makes a real handy little rifle. form up a 1911 mag inside your mag and weld or epoxy in place.

.405 Win - .540 - 3.145 Spire Points.
.405 Win - .540 - 3.102 FP 300gr

My Enfield Mag is 3.080 inside. The FP hang up.

quote:

Originally posted by RaySendero:
303 British for reference:
Case Head Diameter = 0.540â€,
Cartridge Overall Length = 3.075â€


Here’s a summary so far:

1) Possible Epps wildcats – 303, and 35 (RCBs dies are available but $$$.$$)

2) Nostalgia Cartridges - CHD - COL

• 348 Win. - 0.610†- 2.795â€
  
• 375-2 &1/2†- 0.540†- ?
  
• 405 Win. - 0.540" - 3.145"
  
• 40-50 Sharps Str. - ? - ? (1.875" case)
  
• 40-60 Maynard - ? - ? (2.20" case)
  
• 40-65 WCF - 0.605†- ?
  
• 40-70 Sharps Str. - 0.540" - ? (2.5" case)
  
• 40-82 WCF - 0.605†- ?
  
• 50-90 Sharps - 0.665†- 3.062â€

3) Useful/Still Alive - CHD - COL

• 7.62x54R - ? - ?
  
• 444 Marlin - 0.514†- 2.57â€
  
• 45-70 Govt. - 0.608†- 2.55â€

4) Modern Cartridges - CHD - COL

• 375 JDJ - ? - ?
  
• 450 Marlin - 0.532†- 2.53â€
  
• 350 Rem. Mag. - 0.532†- 2.80â€
  
• 358 Norma Mag. - 0.532†- 3.27â€
  
• 338 Win. Mag. - 0.532†- 3.40â€
  
• 458 Win. Mag. - 0.532†- 3.40â€

Any help filling in the cartridge dimension blanks or any more options will be appreciated.

Updated 4/27/07 Thanks

Here are two I built over the past couple of years both in 45-70 I always make a pest of my self when the subject comes up and post these photos both shoot 1 inch groups with factory ammo I used 1-14 twist barrels,

Rolland, who did/ where did you get your stocks, I especially like the top one ,I'm working on an old Lee Speed and the stocks wrecked so I'm interested if you got it from one of the stock suppliers like GAG or boydes.

thanks
Pete

quote:

Originally posted by Rolland:
Here are two I built over the past couple of years both in 45-70 I always make a pest of my self when the subject comes up and post these photos both shoot 1 inch groups with factory ammo I used 1-14 twist barrels,
.....

Rolland - NICE WORK!!!

Darwinmauser
The top stock came from Great American Gunstocks, its british pattern but for the life of me I can't remember which one. Henry should know
The bottom one is a Boyd and I will not do that again very poor wood and no return. thankfully it was a large barrel so I could fit it. The barrel channel was crooked, they said I could buy a new one if I did not like that one. Other wise live with it.

My .02.....6.5x54R

Ray,
The .303 Epps Improved was developped by Elwood Epps, of Orillia, Ontario, which is about 1 hour north of here. The cartridge has minimum body taper, therefore reduced bolt thrust; 16 degree shoulder angle, therefore less case stretching; and increased case capacity. The chambering reamer will clean up the existing chamber nicely. With modern powders, this case, in a sound #4 Lee Enfield, will safely generate 2700 fps with the 180 grain bullet, and 2400 fps with the 215 grain bullet.

Ron,

I've been reading some about 303 Epps. Problem is : The rifles I do must fit a need. Neither my son nor I have a need for another 30 caliber deer rifle. I'm leaning towards the 35/303 Epps.

quote:

Originally posted by Rolland:
Here are two I built over the past couple of years both in 45-70 I

Rolland,
Where did you find the schnable tipped forearm? Or did you carve it yourself?

I shaped it myself.