Gunnie, I'd fork out for Bertram brass and worry about another brass source down the track. 20-40 is all you need for now.

If you run foul of a stock bolt, let me know, I will loan you my spare one for a spell. You need the longer, waisted type, not an SMLE bolt. This is to give some extra strength in the grip, a result of not having to counterbore so far forward. Length varies a little but you should be right. Don't shoot it with no through bolt - damage may result.Worst case is thread up some silver steel both ends and use a nut and washer, or make the bolt. Surely one somewhere........

Keep the stock bolt tight!

The pattern has evolved a little from MG's first one, only in minor details. I have a sleeker version of it now also, as well as one with no cheekpiece. I'm all tuckered out from making patterns for the foreseeable future. Maybe I get a chance to cut one from the block for myself this year.

These old warhorses have me day-dreaming, a bloke should really make himself a scaled up action, big enough to take a .450-400 or similar. With a few spare mags, that would make one hell of a buffalo culling rifle eh?