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Matthew
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Is a Lee Enfield good for building anything?
#167720 - 14/09/10 04:31 AM

I was given a rough Lee Enfield 303 (Number 4 Mark 1 I am told) and was thinking of building a wildcat like a 40 caliber on the 303 case. Has anyone done one or know of info on something like it?

Matthew

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VonGruff
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Re: Is a Lee Enfield good for building anything? [Re: Matthew]
#167722 - 14/09/10 04:47 AM

The 375 on the 303 case was - is a common re barrel conversion.

Check out this thread in NE
http://forums.nitroexpress.com/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=95857&an=0&page=0#Post95857

Von Gruff.

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Von Gruff.

Exodus 20:1-17

Acts 4:10-12

Edited by VonGruff (14/09/10 04:50 AM)

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apr1775
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Re: Is a Lee Enfield good for building anything? [Re: VonGruff]
#167786 - 15/09/10 02:01 PM

405 Win might work. I think I've heard of that conversion somewhere. A No 4 SMLE is a pretty strong action. 405win can be loaded 300gr big game bullets or lighter ones designed for the 41mag.

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AZDAVE
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Re: Is a Lee Enfield good for building anything? [Re: apr1775]
#170600 - 30/10/10 01:59 PM

Just finished building one in 40/60 maynard. Use 30-40 krag cases (can also use 303 cases) and neck up for .408 McGowen barrel.I am using it for a test bed to build a double in the same caliber. Fun rifle still working up loads. Have fun with yours.

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458Win
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Re: Is a Lee Enfield good for building anything? [Re: AZDAVE]
#170758 - 01/11/10 05:09 PM

This photo is on another thread but is a 348 Win built by gunbuilder Lon Paul
He was looking at the 405 but decided it was not an easy build

--------------------
Anyone who claims the 30-06 is ineffective has either never used one - or else is unwittingly commenting on their marksmanship
Phil Shoemaker
www.grizzlyskinsofalaska.com

Edited by CptCurl (03/07/11 10:52 PM)

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9.3x57
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Re: Is a Lee Enfield good for building anything? [Re: 458Win]
#170775 - 01/11/10 11:23 PM

.458, really nice rifle!

An Improved .38-56 {not .38-55} would be perfect. Take some taper out of the .38-56 {.45-70 basic case} and blow out the shoulder, set it up for .375 diameter bullets and you would have a round approaching the .375 Whelen that could be made up in a very light rifle.

Ken Waters' .375 Express or whatever he called it using the .444 case looks go, too and would likely be easier to get the rifle to feed, but would I think give up a bit of case capacity.

--------------------
What are the Rosary, the Cross or the Crucifix other than tools to help maintain the fortress of our faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God?

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Otto
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Re: Is a Lee Enfield good for building anything? [Re: 9.3x57]
#172765 - 07/12/10 09:31 PM

The SMLE magazine dictates the type of cartridge applicable to the action. The magazine has significant taper from front to back and needs a cartridge with taper to feed...hence Lon Paul's choice of the .348. Of course, if used as a platform for a single shot, none of this applies. My choice for a larger caliber for the SMLE is the 35 Win., although the OAL must be shortened a tad to fit the magazine. I've done a couple of these and the rifles feed well without magazine alteration. A 250 .358 bullet at 2200fps mv is an adequate load for most hunting and shoots plenty flat for the iron sights typically used. Dies, brass, and bullets are readily available as well. Old Western Scrounger has 45-70 single stack magazines for no.4 SMLEs for $75ea, which may make larger caliber straight case cartridges a viable option...but I've not tried this. Since so many great bullets are available in 358, including a plethora of pistol bullets, I'm a strong advocate for the 35 Win option.

Otto

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Oldbrit
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Re: Is a Lee Enfield good for building anything? [Re: Otto]
#172768 - 07/12/10 11:32 PM

.375 X 2½?

270gr bullet at 2,000 fps and the Lee rifles were originally chambered in it. Dies are available from CH and the cases from Bertram or Horneber. The chamber reamer might be a problem.

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GroovyMike
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Re: Is a Lee Enfield good for building anything? [Re: Oldbrit]
#172771 - 08/12/10 01:05 AM

straight wall it with a 9.3 bullet

Gibbs made them into 45-70s.

But why would you ruin a perfectly good 303. The cartridge has history, character, and the ability to thump anything that walks.

--------------------
Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4

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Oldbrit
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Re: Is a Lee Enfield good for building anything? [Re: GroovyMike]
#172773 - 08/12/10 01:54 AM

I repent of my sins... GroovyMike is so right, there's nothing wrong with the 303.

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DarylS
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Re: Is a Lee Enfield good for building anything? [Re: GroovyMike]
#172774 - 08/12/10 01:59 AM

A #4 in good shape is about wide open as to calibre. The only thing to actually think about, is the feeding and will the rim fit through the tiny hole of the action rear. This eliminates anything larger than the .348 or .45/70 case - about identical rim size.

Depends on what you want - for calibre or power.

Many .308's and .223's have been built on #4's & no modification to the extractor - imagine!! I figure the smallest case the extractor will function with, is the .22 Hornet.

I have a #4 sporter - poorly designed & needing refinishing montecarlo stock and sporter forewood. Brand new .303 2 groove barrel of large proportions (.314" groove), so I ran a .300 Winchester chambering reamer in 2", then cut a belt groove for headspacing. I then necked down .350 Remington Mag brass to take a .312" bullet. What I have, I found out, is Ken Waters .312 Express. I am running 174gr. Hornady RN's out at 2,960fps (Re#19 or maybe Re#22). not too shabby and it shoots 1 1/2" for 3 shot groups @ 100 meters using the original battle sights. Did this many years ago, haven't shot anything with it yet. I expect whatever it is will die.

I was going to rebarrel it to .45/90. Thought of a .223, even, or Tac .20 or .204 - nice 1 1/2 pound trigger - but no, it's a clunker for big game - might make up a great .35 on an improved .303 case - about .358 Winchester ballistics - could go normal .358 Winchester, could go .356 Winchester - could make up a nice .375/303IMP - just about anything is possible, within reason. Would even make up a nice .416/.303IMP - tiny shoulder but that's OK. Normal taper including the neck will make up a .40 cal. straight case, like the original BP .40 Maynard.

--------------------
Daryl

"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V

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DarylS
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Re: Is a Lee Enfield good for building anything? [Re: 9.3x57]
#172775 - 08/12/10 02:10 AM

Quote:

.458, really nice rifle!

An Improved .38-56 {not .38-55} would be perfect. Take some taper out of the .38-56 {.45-70 basic case} and blow out the shoulder, set it up for .375 diameter bullets and you would have a round approaching the .375 Whelen that could be made up in a very light rifle.

Ken Waters' .375 Express or whatever he called it using the .444 case looks go, too and would likely be easier to get the rifle to feed, but would I think give up a bit of case capacity.

Rod - did you know the .350 Remington mag. necked to .375 is virtually a belted .45/70 necked to .375? I chambered one up, for a Styer straight-pull 8x56R military action and it used either brass - with rims turned on the .45/70 brass of the .350 Rem brass with belts turned off.

It easily did 2,200fps with 270's - 2,300fps comes to mind. I recall that at the time, I made 2,100+fps with 300's and noted that I'd about duplicated the .333 Jeffery ballistics - of course with a lower SD bullet, only .303SD or so. I just can't get that lyon's face out of my mind, the charging lyon 'stopped' by a .333 Jeffery 300gr. to the cranium.(J. Taylor's book)

HA!

--------------------
Daryl

"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V

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9.3x57
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Re: Is a Lee Enfield good for building anything? [Re: DarylS]
#172783 - 08/12/10 07:52 AM

Daryl, your idea is a good one.

I'd like a Marlin 1895 chambered for the .38-56. It is as you say very close to the .375 on that case.

I once knew a fellow who rebarrelled a 1895 to .33 Winchester, thinking...OOPS...that sine the original 1895's were chambered in .33 Win all was OK.

It isn't.

He forgot that the modern 1895 is NOT an original 1895 but are rather merely 336's opened to take the loading and function of the .45-70. After all that work, when he tried to run a round in the chamber; JAM. He was not pleased, but never asked any of us at the shop about the idea before he just did it!

Anyway, the OAL of the .38-56 is good for the modern "95" and would work well. Actually, come to thinkof it, a ..375/.350 Rem Mag would be fine in the rifle also as long as the OAL was kept in line for functioning in the Marlin.

Regardless, the .38-56 should make a good round for Lee's with appropriate mag mods.

--------------------
What are the Rosary, the Cross or the Crucifix other than tools to help maintain the fortress of our faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God?

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DarylS
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Re: Is a Lee Enfield good for building anything? [Re: 9.3x57]
#172809 - 09/12/10 03:20 AM

Turnbull makes many different chamberings on M1895 Marlins, including the .50 Alaskan, which is a straight .348 case.

Any of the various wildcats on a .45/70 or .348 case would be excellent for a #4 or #5, and with slightly softer loadings, the #3's as well.

The .450 Alaksan will duplicate the .458 Win Mag in this rifle, BTW. Rim turned off to .532" to fit a magnum bolt face and new extractor groove cut in the case, I called it the .458 Alaskan. With 96gr. capacity, it does well indeed, for a 2.1" case.

In that chambering, the weaker #3 rifle will easily make 2,150fps with 400's & probably 450gr.
Here are two .458's on the Improved .348 case, both suitable for a #3, #4 or #5. They were both chambered with the same reamer.

--------------------
Daryl

"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V

Edited by CptCurl (03/07/11 10:52 PM)

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gwh
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Re: Is a Lee Enfield good for building anything? [Re: DarylS]
#180306 - 29/04/11 09:24 PM

i have a 375 JDJ (375/444) built on a no1 MKIII action - shoots and feeds nicely.

--------------------
Hunt hard, shoot straight

"I speak of Africa and golden joys; the joy of wandering through lonely lands; the joy of hunting the mighty and terrible lords of the wilderness, the cunning, the wary and the grim"

Theodore Roosevelt, Khartoum, 1910

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NitroX
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Re: Is a Lee Enfield good for building anything? [Re: DarylS]
#180320 - 30/04/11 02:34 AM

[quote... including the .50 Alaskan, which is a straight .348 case.

Here are two .458's on the Improved .348 case, both suitable for a #3, #4 or #5. They were both chambered with the same reamer.

Interesting ones.

As mentioned SMLEs have been modified to take the .405 Winchester.

--------------------
John aka NitroX

...
Govt get out of our lives NOW!
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Sarg
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Re: Is a Lee Enfield good for building anything? [Re: gwh]
#180376 - 30/04/11 10:10 PM

GWH , Did you modify the mag for feeding 375JDJ & what mag did you use please ?

Cheers

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taw1126
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Re: Is a Lee Enfield good for building anything? [Re: 9.3x57]
#180488 - 02/05/11 08:12 AM

Quote:

I once knew a fellow who rebarrelled a 1895 to .33 Winchester, thinking...OOPS...that sine the original 1895's were chambered in .33 Win all was OK.

After all that work, when he tried to run a round in the chamber; JAM. He was not pleased, but never asked any of us at the shop about the idea before he just did it!

It can be done. I don't know specifics of the modifications to cartridge carrier, etc. that are required, but I've seen a post-1972 Marlin 1895 in 33 WCF that functioned fine.

Continuing the sidebar: 33 WCF is probably one of the very best rounds ever chambered in the Winchester 1886 and Marlin 1895, but it disparaged by collectors. For many years I took advantage of that and picked up some nice rifles...they proved exceptional performers on white tails, mule deer, and pigs using Hornady's now discontinued 200 grain bullet.

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DUGABOY1
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Re: Is a Lee Enfield good for building anything? [Re: 458Win]
#182209 - 23/05/11 04:06 AM

Quote:

This photo is on another thread but is a 348 Win built by gunbuilder Lon Paul
He was looking at the 405 but decided it was not an easy build

Phil, that is about the best looking conversion on that action I have ever seen!

--------------------
..........Mac >>>===(x)===>
DUGABOY1, and MacD37 founding member of DRSS www.doublerifleshooterssociety.com
"If I die today, I have had a life well spent, for I've been to see the Elephant, and smelled the smoke of Africa!"

Edited by CptCurl (03/07/11 10:53 PM)

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500grains
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Re: Is a Lee Enfield good for building anything? [Re: 458Win]
#182210 - 23/05/11 04:33 AM

That is a nice little rig.

Quote:

This photo is on another thread but is a 348 Win built by gunbuilder Lon Paul
He was looking at the 405 but decided it was not an easy build

Edited by CptCurl (03/07/11 10:53 PM)

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gwh
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Re: Is a Lee Enfield good for building anything? [Re: Sarg]
#232392 - 12/07/13 06:32 PM

Quote:

GWH , Did you modify the mag for feeding 375JDJ & what mag did you use please ?

Cheers

Quite embarassed that I have only seen this now....

No feeding mods to the mag, fed without any issues. The mag was the original .303 mag. Had to tweak the lips a little but it fed without any issues.

Apologies that this took so long, I had somehow managed to miss it in my random browsing of the forum.

Cheers

--------------------
Hunt hard, shoot straight

"I speak of Africa and golden joys; the joy of wandering through lonely lands; the joy of hunting the mighty and terrible lords of the wilderness, the cunning, the wary and the grim"

Theodore Roosevelt, Khartoum, 1910

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Rell
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Re: Is a Lee Enfield good for building anything? [Re: gwh]
#232398 - 12/07/13 10:43 PM

Would a 356 Winchester work?

I have two, brand new, still in the cosmoline M4 MRK 1s, that I have not thought about in years.

--------------------
450-400, 9.3x74r and 7x65r.

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FrankS
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Re: Is a Lee Enfield good for building anything? [Re: Rell]
#239682 - 22/12/13 11:16 PM

Regarding the 375/303, I had questioned the guys at pacific tool and guage and was told they had no such cartridge print on file. They do have the 375x21/2 though. I had explained just the 303 case necked up to take the 375 bullet. And still was met with confusion. Think what I'm going to do is make up a dummy cartridge loaded with a 275 or so jacketd bullet and a heavy for caliber 375 cast bullet. And then see what happens. I have a 375 blank on hand and while part of it has been turned down there is enough metal for the threads and breeching up against the front of the receiver. And the receiver which was horribly pitted and rusted is now in the white with the bridge removed and part of the left sidewall cut down. All by norwegian steam and files. Came out pretty good if I do say so myself.All I will need to finish it up is get the barrel fitted and turned down to a easonable weight, bead blast and blue. Will use the military wood as there is plenty to work with on a $4 forestock. Frank

Of course there aslo is my husky in 9.3x57, could use that bbl and make a 9.5x57 and shoot 375caliber bullets also.Frank

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DarylS
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Re: Is a Lee Enfield good for building anything? [Re: FrankS]
#239686 - 23/12/13 04:39 AM

The #4's would be fine in .356 Winchester I'd expect, perhaps as long as top pressures were not attempted - but - they should be checked out thoroughly before hand - what "checking it out entails I do not know. Magna-fluxing was the process in the 70's. Many #5's and #4's have been converted to .308 Winchester & .223 for match shooting over the years. Those rounds run 56,000 to 60,000psi.

I converted one years ago to the .312 Express (Ken Water's name) although I did not know of his conversion at that time. It uses .350 Rem brass necked down to hold the .312 or .313" bullets. It runs 174gr. Hornady's at 2,960fps - about like a .300 WSM.

--------------------
Daryl

"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V

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Sarg
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Re: Is a Lee Enfield good for building anything? [Re: gwh]
#239697 - 23/12/13 07:11 AM

Quote:

Quote:

GWH , Did you modify the mag for feeding 375JDJ & what mag did you use please ?

Cheers

Quite embarassed that I have only seen this now....

No feeding mods to the mag, fed without any issues. The mag was the original .303 mag. Had to tweak the lips a little but it fed without any issues.

Apologies that this took so long, I had somehow managed to miss it in my random browsing of the forum.

Cheers

And I just saw your reply, thank you for that !

I,ve got a heap of these to work on now, just waiting for some bore cleaner to work in one of the old girls (Lee Speed) right now .

I'm looking at a 411 JDJ type next, like a shorter 405Win, should even work on Buff !!

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DarylS
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Re: Is a Lee Enfield good for building anything? [Re: Sarg]
#239716 - 24/12/13 04:51 AM

Sarg - I saw one a while back ('Rifle' Magazine, I think), converted to the .45 2.4" case (Winchester .45/90).

That one, in a #4 Enfield could run very close to .458 Win Mag ballistics - ie: 2,250fps with 400gr. softs or solids.

The triple 4's and .405Win., while not quite as powerful as the .45 cases, would also be good choices.

--------------------
Daryl

"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V

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