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458Win
.333 member

Reged: 15/12/06
Posts: 340
Loc: Alaska

Advice on rebarreling old SMLE
#332603 - 22/09/19 04:59 AM

I have a relative who wants to rebarrel a 1908 Sparkbrook BSA #1 to 405 Win for use here in Alaska.

I realize there are much better choices and certainly possible but is it reasonably safe and doable idea ?

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Rule303
.450 member

Reged: 05/07/09
Posts: 5061
Loc: Woodford Qld

Re: Advice on rebarreling old SMLE [Re: 458Win]
#332606 - 22/09/19 07:12 AM

A SMLE should handle the 405, I believe they have been converted to 45-70.

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DarylS
.700 member

Reged: 10/08/05
Posts: 26992
Loc: Beautiful British Columbia, Ca...

Re: Advice on rebarreling old SMLE [Re: Rule303]
#332609 - 22/09/19 08:45 AM

Absolutely. .35 or .375 on a blown-out .303 or .30/40 case, or larger - a .405Win. , .45/70 & Winchester's .45/90 as well.
I'm pretty sure a #4 would make a great .50 Alaskan too.
With the .405, the #1 Mk 3 should be just fine to 46,000psi (SAAMI standard for the round). I would keep .45/70's and 90's down to 40,000psi, but that should prove more than needed.
Article I once read about converting to .45/90, the fellow kept bullets to 350gr. Hornady and the lighter 300gr. Nosler Partition. He put slips of delrin (or nylon)in the magazine to convert it to single stack. This worked perfectly, for him.
That was back in the late 70's, maybe early 80's but I cannot remember which magazine- could have been Rifle/Handloader, Shooting Times or Guns & Ammo).

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

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

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yumastepside
.333 member

Reged: 25/10/15
Posts: 494
Loc: Tasmania Australia

Re: Advice on rebarreling old SMLE [Re: DarylS]
#332610 - 22/09/19 09:00 AM

A full length 405 is too long, from memory a 45-90 will fit ( I think I have an article on it )or a 458x2" works well instead of the rimmed 45-70 case.....somewhere on this forum is Von Gruff's shortened 405 version.

Roger

--------------------
If you live for a thousand years, you still only have one life, don't waste it.

Edited by yumastepside (22/09/19 09:02 AM)

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Hendo
.224 member

Reged: 23/05/18
Posts: 44
Loc: South Australia

Re: Advice on rebarreling old SMLE [Re: yumastepside]
#332611 - 22/09/19 11:52 AM

Magazines to suit 45-70 and 45-90 magazines are still available, I recently purchased one from an Australian gunshop that occasionally advertises them on Used guns.com.
I'm going thru the same thought process, I recently purchased a "new old Stock" No1 mk111 receiver in the white, brand new , never used, not even a serial number stamped. and I'm thinking about what to build it into, I have the bits to turn it into a nice .303 sporter, but a 45-70 would be interesting. my only concern is the machining that will have to be done to the receiver to fit the larger diameter cartridge. A local lee Enfield amateur gunsmith maintains that instead of machining the receiver, the 45-70 rim can be machined back ( by trial and error , I guess) to a diam the feeds without touching the receiver. food for thought.

--------------------
.

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DarylS
.700 member

Reged: 10/08/05
Posts: 26992
Loc: Beautiful British Columbia, Ca...

Re: Advice on rebarreling old SMLE [Re: Hendo]
#332612 - 22/09/19 01:52 PM

Seems to me the #3 bolt will feed and extract from .45/70 rim down to .22Hornet without modification.
It is a wonderful design. My #4 same extractor works fine with .532" magnum rim &belt without modification. I'm sure I remember testing it with a .45/70 case.

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

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

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Rolland
.333 member

Reged: 31/12/06
Posts: 281
Loc: Camp Verde, AZ

Re: Advice on rebarreling old SMLE [Re: DarylS]
#332672 - 24/09/19 12:07 PM

I built two into 45-70 a No1 MKIII and a No4 Longbranch I turn the rims to .303 diameter , as I remember to .550 dia.Might have to check that as I don't have a cartridge in front of me. That way you do not open the receiver and it keeps the bolt head secured.

Article I once read about converting to .45/90, the fellow kept bullets to 350gr. Hornady and the lighter 300gr. Nosler Partition. He put slips of delrin (or nylon)in the magazine to convert it to single stack. This worked perfectly, for him.
That was back in the late 70's, maybe early 80's but I cannot remember which magazine- could have been Rifle/Handloader, Shooting Times or Guns & Ammo).

Daryl..I have a copy of that article somewhere if you are interested.

This is the longbranch

Edited by Rolland (24/09/19 12:17 PM)

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DarylS
.700 member

Reged: 10/08/05
Posts: 26992
Loc: Beautiful British Columbia, Ca...

Re: Advice on rebarreling old SMLE [Re: Rolland]
#332682 - 25/09/19 02:51 AM

Reminds me - I need to re-stock my #3.
My #4 is the .312 Express on a necked down .350 Rem Mag. 2,960fps with 174's - 1/1/2" at 100 meters with irons - new 2-groove bl. when I got it.
Ken Waters did one, decades ago.

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

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

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VonGruff
.400 member

Reged: 08/02/09
Posts: 1119
Loc: South Otago, New Zealand.

Re: Advice on rebarreling old SMLE [Re: yumastepside]
#332787 - 28/09/19 03:16 PM

Quote:

A full length 405 is too long, from memory a 45-90 will fit ( I think I have an article on it )or a 458x2" works well instead of the rimmed 45-70 case.....somewhere on this forum is Von Gruff's shortened 405 version.

Roger

Here it is Roger. MLE rebarrelled with a good Marlin take-off barrel. I chambered it for the 405 Win case shortened by .2 inch and loaded it with a 320gn cast bullet. Converted the magazine to single stack and have a very punchy rifle if needed. Mostly run the 320gn bullet in the fun zone at about 1600fps over 22.5gn Blue Dot at 25000 PSI but 52gn 3031 will take it to 2200fps and 38500 PSI

--------------------
Von Gruff.

Exodus 20:1-17

Acts 4:10-12

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