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Shooting & Reloading - Mausers, Big Bores and others >> Mauser Discussion Forum
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grantc
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Reged: 06/11/10
Posts: 67
Loc: wagga wagga,australia
m1917 enfield
      #179753 - 23/04/11 11:46 AM

Was not sure where to put this up but as the m1917 enfield had a few things taken from the mauser i figured here would be the place.what would be the largest caliber a m1917 could be converted to


good hunting grant

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450_Ackley
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Reged: 06/02/03
Posts: 583
Loc: Darling Downs, Qld Australia
Re: m1917 enfield [Re: grantc]
      #179761 - 23/04/11 05:06 PM

Grant,
They have been made up to the 577 T-Rex to my knowledge, A-Square rifles used to make the odd one.
I have 3 of them, one in 416 Ruger, one in 450 Ackley Mag and the other in 500 Jeffery.
They are slightly longer than a Mauser 98, and are better suited to the longer magnums and such.

Regards,
David.

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grantc
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Reged: 06/11/10
Posts: 67
Loc: wagga wagga,australia
Re: m1917 enfield [Re: 450_Ackley]
      #179763 - 23/04/11 05:19 PM

dave

what needed to be done on the conversion? im geussing its not just a simple barrel swap.also what have you done as far as sights are concerned



good hunting grant

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tophet1
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Reged: 15/09/07
Posts: 1873
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Re: m1917 enfield [Re: grantc]
      #179764 - 23/04/11 05:33 PM

The best way to describe the conversion of an Enfield is 'a but different'.

A mate had one in converted to .338-06.
The barrel thread is square cut from memory but David will know.
The top of the action has to be milled if you want to mount a scope.
Parts such as scope mounts etc are around, but the cost is a bit more than 'doing up' a Mauser 98. The action cocks on closeing and they benefit from a speed lock kit to speed up lock time.

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grantc
.275 member


Reged: 06/11/10
Posts: 67
Loc: wagga wagga,australia
Re: m1917 enfield [Re: tophet1]
      #179792 - 23/04/11 06:58 PM

i would keep the iron sights if i was to convert one to a big bore.does anyone coughdavecough have pic's of a converted one


good hunting
grant

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DarylS
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Reged: 10/08/05
Posts: 26545
Loc: Beautiful British Columbia, Ca...
Re: m1917 enfield [Re: grantc]
      #179804 - 24/04/11 01:11 AM

Yeah - huge - our own Ed Huble made an 3 1/2" .835 cal. with a M14 or P17(or is it the other way around? - is that big enough?

Appears the sky's the limit - however, a .5 Browning won't fit.

I've a friend locally, who uses Model 17 actions or P14's for all of his favourite hunting rifles. I just threaded up and chambered a .308" groove diameter barrel for him in .303 so he could use 220gr. Hornady's. His favourite hunting rifles are 8x68S Magnum and 6.5x68 Shuler, both on the P17 or is it M17?

Rear receiver bridge is usually ground flat. Bolt left as original, or changed as desired. Bottom metal flattened to remove step unless extra magazine capacity is desired.

Bit of work for a milling machine and drill press.

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


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

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450_Ackley
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Reged: 06/02/03
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Loc: Darling Downs, Qld Australia
Re: m1917 enfield [Re: grantc]
      #179829 - 24/04/11 07:36 AM

Grant,
There is a lot more work on these than there is on a '98, depending on the calibres you want to go to. Anything based on an '06 case would not require much if any feeding work, other larger calibres will need rails opening, bolt face opening (except the P14, which is already magnum size) and mag box work. My 450 Ackley is cut down to look like a Rem 700 on the action, and 700 mounts were used.
Any smart gunsmith can cut down the back of the action, and mill the bottom off the rear base to make it level and fit correctly. The barrel is a square thread, but that's no more difficult than rebarreling anything else. All of mine have been converted to cock on opening, something mandatory in my opinion, and have had faster springs fitted. The bolt on the 450 has been replaced with a checkered straight one.
If you are right handed (I'm not) the dog leg bolt can often whack you on the fingers on the bigger calibres, so that would need to be replaced.
Lyman and Redfield made receiver sights to suit, in fact 98 receiver sights fit fine, as do Springfield sights.
All mine have either Timney or Dayton Traister triggers as well. Don't be fooled into being told you have to have a Dayton Traister trigger with the cock on opening kit, Timney's will work fine.
There were 3 makers of M17 actions, Remington (1st choice by most people), Winchester (2nd) and Eddystone (3rd). The Eddystone actions have often received bad press from various sources, saying they are brittle. My 500 is on an Eddystone action, and I have never had any problems with it, nor did the gunsmith when he made it. Personally, I have no problems with Eddystone actions.

This is an action pic of my 450 Ackley, shows the bolt and the cut down action.



This is a pic of the 500 Jeffery, not as close up, but the only pic I have at the moment.



Edited by CptCurl (04/05/11 08:24 PM)

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vapodog
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Reged: 28/12/04
Posts: 237
Loc: Nebraska USA
Re: m1917 enfield [Re: 450_Ackley]
      #179831 - 24/04/11 07:46 AM

The 1917 Enfield can be opened to the .505 Gibbs.....just find a competent smith and bring lots of money.

A far more practical conversion is to the .375 H&H or the .416 Remington or even .458 Lott....but again....find a competent smith and bring lots of money.....they do make a great DG gun in the end however!

--------------------

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grantc
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Reged: 06/11/10
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Loc: wagga wagga,australia
Re: m1917 enfield [Re: vapodog]
      #179909 - 25/04/11 08:18 AM

Dave
thank you very much for your help they are some great looking rifles you have got there.who did the stock work?

Edited by grantc (25/04/11 08:18 AM)

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450_Ackley
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Re: m1917 enfield [Re: grantc]
      #179917 - 25/04/11 09:32 AM

Grant,
The particular stocks on those rifles were finished by Darryl Stevens at Fernvale, between Gatton and Ipswich in QLD, he's near the Wivenhoe Dam.

The 450 Ackley wears a stock from Richards Microfit, called a #102 Classic and the 500 is a Boyds JRS Classic, which they no longer make for an M17.
Boyds do make a RIA Sportsman for the M17 in either Nutmeg or Pepper laminate, they are about $90-00 USD, unfinished.
I've got a "spare" one for the 500 in the cupboard, just in case it decides to split one day. In 415 rounds fired so far (and Yes, I'm that anal that I record rounds fired in all my rifles!) it hasn't shown any signs of wanting to do that.

Regards,
David

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grantc
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Reged: 06/11/10
Posts: 67
Loc: wagga wagga,australia
Re: m1917 enfield [Re: 450_Ackley]
      #179919 - 25/04/11 10:29 AM

dave

I had a feeling they were from there the old man was looking on there the other week for his mate re a stock for a zastarva .458win.the day the project takes place i think i will be dropping them a line about a stock.


good hunting
grant

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wildfire084
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Reged: 02/05/09
Posts: 6
Loc: Australia
Re: m1917 enfield [Re: 450_Ackley]
      #205650 - 21/03/12 08:58 AM

450 Ackley,
As I was cruising the forum I came across this thread with your lovely M17s. I currently own an M17 in 308 Norma and have no use for it as its wears a barrel that is about 30" and weights 14 lb. I am looking to get it changed to 458 Lott. Primary concerns are barrel and chamber (lapping of the lugs to be done at the same time) then I would like to look at reprofiling the action, getting it to feed correctly and opening the magezine to take the Lott. The next step will be trigger and cock on open (with a speed lock kit) bolt handle and bedding job. I will modify the stock as I go to suit my needs as it is already a pretty stock and don't mind the profile.

now the reason for the reply: in your post you have listed who did your stock fitting but I would love to know who did the reprofiling of the action, getting it to feed correctly and opening the magezine to take your very large cartridges.

Also what make is the speed lock kit and cock on open kit? I do plan on using a Timney trigger.

There is so much info on the 98 but not its bigger, slightly less pretty cousin the M17. Is there a book that details gun smithing the M17. I am sure there is one out there but I cannot for the life of me find one.


Thanks for the help
Kind Regards
Wildfire084.

--------------------
Target shooter with a martini fettish

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450_Ackley
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Reged: 06/02/03
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Re: m1917 enfield [Re: wildfire084]
      #205667 - 21/03/12 03:04 PM

Wildfire,
My 450 Ackley was done (metalwork wise) by Alan Swan in Brisbane, he did all the action work to it originally.
Jim Kent did the new bolt handle however, and Jim did the whole lot of the 500 Jeffery.
Any good gunsmith should be able to get a 458 Lott to work for you, and also cut the action down.
The cock on opening kit is from Dayton Traister, both my rifle have Timney triggers as well.
A bit of work in an M17, but worth it.

Regards,
David.

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wildfire084
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Reged: 02/05/09
Posts: 6
Loc: Australia
Re: m1917 enfield [Re: 450_Ackley]
      #205676 - 21/03/12 06:29 PM

They are both very well finished. Was there a lot of metal to be removed from the receiver for the magazine well?. They obviously needed a new magazine box and follower made? If you don't mind me asking what is a rough estimate of the cost of the metal work including the barrel and trigger, etc. Just so I know what I am in for when I send my beloved rifle to the smith.

Would you mind sending me some details of smiths (contact numbers?)?

I will post some pictures as I progress.


Regards
Ben

--------------------
Target shooter with a martini fettish

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Nyati50
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Reged: 15/03/12
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Loc: PA, USA
Re: m1917 enfield [Re: wildfire084]
      #205701 - 22/03/12 02:54 AM

The m1917 action is a very good and strong action. I have had several rifles made on the 1917 and the Pattern 14. All have turned out well. The rifles shoot well and the actions can be made to work very smoothly. Currently I have a .30-40 Krag on a Winchester m1917 and a .458 Lott on a Remington 1917. Great shooting guns and I love their looks. There is some cutting involved as one needs to mill off the ears, etc. I kept mine cock-on-closing as it does not bother me. I don't know about prices in Australia, but for the Lott, I had about $1,200 U.S. dollars in the metal work. A longer magazine box was added for the Lott and some work had to be done to the rails because of the dang belt on the Lott case. It now holds 4 rounds in the magazine and one in the spout. It feeds like a dream. No jams and shoots very well. It wears a ghost ring sight in the rear and a banded front sight with brass bead. The rifle is very light (ouch about 7 1/2 pounds with a metal crescent butt plate). That is simply too light for the Lott, but standing up and shooting at game, I don't really notice, but it is a bear at the range with 500 grain projectiles at 2250 fps. I have at least one or two other Pattern 14 actions sitting around and maybe another M1917. I just can't remember as they are sitting at my gunsmith's shop waiting other projects like a .338-06 and a 8x57mm on a BRNO Mauser action. In my opinion, you did well building on a M1917 action. I like the action and it is certainly a very rigid action. There are some gunsmiths here in the states that won't build heavy caliber guns on any other commercial action. That speaks volumes for their strength. Art Alpin used to make some really big stompers on the M1917 and I did consider building a .577 T-Rex on one, but then got my wits about me! Certainly wasn't worried about the strength of the action however.

Nyati50

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wildfire084
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Reged: 02/05/09
Posts: 6
Loc: Australia
Re: m1917 enfield [Re: Nyati50]
      #205766 - 22/03/12 06:39 PM

Thank you, I expected about as much. On with the gun building then!!

Ben

--------------------
Target shooter with a martini fettish

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apr1775
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Reged: 02/10/08
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Loc: Virginia, the united States of...
Re: m1917 enfield [Re: wildfire084]
      #205784 - 23/03/12 04:20 AM

I recently did my own metal work on a P14 to make it feed 375HH. It was a slow proccess getting those magazine feed lips right, but I like the way it came out. I made my own mag box from heavy sheet metal. Some photos should be up later in the gunsmithing section. I have another action I plan on building in 458Lott.

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wildfire084
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Reged: 02/05/09
Posts: 6
Loc: Australia
Re: m1917 enfield [Re: apr1775]
      #205805 - 23/03/12 10:05 AM

Apr1775
I would love to see some pictures of the magazine box and the machining done to the action to open it up for the larger box to get some idea of the work involved if you ever have it out of the stock.

Regards
Ben

--------------------
Target shooter with a martini fettish

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