1917 Enfield action

[CoElkHunter]

I ordered a P14 bolt to cover my bases. We'll see what the smith says and if I can get there. Calling for alot of snow in the area the next few days. CEH may be doing alot of gun cleaning this weekend down here.

John J,
Good choice in ordering a P14 bolt. I don't think my Arisaka build wet dream will work for the .465 H and H. The 7.7 Japanese bolt face is .476 vs. .579 for the .465. I might have to go with the WEAKER P14 or Mauser action. So sad. Anyway, yes we are preparing here to get HAMMERED with at least 12-18" of heavy, wet snow. I can't wait! Maybe I oughta go to the range tomorrow and knock some uncommon sense into me with my Lott?
CEH

 

[Newboomer]

You guys are awful! You got me salivating for another Enfield. Imagine, a guppy bellied 6 round 375HH. Ah, me. Fun to dream.

 

[CoElkHunter]

You guys are awful! You got me salivating for another Enfield. Imagine, a guppy bellied 6 round 375HH. Ah, me. Fun to dream.

Come on Newboomer! Go big or go to Texas! Everybody builds the .375. How about a .400 or .465 H and H? Or a .400 Whelen or a .404 Jeffrey or a .550 Triceratops? It's not like you'll be able to find dies, brass or any other components for them anyway right now, so think big and towards the future? Ha! Ha! Ha!

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

BobNelson35Whelen,
I guess I need to find an Arisaka for when I decide to build a .465 H and H? Seems like this would be the strongest action unlike the weaker Mausers, P14 and 17s? Hard to believe the Japanese built the strongest action back then?
CEH

@CoElkHunter
That was up until part way thru the war after that they went to shit.
I would be safer to rechamber a 22lr to 220 swift than us especially a Arisaka made at the end of the war.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

John J,
Good choice in ordering a P14 bolt. I don't think my Arisaka build wet dream will work for the .465 H and H. The 7.7 Japanese bolt face is .476 vs. .579 for the .465. I might have to go with the WEAKER P14 or Mauser action. So sad. Anyway, yes we are preparing here to get HAMMERED with at least 12-18" of heavy, wet snow. I can't wait! Maybe I oughta go to the range tomorrow and knock some uncommon sense into me with my Lott?
CEH

@CoElkHunter
Mate it pays to have a shite load of experience with the Enfields to get them to work. When I converted my P14 to 35 AI we couldn't get the bitch to feed properly. We forgot to change the P14 for a M17 follower.
Problem solved and replace bolt with M17.
Bob done.
Bob

 

[CoElkHunter]

@CoElkHunter
Mate it pays to have a shite load of experience with the Enfields to get them to work. When I converted my P14 to 35 AI we couldn't get the bitch to feed properly. We forgot to change the P14 for a M17 follower.
Problem solved and replace bolt with M17.
Bob done.
Bob

Bob Nelson 35 (.400 future?) Whelen,
Yes, who would know to replace the follower? I've never read that here before by anyone converting the P14? Anyway, the bullet proof and strong pre WW2 Arisaka action may be the way to go for moderate sized cartridges as you've stated it is the strongest action based on P.O. Ackley's tests. BTW, P.O. Ackley taught gunsmithing at Trinidad State College south of here in the '50s. I'm sure you and Bruce Moulds and maybe Von Guff knew him? Anyway, I'm thinking since the Japanese were poised to invade OZ from the Marshall Islands during WW2, there must be a bunch of Arisaka rifles in OZ from interdictions of the Japanese cargoes at that time?
CEH

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Bob Nelson 35 (.400 future?) Whelen,
Yes, who would know to replace the follower? I've never read that here before by anyone converting the P14? Anyway, the bullet proof and strong pre WW2 Arisaka action may be the way to go for moderate sized cartridges as you've stated it is the strongest action based on P.O. Ackley's tests. BTW, P.O. Ackley taught gunsmithing at Trinidad State College south of here in the '50s. I'm sure you and Bruce Moulds and maybe Von Guff knew him? Anyway, I'm thinking since the Japanese were poised to invade OZ from the Marshall Islands during WW2, there must be a bunch of Arisaka rifles in OZ from interdictions of the Japanese cargoes at that time?
CEH

@CoElkHunter
I have seen an Arisaka converted to 257 Roberts but it was a almost as ugly as me. It shot well tho.
We don't see that many in OZ for some reason

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

@CoElkHunter
I have seen an Arisaka converted to 257 Roberts but it was a almost as ugly as me. It shot well tho.
We don't see that many in OZ for some reason

@CoElkHunter
Mate why aren't you at work or are you bored.
Bob

 

[CoElkHunter]

@CoElkHunter
Mate it pays to have a shite load of experience with the Enfields to get them to work. When I converted my P14 to 35 AI we couldn't get the bitch to feed properly. We forgot to change the P14 for a M17 follower.
Problem solved and replace bolt with M17.
Bob done.
Bob

Bob Nelson 35 (.400 future?) Whelen,
Yes, who would know to replace the follower? I've never read that here before by anyone converting the P14? Anyway, the bullet proof and strong pre WW2 Arisaka action may be the way to go for moderate sized cartridges as you've stated it is the strongest action based on P.O. Ackley's tests. BTW, P.O. Ackley taught gunsmithing at Trinidad State College south of here in the '50s. I'm sure you and Bruce Moulds and maybe Von Guff knew him? Anyway, I'm thinking since the Japanese were poised to invade OZ from the Marshall Islands during WW2, there must be a bunch of Arisaka rifles in OZ from interdictions of the Japanese cargoes at that time?
CEH

@CoElkHunter
Mate why aren't you at work or are you bored.
Bob

It's my first night off from work. I slept till 3 today and now I'm wide awake and am bored, so I'm on here. But everyone else here is asleep, so there's not many other conversations available? Where's Bruce, Garry, CBH, Dr Ray and others from OZ and NZ? Probably asleep too?

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Bob Nelson 35 (.400 future?) Whelen,
Yes, who would know to replace the follower? I've never read that here before by anyone converting the P14? Anyway, the bullet proof and strong pre WW2 Arisaka action may be the way to go for moderate sized cartridges as you've stated it is the strongest action based on P.O. Ackley's tests. BTW, P.O. Ackley taught gunsmithing at Trinidad State College south of here in the '50s. I'm sure you and Bruce Moulds and maybe Von Guff knew him? Anyway, I'm thinking since the Japanese were poised to invade OZ from the Marshall Islands during WW2, there must be a bunch of Arisaka rifles in OZ from interdictions of the Japanese cargoes at that time?
CEH

It's my first night off from work. I slept till 3 today and now I'm wide awake and am bored, so I'm on here. But everyone else here is asleep, so there's not many other conversations available? Where's Bruce, Garry, CBH, Dr Ray and others from OZ and NZ? Probably asleep too?

@CoElkHunter
I don't know mate. I haven't heard from Chris @CBH for a few days,
@ bruce moulds is around somewhere he's been hanging a bit of crap. The others I haven't heard from for a while.
If you are bored you can always do some research into the benefits of the Whelen and see how much is available in ammo and components.
I'm sure you could find a site called all who hate the 243 as well.
Those 2 little exercises will keep you occupied or send you to sleep.
It's only 9.30pm Wednesday night here.
Bob

 

[Spooksar]

I remember when you could buy a Enfield action from Sarco for $100 with either a 30-06 or 303 bolt. Sadly that was only 3 years ago. I should have bought a few, but didn’t.

I can remember as a teenager buy P14 here in Canada at 3/$100 and buy surplus ammo and throwing them away after. I did keep one and built a 338 Win Mag on it.

 

[7x57Joe]

The 1917 is still being used by the Sirius Sled Patrol (Slædepatruljen Sirius) and speaks very highly of the old Enfield.
Throughout the latter half of the 20th century and first decades of the 21st, the Danish military repeatedly offered to re-equip the Sirius Patrol with more modern assault rifles. Every time, the force refused. The Grenlanders feel that no cartridge is better than the .30-06 Springfield for stopping a polar bear. The cartridge has a legendary reputation on the island. Additionally the M1917 rifle is, for whatever reason, impervious to cold and snow and functions perfectly in the worst conditions.

The .30-06 Springfield cartridge. The Sirius Patrol uses the standard 168-grain military round, and also civilian hollow-points. The patrolmen feel that the full metal jacket bullet on the military round is best against polar bears at long range, but, that the hollow-points are better against an enraged musk ox. Typically, the patrolmen arrange their stripper clips so every third round is a hollow-point.)
In the 21st century, the Sirius Patrol has six 2-man dogsled teams, armed with M1917s. Selection and training for the Sirius Patrol is amongst the most grueling of any NATO unit. Applicants have to be Danish, must have honorably completed prior service in the Danish military, and the hitch is a 26-month tour with two-man sled patrols operating in the arctic wastelands for weeks or even months at a time. Although the Sirius Patrol retains a wartime combat function, it normally does not operate as a part of the Danish army. Overall, the Danish military gives the Sirius Patrol a wide berth on how to operate itself, which is understandable given the extreme conditions.
As of 2015, there are no plans to even begin studies on a replacement so in all likelihood, by 2017 the Sirius Patrol will be armed with weapons one hundred years old.

 

[C.W. Richter]

I can remember as a teenager buy P14 here in Canada at 3/$100 and buy surplus ammo and throwing them away after. I did keep one and built a 338 Win Mag on it.

LOL There was a department store chain owned by boxer Larry Holmes called LANECO-there I saw the worst grade of same, all banged up for $30 ea in a garbage can! I just laughed and walked away. He was apparently arming his people in the city on the cheap. This was in a highly restrictive state, which puzzled me-it was being overlooked in the nasty neighborhood of the capitol.

 

[Sarg]

Having spent a week in Greenland at -38-53 I can't imagine spending months in that environment !

I did shoot the Muskox with a 30/06 & Solid bullets to, the locals like them !

 

[C.W. Richter]

Or 2,258,778.63 Chinese Yuan!

Huh, that nearly equals Jo-bi Din's salary!

 

[HWL]

From the hands of Lieutenant Colonel Arthur B. Alphin.....

The A-Square Hannibal rifle in .470 Capstick..... built on an U. S. Enfield P17 action.

proud to own....

HWL

 

[John P.]

I have had Enfield actions on the back burners for years, may actually get around to building something this year. (I have 6 of them plus a complete full military P14 and a complete full military P17) The 450 Ackley comes to mind, a rough and tough cartridge for a rough and tough action! I have the reamers, dies, cases, barrel, and other items.

The A Squares were interesting, a simple build. I had one in .510 but sold it. Could not get used to that forward mounted scope.

The barrel had 0.0.024" run out at the welded on lug, obviously caused by the welding heat. Proper way to do this is to use two screws to secure the lug and silver solder with low temp silver solder.

The right way:

The magazine box left me scratching my head. More welding. It worked, though, and was sturdy, made from 1/8" thick steel.

 

[John J]

Nice rifles and builds. I wish I discovered these a long time ago. I'm on the hunt for some actions.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I have had Enfield actions on the back burners for years, may actually get around to building something this year. (I have 6 of them plus a complete full military P14 and a complete full military P17) The 450 Ackley comes to mind, a rough and tough cartridge for a rough and tough action! I have the reamers, dies, cases, barrel, and other items.

View attachment 392924

View attachment 392922

The A Squares were interesting, a simple build. I had one in .510 but sold it. Could not get used to that forward mounted scope.

View attachment 392919

The barrel had 0.0.024" run out at the welded on lug, obviously caused by the welding heat. Proper way to do this is to use two screws to secure the lug and silver solder with low temp silver solder.

View attachment 392923

The right way:

View attachment 392921

The magazine box left me scratching my head. More welding. It worked, though, and was sturdy, made from 1/8" thick steel.

View attachment 392920

@John P.
The beauty of those big action is you can take a lot of metal out of the rear of the action as they are not really integral to safety.
Bob

 

[Hunter4752001]

Is anyone able to measure the distance between the rear sight protectors on an unmodified action? I'm wondering if a small reflex type red dot would fit.