Author Topic: 1917 Enfield to what? (Read 11462 times)

jmayton · « **on:** November 24, 2009, 06:57:28 AM »

I currently have a sporterized 1917 Remington-made Enfield with a badly pitted barrel. I'm wanting to make it into a light deer/hog/long range target rifle. I currently have a .223, .243, 30 carbine, 7.62x39, 7.62x54, and 30-06. I want something with light recoil (less than 30-06), available factory ammo, long action cartridge, and capable of taking deer.

So what should I build out of this?

charles p · « **Reply #1 on:** November 24, 2009, 08:59:14 AM »

25-06 will fill all those needs.

drdougrx · « **Reply #2 on:** November 24, 2009, 02:09:39 PM »

I've also toyed with the idea of messing with mine...a 1817 US Enfield made by Winchester in good condition. I guess I've always figured that when I'm done building, I'll have spent enough to buy a new gun.

Mikey · « **Reply #3 on:** November 24, 2009, 02:12:29 PM »

jmayton: 6.5-06, 7x57, 6.5 Swede.

Doug - yep (lololol). Howzya?

jmayton · « **Reply #4 on:** November 24, 2009, 03:41:28 PM »

Dr. Doug, yeah, I could most any new rifle for less than I'm going to spend. But it was my dad's deer rifle when he was young, so it's got some sentimental value to it. The bolt is binding a bit, so I'm going to take it to the smith and let him evaluate it. If it's going to need a lot of work on the action, I'll buy a Savage and rebarrel to .260. As it is, I'm thinking it will become a 25-06 with a 22" heavy sporter (or light varmint depending on how you look at it) barrel. I'll refinish the stock, bed the action, and install a timney trigger myself, and maybe convert to cock-on-open. Hopefully I'll have a good-shooting, reliable rifle.

Mikey, I'm kinda between the 25-06 and the 7X57. I'm not real interested in either 6.5 because I plan on getting a .260. A 280 might be nice too, but it's hard to find ammo.

mannyrock · « **Reply #5 on:** November 24, 2009, 04:29:02 PM »

Whatever you decide, the resulting rifle ain't gonna be light if you start with the 1917 action. It is one of the heaviest and stongest actions ever made.

Mannyrock

jmayton · « **Reply #6 on:** November 24, 2009, 05:00:11 PM »

mannyrock, yeah, I know, it's a beast. I didn't expect a lightweight. And if I needed a big-bore for anything I would go that route with it.

kwells2006 · « **Reply #7 on:** November 24, 2009, 05:00:49 PM »

check this out...

http://www.specialinterestarms.com/index.php?page=enfield_conversions

.45 ACP
7.62x39
.45-70

jmayton · « **Reply #8 on:** November 24, 2009, 05:13:04 PM »

kwells, that looks really interesting. The 7.62x39 would be great, but those are for Lee Enfields. The P17's are a different breed so I don't think it would work. The barrel might thread on, but I'm not even sure about that.

Thebear_78 · « **Reply #9 on:** November 24, 2009, 10:14:50 PM »

a pattern 17 really deserves an obnoxiously huge cartridge to make it worth it. I have one in 9.3x62, great cartridge, and nice gun but if I had it to do over it would be 45 cal or bigger and probably burn over 100grs of powder every time I pulled the trigger.

jmayton · « **Reply #10 on:** November 25, 2009, 03:10:01 AM »

I've seriously thought about a 35 Whelen, but it wouldn't get used enough to justify it.

AtlLaw · « **Reply #11 on:** November 25, 2009, 07:51:24 AM »

Quote from: drdougrx on November 24, 2009, 02:09:39 PM

I've also toyed with the idea of messing with mine...a 1817 US Enfield made by Winchester in good condition.

I tell ya, the very thought of that makes me cringe!

Winchesters made fewer M1917's then the other two manufacturers and last I heard they stopped making any more. Stopped making 1917's before M94's even!

Mine is a Winchester also.

I don't think 1917's are a good candidate for sporterising anyway, for a number of obvious reasons. Matter of fact, the only thing it has going for it in that relm is it's length. But most of the big, long cartridges I had a fondness for were rimmed so I always thought the P14 was a better choice... but even then... Anyway that's just me... what do I know... and who cares... $:-\$

drdougrx · « **Reply #12 on:** November 25, 2009, 09:30:01 AM »

Easy AtlLaw my friend!!! JMayton...I'm hear'n ya about sentimentality. My late father in law (one of the great guys I've met in my life) gave me the rifle in the 80's. He actually never shot it, I have and it's a shooter! I just keep think'n and think'n...but...I'll never do anything with it.....

Mikey...why do I keep want'n to tinker?

? Doin good.....

mannyrock · « **Reply #13 on:** November 25, 2009, 11:41:44 AM »

Most of the ones that I have seen that were put to a different caliber were converted to the .300 Winchester Mag. I'm not sure why. Maybe it is just a really easy conversion to do.

A .25-06 should be an easy conversion as well, but may be too much for varmint.

Mannyrock

StrawHat · « **Reply #14 on:** November 28, 2009, 01:12:50 AM »

Quote from: jmayton on November 25, 2009, 03:10:01 AM

I've seriously thought about a 35 Whelen, but it wouldn't get used enough to justify it.

One of the great things about the 35 Whelen is that it is a great shooter of cast bullets. As a launcher of lead, you might shoot it more than you would if you stay with jacketed stuff.

Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #15 on:** December 02, 2009, 04:14:44 AM »

My choice would be a .25-06 or a 6.5mm-06. Either are fine for light varminting and you have the heavy varminting covered with the .223.

While I really like the .25-06, it is limited to bullets weight 120g or less. I don't have one but I do have a .257 Roberts I run at +P velocities and it has become my favorite rifle, hands down. With 100-110g bullets it is deadly out to about 500 yards for antelope.

The 6.5-06 has the advantage of beng able to handle heavier bullets, up to 160g or so, but I think its sweet spot is with the 130g-140g bullets. My most recent rifle is a 6.5mm-06AI and I plan to shoot the 130g Scirocco (BC .571) for hunting purposes. With 140g A-MAX fire-form loads I was shooting clay pigeons off the 600-yard berm last Friday.

jmayton · « **Reply #16 on:** December 02, 2009, 08:58:42 AM »

I think the 6.5mm-06 would be my top choice except for the lack of commercial ammo and since I want to get a HB .260 anyway, I should have my 6.5's covered.

RaySendero · « **Reply #17 on:** December 02, 2009, 01:06:52 PM »

Quote from: Thebear_78 on November 24, 2009, 10:14:50 PM

a pattern 17 really deserves an obnoxiously huge cartridge to make it worth it. I have one in 9.3x62, great cartridge, and nice gun but if I had it to do over it would be 45 cal or bigger and probably burn over 100grs of powder every time I pulled the trigger.

I agree w/ TheBear!

Rebarrel it with one with a large hole!

JASmith · « **Reply #18 on:** December 02, 2009, 01:35:30 PM »

JMAYTON,

My uncle had one built in .264 Win Mag in the early '60s -- he was very happy with it and took a lot of elk with it. Some of the kills were what I thought then, and still do, the astounding range of 600 yards.

The notion of going to the 25-06 satisfies your criteria very nicely. It also helps fill out your lineup.

SakoDave · « **Reply #19 on:** December 11, 2009, 06:22:14 PM »

Here's mine, a 450 Ackley Magnum.
DC

Gerry N. · « **Reply #20 on:** December 11, 2009, 08:12:20 PM »

Quote from: mannyrock on November 25, 2009, 11:41:44 AM

Most of the ones that I have seen that were put to a different caliber were converted to the .300 Winchester Mag. I'm not sure why. Maybe it is just a really easy conversion to do.

A .25-06 should be an easy conversion as well, but may be too much for varmint.

Mannyrock

The .300 magnum conversions, whether Win. Mag, Weatherby or H&H are easy in the M1917 as all that's needed is a chambering reamer. The feed rail alteratons are not difficult and then the bolt face needs opening a bit.

Any good conversion, including flattening the magazine, re profiling the ears, decent stock work, a new trigger and a good scope is going to cost far more than a new commercial rifle and a good scope anyway. If you want a good varmint / deer cartridge, the .243 Winchester is difficult to beat and is available in dozens of good rifles.

YMMV,

Gerry N.

AtlLaw · « **Reply #21 on:** December 12, 2009, 02:40:51 AM »

Quote from: SakoDave on December 11, 2009, 06:22:14 PM

Here's mine, a 450 Ackley Magnum.

Very nicely done!

And an appropriate chambering at that!

Quote from: Gerry N. on December 11, 2009, 08:12:20 PM

The .300 magnum conversions, whether Win. Mag, Weatherby or H&H are easy in the M1917

In a fit of nostalgia a good friend had a 1917 "sporterized" a few years ago by the same (local) 'smith who did one for his father many years ago. His idea was to do it in 300 H&H but it is still in 30-06. It's for sale now... Hummmm, $:-\$ Now that I think on it, I don't got a 300 H&H...

Cheesehead · « **Reply #22 on:** December 12, 2009, 02:43:28 AM »

I have been looking for a new stock for a 1917, of any kind, but no luck.

Cheese

drdougrx · « **Reply #23 on:** December 12, 2009, 03:44:02 AM »

Hey Cheese,

I ordered a complete stock set with ALL the hardware and screws from these guys many years ago. Did a quick search and see they are still in business...give them a shout and see if they can still set you up!!

Springfield Sporters: http://www.ssporters.com/index.html

Tackleberry · « **Reply #24 on:** December 12, 2009, 03:49:45 AM »

how about a.338-06?

lets you use heavy bullets (ideal for PIG AND ELK or Bear), plus you do not have to modify the bolt face or worry about feeding since the .338-06 is built on a standard .30-06 case...much more versatile than the .35 Whelen...I load 180s, 200, 215, 225, and 250 grain bullets

(Whelen does allow you to load up squib loads using .357 revolver bullets though)

I built mine on a Mauser action, but a 1917 action would have given me some more heft..in that caliber heft in your rifle is a good thing

jmayton · « **Reply #25 on:** December 12, 2009, 04:07:35 AM »

Gerry, it's already sporterized witht he ears ground off and the barrel is badly pitted. So I can't use this barrel in .30. I'll do the stock work and trigger myself. All I'm looking to have done by a smith is smooth the action and rebarrel.

Tackleberry, the .338-06 sounds good, but can I get commercial ammo?

Cheesehead · « **Reply #26 on:** December 12, 2009, 05:13:25 AM »

Quote from: drdougrx on December 12, 2009, 03:44:02 AM

Hey Cheese,

I ordered a complete stock set with ALL the hardware and screws from these guys many years ago. Did a quick search and see they are still in business...give them a shout and see if they can still set you up!!

Springfield Sporters: http://www.ssporters.com/index.html

Thanks!

jmayton · « **Reply #27 on:** December 12, 2009, 12:21:17 PM »

Well, I still haven't decided anything and I was checking out the rifle today again and I'm not sure about the action. It has some binding there and I can't tell exactly what's causing it. So when I take it to the smith that's the first thing to deal with and if it can be fixed easily and the action is sound, then we'll move ahead with the re-barrel.

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #28 on:** December 12, 2009, 01:35:40 PM »

Quote from: jmayton on November 24, 2009, 06:57:28 AM

I currently have a sporterized 1917 Remington-made Enfield with a badly pitted barrel. I'm wanting to make it into a light deer/hog/long range target rifle. I currently have a .223, .243, 30 carbine, 7.62x39, 7.62x54, and 30-06. I want something with light recoil (less than 30-06), available factory ammo, long action cartridge, and capable of taking deer.

So what should I build out of this?

guess the big question is what kind of deer hunting are you doing?
Tree stand, Stand and drive, Texas tower, bean field, spot and stalk, still hunt, use dogs.....
Tree stand- 30-06, 280, 25-06, 35 Wheelan, 9.3X62
Stand and drive/ dogs- 30-06, 280, 35 wheel, 9.3X62
Texas tower / Bean field- 257 Wby, 264 WM, 7mm Mag, 300 WM
Spot and stalk- 30-06, 280, 270, 25-06, 257 Wby
Still Hunt- Large calber heavy bullet in the woods.
30-06 (125 grain Reduced recoil loads)
280 Basiclly a 06 necked to 7mm so 120 - 140 grain bullets would be less recoil than 150-180 grain 06
7mm mag. - Longer range shots
264 Win Mag. - 120 grain Nosler Partitions at 3000 FPS 6.5 mm bullets. Longer range shots
25-06
257 Weatherby. 117 to 120 grain bullets at 3000 FPS + Longer range shots. This round is a lazer. Some friends swear by it for the perfect deer and elk round. Costly, but great round
270 Win. (Not my favorite)
Other neat calibers.
35 Wheelan Great round very accurate and power like 300 Win Mag.
338 Win Mag-
9.3X62 -
375 Ruger.
300 H&H
300 Win Mag.

SakoDave · « **Reply #29 on:** December 12, 2009, 06:22:56 PM »

My other one, a 500 Jeffery.
DC