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Author Topic: French Lebel converted to 45/70?  (Read 988 times)

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Offline southarkrob

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French Lebel converted to 45/70?
« on: August 04, 2010, 06:04:56 PM »
A local shop has a French Lebel that has been converted to 45/70. Has anybody ran across one of these before?? I am thinking serious about buying it. Thanks Robbie
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Offline coyotejoe

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Re: French Lebel converted to 45/70?
« Reply #1 on: August 05, 2010, 06:37:30 AM »
It would all depend on how well the conversion was done, the action itself would certainly be strong enough for standard factory loads and even some "warm" handloads. Converting a bolt action repeater originally designed for a bottle necked round to function with a straight case could be an engineering challenge. As a singleshot it would be simple enough, if rebarreling is ever simple.
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Offline leadbutt

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Re: French Lebel converted to 45/70?
« Reply #2 on: August 06, 2010, 12:00:16 PM »
This was popular to some degree back in the 60's, haven't seen any around my AO in years, they seem to work well due to the tube fed and the strange lifter the Lebel used, and as I remember the rim isn't that much different from the 45-70 so less face work needed. couldn't say about loads, we didn't hot rod the 45-70 back then like they do now
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Offline Luckyducker

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Re: French Lebel converted to 45/70?
« Reply #3 on: August 08, 2010, 02:39:16 PM »
This reminded me of the Gibbs Rifle Co. Summit 45/70 carbine that was built from a #4 Lee Enfield rifle action.  I saw one of these for sale a few months ago and I had the inclination but not the money, so I let the need pass without too much withdrawal.  Didn't know anyone built a 45/70 on a French Lebel.
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Offline 30calflash

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Re: French Lebel converted to 45/70?
« Reply #4 on: February 19, 2011, 06:52:01 AM »
 Wonder if it could be done to a Berthier?
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Offline Freightman

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Re: French Lebel converted to 45/70?
« Reply #5 on: March 01, 2011, 11:38:34 AM »
The Lebel case has a larger head as that is the case I used to make cases for my Swiss Vetterli .41 Swiss. It uses a #17  shell holder and the 45/70 uses a #8 Lee shell holder. A 45/70 case will fit the #17 shell holder but the 8x56R Lebel case will not fit the #8.
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