converting a 94 to .303 British

[kevin.303]

i had a brain fart the other day. i was thinknig how i would like a .303 lever gun but i can't afford a model 95. what about converting a 94? the .303 is rimmed, not overly powerful or high pressured. you'd be restricted to round nose bullets but thats not a big deal for me. .311" barrels are available. the only problem i can think of cartridge OAL. sm i dreaming or could this actually work?

[leverfan]

Okay, I have one BIG concern, before we even talk about OAL, pressure, etc.  You are not always going to be the owner of that rifle.  One way or another, rifles tend to outlive their owners.  Chambering a tube magazine rifle for a cartridge that's readily available in FMJ spitzer military surplus loadings may not be such a hot idea.  That gun could wind up in the hands of someone that's not so gun-savvy someday, and they might stoke it up with the cheapest ammo to be found-military surplus.  We have a responsibility to make sure that custom guns will be safe for future users, as well as ourselves.

The Brit's SAAMI pressure max is 45,000 CUP, but Speer says the 30-30 maxes out at 38,000 average CUP, and that's a big difference.  Also, the 303 is about half an inch longer, and noticeably larger in both rim and body diameter.  I'm no gunsmith, but I don't think this dog is going to hunt. :grin:

Time to start saving for that '95?

[Graybeard]

Pretty sure the OAL is way beyond the limits of the M94. Just not practical. You can have most any of the angle eject big bore rifles rechambered to .307 Win or you might just find one in it which would be a similar power level.

[John Y Cannuck]

Just for    I dropped an empty case in the '94. it fit! However, your OAL will have to be quite short. There is only about 3/8" room for the bullet atop the case. i think that would eliminate the use of any current spire points, and most round noses, unless you get custom bullets made, or shoot pistol bullets.  Remember the gunwas designed with the 38-55, and 30-30 in mind. If you limit your length to these two, conversions are a lot easier.
It would require the bolt face to be openned up slightly, and minor mods to the extractor.
The barrel would be a tad thinner in the chamber area, but not objectionably so, when you consider that the 'big bore' line uses the same thickness here.
The only real falicy is the OAL to bad.
Nice try. Would have kicked at both ends.  

[Buckeye]

303 Savge with bullet seated deeper,like the 308/307. But if your really wantin a .311 bullet neckin up the 307win. cartridge would be your best bet.
But I don't know of any .311 flatnose bullets .
I've got a Jungle carbine in 303 Brit. which is short ,light and cycles as fast or faster than any of my levers.
Keep those wheels turnin ,I've always have a few projects floating in the wide space between my ears.
Like maybe a 25/307 using the 25-35 cartridge that Marlin or Winchester is chambering this year. I feel this would be a long range lever cartridge.

I've also got a few more, that was in the works but do to lack of funds had to be put on hold.

[Graycg]

In Parker ackelys books there are rounds made up on the 303 case shortened and blown out, called them the "power-lever" rounds, believe they had them in 30 cal, 32 cal, 35 cal and 378 cal.... Don't have the book handy, but it looks like it did what the 307 and 356 win were supposed to do, but not to the same level.

regards,
 graycg

[whelen36]

if you really want a lever .303 and can't afford a model 95 , then why don't you just look for a used browning BLR and have it rebarrelled
 :grin:

[leverfan]

if you really want a lever .303 and can't afford a model 95 , then why don't you just look for a used browning BLR and have it rebarrelled
 :grin:

Rimmed cartridges might be a little hard to stack in that straight box magazine that rides in the BLR.

[Harry Snippe]

if you really want a lever .303 and can't afford a model 95 , then why don't you just look for a used browning BLR and have it rebarrelled
 :grin:

Rimmed cartridges might be a little hard to stack in that straight box magazine that rides in the BLR.

You would need to load with the rim on the next round in front of the last round as one does with the enfield.

By the time you fitted another gun to the 303 B ,I think looking for a used Winchester so chambered would be the best .I saw one last summer that was not a bad price , so with some reseach you might find a unit.I was thinking of buying the rifle , but did not have the cash flow at the time.
After -all the 303 B is not a bad round for the eastern bush

[Rick Teal]

I don't know if old 1895's would be all that much more pricey than the job you're considering.  I bought mine for about $400, and I anticipated having to re-barrel it, but the old barrel shot so well, I didn't bother.  Maybe you could even get a shot-out 30/40 Krag and re-barrel it to .303.

[kevin.303]

i've only ever seen one '95 in .303 at a gunshow this year and it was $800 CDN.

[jh45gun]

i've only ever seen one '95 in .303 at a gunshow this year and it was $800 CDN.

Does not mean they all sell for that? I have seen Winchester 94's selling for a couple hundred more at gun shows than what they were worth. On the other hand I have seen them at gun shops selling what they were worth. Case in point a local collector bought a 32 special rifle I told him about that the local gun shop sold for under 300 bucks he had it priced at 600+ at the gun show and sold it. Now I looked at that gun and I would have not bought it at 300 as the barrel was shot rifleing was in bad shape. Barrel really pitted ect. Still at gun shows there is a sucker at every one or lets say the uninformed to be nice. At one gun show a lady was bragging she sold a SKS with accessories for 700 bucks with two or 3 large cap mags and a drum mag. Since what she had at the time was worth 250 bucks tops some clown bought the package and got took 500 bucks. But then the saying Buyer Beware has been around for a long time.  I love going to gun shows and some times you find a bargain mostly in accessories or odds and ends. Mostly I wind up buying little as the prices are not worth it but some times I find a something for a good price.  Guns are usually priced at a premium price. It ticks  me off to no end but it is a standard practice most of these dealers go from table to table before the doors are open and any really good gun bargains are snapped up before you ever get to the door. Even if they have a rule no selling until the doors open as soon as the door does open that dealer is at that table as he knew before hand it was there.  :x  :x  :x You may find a bargain though with some one looking to sell that is a walk in trying to sell to a dealer.