1917 Enfield actions

[zorak]

Anyone ever use the 1917 Enfield actions for builds? Not a comp build but a hunting build?

 

[p17enfeild]

hi
my 30-06 ackley is built on one, its nice but a long action reem 700 is lot lighter,
i have put a timny triger one mine, and new barrel it shot ok but the barrel was a cheapy so can only get 1.5'' at 100 yrd
but is a strong action ,
have your smith test the hardness and dont use if less the 38 rockwell c or higher that 46

 

[zorak]

hi
my 30-06 ackley is built on one, its nice but a long action reem 700 is lot lighter,
i have put a timny triger one mine, and new barrel it shot ok but the barrel was a cheapy so can only get 1.5'' at 100 yrd
but is a strong action ,
have your smith test the hardness and dont use if less the 38 rockwell c or higher that 46

The eddystone is the one I dont want. My dad has a 308 norma mag that had a eddystone enfield action and changed it cause they were to hard and couldnt hold up to the magnum preasures. Yea I know their heavy. his norma weights a ton. I was think of doing a 6.5-284 out of it cause i like the look of the action. I am gonna use a good barrel on it.

 

[bheadboy]

i converted one to sporter by grinding of f the rear sights, etc, taking off the front, bishop stock, left the trigger stock, ( bot it for $17.00 from NRA) it took 3 days to get the greese out of and off it.

i would shoot 3/4-1 1/4 with careful hand loads, it had a 4 groove bbl, not bad for the money.

weight was a monster to carry.,
Bob

 

[spitfire_er]

I currently have 4 that I did up myself. They were completely reworked and not a part on them are stock.... other than maybe the floorplate. Mine all wear Hart barrels, and I am currently building two more with kriegers. I just sold one in .308 Norma (which I kinda regret now!). The others are a 7mm Mag, 6.5-280 Imp, a .264 WM, just finishing a .280 Imp, and the .338 RUM is up next.

Mine all shoot 1/2" 5 shot groups after a little load development, and the 7 Mag goes from 1/4" to 1/2" depending on the temp with my current load.

They take a crap load of work, but when done up right are hard to beat IMO for anything other than a custom action.

Here's a photo of the Norma and the .264. Not the best photos, but they look extremely nice when done up properly. Don't mind the stock in the close up, it was a repurposed temp stock till I got my new one.

 

[zorak]

They take a crap load of work, but when done up right are hard to beat IMO for anything other than a custom action.

What kind of work did you do to the action?

Here are 3 pics of my dads 308 Norma Mag with custom stock and Enfield 1917 action. It only weights 8.5lbs which only 1lb heavier then a Rem 700 bdl. It has one of the most comfortable stocks in our safe. I love the cheek rest it feels like your part of the rifle.

I do notice the differnce in bolt style's though. Mine is more of Z looking bolt handle where yours is straighter. Is that cause you have different vintage of action or a custom design?

 

[spitfire_er]

What kind of work did you do to the action?

OK, well, it mainly depends on how you get it and what has been done before. For arguments sake I'll describe the work being done from a bone stock 1917 original action.

-Rear sight ears removed.
-Oval filled/ silver soldered if present.
-Rear receiver ring contoured to Rem Mod 30 or Rem 700 contour.
-Firing pin lightened
-New speedlock spring added.
-Cock on open cocking piece added.
-New Trigger added, Timney/Dayton Trister, and if your lucky a Canjar.
-Magazine box modified, usually shortend.
-Trigger guard straightened, and trigger loop narrowed if preferd.
-Safety lever narrowed/lightend.
-Rear or action contoured where the old bolt stop spring stop use to be. Usually removed and contoured.
-Drilled and tapped.
-Front of reveiver ring squared.
-Lugs lapped. (There is a 2 degree cant on the lugs, so it's almost impossible to square them without expensive tooling.
-Charging clips removed off of front of rear reveiver ring.
-Loading ramp usually polished.
-Feeding rails modified if magnum conversion.
-P14 bolt or modified 1917 bolt to accept magnum case.
-Extractors usually need to be messed with to allow proper feeding.
-Ejectors sometimes need a new coil spring added if old one is broken.
-Bolt handle straightend.
-Bluing and polishing

I'm sure I forgot a few things, but it ends up being fairly involved, and many of these step need to be done correctly otherwise each function may not work properly.

As far as the bolt handle goes, yes mine are usually modified to go straight. Yours in in the original configuration. There is no functional difference, just looks.

I'm currently working on a Pattern 14 that is almost ready for a barrel, but I'm guessing I have about 20 hours into it so far and it still needs a little work
.
Hope that answers your question.

 

[leakeyjohn]

I have 1917 that I did a build on 30+ years ago on. Given the value now I should have left it alone. I cut the ears off took the belly out of the magazine etc. Still a 30-06

 

[M60A3TTS]

I have several, that have been "sporterized". One in 7 Rem Mag throated out to 3.460, one in, 300 Win Mag, one in 300 WM thats throated to 3.780, and the last one might be 300RUM, when I get around to it. I have used a mix of 14 and 17 recievers, and bolts, as well as Eddy's and Rem, and Win.

Mine all retain cock on close, belly and bent bolt handles, I like them like that, YMMV. Feed ramps need messaging, sometimes, sometimes not. The original mags will handle decent lengths, otherwise, you can weld up two originals, or get an extra length aftermarket box , and rework it.

An already cut up one is where to start, chopping up an original is sacrilege now, particularly considering, the price. There are plenty of sported ones around.

 

[Fast14riot]

I know this is an old thread, but here's my 1917 hunting gun. Converted to COO and new fp spring, kept the belly, new criterion barrel, timney trigger, Boyd's stock, NOS Redfield scope base for a p17 "flat top", kept it .30-'06 as intended. Good shooting gun, but its heavy for more than a few miles of walking. About 11lbs I think.

 

[Pawnee Bill]

I currently have 4 that I did up myself. They were completely reworked and not a part on them are stock.... other than maybe the floorplate. Mine all wear Hart barrels, and I am currently building two more with kriegers. I just sold one in .308 Norma (which I kinda regret now!). The others are a 7mm Mag, 6.5-280 Imp, a .264 WM, just finishing a .280 Imp, and the .338 RUM is up next.

Mine all shoot 1/2" 5 shot groups after a little load development, and the 7 Mag goes from 1/4" to 1/2" depending on the temp with my current load.

They take a crap load of work, but when done up right are hard to beat IMO for anything other than a custom action.

Here's a photo of the Norma and the .264. Not the best photos, but they look extremely nice when done up properly. Don't mind the stock in the close up, it was a repurposed temp stock till I got my new one.

Nice work!! Can't tell them apart from Rem 725's!!

 

[spitfire_er]

A few more. I built all but the red / gray one. I did refinish and re-bed it though. 308 win, 22-250, 338-416 Rigby, and 303 brit.

 

[Loudenboomer]

I'm a big fan of these actions. It was a viable choice in the 60'S. With todays prices even if you bought drill rifle actions for $30 you have to really want one to make it worth while.

 

[spitfire_er]

I'm a big fan of these actions. It was a viable choice in the 60'S. With todays prices even if you bought drill rifle actions for $30 you have to really want one to make it worth while.

Agreed. They were a great option back in the day but today they are best used for higher end customs or safari rifles.

 

[Infrequent Shooter]

Agreed. They were a great option back in the day but today they are best used for higher end customs or safari rifles.

I like them a lot. Monster action. supposedly they were more accurate than the 1903s, saw much more use in wwi. prices are higher than the 1903s. and I am not sure why they are higher in price. Possible used by Alvin York in capturing and killing quite a few Germans.