Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats 1917 Enfield custom thoughts

ParsnipPappy;
Good evening to you sir, I hope the weekend up north behaved and you're all well.

Thanks much for the offer, it's very kind of you.

I want to say I used to know how many posts one was required to have for PMs, but maybe it's another case of "I just thought I knew, but really I've never known and have forgotten that as well"......

One never knows what projects wander in but I believe that there's enough bits in the shop for me to get the current one done.

Honestly between working on house and yard projects I'm ashamed to admit that the Enfield project has not moved one iota since my post.

Ah well, that's life in summer I suppose?

We'll do the PM thing when you hit whatever the magic number is.

All the best.

Dwayne

That would be impressive.

In every thread about Enfields, it is an absolute certainty that someone will have to point out there is no such thing as a P17. I don't care.
I've built rifles on several Enfields, 14's and 17's, and they have always been pretty accurate. They have not been all that light and it's difficult to make one look slim through the mid-section. I did make one which weighed right at 8 pound with a 4X scope and leather sling. It was a very good shooting 30/40 Krag.
A target rifle I made in 303 British was accurate enough to shoot alongside a bunch of 6BR's and beat most of them.
I like the angled locking lug seats. I like the square barrel threads. I like the safety and the bolt lock. I even like the original sights. If one wants an iron sight rifle, this is one which can be thrown across the yard and not move the sights. I wonder what induced the designers to screw up Mauser's bolt stop and ejector. I mildly dislike the angled rear guard screw. The trigger is good. GD

I have three "built" 17's. 30-06 and 2-300 win mags.

I've got a m1917 in 30-06 and 50 bucks in it . Shoots less than 1.5 moa , not gonna do a damn thing to it but shoot the hell out of it. Mb

Who doesn't love "The Smell of BSA in the Morning"?

This is my Sporterized BSA M1917 in 30-06. It will kill anything in North America.

I just completed re-finishing it this weekend, after years of bush hunting with it, it was about time. Refinished with 100% Pure Tung Oil, with several topcoats of Renaissance Wax.

It is my favorite hunting rifle, the BSA stock was replaced with a Klaus Hiptmayer original custom stock, in a Ferlach Austrian design.

Great action, super accurate, and deadly on everything.

It weighs 9lbs. 8oz., with the scope.

Very nice. Stock looks like mine on a S&W 1700 (Howa).

Pretty sweet rifle right there. The epitome of a good m1917. The English knew what they were doing, when they put those BSA's together. They had excellent barrels, and the machine work on the receivers is second to none. Not like some of the bubba'd American enfields you often see in the used rifle racks. Some of my favorite rifles too.

Hi bsa1917hunter,

I sure like the look of yours, great job! Is that an original Sporterized BSA? You have taken really good care of it~ Was it Sporterized in 1949? What kind of scope do you have on it and what was your longest shot on game to date, if you do not mind me asking?

How many deer have you shot with it that have not dropped in their tracks with the first shot? I call mine, my One and Done Rifle.

Took some new pictures of it refinished this morning, way better then the first pictures that are muddy, dam camera, still not perfect! I noticed that I got some wax in the checkering, can you reccomend how you would clean it out?

Thanks. This will probably add to the confusion: What you are seeing in those pics is about 3 or 4 different rifles. One rifle I bought a few years ago off of gunbroker, just for the stock:

The reason I bought that is because I had found a BSA model E at the LGS, for cheap. I liked the look of the left hand stock better. That stock also sort of matched my left hand stock on my M1917:


Now, this stock was not exactly what i wanted, so I reshaped it a bit, and refinished it. Here are the 2 rifles together, just so you realize there are 2 left hand stocked m1917's there. One being a BSA model E:


The third stock down, is the original BSA model E stock:

And what turns out to be a P14. The guy on gunbroker did not post many pics, and said it was a m1917 30-06, in the left hand stock. The P14 is the action laying on the table next to the BSA model E factory stock.

I talked to the guy on gunbroker and told him that he had advertised it wrong, and that it was a P14 chambered for 303 British. I told him, I was going to keep the rifle, but to be a little more diligent next time he lists a rifle. This one was cheap, and like I said, I was only buying it for the left hand stock.

My buddy says he always wanted a rifle like I had when we were kids. He remembering my sporterized m1917, I had growing up. I decided to refinish the stock, and throw the P14 action into the BSA model E stock. It turned out very well, and I gave that rifle to my buddy for his 50th birthday. Never saw him tear up, until that day. He still has it, and his son (age 15) now uses it quite a bit. His son is cool, he loves old rifles.


The BSA you are thinking about that I told you pointed like the extension of my arm is/was a BSA model B.


With that rifle^^^^^ I shot my smallest 5 shot group offhand to date. Slinged up, I put them into a 1.057" group. After shooting that, I went home, measured the target, and continued to have a great day. I have also recorded a 5 shot group, shot off the bench, where they all went into the same hole. Talk about a great barrel. Those BSA's have them!!!!! Since I no longer have a photobucket account, I lost all of those pictures, and even the recording that was saved on my old lap top. I did not have that BSA for more than a few years, and I wish I had it back. So I told myself If I ever run across another BSA, I'd buy it. That is what I did with the model E, that I explained about. The model E has not seen any blood. It is now a 308 Norma magnum.

The one that I love packing around is my left hand m1917:


I've had that rifle for about 8 years now, but it's killed both deer and elk. The favorite bullet in that one is a 200gr partition. There's no need for a 300magnum anything, where I hunt elk, so the 30-06 with the 200gr partition slays elk pretty easily. The last one dropped at 10 yards away, and that bullet penetrated 3' of elk, before it made its way out. The elk dropped on the spot. That was a miserable year. Constant rain during the duration of that hunt. Not going to show the pic of that elk, as the poor thing is drenched and laying in a muddy mess... The 200gr partition put the buck down that year as well. Both of these rifles handle like a dream, and shoot very well:

m1917 30-06 with 200gr partition:


BSA model E in left hand stock, now chambered for 308 Norma magnum:


I really have not shot that rifle much, since I got it back from the smith, after he rechambered it. It's a sweet rifle though. I should take it out and play around with it. Maybe work on some new loads. I keep buying more rifles though, and fixing them up/accurizing them, while the old ones sit in the safe.. That is life though. I don't expect anyone to follow along with that muddy mess either, but rest assured I'm talking about 4-5 different rifles here.

1. The first m1917 I had was a Christmas gift when I was 12.

2. My first BSA model D: bought in 2009, for $175.00, from Keith's sporting goods

3. Second m1917 sporter, bought at Don's guns in 2016

4. Second BSA model E, bought in 2018
5. P14 303 Brit. Gave to my buddy Oct. 25th 2019.

I can say I have a history with these sporterized m1917's, not so much with the BSA models, but I will tell you that the BSA's were sporterized very well. I can say this because I've looked at 100's of sporterized m1917's, most times being extremely disappointed. I've been guilty of calling the ones (BSA's) I have, the poor man's pre 64. But in some ways they may be better. They handle gas escape a little better, are super strong actions, and have a great safety lever that is very easy to manipulate. The safety lever is very quiet in use as well. All of mine are upgraded to the Timney Sportsman trigger, so the model 70 with it's super simple and reliable trigger is better in that regard. But all in all, there is not too much bad I can say about the infamous m1917 rifle. Except that they are heavy.

I had to go back up to your question to answer some of them.

The longest shot on game?? Not with a m1917, if we are talking deer. That was with a Winchester model 70 7mm rem mag, using a 162 Hornady btsp. Shot was a lasered 648 yards at a steep downhill incline. Angle comp on. With angle comp off, it was closer to 700 yards. That buck almost dropped in its tracks, but did a little death kick and fell down. Shot was right through the heart.

The second longest shot on game (deer) was with a modified classic action model 70 (FN PBR XP) chambered in 300wsm. That was a swat/police rifle. It shot well, a rifle I used in my clubs centerfire competitions, and I took a buck at 600yards with it. Fairly easily with that rifle. Both of those kills were one and done. Oddly enough, both using the Hornady interlock bullet. Deer did a cartwheel off the mountain side, and landed 150 yards from where it was shot.. Dead as a door nail, when he stopped, the best I could see while watching through the scope. Bullet placed cleanly through the heart.

With the first BSA model D I had, I hunted it in the Ochoco's in 2009. Loaded with 165gr Nosler solid base bullets, it was deadly accurate. Spotted a buck running with 2 doe, it was snowing at the time. My buddy standing next to me, as we were walking back to camp. He had his rifle up, as I did and said, doe, doe, doe, and I said "NOPE" as I pulled the trigger. The deer were trotting at a good pace and 90 yards out. Put that little 165gr solid base clean through the heart. Got back to camp, hung the deer, and then it proceeded to snow 2 feet overnight. My buddy probably wishing he had a better scope the day before, when he thought all the deer were does. ha ha.. He was using his pre 64 308 fwt with an old Leupold on top. Me with my old American made Burris FFII with ballistic plex reticle, could see just fine, even though it was snowing pretty good. Now my buddy only has Swarovski on his hunting rifles. I still use my trusted Burris FFII's...

Recently I took a yote at 720 yards with one of my 6.5 creedmoors, using a Nightforce scope and 147 ELD match handloads. That is also a competition rifle, and it shoots lights out. I'll probably go and practice with it later today, as a matter of fact. Need to be ready for a shoot on the 20th.. Thanks for letting me muddy the m1917 thread the best I could. Bwah...ha ha...

"Thanks for letting me muddy the m1917 thread the best I could. ha ha..."

lol, good read I enjoyed all of it~

So mine is a model "B" with the cooked bolt, correct? I LOVE IT, it's tucked, and out of the way!

The only thing I would seriously consider changing it the trigger, I like the 2 stage aspect of it. When I am shooting at an animal I like a trigger that all you have to do is to breathe on it and away it goes. I like the weight to be <2 lbs. I only put a round into the chamber when I am pointing the rifle at a target, so I am never concerned with "mishaps". Had a few dangerous encounters in my youth, which has made me Super Cautious!

I was unaware that I could swap out the trigger with a Timney's, with that being the case I was just looking at their Remington 700 Two-Stage Light, do you have any experience with that model?



Also I can attest to the M1917's accuracy, I can put a Winchester SuperX 180 gr. into Loonie at 200 yards and mine is zeroed at 200 yards, about 3/4"high at 100 yards.

You mentioned the Weatherby custom M1917 that was selling for $2,500.00, just curious, if you were to see mine for sale in the USA with a Hiptmayer custom stock, what would you expect it to be listed at these days?

Too bad we were not neighbours, would be fun to shoot together, thats for sure!

Cheer ~

I believe yours is an older model D. The earliest ones had the dog leg bolt handle. Those were from 1949. The newer ones, like the 1951 model I had, had the straight bolt. The closest bolt handle I can find was made by Brownells, and is almost an exact match for the BSA's.

I'd imagine your rifle would be worth upwards af $2,000.00+ to the right person. Although I know it has far more sentimental value to you. I would not sell it. I kicked myself in the azz for selling my first model D. If I ever find another model D or E, I'll probably snag it real fast!!!

I also agree, we would have a blast shooting together. You could even bring your Weatherby 300 win mag.

As for the Timney triggers, I don't have any experience with the 2 stage triggers. I always buy the single stage. I've bought them for the Remington 788, Stevens 200, and all of my M1917's. You'll need to look for a 5 shot sportsman 110, I believe. You don't want the 6 shot model because you have the straightened bottom metal, and I'm assuming your rifle holds 5. My m1917 holds 6, yet the bottom metal has been straightened. Got lucky I guess, but I still use the Sportsman 110 5 shot trigger.

I even put a Timney in the rifle I gave to my buddy:


One other part I always change is the ejector. The leaf spring factory ejector, is WEAK!!! It should really be upgraded to a coil spring ejector, so you never have to worry about that failing you in the field:

Wow I did not know that you could replace so many parts

I can only fit 3 shells into mine, if I put 1 round into the chamber that would make it 4 in total, have no idea why!

Never had any ejector issues, but an upgrade would be good especially with the leaf spring feeder, that has always made me nervous if it broke!

Very surprised that would be the value especially with the stock it is on, this is a look at the fitting, all carved by hand~

Excuse the mess I was waxing it again for the 5th and final time, and what do you think about them Whipper Snappers, shooting with then New Fangled Rifles built in the 40's? lol

Some very gorgeous 1917’s in this thread! Thanks all for sharing!

I have an Enfield, probably a Rem 30, that i chambered in 300 Wby. I haven't used it in ages so i will probably rebarrel it in 375 of some flavor. I have a stock Mel Smart made for me before he died. I need to finish it.

you want a bolt gun with some firepower for your pig hunting , just do yourself a favor , set aside the 1917 plans and buy a Tikka CTR in 308 . Pick up an extra 10round mag .