Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Express Rifles and Big Bores Only Big Bore SMLE

Years ago I read an article by Ken Waters about the Enfield sporters from the interwar period.He had one as I remember in 404 Jefferys. I have a hankering to build one. Anybody have a good barrel maker and/or a reason it can't be done? (Other than the action is too short)
What would be a good big bore to convert a useless action standing in the corner?

they converted British Pattern 14 and US Model 1917 Enfields not SMLE's......

No. The one Waters wrote about was an Enfield. I remember the funny stock design. It may not have been a Jefferys but it was a big bore round. He made the case that the action was not used more because the British gun makers didn't want the competition from the military action. I have several P-17 conversions. Almost bought another one last Sunday.

cant see anyone doing anything but a 45-70, 444 Marlin, 405 Win or similar on a SMLE......

I saw a cool one once in a .375 "express" IIRC...NOT the H&H but a shorter fatter .375..it was neato!

ingwe

There is a 416 wildcat based on the 444 marlin that might be a good choice. Even a 356 Win might be an interesting project.
The 375 Express is also a Ken Waters version from a 444 Marlin or an Ackley Version from a 348 Winchester. The Ackley version is lots hotter.

doesnt someone on here have one he did in 45-120 or similar?

Gibbs rifle company used to do 45/70 conversions, the SMLE action is not big enough for the 404 Jeffery.

http://www.gibbsrifle.com/sport_speciality_.html

A 450 or 500 Alaskan, which are both based on the 348 case would be a pretty cool smelly! 348 case is a bit fatter than the 45/70 so one would be just about maxing the available room in the rifle. Even a 348AI would be a really neat timber rifle good to over 200 yards or so on elk and similar. I am getting 2550 with 250gr Barnes Originals in my model 71 348AI.

Make a visit at the NitroExpress LeeSpeed forum.
http://forums.nitroexpress.com/postlist.php?Cat=0&Board=lee

Some interesting photos and discussion that might give you some more inspiration.
Bfly

Here is a recent one done by Lon Paul in 348. Lon plans on using 250 gr and 280gr bullets

There was an article a few years ago, I think in Gun Digest, on converting an SMLE to .45-90. And I have had, for at least a decade, a Douglas barrel, threaded for SMLE, in .405 WCF. I will probably never do anything with it.

I picked up a beat jungle carbine barreled action that I have considered rebarreling to a .405 Win for sometime now. Smilodon would you be interested in parting with that barrel by any chance?

I was hoping you'd post that photo, Phil! I love that rifle!

Jeff

I am hoping to get my hands on it during spring bear season and will get you more photos and if I can trade him out of it will show it to you.

Got any idea about the pressure limitations of that SMLE action?

Fred

Phil,

If you can lay hands on that rifle, I'd love to look it over. One of the coolest, and truly unique custom rifles I've seen.

Fred,

I think the SAAMI max pressure of the .303 British is somewhere around 45-50kpsi, so that's probably a good ballpark limit for the SMLE. The .348, as this rifle is done, is a pretty good fit. Another good one, would be the .33 Win. A little better selection of .338" bullets out there.

Jeff

According to Karl Kleimenhagen's Pressure Standards page, the .303 British crusher pressure specifications are SAAMI 45,000 psi and CIP 46,000 psi. The later piezoelectric runs a little higher at 49,000 and 53,000 respectively. (http://kwk.us)

Seems to me that awhile back one of the guys
on this board or another one had an SMLE or
an Enfield 17 that had been rebarreled to .30-40
Krag.

The Brits rechambered them in 308 NATO