Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Gunsmithing Enfield 30-06 questionsl

I will be recieving My dads gun from my brother soon and I remember that the Enfields had a strong bolt so these rifles were used as a rifle to convert to larger calibers. What is the largest magnum that these rifles could handle safely?

Anything that will fit in the action.

However, you're talking about a military rifle that is nearly 100 years old. Do you really want to use a nearly 100 year old action for ultra magnum pressures? Besides, the Enfield was designed as a military action and generally requires more work, like removing the peep sight "ears" and contouring the rear receiver ring, than most other military actions.

Jeff

The 30-06 is better than 90% of the Super Magnums and almost as good as the other 10%.

Magnum pressures are not, or should not be, any higher than that in a .308 Win., .243, 6mm Rem. or .270.

Although a large magnum with a heavy bullet will produce more felt recoil than a smaller cartridge, pressures are pretty much the same.

Thanks for the info this gun was sporterized in the 30's by cutting the stock down and re shaping it and barrel shortened so it does not look like a military gun. I shot it a lot from about 12 years old on through high school and it always shot great. With Armor piercing rounds ground hogs were loads of fun. When I get it I will post a picture.

It's the Enfields barrel threads that make it hold it's headspace with the ubermagnums . The threads are square and less apt to bend .

I used to have one that had been redone in 300 Win mag. Was an excellent shooter, but too much gun for me at that time, thus it was sold in a moment of short-sightedness.

I've got one in 416Rigby in progress at the moment. If I were worried about the bottom line I would do one on the CZ550 receiver.

Never had magnumitis myself, but the model of 1917 is plenty strong. Stocks for both origional floor plates and straightened can be had in plain to exhabition grade. A better choice for magnums is the 1914 model , with the boltface already done and the feed rails cut to accept some of the belted mags without alterations. Recievers on some of the 1917 can be very hard on the surface making the hard to drill and tap without special drill bits , you didn't mention if the rear of the reciever had been recontoured , remington 30 express and model70 winchester were two of the most common contours done years ago hope this little info helps jrh55

An Enfield 1917 makes a dandy .375 H&H.

It sounds like there is quite a varity of bullet candy to choose from. Who makes barrels for the enfield? This rifle is already drilled and tapped for a scope and had a 4x Weaver from the 40's on it but I am not sure if it is still on it. I am thinking something in a 6.5 wildcat with a large powder capacity and strong brass.

Sounds like a barrel buning sob to me. What happened to the largest magnum you can go with idea?? The m1917 action is tough as nails and used to be very popular for doing big magnum customs on. If it were me, I'd do something like a 300 wby (been there done that with a sporterized m1917). Nothing wrong with building off of that platform if you like heavy/robust configurations..This "poor man's" model 70 (AKA sporterized m1917) weighed almost 10 pounds scoped and it was chambered in the grand ol 30-06:


My BSA Model D (factory sporterized in England)

Nice looking 1917 I was thinking that A 338 Excalibur necked to 6.5 will far exceed my 264 WM speeds with a 130gr, 140gr, and 160gr bullet aproaching or breaking 4000fps. Just a dream and I am sure it will hold a lot of powder. The factory 338 Excalibur will push a 200gr bullet at 3600fps. Maybe I am just dreaming but it takes a dream to start with.

My brother came by yesterday and here is a picture of the rifle as it is today. He also gave me the scope and mount that was on it when I was a child. It had a side fastened one piece mount with a u 1 on it and a weaver K4 with red turrets. My younger brother installed a Timney sportsman EI-5 trigger and the weaver marksman 3-9 and mount in the picture.