New custom target rifle.

[2ndovc]

Disclaimer- No classic military rifles were damaged or injured during the construction of this rifle--!

I've always liked the P14/ 1917 action and when the chance came up to have one built from a DP action, I jumped at it.
The project took over a year, but it was worth it.
Green Mountain Med/ heavy barrel, Lyman globe front sight and the longest walnut stock Boyd's had available.
The 14 1/2" LOP fits this knuckle dragger just right! Been a big fan of the .303 since I bought my first Enfield for $65 out of the trunk of a car in a parking lot
at 16.

First trip to the range yesterday. I like to start a new rifle out with factory ammunition and work my handloads from there.
I got all excited with how the rifle was shooting any wanted a fresh target with a good three shot group. First two I had into nearly the same hole,
got a little twitchy and pulled the last one out about an inch. Totally my fault. Otherwise all three would be in that one big hole.

Need to get my reloading bench set up out here at the new place, but this, I think will motivate me a bit.
jb

[Bill in Oregon]

I totally approve, Jason! I am very fond of that old .303 cartridge as well. I found it to be very accurate with good handloads out of a No. 4 Mk. 1 with the excellent aperture sights, but then my name is Bill and I am addicted to Cosmoline.

[marlinman93]

Fred Wells of the Wells Gun Shop in Arizona said the Pattern 14/17 Enfield action was the strongest bolt action rifle ever made. He bought as many rifles and actions as he could find to build his famous .500 Wells Magnum custom rifles. My old neighbor worked at Wells decades ago and had one that he built for himself under Fred's oversight. He told me he fired it once and never fired it ever again. The .500 Wells was based on the .460 Weatherby Magnum necked out to .500 and was a favorite of big game hunters in Africa.
I own a custom built Pattern 17 Remington that's got a Douglas Premium barrel in .30-06 fitted, with custom stock also. It was my deer and elk rifle for many decades, but haven't even fired it for probably 30 years now. The only signs of it once being an Enfield is the safety, as the bolt handle is a custom and the action has had the ears turned off, and streamlined.

[2ndovc]

I totally approve, Jason! I am very fond of that old .303 cartridge as well. I found it to be very accurate with good handloads out of a No. 4 Mk. 1 with the excellent aperture sights, but then my name is Bill and I am addicted to Cosmoline.

Thanks Bill! It was your guy Thomas that did the work.
jb

[JBowen]

Nice rig! Thanks for sharing.

JBowen

[2ndovc]

Fred Wells of the Wells Gun Shop in Arizona said the Pattern 14/17 Enfield action was the strongest bolt action rifle ever made. He bought as many rifles and actions as he could find to build his famous .500 Wells Magnum custom rifles. My old neighbor worked at Wells decades ago and had one that he built for himself under Fred's oversight. He told me he fired it once and never fired it ever again. The .500 Wells was based on the .460 Weatherby Magnum necked out to .500 and was a favorite of big game hunters in Africa.
I own a custom built Pattern 17 Remington that's got a Douglas Premium barrel in .30-06 fitted, with custom stock also. It was my deer and elk rifle for many decades, but haven't even fired it for probably 30 years now. The only signs of it once being an Enfield is the safety, as the bolt handle is a custom and the action has had the ears turned off, and streamlined.

A friend who's long passed, had one built by A Square in one of their Ultrasaurus magnums for a safari that never happened. Shortly after he took delivery he had a heart attack that he never really recovered from. He sold the rifle for probably half of what it was worth, but I was in still in college and it could have been $200 an I would have had to pass.
I've seen quite a few done like yours, but I wanted to preserve the original lines of the original. It sill has the original rear sight and so far, it's dead on. Can't wait to try it at longer ranges.

jb

[barbarossa]

My 303 Lee speed is one of my favourite deer rifles

[.45colt]

Jason that rifle must be a dream to shoot off of a Bench. Sweet!

[Paladin]

Well done, best looking P14 I have seen. I still play and use 303s.

[2ndovc]

That's cool!!

I have a #4 that was converted to a British match rifle and several other
No.1s and No.4s. My favorites are the Lithgows. They're just classy rifles.
The most rare Enfield I own is a No.7. They were made for the RAAF an the only Repeating.22lr training rifle.
The contract was for 2500 rifles but it was cancelled before they were all completed, so no one knows how many are out there.
My dad has one too. We just happened to be in the right place at the right time.
I'll post some pictures if anyone is interested.
jb

[2ndovc]

Jason that rifle must be a dream to shoot off of a Bench. Sweet!

It's definitely a bench rifle. Between the heavy barrel and the walnut stock, that sucker is heavy!
I'l have to figure out how to weigh it, but it has to be at least 15#.
All that weight takes up a lot of the recoil.
Not like my No.5 Jungle Carbine. That thing is abusive!

jb

[Bill in Oregon]

Jason, speaking of .303s, I had one of the little Martini artillery carbines converted to .303, and I used it to try to test the accuracy of some 225-grain .312 JSP bullets I was swaging when I had a Corbin press and a bunch of die sets. The recoil was an unpleasant surprise.

[2ndovc]

Jason, speaking of .303s, I had one of the little Martini artillery carbines converted to .303, and I used it to try to test the accuracy of some 225-grain .312 JSP bullets I was swaging when I had a Corbin press and a bunch of die sets. The recoil was an unpleasant surprise.

My dad has one and it’s been sitting in the rack for 20+ years for that very reason.
jb

[Drawdown]

That 303 has an almost perfect reputation in the deer woods, and seems especially to hunting friends down south. It seems it scores just like Baby Bears Soup in not to much meat damage, not many long tracking jobs, hardly any lost deer, regardless of reasonable ranges, not to much recoil, etc, in other words it's Just Right! In my area, it's another one those it's seems I've never heard of or seen, so guess that's why I've never had one, even tho I've long wanted to try one! And I fell in love with my idea of what I'd want in a 303 if I could, in that pic of Barbarosa's! Long barreled iron sighted rifles are hunting rifles, and I can't recall where I first seen his pic long ago, but I love what I see!

[Ysabel Kid]

That is WAY cool!

Funny, Y2K and I just shot the SMLE a few weeks ago. It reminded me (since we were working our way through military bolt actions) that I still need a P14 or P17 in my collection!