Enfield to 45-70?

[Themoose]

I recently received a centurian sporterized Enfield(not sure if 14 or 17) in 300 Win Mag... I was looking for a 45-70 for hunting.. Not much luck there...it then occurred to me that the Enfield Could be converted to 45-70. Not sure if this is doable.. Any help here would be appreciated. I live in South central PA.

[Lead Fred]

Century Arms made a pile of them in the 80s. There is what you want to find.

http://www.chuckhawks.com/gibbs_summit.htm

http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2015/01/21/gibbs-rifle-companys-45-70-no-4-lee-enfield/

[JSnover]

It is doable and I love mine!163465
This one is from Navy Arms. Cheap, simple, shoots great, although I'm looking to upgrade the rear sight one of these days. I added the LimbSaver.

[Themoose]

My rifle is not a SMLE, it is the American version 1917 or 1914 . Gibbs conversion was for SMLE.

[JSnover]

Still shouldn't be a problem. SAAMI pressure for the 45-70 is lower than both .303 and 30-06

[JSnover]

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?123394-45-70-on-a-M17-reciever-(pic-heavy)&p=1349677#post1349677
Here's one.
I think I'd have it built on a .303, more meat on the bolt face for the 45-70 rim.

[EDG]

I had one built on a Siamese Mauser. It worked fine but I preferred a single shot so I sold the Mauser.

I no longer build anything that is available in the market. I only build a rifle & cartridge combo that not available at all.

[Bad Ass Wallace]

The boltface and magazine will take a 405 Winchester or 40/70 Sharps straight without alteration!

[Themoose]

Thanks a lot guys....I'll have to check out local smith's to see what a project like this will cost...never thought about a 405 or 40/70 Sharps...

Kindest regards,

TheMoose

[Ballistics in Scotland]

It has been done quite a bit on the Lee-Enfield action, and I don't see why the P14 or M1917 should be more difficult. But some people have reported that it is easier to get the .405WCF to feed, and I don't see that it would be under any real disadvantage to the 45-70 in use. Brass and dies will be more expensive, but with the resurgence of the .405, not as ruinous as they used to be.

It doesn't make much difference whether your rifle was a P14 or M1917, because if it has become a .300 Winchester Magnum the bolt face and extractor if it was a .30-06, and magazine lengthening if it was a .303, must already have been done to match the .405 head. In neither case would it be right for .45-70, and for that cartridge more modification of the receiver rails would surely have to be done, but I think it can be.

[elk hunter]

The M-1917 or P-14 action is way long for the 45-70 but it can be done. I built one on a P-14 action twenty years ago for a friend when we couldn't find a Siamese action. The Siamese is a better fit as it is a shorter action. The P-14 would be a bit better than the M-1917 as the P-14 has the rimmed magazine box that is shorter and wider that the M-1917 box.

[Ballistics in Scotland]

The cartridge is about half an inch in diameter nearly all the way to the front end, so it might be that the extra length of movement would help to secure a smooth feed. The Siamese Mauser may be a better way to go, for those who don't already have an Enfield lined up, and certainly a lot easier than trimming down the rear sight "ears" of an Enfield which hasn't already had that done. It is Japanese-made, though, with some Arisaka features, and I don't know if it is easily compatible with the wide range of after-market safeties and triggers which are available for the ordinary Mausers. The Enfield is nearly as good as Mausers regarding single-stage triggers and its safety is already one of the best on any firearm.

[enfield]

here's mine, not really a carry in the woods gun though.163743163744

[EDG]

You just need enough room to sit a gunner's quadrant on it.



here's mine, not really a carry in the woods gun though.163743163744

[MakeMineLead]

I had ER Shaw build one on a Siamese Mauser in the 80's. It has a model 70 type safety & Weaver scope bases.

A very slick conversion. The Shaw barrel shoots cast boolits extremely well.

[Desertbuck]

I was actually looking at mine and being a fan of the 45-120 sharps was thinking put a 35in 45 cal barrel on it and have a repeating big caliber black powder rifle on a already butchered rifle of course. Making it for the 45/70 should be simple but I would definitely have to agree with what others have said the action would be a little on the long side.