Unique Hunting Rifle
- Thread starter p-17
- Start date
Gibbs505 said:
Woooh nelly... methinks you are shooting at the wrong guy!
Methinks you are in need of re-reading my posts, present and past. As I have no negative intent on your 505 interest, I would say the two posters after me have rather negative thoughts...hence my posting of the kid eating popcorn.
Oh and you can stop talking about me in the third person thanx.
In fact I am rather fascinated by the prospect of converting a P-14 to another cartridge type.
Knowing my money situation it may never happen in my house, but it is still interesting for me to learn about.
And yes I have seen picks of your 505, and as I said then I'll say again, I'm very impressed...in a buddy way.
But not envious.
How about a 45/70? Or is the cartridge too short in comparison to the original .303?
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If I have misinterpted your post I am sorry.
About the third person thig, that was unintended!
Yes the money thing is always a issue, here as well! But we just plan things around.
A 45/70 simply is not a cartridge that interests me much, dunno why, but that is the way it is! It should be fine in a P14 action however.
If you ever get intrested in a P14 action to convert, drop me a PM.
Cheers
About the third person thig, that was unintended!
Yes the money thing is always a issue, here as well! But we just plan things around.
A 45/70 simply is not a cartridge that interests me much, dunno why, but that is the way it is! It should be fine in a P14 action however.
If you ever get intrested in a P14 action to convert, drop me a PM.
Cheers
On the P14 thing. Not long ago I got a .600JDJ which is a .577NE case blown out to shoot .620" bullets on a P14 action. My main interest was how they got it to work with the big rim. It does work though and well and feeds two from the belly smoothly also. I see no reason why the .45/70 wouldn't work just fine from a P14. I have not shot the .600 a lot yet. I just aquired a mould and outside that I lathe turned a few bullets and made a few from tubing but can't say much on it yet except the first few rounds I've fired maybe ten were right on the bull which almost amazed me. P14, YES!
The first Weatherby's were based on this action. Roy Weatherby did a lot of his experimenting on them and the first commercial .378 Wby.s were on P14 actions.
The first Weatherby's were based on this action. Roy Weatherby did a lot of his experimenting on them and the first commercial .378 Wby.s were on P14 actions.
Here are a couple of other points worth mentioning. First, I turn the necks on my .300 Win cases by about .003. This allows enough room for the neck to open and release that slightly fatter .303 bullet.
I also found that this rifle prefers some forend bedding. It's probably due to the relatively skinny barrel. I put some bedding compound there and covered it with a layer of black electrician's tape so the barrel is not resting on something hard.
The other thing I've noticed is that due to the general condition of the barrel, it fouls quite rapidly. I always have my bore snake with me and run it through after about 5 or 6 shots. I also space my shots out when I'm on the range because that skinny barrel heats up when you burn 70+ grains of powder.
Yes, the more I think about it, the more I'm convinced that I'll use it as my main rifle this November. (I've got an LEH draw for antlerless mulie at Horsefly Lake.)
The other thing you might find amusing is that I bought it on a lark. You see, two days before I bought it, my former employer had told me that they would not be renewing my contract (the firm was hurting financially and it went under a few months later). When I saw this rifle for the unbelievable price of $40 sitting on a lonely table at a gun show, I relished the chance of telling people that the first thing I did after I lost my job was go out and buy a gun... [chuckle] I really didn't have high expectations, and with a price like that, I figured the action alone was worth it.
Anyway, I've never taken it hunting before, and I think this old veteran deserves another day in the field. Trust me, if I get any game with it in November, you friends will be among the first to know.
I also found that this rifle prefers some forend bedding. It's probably due to the relatively skinny barrel. I put some bedding compound there and covered it with a layer of black electrician's tape so the barrel is not resting on something hard.
The other thing I've noticed is that due to the general condition of the barrel, it fouls quite rapidly. I always have my bore snake with me and run it through after about 5 or 6 shots. I also space my shots out when I'm on the range because that skinny barrel heats up when you burn 70+ grains of powder.
Yes, the more I think about it, the more I'm convinced that I'll use it as my main rifle this November. (I've got an LEH draw for antlerless mulie at Horsefly Lake.)
The other thing you might find amusing is that I bought it on a lark. You see, two days before I bought it, my former employer had told me that they would not be renewing my contract (the firm was hurting financially and it went under a few months later). When I saw this rifle for the unbelievable price of $40 sitting on a lonely table at a gun show, I relished the chance of telling people that the first thing I did after I lost my job was go out and buy a gun... [chuckle] I really didn't have high expectations, and with a price like that, I figured the action alone was worth it.
Anyway, I've never taken it hunting before, and I think this old veteran deserves another day in the field. Trust me, if I get any game with it in November, you friends will be among the first to know.
I wonder how Steve Redgwell's 200 grainers would do in that rifle? You certainly have the powder capacity, as long as they will take the velocity.
As to the barrel condition, have you thought of fire-lapping it? It mght not materially improve the accuracy, which is pretty darn good, but it might reduce the fouling.
Stuart
As to the barrel condition, have you thought of fire-lapping it? It mght not materially improve the accuracy, which is pretty darn good, but it might reduce the fouling.
StuartActually, about five years ago I wrapped a tight patch around a bore brush and coated it with medium fine lapping paste. I then proceeded to run the thing back and forth a number of times before finishing off with some JB compound. Without a doubt, it made a difference.
As to fire-lapping, I never saw the need. The truth is, this barrel was made in 1914 and will eventually have to go to the great metal factory in the sky, likely before its 100th birthday. In the meantime, if I use it carefully, I should have a few good years out of it, and I couldn't really ask for more.
As to fire-lapping, I never saw the need. The truth is, this barrel was made in 1914 and will eventually have to go to the great metal factory in the sky, likely before its 100th birthday. In the meantime, if I use it carefully, I should have a few good years out of it, and I couldn't really ask for more.
p-17 said:
Sounds a little scary but obviously it worked. I have a 1917 P-14 and the barrel is excellent and shoots well, plus a BSA-sporterised one in similarly good condition which I haven't done a lot of shooting with but so far it has demonstrated 1.25" @ 100 metres with 180 gn. Remington RN. I'm not complaining. They just seem to be darn good rifles.
Stuart
Gibbs505 said:Pray tell, guide me!!
I already have a 505 gibbs btw!!
600 OK. - dan
I took it out to the range for the final zeroing on the weekend. It prints 2 inches high at 200 metres (220 yards) and 2.5 inches low at 300 yards. It's startlingly consistent with what the trajectory table for this bullet at this velocity says it should be:
Bullet: Hornady 150 gr Spirepoint, .303 (B.C of .361, according to the manual)
Velocity: 3,100
Powder: 73.0 grains IMR 4831
Zero: 260 yards
Now all I have to do is take it out into the field!
Bullet: Hornady 150 gr Spirepoint, .303 (B.C of .361, according to the manual)
Velocity: 3,100
Powder: 73.0 grains IMR 4831
Zero: 260 yards
Now all I have to do is take it out into the field!
Calum said:
Sorry to highjack, but this is the first time I've read through this thread. I've got a rebarreled P-14 in 45/70 and it works just fine. It's a great shooting rifle. I had some hot 45/70 loads rolled up for a Ruger No.1 that I traded to Casull a while back and never got around to pulling them to start over with a lighter load for my trapdoor, or 1886. They were 1 grain below max. and were murder on the shoulder to shoot from the No.1, but the recoil in the bolt rifle felt comparable to a 300 Win. mag, maybe even a little less. These loads reach into the low end of the .458 Win mag's specs. It's got a 26 inch stainless barrel on it mated to a hand made stock. The trigger has also been worked and is nice and crisp now.
those of you looking to convert a P14 should look hard at the .25-303 and .35-303 offerings. lots of info on net, very poppular in Austrailia. I am but a barrel away from a .25-303 on a P14 action. have dies, action, stock, just need that $$$ barrel...... Corlanes has .25-303 reamer.
Gibbs505 said:
600 Over Kill. Go to accuratereloading and do a quick search, there's quite a few big bore fans there (I'm one myself). - dan
I have run a .308 Norma mag reamer into the chambers of a couple of P14s; the trick is to slug the barrel first and just do the tight ones. My P14 with a .310 bore will shoot 3" at 200 yd, and that's with my vanilla standard 200 gr .308 Norma loads!
I have a '50s vintage 303/25 built on a bubba'd 1914 ShtLE rifle.
As such it isn't a hot performer, averaging 2650fps with the mild 90gr loads I use .
But the roos I use it on can't tell the difference and it's quite accurate, managing sub-MOA at 100yds on a regular basis.
The only drawback about my rifle is that the Sportco bbl it is fitted with was made during the 50's here in Oz and it has a 1:12" twist, limiting it to 100gr bullets.
The dodgy old scope probably doesn't help either.
But that doesn't really concern me.
It's a beater rifle but it surprises people often and using the Sierra GameKing 90gr HPBT it shoots superbly.
A P14 would be nice but I think I'd use it to build something like a 9.3x74R or 450/400 N.E. 3¼” or even a 404 Jeffrey than a 303 Magnum.
At present I have a Martini Enfield action sitting in my safe that may end up as a 45-70 or 45-90 or even perhaps a switch bbl.
The problem with it is cartridge length & pressure constraints.
I also have an old Turkish Mauser 03/38 short action that would be good for any of the 308 family or the 'x57 family.
Unfortunately it's lacking a floor plate and magazine follower but it may become a 7x57 one day.
I'll just have to find a plate and follower somewhere.
As such it isn't a hot performer, averaging 2650fps with the mild 90gr loads I use .
But the roos I use it on can't tell the difference and it's quite accurate, managing sub-MOA at 100yds on a regular basis.
The only drawback about my rifle is that the Sportco bbl it is fitted with was made during the 50's here in Oz and it has a 1:12" twist, limiting it to 100gr bullets.
The dodgy old scope probably doesn't help either.
But that doesn't really concern me.
It's a beater rifle but it surprises people often and using the Sierra GameKing 90gr HPBT it shoots superbly.
A P14 would be nice but I think I'd use it to build something like a 9.3x74R or 450/400 N.E. 3¼” or even a 404 Jeffrey than a 303 Magnum.
At present I have a Martini Enfield action sitting in my safe that may end up as a 45-70 or 45-90 or even perhaps a switch bbl.
The problem with it is cartridge length & pressure constraints.
I also have an old Turkish Mauser 03/38 short action that would be good for any of the 308 family or the 'x57 family.
Unfortunately it's lacking a floor plate and magazine follower but it may become a 7x57 one day.
I'll just have to find a plate and follower somewhere.
- Location
- Maple Ridge, BC
I had the pleasure and privilege to handle and fire p-17's Eskimo rifle at the Mission Range a few weeks back. It's a real beauty and a very nice feeling firearm; very manageable recoil too. p-17 knows stuff and is an excellent marksman; him and his Eskimo rifle are going to be bad news for whatever game he goes after.
