turning a P17 into something else.

Mr. Friendly

Mr. Friendly

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I've got a P17 that I'm thinking of converting to a .338-06. only thing is, I don't know how to go about it. The action has no bluing on it anymore, so unless I had it re-blued to match a new barrel, it would look odd. so that leaves me with the possibility of having the barrel bored out to 338 from 30.06. does anyone have any recommendations of where I should look or who I could talk to about this? thanks!
 
Ok, if it's in original configuration take the following steps:

1) Sell the rifle to a fellow milsurp enthusiast

2) Slap your left wrist with your right hand. Say "BAD BUBBA! NO!"

3) Buy a rifle that's already been messed with.

4) Don't mention this on the collector's forum again...

On a more helpful note - Yes you can have the barrel re-bored. For the $$$ you're gonna spend on the finished project it's probably worth it to have the whole thing stripped and re-blued.

I would post this on the hunting / gunsmith forums as it's a reasonably common conversion. We don't do a whole lot of that kind of stuff here =)
 
Mr Friendly, if you want a P17 in 338-06 go for it. Instead of playing around with your rifle, put an ad in the EE, stating what you're looking for. Someone will have one for sale. You can't build that rifle as cheap as what you can buy one for. It is just as expensive to buy a new barrel and have it fitted as to rebore the old one. That's just the beginning. If you're looking for a cheap rifle, you're on the wrong track. If you're looking to make up a unique rifle in milsurp configuration, each to his own. Obviously there is something wrong with the bore or the rifle has already been cut down. Maybe you got it cheap or as a freebie. The 30-06 round that it is chambered for will do just about anything the 338-06 will do, when loaded with 200 grain bullets.

Again, if you're just looking for a 338-06 and you're on a budget, check out the EE, maybe even think about a 35 Whelan, they're kissing cousins.
 
heheheh. I did get it for cheap. $100 from a friend, it was my first rifle. it was previously bubba'd, so it's no longer full stock and the original sights have been removed, which required a recent smith repair (cost me $40 at Italian Sporting Goods). if it was original, I would NEVER think of doing anything to it. what you're saying about looking for one that's already done is what I've been telling my brother all along, he just insists I should get it done, LOL!
 
There is a lot of expense involved in sporterizing a military rifle-and doing a presentable job of it. In the case of the M17 (apart from your re-bore work) you are looking at a new stock,milling off the rear receiver ears,drilling&tapping for scope bases,re-contouring the magazine to eliminate the bulging bottom,re-profiling the bolt handle,a #### on opening bolt mod,and a re-blue job. At the end of the day you are probably further ahead starting with a commercial rifle like a M700 Rem in .30-06,.270,etc.
 
Well, he did say it already was a "bubba" job. No going back from there.
Now as to rebarreling your M1917, keep in mind the barrels were installed by some heavy duty machinery. Using just a barrel wrench can often result in cracking the reciever (they are that tight) The approved way is making a lathe cut where the barrel joins the reciever to relieve the pressure.
 
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