.45 Lee Enfield

L

Logan.Reese

Member
Rating - 100%
8   0   0
Location
Southern Alberta
Well, always thinking of another project I have decided to try my hand at some simpler gunsmithing before I try to build a semiauto sten. My plan is simple, take a bubba Enfield and bubba it by converting it to .45 ACP. At the same time either making it look like an original No. 4 or making it into a De Lisle Carbine (with a fake suppressor of course). There is a new kit out in the states manufactured by Special Interest Arms. This kit is a new and improved version of the Rhineland Arms kit. This kit is a bit pricy ($300US), but I think it would be an interesting project. Here is a great article on the new kit:

w w w.surplusrifle.com/articles2008/sia_45_enfield/index.asp

Here are two other articles on the original Rhineland Arms kit:

w w w.surplusrifle.com/reviews2005/rlenfield/index.asp
w w w.surplusrifle.com/reviews2006/myenfieldatemy45/index.asp

Here is the Special Interest Arms website:

w w w.specialinterestarms.com/

Obviously, we would have to get approval from the admins before we did any sort of group buy, but I was thinking of getting Questar to import some. I will also have to talk to the CFC and RCMP to see what they think of this, but I don't see why it would be a problem if the gun was reregistered. What do you guys think? Is it a interesting idea?

Logan
 
Logan.Reese said:
...I will also have to talk to the CFC and RCMP to see what they think of this, but I don't see why it would be a problem if the gun was reregistered. What do you guys think? Is it a interesting idea?Logan
Click to expand...

Why would you "have" to consult with the CFC/RCMP about rebarrelling a rifle? Rifles are rebarrelled all the time, it is an absolutely standard, routine, everyday practice. Once a permanent change has been made in calibre, or barrel length, the rifle could be verified and the descriptors for registration amended.
 
Google "Armalon" and you'll find on their website that they offer Amalon-Sarony PC Gallery Rifles, which are No.4s converted to .45ACP and other handgun calibres. So you'll know where you are going, but of course it can be more fun to make your own.
 
tiriaq said:
Why would you "have" to consult with the CFC/RCMP about rebarrelling a rifle? Rifles are rebarrelled all the time, it is an absolutely standard, routine, everyday practice. Once a permanent change has been made in calibre, or barrel length, the rifle could be verified and the descriptors for registration amended.
Click to expand...

Hmm...that is awesome! So I have to notify the CFC within thirty days correct? Just out of curiosity, what would the shortest barrel that could be put on a bolt action before it becomes restricted/prohibited? I plan on putting an 18 inch barrel on mine, which shouldn't be a problem.

Logan
 
Logan.Reese said:
Hmm...that is awesome! So I have to notify the CFC within thirty days correct? Just out of curiosity, what would the shortest barrel that could be put on a bolt action before it becomes restricted/prohibited? I plan on putting an 18 inch barrel on mine, which shouldn't be a problem.

Logan
Click to expand...

If this is a new, factory made barrel, with a bill of sale to show it is, length should be only limited by the minimum OAL of 660mm. AFAIK.
 
Last edited:
TheTooner said:
Google "Armalon" and you'll find on their website that they offer Amalon-Sarony PC Gallery Rifles, which are No.4s converted to .45ACP and other handgun calibres. So you'll know where you are going, but of course it can be more fun to make your own.
Click to expand...

This is interesting, but I would much rather do it myself, plus those rifles are very pricy. They do have some nice pictures with good ideas though.

Logan
 
cantom said:
Didn't see that...what happened to him? :eek:
Click to expand...

From:

http://www.surplusrifle.com/reviews2006/myenfieldatemy45/index.asp

When I pulled the trigger for the fourth round things went very badly. There was a very loud bang and the carbine jolted me. I was stunned and dazed. I looked down and tried to open the bolt and found I could not. Finally I was able to work the bolt open and at first glance I could see right away that something was not right. Pieces of the brass case fell away and the remaining case was stuck in the breech. There was a piece of brass sticking out of the left hand gas vent hole on the receiver and then I noticed that the side of the bolt head had blown off.
The extractor spring was gone and the extractor stuck out ninety degrees to the right from the angle it should be. I peered down the bore to make certain the bullet had exited and it had. The brass case had blown up completely and had blown out parts of the bolt. To say the very least this ruined my day of shooting. The only upside is that I walked away unscathed physically although my dignity and pride were injured. A friend of mine later said to me, and I agree, that I was one damn lucky guy that I had shot the cartridge in an Enfield and not while holding a 1911 pistol in my hands. Imagine if I had been even more stupid and not had been wearing safety glasses? After a few days had past I was feeling better but I was worried that I had permanently damaged a brand new firearm. The question still lingered as to what caused the problem to begin with? My best guess is that I had somehow managed to double charge the case with powder. Using a bullet puller I pulled the bullets out of all the remaining handmade rounds and emptied the powder. I did not find any other suspect loads, but it was better to be safe than sorry later. I wrote about this to show you what can happen when you are not careful. My hope is that by me displaying my stupidity for all to read about I can make a statement about a very important safety issue while reloading. Don't load so fast that you miss obvious mistakes like double charging a case. I was very lucky this time. Next time (and I will do everything in my power to make certain there is not a next time) I could lose my sight or a limb or possibly my life.

Okay, it was mainly a reloading thing (probably a double-charge), but still...look what it did to the unit? ;) And this from a base-rifle able to chamber the 7.62mm...
 
Hint to dealers, someone needs to stock these kits, like yesterday. :D
5849.JPG
 
One question I have though, is how do I take the original fron sight off the .303 barrel and put it on the .45 barrel? Would I need to get an actual gunsmith to do that? What if the sporter I get does not have the original front sight? Is there somewhere I can buy an original one?

Logan
 
Logan.Reese said:
One question I have though, is how do I take the original fron sight off the .303 barrel and put it on the .45 barrel? Would I need to get an actual gunsmith to do that? What if the sporter I get does not have the original front sight? Is there somewhere I can buy an original one?

Logan
Click to expand...

Those are very common parts. The standard Enfield sight base just slides on to the barrel, installs with one cross pin. Normally of course they're stabilized with the bayonet lugs...
I'm hoping they've made the barrels the standard thickness so the stock base fits it.
 
I suspect that those kits would sell very well. A kit that could be adapted to either SMLE or No. 4 actions would be ideal.
Any dealer considering selling these should consider offering tubular handguards that would clamp onto the barrel nut, complete with rails. This would drive the MKs and GSKs into a feeding frenzy, and increase the profitability.
I'm serious about the SMLE/No. 4 possibility, and half serious about the handguards.
 
Last edited:
tiriaq said:
I suspect that those kits would sell very well. A kit that could be adapted to either SMLE or No. 4 actions would be ideal.
Any dealer considering selling these should consider offering tubular handguards that would clamp onto the barrel nut, complete with rails. This would drive the MKs and GSKs into a feeding frenzy, and increase the profitability.
I'm serious about the SMLE/No. 4 possibility, and half serious about the handguards.
Click to expand...

Aren't the barrel threads different between the two? How would they do that, an adapter bushing?
I think those kits use a Savage style collar with variable headspace possibility like the AIA rifle don't they?
 
SMLE and No. 4 threads are basically the same, barrel indexing is different. This affects the Nock's form, if there is one, the front sight lugs, if there are any, and the extractor cut. No big deal to supply the barrel without an extractor cut, to be made, if necessary, after headspacing. The barrel locknut makes installation a snap.
I do think that there would be a sufficiently large market to justify either the import of these kits, or the manufacture of them in this country. No lower cost .45 barrel blanks available here, but if blanks were imported from the US, at least the value added machine work could be done here.
Making the magazine adapter is probably the most challenging part of the whole kit.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom