.510 Wells mag box

[Smokey]

As some of you know I am building a 510 wells (460 wby necked up to .510). The mag box for the P17 is not long enuf. Does anyone know if there is an aftermarket mag box that is long enuf. The .510 wells OAL is 3.77. If we have to we will convert the mag box we have but it is going to be a LOT of work and would like to just get an aftermarket box if one is available. Still need to find a 460 wby follower and any once fired 460 wby brass anyone want to part with. Smokey.

 

[358]

I thinks sunny hill still makes the complete bottom metal but it's about $500 or so. If you are using the enfield bottom metal anyway it would prob. be easier and cheaper to make your own. The enfield original is poorly designed with lots of wasted space at the front and rear. Your follower will have to be made at the same time, to fit in the box. I have a p14 in 416 rigby. The bottom metal and box as well as feeding issues took more time than the stock. Good luck, Mark

 

[bigbull]

As 358 stated the feed and magazine issues are by far the biggest headaches when doing conversions, slapping on a barrel and chambering is childs play when compared to the complexities af reliable feeding. The extended mag boxes sold through Gunparts were junk since they were made in a very thin metal that was only suitable for very low recoiling cartridges any caliber with a little authority would quickly deform the box. If you could get a mag box from someone like Sunny Hill it would be your best bet otherwise the complete bottom metal assembly would be required, these people have the correct geometries for your Wells. Be advised that the action will require machining to accomodate the required geometry.
bigbull

 

[Why not?]

Smokey, I have seen a couple of 510 Wells on P14s made by Bevan King, the last one when I visited him in Cassiar, BC. IIRC, he fabricated brand new boxes out of fairly heavy steel. It was probably 12 gauge, certainly not lighter than 16 or anything like that. He had welded up the box and fitted it by hand to the floorplate and reciever.

The most important thing will be to get the correct dimensions figured out before you weld it all up, as Bigbull has already said. Too narrow and the cartridges will pop out before they feed into the chamber, too wide and you will have a terrible time getting the rails ground to get the cases to come out from under them.

He is retired, sort of, however I am sure if you give Bevan a call, he will be glad to give you a few heads up on this. He has built an lot of big boomers on P14 and P17 actions, 378 Wby, 416 Rigby, 460s, 475s, 500s, 600s, and every one I have seen or used has fed like a fat boy at a buffet! He even has the 585 Nyati reamer for your next project.

Also, he makes barrels for all these calibers, and may still have one or two around the shop.

Ted