can a no. 1 mk3 or #4 be converted into a 358 Win.

a303smoker

a303smoker

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can the bolt and the receiver handle the pressures of the 358 Win.and what are the pressures that a #1 and a #4 also can they handle the same ? or which one is stronger ? Thanks guys!
 
A #1 action cannot handle .358/.308 pressures.

A #4 can handle 7.62NATO pressures, but is not the best choice by any means. Feeding & ejecting can definately be a problem.

I understand that countries where "military calibers" are verboten Lee Enfields have commonly been rechambered to .307 Win, so .356W (rimmed .358w) would probably be feasable (and may feed from the mag).

A rimmed case like .444 Marlin is a much better higher horsepower choice for these actions, though you basically are then stuck with a single shot (without a whole pile of mag work).
 
a303smoker said:
can the bolt and the receiver handle the pressures of the 358 Win.and what are the pressures that a #1 and a #4 also can they handle the same ? or which one is stronger ? Thanks guys!
Click to expand...

Methinks a very bad idea...these actions have rear locking lugs and are really somewhat limited in their ability to withstand higher pressures than those generated by .303.

Better idea- P14/P17. Much better idea...
 
If you want to go to the bother, and handload, a .35-.303 would be an option. .303 case with .35 bullet. It would not be inexpensive, but should certainly work through the action.
 
Enfield actions (with the exception of the P14/17 aren't the greatest choice for modern cartridges as they're relativly weak and 'springy'. A 45-70 should works, as it's a relatively low-pressure round (even the Lever gun loads aren't all the hot). A 358 would be marginal at best and downright dangerous at worst. It could be done if you handload at reduced velocities, but why? I think Ellwood epps has a 35-303 reamer; that would be a decent conversion for a #1 or #4, so long as you keep the pressures ( and speeds) reasonable.
 
there are 2 smiths in BC and I've been told they both have 35-303 reamers.

I'm looking at a No4 chambered into 375-303 Improved :) with a 19" barrel. :D

Don't even try this with a No1 enfield.

The No4's will take more preasure then the No1's and if your talking magnums you need to go with a P14/M1917 action.
 
Since no one had given you any hard numbers, I'll throw in my 2 cents worth. From "Modern Reloading, 2nd ed., by Richard Lee"

.303Brit: 180 gr bullet, re15, 43.7gr, 43200cup

I'm using the following recipe, with Dominion cases, in my DCRA #4 Enfield:

7.62NATO: 168gr bullet, re15, 42.8gr, 56600cup

From my personal experience this will slightly flatten out the primer but is not hard to open. Recoil is not to bad either. Case wear is pretty good; I'm on the 4th or 5th reload with the same cases.
 
a303smoker said:
can the bolt and the receiver handle the pressures of the 358 Win.and what are the pressures that a #1 and a #4 also can they handle the same ? or which one is stronger ? Thanks guys!
Click to expand...
Can they handle? Probably. Will they be within the operating pressures the Lee Enfields were designed to work at? No.

Both Elwood Epps and a gunsmith in Australia (and probably elsewhere) developed .35 caliber .303 British wildcats. No doubt a very useful wildcat.

Of course, you can go all the way. blow out the shoulder and neck and you will have a case very close to the .405 Winchester and 40/65 Maynard
 
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