Converting .303 to .45-70

Longbranch

Longbranch

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I have a sporterized No.4/Mk.1… shortened barrel, no sights, mounted scope. (No I didn't sporterize it.)

I've shot exactly two rounds out of it. I cannot begin to describe how loud it was. Imagine standing beside the machinery in a quarry, where the rocks are being crushed into gravel. Now imagine this gun going off right beside that machinery. That's how loud it is. Yes, defying the laws of physics, this gun is actually louder than itself.

Anyway, I could sell the thing for around $100, or I could be an idiot and have it converted to .45-70… which sounds way cool in theory. Do I need a whole new bolt for that? Will the Lee magazine hold the .45-70 round? Could I get five rounds of .45-70 into the ten round .303 mag? Do I ask too many questions?

All I know is I need a new barrel made. Appreciate any help letting me know what's involved.
 
I think someone else around here was working one of these -- I'm sure I remember a longish thread about it from before the board was wiped out.

here's a nice link:http://www.surplusrifle.com/shooting2005/kingandcountry/index.asp

Only problem with that article is that it kind of made me want to make one too. :? :wink:

Looks like they used the original bolt, and fit 3 rounds in the original mag. They must have changed the follower and maybe some other stuff in there -- it's single stack.

It looks pretty neato, even with only 3+1 rounds.
 
Longbranch said:
I have a sporterized No.4/Mk.1… shortened barrel, no sights, mounted scope....I've shot exactly two rounds out of it. I cannot begin to describe how loud it was.
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:shock: What? You weren't wearing ear muffs/plugs!? And you're surprised? :p

I've been there, too. First time I ever fired a CF was also an SMLE; a friend's dad brought it back from WW2. Yep, it were loud all right. 25+ years later, I can still see Dave and myself, somewhere up a North Shore mountain, on an old dirt track, trying to hit a tin can. Between flinching from the noise and being ignorant of the fact that military rifles shoot very high, the can escaped unharmed. I think we managed about 3 or 4 rounds before the pain got to us.

And, yes, there was a thread quite a while ago on this; it seems to pop up from time to time but I don't know if anyone actually went ahead and did it.

Gibbs Rifle in the US were offering "remanufactured" ones from Nº 1 MkIII's for a while but they've been sold out for ages. Must have run out of actions. (See http://www.gibbsrifle.com/sport.html) It is an intriguing idea.

:) Stuart
 
again this needs to be a stickey

from what I recall there is a smith in BC that does this conversion, mag ends up as a single stack.

One day I will find a junker that needs a new barrel and will go the 45-70 route

edit

I did a little search here for 45-70

http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/viewtopic.php?t=52844

http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/viewtopic.php?t=67583

http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/viewtopic.php?t=44453

http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/viewtopic.php?t=34973

http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/viewtopic.php?t=16619
 
Converting a 303 to 45-70 is a great way to use an old 303 action. I built one about 5 years ago from a No 5 jungle carbine. Instead of changing the bolt I turned the rim of the cartridge down by about .020" to match the bolt face diameter. I made a box insert for the magazine that holds 4 rounds stacked vertically. I shoots 1" groups consistently. A friend of mine wrote an article and had it published in the Outdoor Edge magazine. I can dig up the copy if you'd like.
 
When reloading for these converted rifles, what would you use as a max load. Would the action strength allow you to load to the Ruger No. 1 & 3, or the lever, or the Trapdoor specs :?: :| Just something that has come to mind as I throw around the idea of having one of these toys made :)
 
rdhs said:
Converting a 303 to 45-70 is a great way to use an old 303 action. I built one about 5 years ago from a No 5 jungle carbine....
Click to expand...

Yowza... that must've hurt when you touched it off! Or did you fill the void in the stock with something good and heavy? A reprint of the article would be very interesting.

:) Stuart
 
My research showed that the max pressure for a 303 exceeded the max pressure loads for a Ruger single shot. I have been loading a 405 grain bullet to 1900 fps. Yes it hurt big time when the gun was in it's original setup as a No5 jungle carbine. Since then I have put a new stock and muzzlebrake on it. It's real nice to shoot now, but it stills hits pretty hard.
The article was published in July/August 2002 issue of The Outdoor Edge Vol12/issue 2 from Keywest Marketing in Edmonton. Call them at 780-485-1951 and see if they have any leftover magazines. They sent me a few when the article was still fresh.
 
FWIW, Gibbs rifle Co. was making and selling .45-70 No.4's built on surplus actions sourced from India. They met with limited sales success in the US and had a reputation for poor reliability and feeding issues.

Suffice it to say, if I want a .45-70, there are other rifles I would use first. The reason so many ppl use the Enfield action is that the bolt head is flat, not recessed, so it's easier to fit the gun for the large .45-70 case head than on alot of other bolt designs. I've often thought that an 8mm Lebel Berthier would be a better coice of action for a conversion and you could use nifty mannlicher slips too ;) You could also probably use an MAS36 action. That'd be neat!
 
I guess someone will have to go thru all the post and pullout all the gems of wisdom and come up with the CGN guide on enfield conversions :?




any volunteers :| :roll:






I guess I could make it next weeks project
 
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