Custom SMLE gunmaker question.

When I was a kid (14), I got a P-H sporter for my first hunting rifle and to me, at the time, it was perfect; though that didn't stop me from messing with it. I handloaded for it from the start and fantasised about having a barrel re-bored and chambered for the 303 necked to 375 to shoot the 235 Speer. Of course, it never happened and probably will not. Fifty-three years later, I still have the old rifle (now a 30/40) and still hunt with it but have gotten over the 375 yen. I have admired some very nice Rigby rifles built on Lee Enfields and have thought I might like to try and approximate one. It's not likely I will get around to that either.
 
The tang safety is a nice touch , but I'll stick with the issue one . I've carried No1's and 4's for over 40 years , I'd probably reach for the issue one out of habit . I find the P-14 , M-17 safety a little more user friendly , but that's just me .............. I've got a P-14 action laying around doing nothing too ............ great , maybe I should start another thread .
RRCo , funny you mention the half #### . My late father , a WW2 and Korean war vet ( British Army ) used it a lot when in service . My Uncle Denis , a Chindit , preferred it as well . A little side note , my Uncle carried a No 5 in the late stages of the war , he loved it . He's the only man I've ever known that actually used one in combat . Sadly , he's gone too , not many of that generation left .

funny, I'm working on a heavy bbl P14 project now in that 6.5x303 aswell
 
The No4 is stronger , but IMHO , the No1 has nicer lines . The Ishapore L2A2 ? , used different steel than other No1's and is as strong as a No4 , but you don't see a lot of those kicking around . I'm sure the No1 would be fine for the 375FNE , BSA used the early marks to build them .
 
thread revival
started to work on the lee rifle in 375 2 1/2 " nitro last month and progressing along .Rounded up some parts ,finished up the barrel and started on the wood.IMG_3716.jpgIMG_4554.jpgIMG_4569.jpg
 

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did some metal altering ,trying to find a loose lee speed sporter bolt looks difficult so this one is now close and touched up the left side where the volley sight used to reside IMG_4592.jpgIMG_4590.jpgIMG_4591.jpg
 

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this where it ends till next year,made an island for the rear xpress sight its a NECG and the front is the same .They are currently just glued on for mock up .The woodis a bit more labor intensive than I expected so far.Used some buffalo horn for grip cap and cocabola for tip inadvertantly,but still looks good.Mag is an issue as it doesn't feed as it should but will overcome
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