I hope to get the look at a couple gun that are Epps conversions. The only cartridge I've had anything to do with was a 303 Epps. An others that are worth looking at? Should I consider these guns actions only. or is there a demand for them anywhere?
epps wildcats
- Thread starter a j cave
- Start date
Elwood Epps was a real character. I first met him in the mid sixties in Yellowknife. He was working as a machinist in one of the mines there. He loved Lee Enfields and the 303 Brit cartridge. He built all kinds of wildcats, converted the actions to two screws to mount into one piece stocks etc. He wrote articles on his work to the NRA as well as other publications. A real fan of his was Frank DeHaas.
The reason I got to meet him was a friend of mine knew him and I helped him move his stuff down from Yellowkife to the Okanagon.
Elwood was very knowledgeable and had a myriad of stuff. He had a lot of time on his hands to make things as well. When he found out that we were coming up, he asked us to bring a bunch of reloading components up with us. I made a trip to Vancouver and talked Alan Lever into putting it all together at a decent price. Alan was good that way. When he found out who it was for, Alan went to the basement and grabbed a bunch of barreled actions and parts to complete them. He didn't charge a cent for them, he just threw them into the back of the truck. Elwood was just that kind of a guy. I never heard anything other than good things about him and after meeting him I could see why. He had time for everyone that wanted to talk to him. He especially had time for anyone interested in Lee Enfields and Martinis.
His conversions were very well done and were usually very accurate. He got a lot of extra snort out of the 303 Brit by improving the case and necking it up or down. When I met him, he was working on necking the case up to 35 calibre. He was waiting for the barrel to arrive. He had already made up a reamer and a set of dies. Usually, when he made up a rifle, he included a set of dies. Sadly, when the rifle was sold later, the dies seemed to disappear. The rifle he built for me was done on a P14. He straightened out the taper on the case to 2 degrees and cut a 55 degree shoulder. Then he necked the cases down to 7mm. The velocities achieved with a 140 grain bullet, rivaled those of a mid range 7mmRM. He also included a set of dies with the rifle. I sold that rifle to buy another lighter rifle. Elwood had built it with a rather heavy barrel. With a scope and 24 inch barrel it weighed over 10 pounds. Felt recoil was light though.
If you can find one of Elwood's creations with a set of dies, go for it. You won't be sorry.
The reason I got to meet him was a friend of mine knew him and I helped him move his stuff down from Yellowkife to the Okanagon.
Elwood was very knowledgeable and had a myriad of stuff. He had a lot of time on his hands to make things as well. When he found out that we were coming up, he asked us to bring a bunch of reloading components up with us. I made a trip to Vancouver and talked Alan Lever into putting it all together at a decent price. Alan was good that way. When he found out who it was for, Alan went to the basement and grabbed a bunch of barreled actions and parts to complete them. He didn't charge a cent for them, he just threw them into the back of the truck. Elwood was just that kind of a guy. I never heard anything other than good things about him and after meeting him I could see why. He had time for everyone that wanted to talk to him. He especially had time for anyone interested in Lee Enfields and Martinis.
His conversions were very well done and were usually very accurate. He got a lot of extra snort out of the 303 Brit by improving the case and necking it up or down. When I met him, he was working on necking the case up to 35 calibre. He was waiting for the barrel to arrive. He had already made up a reamer and a set of dies. Usually, when he made up a rifle, he included a set of dies. Sadly, when the rifle was sold later, the dies seemed to disappear. The rifle he built for me was done on a P14. He straightened out the taper on the case to 2 degrees and cut a 55 degree shoulder. Then he necked the cases down to 7mm. The velocities achieved with a 140 grain bullet, rivaled those of a mid range 7mmRM. He also included a set of dies with the rifle. I sold that rifle to buy another lighter rifle. Elwood had built it with a rather heavy barrel. With a scope and 24 inch barrel it weighed over 10 pounds. Felt recoil was light though.
If you can find one of Elwood's creations with a set of dies, go for it. You won't be sorry.
All of Epps wildcats(based on the .303 British),are listed in the two volumes of P.O Ackley's Handbook for Shooters and Reloaders.There is a .243 Improved(Epps),a.26Epps,a .303 British Improved(Epps),a .25/303 Epps,a .270/303 Epps,a 6.5/303Epps,and a 7mm/303 Epps.Quite a list,and Ackley spoke highly of these chamberings, Mur
- Location
- Golden Lake
I used to have the Epps version of the .218 Improved Bee. Built on a Savage Model 20 action. It was a great groundhog rifle!
I have a Remington-built P14 that has been rechambered to 303 Epps.
I am actually quite impressed wiith it.
The 150 Hornady will average 1¼ @ 2900 fps
It shoots the 180 Sierra into 1" regularly @ 2700 fps
The 200 Mk 9 bullet from Steve Redgwell shoots 1¼" @ 2450
Brass lasts indefinitely, and it is just a great all round "truck" gun.
Regards, Eagleye.
I am actually quite impressed wiith it.
The 150 Hornady will average 1¼ @ 2900 fps
It shoots the 180 Sierra into 1" regularly @ 2700 fps
The 200 Mk 9 bullet from Steve Redgwell shoots 1¼" @ 2450
Brass lasts indefinitely, and it is just a great all round "truck" gun.
Regards, Eagleye.
