Lee Enfield caliber conversion to 38/357 or ...?

Would reloading .303 brass with .32 pistol bullets (right diameter) on an appropriate mild charge fit the bill? Would be easier than gunsmithing, and you'd still be able to load proper ammo when you want.
 
Thanks Mark !
(On my list of future projects I have a conversion to 45 LC with a 44 magnum Desert Eagle magazine.
I got the idea here.)
 
M Agellan said:
Progress so far of my 357 magnum SMLE conversion using a desert Eagle magazine
Click to expand...
Good job.

That's the issue I had with my 9mm Lee. Close the bolt to chamber and you had to pull it back for the round to pop up a little to line up better, before you could chamber and close the bolt. End of a range session you have soo much brass shavings in the action.
 
M Agellan said:
You give me good ideas. I'm going to steal them.
Now I want a conversion to 44 Magnum around a Desert Eagle magazine (for ease of ejection, rim diameter close to 303) and to 9x19 around a Tokarev magazine (because I already have some).
But let's try not to be distracted and try to complete this project in 357 first.
Click to expand...
Ok, you make some of the coolest things! Now I want an Enfield in 7.62x25 or 9mm! I like your YouTube channel! šŸ‘šŸ‘šŸ‘
 
OkayShooter: It's really interesting to hear that you experienced the same cartridge alignment issue with your 9mm conversion.
KDV: I forgot that I mentioned my Tokarev/9mm project here.
I put it on hold because beyond 4 cartridges in the Tokarev magazine the round goes nose-first.
(I considered for a moment moving on to 22 TCM which fit well in the magazine.)
Here is the status of this project in pictures:
https://freeimage.host/i/3LrM9IV
https://freeimage.host/i/3LrjA5g

Shell SHUKER & Snider Shooter: 50AE or 454 Casull, I'm going to faint, it's too much for me.
 
M Agellan said:
OkayShooter: It's really interesting to hear that you experienced the same cartridge alignment issue with your 9mm conversion.
KDV: I forgot that I mentioned my Tokarev/9mm project here.
I put it on hold because beyond 4 cartridges in the Tokarev magazine the round goes nose-first.
(I considered for a moment moving on to 22 TCM which fit well in the magazine.)
Click to expand...

Alot of these conversion, a hood needs to be made to keep the round from flipping up.

Maybe need to try and find a non tilt follower.
 
I took an old Lee Speed and made a single shot 38 Special with no problems with extraction, I think we had to grind and polish a little on the extractor. Made a great plinker for the pistol range.
I used a 1-14" twist barrel I was saving for a 35 Whelan build. Worked out great, from wadcuters to 158 grainers, all lead. Fr sum reason never tried plated bullets?
I really like the Tok conversion, to bad seems to have trouble with Tok magsšŸ˜”.
Like the 50 AE, real nice!
 
Just a bump and a question. Any updates on any of these projects?

For the guys who have done their own conversions on .45ACP, 9mm or 7.62x25, did you have to trim the feed lips on the mag as was done on the de Lisle? I've been tinkering and I can see that the round bolt face might struggle to pick up the cartridge from between the feed lips on a single stack pistol mag.


Mark
 
mmattockx said:
Just a bump and a question. Any updates on any of these projects?

For the guys who have done their own conversions on .45ACP, 9mm or 7.62x25, did you have to trim the feed lips on the mag as was done on the de Lisle? I've been tinkering and I can see that the round bolt face might struggle to pick up the cartridge from between the feed lips on a single stack pistol mag.


Mark
Click to expand...
Biggest issues is keeping the round from flipping up. So a sleeve above would help.

Never had issues stripping round out of the mag. On the manafactured adapter and my diy.
 
diegocn said:
I'm tinkering with the idea of converting a sporter lee enfield into a pistol or intermediate calibre.

The rifle is intended to be used for 3 gun matches for manual/single shot division. I'm well aware there are other options costing similar if not less than converting an LE. But I wanted to try something different and fun. To my understanding the key to a competitive rifle in this division is to have 1. fast cycling action, 2. have at least 10 round capacity and ability to quickly reload it, and 3. a light recoil calibre that's not expensive to shoot. SMLE checks the first 2, but 303 brit is both too expensive and powerful for most 3 gun matches. Hence the idea came forth.

Since the rifle is originally designed for a rimmed cartridge, 38/357 might make the conversion easier? The challenges I see are mainly:

1. Extraction - 303 brit has .540 rim diameter while 38/357 has .440 rim diameter. For extractor to properly grab the case, the bolt head would need to be modified to deepen the cut on the extractor slot further toward the centre of the bolt?
2. Ejection - Empty case ejection on LE is done via friction against left side of the receiver wall, but this is a no go for the much smaller base diameter on 38/357. But there's another ejector screw further back for kicking out live rounds. Can that be used to eject the 38/357 case out? Alternatively one can drill and tap the left side wall to install an additional sidewall block to match the rim profile of the new cartridge?
3. Feeding - From what I gather the control feed is done via the extractor and the side wall? So in order to feed the cartridge straight into the chamber, the additional the left side wall profile still needs to be addressed?
4. Magazine - No idea if 38/357 will fit into the original SMLE mag, potentially with a block + feed ramp installed at the front to take up the difference in COAL?

I know AIA has a Lee Enfield action in 7.62x39. Given 7.62x39 has similar rim diameter as the 38/357, how do they solve these problems?
Click to expand...
FWIW, I use 444 Marlin cases in an old Indian "410" musket single shot. I can chamber 3" regular .410 hulls as well as the 444 brass in that one. My other old musket will only take .303 blown out brass. PPU works best, no splitting. (Thanks potashminer!!!)
 
diegocn said:
I'm tinkering with the idea of converting a sporter lee enfield into a pistol or intermediate calibre.

The rifle is intended to be used for 3 gun matches for manual/single shot division. I'm well aware there are other options costing similar if not less than converting an LE. But I wanted to try something different and fun. To my understanding the key to a competitive rifle in this division is to have 1. fast cycling action, 2. have at least 10 round capacity and ability to quickly reload it, and 3. a light recoil calibre that's not expensive to shoot. SMLE checks the first 2, but 303 brit is both too expensive and powerful for most 3 gun matches. Hence the idea came forth.

Since the rifle is originally designed for a rimmed cartridge, 38/357 might make the conversion easier? The challenges I see are mainly:

1. Extraction - 303 brit has .540 rim diameter while 38/357 has .440 rim diameter. For extractor to properly grab the case, the bolt head would need to be modified to deepen the cut on the extractor slot further toward the centre of the bolt?
2. Ejection - Empty case ejection on LE is done via friction against left side of the receiver wall, but this is a no go for the much smaller base diameter on 38/357. But there's another ejector screw further back for kicking out live rounds. Can that be used to eject the 38/357 case out? Alternatively one can drill and tap the left side wall to install an additional sidewall block to match the rim profile of the new cartridge?
3. Feeding - From what I gather the control feed is done via the extractor and the side wall? So in order to feed the cartridge straight into the chamber, the additional the left side wall profile still needs to be addressed?
4. Magazine - No idea if 38/357 will fit into the original SMLE mag, potentially with a block + feed ramp installed at the front to take up the difference in COAL?

I know AIA has a Lee Enfield action in 7.62x39. Given 7.62x39 has similar rim diameter as the 38/357, how do they solve these problems?
Click to expand...
Silver solder washers to make a cup on the bolt head. Then machine it. To fit the rim of the case.

Actually you can mod the extractor, to come closer. You could try a 308 extractor. Closes it down to .480

These conversions, I wouldnt say are reliable enough to run them in comps.
 
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