M1917 (or others) For Custom hunting rifle build?

LeeEnfieldNo.4_mk1

LeeEnfieldNo.4_mk1

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Thinking of eventually having a custom hunting rifle built. Was looking at a FN98 for an action since that would be the easiest to have worked on, but ran into a commercially sportered M1917 in 30-06 at a gun shop.

If I could get it for a fair price, would the action make a good basis for a custom build? So far would be looking to chamber in 6.5x55, that is if I like the caliber (still want to try it but hear many good things).

Nothing is set in stone, just looking at other options for now.

Build would not be anything fancy, simple polished blued finish in a nice walnut stock. No engraving, no super fancy grained stock, just a nice looking custom rifle fit to me and built to my eye.

Thanks.
 
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Here's a sporter my dad bought the 60s. 30.06 original barrel cut down, it had the original cut down military stock and really poorly mounted scope mounts . I added a new Boyds finished laminate stock some minor fitting, re drilled and tapped the scope base holes added a one piece weaver mount . and the Leupold 3x9 rifleman just clears the factory bolt handle without any modifications to it . Its very accurate ! have shot 1.5 inch groups with some 168gr reloads , Still going to add a Timney trigger also , just found out they made one for the P17. These actions are some of the strongest around , it was very common to see these rechambered in large magnum calibers .

DSC01440_zpsb3745500.jpg
 
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Consider the cost of the rebarrel and stock before you buy. Barrels are at least 350(+) and fitting it is another 250, then stocks are going to add at least another 100. The actions on these are very strong and if I remember correctly Roy Weatherby used them for his first builds when he started out. Some of the actions may have a heat treat problem and can be brittle so working on them may not be the best thing to do. Personally, I really like what Boss351 did. Excellent caliber, nice stock and shoots very well. If you're hunting out to 300 yards, why go another route? (I had one and kick myself for selling it years ago.) Best of luck with your decision.
 
Personally I wouldn't go balls deep with a $1000 build on a $200 rifle. There are so many better choices out there it actually boggles the mind to think of them all.
 
I've done several on on p14'a and model 17's and they are tanks. They are bulky and ugly until you straighten the bolt handle and floor plate. They are also harder to get parts for like #### on open kits and triggers. You would be better off to use a good mauser 98 like a brno 24. I would use the best action of all for build your custom build and that's a winchester model 70.
 
Building a custom... a P17 is usually used for big long cartridges because it is big, long and heavy. It will always be big, long and heavy. Winchester, Remington and Eddystone were the manufacturers. Eddystone was the 'worst' considered to be very hard to the extreme.

None of them are any 'stronger' than a Remington 700 nor any better to build a hunting rifle on than any other commercial action.
 
I bought this off the exchange for a fraction of what it would cost to build today. As mentioned, a M1917 is heavier than necessary for a 6.5 build but if it is what you want, then go for it!

 
If thats what you want, go for it! I had the same guys advising against it! Sure there are lots of other options, but which one intrigues you?

My P14 build went awesome as far as I am concerned! And it occasionally shoots as good as some of my high end customs! Go figure eh!?

100 year old barrel and action has shot about 6-8 groups of the last dozen under an inch. A couple under a half inch, which stunned me!

I have a bunch of pictures on various threads of this build. Would I do it again? Yep! probably will a few more times!

The rifle is a little heavier than the average modern rifle, but it shoots just as comfortably.


Here is a few pictures of my finished build:


And Now With The Scope Installed








 
Many African big bore rifles were build and are still being build with the P14 and P17 type action.

If you look up A-Square Hannibal you will find tons of information about it.

I used to own a 300WM build on a P14 action with a MPI synthetic stock and the whole build cost me over $1k but that's two decades ago.
If you need a true magnum size action this is one great strong action (and heavy) but if you are only building a rifle in the 06 cartridge family there are better options out there.

I literally sold it for the cost of the stock but did I get my money back the answer is no but to each of his own I have a custom rifle that nobody has and I can have it the way I wanted it.
 
If I were to build another rifle, I would buy a buy a commercial FN 98 rifle from TradeEx and use the action for a donor. These actions are already drilled and tapped, they have low bolt handles and their safety's are scope compatible.
 
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