P-14 Sporters
- Thread starter NAA
- Start date
In my opinion, the P-14 is the best military rifle in .303. It's way stronger than the Lee-Enfield, and it locks up better. Plus, the barrels tend to have a reputation for accuracy.
And P-14s are easier to bed and make accurate.
Finally, once it's all over and the original barrel is burned out, you can put a new barrel on in .300 WSM, 7mm Remington Magnum, .340 Weatherby Magnum -- to name but a few. So a P-14 action is also versatile.
And P-14s are easier to bed and make accurate.
Finally, once it's all over and the original barrel is burned out, you can put a new barrel on in .300 WSM, 7mm Remington Magnum, .340 Weatherby Magnum -- to name but a few. So a P-14 action is also versatile.
Yes. Usually the ears are removed, and the receiver contoured. BSA did up some very workmanlike M1917s in .30-06, may have done .303s as well. There are others. Making up a nice sporter on a P-14 action is more work than on a Mauser, but if you want .303, it is about the only readily available option other than a Lee Enfield. Usually crudely sported P-14s are pretty cheap, and if the bore is decent, away you go.
Don't do very many alterations to the P14 action. It's just way to expensive. Advertise on the EE for one that has already been altered, or go to a local gunshop, such as the one in your locale and buy one off the shelf, they usually have several in the back room to pick from, both P14s and P17s. Usually with the ears milled and drilled and tapped for scope mounts. Don't expect to pay more than $200 for a very nice specimen. Some may run a little more, some a lot less, depending on whats been done to them. It would cost you $400 - $500 just to have the work done on a barreled action and that doesn't include straightening the floorplate or slimming the triggergaurd. If you want to modify it to a different cartridge and put on a replacement stock, add another $500+++ to the figure. If you're just looking for a sporter, buy a used Remchestage, or if it really needs to be a P series enfield, advertise for a Remington Model 30, which is the commercial version produced between ww1 and ww2. I've seen several for less than $200 at the gunshows over the last two years. I just bought one in 25-06, includeing a period scope and very interesting mount for $150 a couple of months ago. But as was mentioned above, they are fine actions for a custom rifle base, especially if you can do the work yourself, if you can't, and can't afford the alterations, I strongly suggest you look elsewhere bearhunter
Hey, if you locate a '14 in full military stock configuration, I'll glady trade you for the already-sporterized stock I have on mine. Funny, I want to return mine to the military stock as I don't expect I'll be hunting with it anytime soon.
NAA said:
I'm curious too, I know Boyd's sells a decent inletted P14. I'm sure hwnsnbm in calgary would be able to order them into Canada.
Also, can a person tell from the s/n what year a converted BSA was manufactured from? (Anyone have a list?)
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Boyds, MPI, maybe Butler Creek. I've used the first two, never seen the third, although they used to list it on thier web site and in catalogues. - dan
Here's my BSA-sporter in .303 British (orig. mfd. by Winchester in 1917) that I picked up for $150.00, c/w Timney trigger and Weaver bases. The bore is excellent. Shoots about 1.25" @ 100 metres.tiriaq said:
I'm thinking of sending it to Epps to be converted to .303 Epps and taking it on a plains game safari in 2008 with some of Steve Redgwell's "Mk.9" 200 grain bullets.
StuartSon of a gun that is pretty.
My clunky BSA "sporter" US model of 1916 in 30-06 with the cut-down militry stock is really the ugly sister to that one.
What a steal!
A Timney trigger alone, installed and everything is worth nearly $150 isn't it?
My clunky BSA "sporter" US model of 1916 in 30-06 with the cut-down militry stock is really the ugly sister to that one.
What a steal!
A Timney trigger alone, installed and everything is worth nearly $150 isn't it?
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Stuart,
I've seen refrances to 303 Epps before but what is it exactly ??
Nevermind found out: http://www3.sympatico.ca/shooters/Improved_Cases.htm
Dimitri
I've seen refrances to 303 Epps before but what is it exactly ??
Nevermind found out: http://www3.sympatico.ca/shooters/Improved_Cases.htm
Dimitri
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MD said:
I definitely got the goods on that one. And it was from a local chap, so no shipping. All I did was refinish the stock, do a little work on the bedding, which wasn't quite free-floated, and replace the shim of several bits of crinkly aluminum sheet (!) which had been put under the rear scope base, with a bit of brass shim of the same thickness. I also lapped the rings a little to get a better fit on the scope (a Weaver 4x).
The current price (from the Timney website) for a P14/P17 trigger is $49.95 USD, so $150 installed probably isn't that far out.
Sweind, re the Epps conversion, according to Kevin at Epps:
The idea of the Epps conversion isn't to wring the last bit of velocity out of it, but to give me a little more "whump" and still leave a margin for warm weather if I get to Africa in 2008. I'm going to do some chronographing with Steve Redgwell's 200 gn bullets to see what I can get "as is" first, though.
Stuart
