P14 303Br rechamber to 35Whelan?

rhino519

rhino519

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so i got this P14 that has some pitting in the barrel (already posted about it) and i’m thinking why not try to get it regardless to 35 Whelen? do i need a new barrel? any other modifications to action/magazine? what’s the ball park figure in $? anyone knows a gun smith that would be good to approach to work on the old warhorse?
 
A M1917 could be converted to .35 Whelen with a rebore or new barrel. Say $300 - $600.
Converting a P'14 would be thoroughly impractical and prohibitively expensive.
 
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The P-14 has a larger bolt face and a different magazine than the P-17. As mentioned, the P-17 could be made into a 35 Whelan as the 35 Whelan is based on the 30-06 case. Elwood Epps did conversions of the P-14 to a 35-303 case.
 
You could rechamber for 303 Canadian Magnum. Epps offered this conversion for P14's. Sure they still have the reamer. It's a 308 Norma Magnum neck up to 303. Ron
 
You will note the OP said the barrel is pitted. In addition, while the P14 is a large and strong action, the magazine requires major alteration to hold and feed any magnum cartridge. I have always been amused by the statements made by those who figure the P14 is perfect for a magnum because you don't have to open up the bolt face. Opening the boltface takes a half hour; magazine alterations on a P14 will take a half day.
 
I had one of these.......been since sold to an Ellwood Epps collector. It had a new box mag for the magnum cartridge....it was made here in Southern Ontario and was available at Epps, Numrich and a few others..it dropped into the trigger guard (1917 Enfield without modifications (might have one in my parts bin). The Extractor was 1917 as well. The feed rails were recut for the magnum case. Feeding was very slick. If anybody has an Epps Catalog this a few other conversions were described. I agree Bill, it's work however it's also nostalgic.
Ron
 
The P14 bolt will fit into a 17, though breeching is different, and is a workable solution for those who suffer from serious anal pucker at the thought of opening a boltface. A magnum cartridge will feed from a M17 Mag with little modification. The magazine box is only a small part of the equation as well. The receiver on the P14 has to be opened up a lot
 
I am wondering if a m-17 bolt would fit in a p-14 action? Then the bolt face would be correct and the headspace would need to be done during chambering, anyway? I may have a donor bolt in my tickle trunk.
 
buffdog said:
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The P-14 has a larger bolt face and a different magazine than the P-17. As mentioned, the P-17 could be made into a 35 Whelan as the 35 Whelan is based on the 30-06 case. Elwood Epps did conversions of the P-14 to a 35-303 case.
Click to expand...

A .35-303 would be an interesting cartridge to play with. Especially if you blew out the case taper to be straight wall up to the neck.
 
The 303 Epps has just slightly less powder capacity than a 30/06 so a 35/303 Epps would have just slightly less than a 35 Whelen and would, of course, perform about the same.
 
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