rebarrel a P14
- Thread starter 6.5x55swm
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- Location
- Western Manitoba
Evanguy sure made that sound easy!!! Have talked with a couple local machinist guys - those square profile threads are not something they see too often!! But, once that is under control, the P14 is just basically thread the replacement barrel, set the shoulder, cut the extractor slot and cut the chamber (or set headspace). I have no clue what will be involved to get the cartridges that you are thinking of to feed from the P14 magazine - you might be into some "tuning" of the follower, along the feed rails of the receiver, and possibly the feed ramp. But P14's were re-done into a myriad of cartridges since WWI, so no doubt can all be done!!!
Is the rifle already sported? An intact P'14 does have value these days.
Be careful when removing the original barrel. These can be tight, and it is possible to damage the receiver. Inspect the receiver for a crack, on the bottom, in front of the recoil lug/forward action screw. If the barrel is toast, cutting a relief groove just in front of the receiver ring allows torque to relax and makes removal easier.
Be careful when removing the original barrel. These can be tight, and it is possible to damage the receiver. Inspect the receiver for a crack, on the bottom, in front of the recoil lug/forward action screw. If the barrel is toast, cutting a relief groove just in front of the receiver ring allows torque to relax and makes removal easier.
Years ago, there were aftermarket barrels available (Shaw???), dont know if that is true today. Re-boring the existing barrel might be a more viable option, particularly if it had a barrel that was already sporterized, such as the BSA conversions.
Just a word about the BSA conversions...
These turn up with some frequency. The receivers are altered very nicely, with the rear bridge contoured to match the Remington 700 profile. Receivers are drilled and tapped for M700 bases. There are also holes for mounting a traditional aperture sight, like a Marble's, Redfield or Lyman. The barrel is shortened, a ramp front sight installed, along with a sporting rear open sight. The stocks are neatly sported, with checkering at the wrist. They appear in both .303 and .30-06. depending on whether BSA started with a P'14 or M1917. I have one in .303. Loaned it out last November. Two chaps each fired one shot, and accounted for one 8 point buck and one large unaccompanied doe. It is hard to beat one of these as the basis for an Enfield actioned project. The hard action work is already done. If desired, the trigger guard could be straightened. A recent auction featured a 1923 BSA sporting rifle with the bolt handle altered to resemble the classic Mauser sporting rifle style. Did away with the Enfield dogleg.
These turn up with some frequency. The receivers are altered very nicely, with the rear bridge contoured to match the Remington 700 profile. Receivers are drilled and tapped for M700 bases. There are also holes for mounting a traditional aperture sight, like a Marble's, Redfield or Lyman. The barrel is shortened, a ramp front sight installed, along with a sporting rear open sight. The stocks are neatly sported, with checkering at the wrist. They appear in both .303 and .30-06. depending on whether BSA started with a P'14 or M1917. I have one in .303. Loaned it out last November. Two chaps each fired one shot, and accounted for one 8 point buck and one large unaccompanied doe. It is hard to beat one of these as the basis for an Enfield actioned project. The hard action work is already done. If desired, the trigger guard could be straightened. A recent auction featured a 1923 BSA sporting rifle with the bolt handle altered to resemble the classic Mauser sporting rifle style. Did away with the Enfield dogleg.
if you keep the belly style trigger guard and floor plate, Boyd's offers a decent looking and comfortable sporter stock. some inletting may be required depending on the barrel profile used if you are doing a rebarrel. I took one of these rifles to a 7WSM from a P-14. took a bit of work on the action rails and feed ramp to get everything so that it was a reliable repeater. Also got rid of the dogleg and installed a new bolt handle, and away it went.
OP, getting the cartridges you desire to feed reliably will be the real issue.
As for cost of rebarreling, reprofiling the receiver?
$400 for a barrel, $150+ to thread/chamber/fit for headspace. $100 more if you retain the original rear sight and install an iron front sight.
Then, maybe another couple of hundred to reprofile the feed rails on each side of the receiver, unless you're confident/competent enough and have the proper tools to do it yourself.
Because of the claw extractor and controlled round feeding, the rifle's extractor will need to altered for the diameter of the new cartridge and makes it very difficult to convert to a single shot.
Soooooo, At best, if you do the work yourself, $500. Because of the size of the thread tenon, finding a take off barrel that will fit is difficult. If you need the fitting work done, add another $300.
As for cost of rebarreling, reprofiling the receiver?
$400 for a barrel, $150+ to thread/chamber/fit for headspace. $100 more if you retain the original rear sight and install an iron front sight.
Then, maybe another couple of hundred to reprofile the feed rails on each side of the receiver, unless you're confident/competent enough and have the proper tools to do it yourself.
Because of the claw extractor and controlled round feeding, the rifle's extractor will need to altered for the diameter of the new cartridge and makes it very difficult to convert to a single shot.
Soooooo, At best, if you do the work yourself, $500. Because of the size of the thread tenon, finding a take off barrel that will fit is difficult. If you need the fitting work done, add another $300.
Well - Before you spend any coin on the gun, make a good assessment of the bore. A 303 of that age could have seen quite a few rounds, including corrosive ammo. Years ago, I wanted to buy my first P-14 - a sporter for deer hunting. I local dealer had a well done sporter, with a Fajen stock, recontoured receiver etc. Coughed up 125$ for it. Took it to the range, and experienced keyholing. Bore looked pretty good, a bit dark, but otherwise OK. The dealer tried to improve things by recrowning, no dice. In the end, it was determined that the combination of an oversize bore and worn lands would cause the bullet to skip over the rifling.
- Location
- Western Manitoba
Here is a picture of a BSA sporter P14 that I just finished for me - as mentioned above by Tiriaq. Has a Lyman 57 SME receiver sight on it - bore looks to be excellent. I am stocked up on the Hornady and the Woodleigh 174 grain .312" bullets - a little "fatter" than the offers by Sierra and some other bullet makers, in deference to the larger 303 bores. Both those bullets are also flat based, not boat tail, so that should hopefully help as well. Have not yet fired this rifle - need Spring soon!!!
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I don't think bsa was a manufacturer. They just turned the existing rifles into sporters. - dan
- Location
- Western Manitoba
Likely just contributing to "myth" but pretty certain I had read that BSA would anneal those receivers - make them soft - do up the milling, drilling and tapping, drill out those "duck ponds" and insert the round plug with their logo on the rear receiver bridge, then re-heat treat and harden. Not the sort of thing a "home work shop" type guy likely to be able to do. I had attempted to drill and tap an M1917 receiver into it's side for some Lyman type aperture sights - thought I was "smart" doing the spot annealing thing to get through the hard surface - worked fine until I hit the hard surface on the inside face. No evidence left of maker of that receiver.
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I have several of the BSA sporters, they were offered in different grades. The most common grade used a cut down military stock, as shown by Potashminer. I hunted deer with a peep sight equipped one for years, and also used it for recreational target shooting. The steel buttplate kept me honest!
My eyesight doesnt faciltate peeps any more, so my current deer gun is a BSA model D sporter c/w vintage Khales 1.5 to 4 X scope. Aside from being a tad heavy, I consider it to be an excellent deer rifle.
My eyesight doesnt faciltate peeps any more, so my current deer gun is a BSA model D sporter c/w vintage Khales 1.5 to 4 X scope. Aside from being a tad heavy, I consider it to be an excellent deer rifle.
The square threads on these barrels are not that hard to do, grinding the proper cutting tool is tedious though. The barrels are on tight requiring a cut on the barrel as close to the receiver ring as possible for removal. I have rebarreled a half dozen ERA receivers in my dark past, no issues drilling with proper tooling. Is it worth it, only if you can do the work yourself, in my opinion. The Rem and Win made actions are not as hard as the ERA making them more desirable.
p.Rundle
CGN frequent flyer
Criterion makes aftermarket barrels. Don't know Shaw's quality, but I doubt you'll find better than Criterion for a custom gun. They're out of stock right now.
