Sporterized P14 (What caliber to load?)

W

windsurfingsteve

New member
EE Expired
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Location
southern ontario
I bought a nice what I thought was a 303 P14. It is stamped 303 on the barrel. Someone has installed a nice sporter stalk and beded it nicely.The sights are aftermarket and look good. I loaded it with british 303 at the range and pulled the trigger.Nothing happened,I ejected the shell and found no contact mark on the primer. I loaded another still no contact.I took it home and disassembled the bolt to inspect the firing pin it is OK. How do I measure or ID what caliber to load? Possibly 30 06? I am a little cautious now...
 
If there is no contact mark on the primer, then you have a problem with the bolt. A 303 will not chamber in a 30.06 barrel, the rim is too wide.
 
Be careful....you could get seriously hurt by loading live ammo into an unknow chambering. Do a chamber cast; slug the bore and see what you've got!
 
When you reassemble the bolt, and put the cocking piece in the "uncocked" position, does the firing pin stick out from the bolt face? Once I had a new pin in a P14 bolt and the tip of the pin was too wide, and didn't go through the bolt face hole.
 
I've looked at your pic....if the one with the bolt in the red stand is in the fired position it looks like the firing pin has not got any projection. Does the number on the bolt match the rifle serial number.The picture of the firing pin shows it polished...wondering if it has been ground back. The pin must clearly project to fire. If the pin does project and does not contact the primer then you've got a headspace issue. Need to take this rifle to someone who can evaluate these issues for you. Calibre ID may not be an issue as you can try any number of casings to get close...chamber cast would be ideal.
 
Slug the barrel before you do anything. Hammer a cast .30 calibre bullet or suitably sized lead fishing sinker through the barrel with a brass rod and a plastic mallet then measure the bullet/sinker with a micrometer. That will give you the inside barrel diameter. A .303 will measure around .311". A .30-06 will measure .308".
Then have a chamber cast done. It's done with a material called Cerrosafe. Brownell's, Stateside wants $28.54US for a 1/2 bar, but won't ship it to Canada. Take the rifle to a smithy. Which one depends on where you are in Southern Ontario. Have him check the headspace while he's at it.
"...303 will not chamber in a 30.06 barrel..." A .30-06 won't go in a .303 chamber either. The case is too long.
 
I have the firing pin removed for the pictures.There is a stamped W on the firing pin? Possible this means winchester? My serial number is ERA 102 three more digits..This would make my rifle an eddystone pattern 14.Does this conclude I have the wrong bolt?
 
"W" is for Winchester and your rifle is Eddystone "ERA". Parts are not always interchangeable between these 2 manufacturers. I suspect that you have a "*" bolt in a "No *" receiver. You've got a clearance issue....I would not call this a headspace issue. Perhaps an Eddystone bolt will help however the rifle may need headspace. Can you post a picture of the bolt stop so I see is it is 303 or 30-06?
 
sunray said:
Then have a chamber cast done. It's done with a material called Cerrosafe. Brownell's, Stateside wants $28.54US for a 1/2 bar, but won't ship it to Canada.
Click to expand...

Sinclair International, owned by Brownell's, will ship Cerrosafe to Canada. Just got a bar last week.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom