"More accurate than the No. 1, many P-14s were fitted with Aldis or Pattern 1918 telescopic sights for use by the British Army as sniper rifles. Later designated the Rifle No. 3, over 4 million P-14s were produced in .30-Ô06 caliber as the U.S. Model 1917 Magazine Rifle for use by American troops "Over There." These were the principal U.S. battle rifle during the war, and many P-14s and M1917s continued in service with both British and American forces through the early days of the Second World War." U.S. Winchester Model 1917 Bolt Action Rifle, National Firearms Museum.
"During the early part of the 2nd World war some of M1917 rifles were shipped to Britain, where they were issued to the Home Guard." world.guns.ru
"World War II[edit]
At the time of the American entry into World War II, the U.S. Army was still issuing the M1917 to Chemical Mortarmen. Perhaps due to M1 Garand shortages at the start of the war, the M1917 was also issued to artillerymen early in the war and both mortarmen and artillerymen carried the M1917 in North Africa. Lieutenant Colonel Charles E. Peterson (USAR, retired; 1920–2005), a Major in the 101st Airborne in the Normandy action, reported seeing some M1917 rifles issued to rear-echelon US troops in France during World War II. Other M1917 rifles were issued to the Philippine Commonwealth Army and Philippine Constabulary. After the fall of the Philippines, M1917 rifles were used by Japanese police forces as well as by U.S. and Filipino soldiers with the local guerrillas before the liberation of the Philippines.
Before and during World War II, stored rifles were reconditioned for use as reserve, training and Lend-Lease weapons; these rifles are identified by having refinished metal (sandblasted and Parkerized) and sometimes replacement wood (often birch). Many were bought by the United Kingdom through the British Purchasing Commission for use by the Home Guard; 615,000 arrived in Britain in the summer of 1940, followed by a further 119,000 in 1941.[SUP][8][/SUP] These were prominently marked with a red paint stripe around the stock to avoid confusion with the earlier P14 that used the British .303 round. Others were supplied to the Nationalist Chinese forces, to indigenous forces in the China-Burma-India theatre, to Filipino soldiers under the Philippine Army and Constabulary units and the local guerrilla forces and to the Free French Army, which can occasionally be seen in wartime photographs. The M1917 was also issued to the Local Defence Force of the Irish Army during World War II, these were part-time soldiers akin to the British Home Guard. In an ironic reversal of names, in Irish service the M1917 was often referred to as the "Springfield"; presumably since an "Enfield" rifle was assumed to be the standard Irish MkIII Short Magazine Lee-Enfield, while "Springfield" was known to be an American military arsenal.
The M1917 was supplied to both Denmark and Norway after WW2 as an interim weapon prior to the arrival of the M1 Garand.
Korean War and after[edit]
After World War II, the M1917 went out of front-line duty. The rifle continued to serve as a sniper rifle during the Korean War, and limited numbers saw service at the early stages of the Vietnam War. This rifle was also used, unofficially, in small Middle-East and African conflicts as a military-assistance program supplied rifle." Wiki
WAR DEPARTMENT
BASIC FIELD MANUAL
U. S. RIFLE, CALIBER .30
M1917 (ENFIELD)
August 3, 1942
.Li,
Need I say more??
Like hit harder, more accurately, further away. Do you need it? Nope. .303 will shoot 110gn to 220gn bullets with no problems. The heavier bullets often perform better. Having a new rifle chambered in .303, vice having a milsurp, would be quite an accurate and reliable rifle. Only way is to rebarrel an exisitng one or ream out to .303 Improved.
However, since acquiring my own .30-06, I have found that my .303s do spend more time in the locker and have become "niche" rifles that fulfill very specific roles, whereas, my .308 or '06 are used for general hunting applications.
