Why didn't the P14 replace the Lee-Enfield?

With 303 British getting ammo scarce (and expensive) and components in short supply it is tempting to think about converting 303 British guns to 7.62x54R. Unfortunately the No1 MkIII, etc. aren't strong enough and the No4 Mk 1 etc. is probably strong enough, but I doubt the fatter 54R rim would get along with the L-E's magazine - or the odd way that the L-E gun handles ejection - without an ejector.

On the other hand, P14 and P17s seem easy to convert to 54R. Maybe this will cause shooters to show the "P-guns" a bit more love.
 
No. 4s have been converted to 7.62x54R simply by running in a reamer. Reported to shoot just fine. The shoulder of the .303 is further forward than that of the 7.62, so the 7.62 reamer does not clean out the entire .303 chamber. As a result the fired 7.62 cases have a strange fireformed double shoulder.
Same thing would happen if a P'14 were reamed. Would the bolt face accept the 7.62 without alteration?
To do a first class job, barrels would have to be set back. This complicates the job.
A .30-06 M1917 would be a lot more work. Barrel set back and chambered, bolt face altered. The magazine, designed for a rimless cartridge isn't likely going to work with the rimmed 7.62.
 
I think you have an interesting comment there.

Have a look at this picture. LINK It could be a bunch of Russian partisans during WW2 with Modified Lee Enfields. The stock has a Mosin-type sling mount and the muzzle is not normal. They look like No1s because of the position of the rear sight - but the rear sight itself seems different. Could these be L-Es with Mosin barrels mounted to them? This is a really interesting picture. One of the guys has a sabre.

This comes from https://www.enfield-rifles.com/7-62x54r-conversion_topic8684.html

I think a No4 would be the choice for converting to 54R because those are stronger actions, capable of handling the 60,000 psi of 7.62x51

tiriaq said:
No. 4s have been converted to 7.62x54R simply by running in a reamer. Reported to shoot just fine. The shoulder of the .303 is further forward than that of the 7.62, so the 7.62 reamer does not clean out the entire .303 chamber. As a result the fired 7.62 cases have a strange fireformed double shoulder.
Same thing would happen if a P'14 were reamed. Would the bolt face accept the 7.62 without alteration?
To do a first class job, barrels would have to be set back. This complicates the job.
A .30-06 M1917 would be a lot more work. Barrel set back and chambered, bolt face altered. The magazine, designed for a rimless cartridge isn't likely going to work with the rimmed 7.62.
Click to expand...
 
The Ross Mk. III, Winchester 1895 and even the Remington Rolling Block were set up in 7.62x54R. The Lee Enfields in the photo might have been. Would have made sense from the standpoint of ammunition availability. The Turks reworked Lee Enfields to a Mauserish appearance. No reason that the same sort of thing couldn't have happened in Russia.
 
What is the quote?
American's came to war with a target rifle.
Germans came to war with a hunting rifle.
The British came to war with a battle rifle...
Don't even have a LE at present, so this ain't a "Look what I got!"... the LE is a damn fine battle rifle.
It got it done...sh#t your average sqaddie didn't shoot that good in them days nohow
 
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