Enfield in 7.62 x 54mmR

[bigduke6]

Just wonder if anyone has or known of anyone converting a .303 No4 to 7.62x54mmR ?

Was asked due to the price of 7.62x54mmR ammo (half the price of .303) I told them to get a Nagant but they really want a No4....

I would put a new barrel on, but just wonder if anyone has done one and what was the end result regarding shooting etc ?

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[Vincent]

Attachment 64677

You would probably have to open the body for the larger rim.

The extractor and ejector might need some work too. You don’t need a new barrel, it can be rechambered like the Bren barrels. The big problem is 54R has a higher pressure than .303. I wouldn’t mess with it. Get a Nagant or a PSL.

[Peter Laidler]

Just a quick check and a body would more than accept the small additional clearance without any fuss. On that basis I'm not sure that you'd need a new/different extractor and as the ejector is a tapering body side, I think it'd handle that but eject a tad earlier.

Pressures..... greater than 7.62? I expect it's been done a few time. Anyone out there............?

[Ridolpho]

Attachment 64677

Nagant or a PSL.

Yes, with refurbed Mosin 91/30's available for a couple hundred bucks and having decent accuracy potential why bother? The cost of modification would pay for a Mosin that was designed to easily handle the more powerful cartridge.

Ridolpho

[bigduke6]

Thanks Vincent, It would be a bittsa build if it were done, No4 barrels over here are like hens teeth so not the best option (too valuable for something like this although I can get No1 Mk111 barrels quite reasonable), best option is a blank and turn it down, chamber etc.

I,ve got no data on 54R surplus regarding pressures, but regarding hand loading the pressures are greater than .308 ( I don't want to get in the argument regarding .308/7.62) it was just a quick reference check.

Maybe I will suggest the Nagant again or a P14... must admit got me interested regarding the price of the surplus ammo, I,ve looked in past at a 7.62x39 purely for running costs.

[Peter Laidler]

I can see the arguments for NOT doing a conversion but we're forgetting the what engineers call '......the challenge'

[bigduke6]

Peter, I was referring the argument to the difference of the .308 and 7.62mm not the conversion.

[Peter Laidler]

Not that Big Dike, I was trying to counter ridolpho in thread 4. But it just seems like a good challenge to me.....

[Vincent]

I can get five rounds of 54R into a No4 MkII magazine with no trouble, seven is a bit of a squeeze and then it won’t take one more.

It looks pretty straightforward if he doesn’t mind the reduced magazine capacity.

[bigduke6]

Surfed the web and had a look for the 54R Milsurp ammo pressure, seems 46,000 PSI ( CUP) is the standard and lower than 7.62x51mm which comes in around 50,000 PSI....... I,m down the proof house shortly to get a selection of downloaded ammo tested for the pressure difference compared to off the shelf ammo and surplus ammo, may as well throw a few 54R's in and see what comes up also.