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Don't know if the is better here or on the gunsmithing page.
Anyone familiar with the successful fitting of a .303 Lee-Enfield barrel to a Martini? (One that already has an extractor & breachblock for .303.) The threads appear to be the same, and once headspace is established it would seem only a clearance cut across the breach for the extractor would be needed.
Yes it will work. You will have cut the chamber deeper and maybe set the barrel back so it times up, then cut the extractor relief.
If you use the right barrel, SMLE with barrel sights, you can use the entire front half of the SMLE by cutting down the stock using the hardware to finish out the rifle.
I have built a "Smletini" just as Double D described. Inspiration was one I saw at the Pattern Room in Leeds before they moved it. Other folks have also done so.
(Keep in mind I started with only an action and a buttstock.) so no original rifle was harmed;)
There was an article on this very subject in Shotgun News, back in April, IIRC.
Edited to add: I've found the article - it was the April 19 issue. It's as I described, except he started with a regular Martini action and modified the extractor etc. Happy to send a copy, if anybody needs it & can't find it locally.
chartruese,
Would you please send me a copy of that article? I was out of the country when it was published. Thanks
delete
Opps, sorry folks, haven't been on here in ages. I still have the issue (turns out I only have part 1, for some reason I can't find the next issue) but I'll scan what I have sometime in the next few days).