Savage in 7.62

I have a Savage no4 mk1* that has been converted to 7.62mm, it is a standard action stamped 1942 and also a nice big S for savage. The barrel is british nitro proofed and apears to be slightly heavier profile than the standard 303.It has the british proof mark on it and the letters AXX stamped half way down the barrel, and the fore site is set further forward with no bayonet boss. Unfortunately the original timber work on this rifle had been attacked by some filistine, lackered and there name leterasetted into it, so it was a complete rite off. the rear sites had been removed and a tunnel site for the front had been installed. With a set of new timber a standard front site, and a set of parker hale peep sites for the rear, the old girl shoots quite nice.
So to cut a long story short whats the deal is it from proper military pedigree, or has it been dodgied by some back yard gun smith for a range rifle only.
info would be of great appreciation.

Only a few No4s were converted to 7.62mm (still in military full-length wood) by Enfield as prototypes for possible military use - these are labelled "L8Ax". However Sterling, Long Branch, Lithgow and others all produced 7.62mm military profile barrels, and many of these have been turned into civilian conversions. Most likely your rifle is someone's old project.

Try to post a few photos, particularly of any markings on the left receiver wall. We can then tell you a bit more.


These are some non-military conversions:


https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...99372476-1.jpg

AXX is a Lithgow code. The heavy profile barrel was made by lithgow for target shooters. Many conversions were carried out there. You will probably find a Lithgow crack test stamp/proof stamp on it which is the letters"CAS" is a broken circle, range sights are very common on these, as they are all range rifles. These barrels never as far as I know had any military use. Typically, they shoot very well though.
Heaps were done on Savages, it seems like every one I see is on a Savage No4 mk1*.
I know shooters used to be able to take their No4 to Lithgow SAF, and get it converted to 7.62.

thanks will post some pics later today for peoples perusal, this is making a bit more sense as to the origin of this little lady.

Sorry i hadnt got back to this thread before now, had forgotten that i asked the questions at the time, have been away and and am still keen to discover the truth.here are the pics i promised
Regards
Fergs

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Originally Posted by fergs

Sorry i hadnt got back to this thread before now, had forgotten that i asked the questions at the time, have been away and and am still keen to discover the truth.here are the pics i promised
Regards
Fergs

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Stock standard range rifle conversion. I think the people who converted these rifles might get more than a little upset with your discription of them.

Most 7.62 No.4 conversions were (and are) done with forends cut back to around the band level, as the .303 bedding system did not prove to work very well with the new cartridge. The old rules on S.R. (a) and S.R.(b) configurations were abandoned and settled down into the T.R. format which allowed more choice of actions and barrels. Sometimes new forends were made, in some the old one was just cut back and free-floated. Very often price was the determining factor and here the old Sht LE sight has been recycled, again to save money. Magazine feeding was often abandoned as the new matches dropped rapid fire altogether, due to the difficulty of making the conversions function satisfactorily.

I have one of those bbls for a project,, got to pull the thumb out and call Brain

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...88f01352-1.jpg https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...63ba547d-1.jpg

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bindi2

Stock standard range rifle conversion. I think the people who converted these rifles might get more than a little upset with your discription of them.

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Sorry bout that to clarify it was a previous owner who had butchered the old girl, whomever had done the original conversion had done the ritey. Either way she came at a good price, ideal to work with for future projects. While were on the subject the length of the barrel without the bayonet boss is shorter than the standard barrell? but is it the same profile and length as the l42?.
Regards
Fergs

L42? Don't think so, I will pull mine out and look but by the photos I would say no.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...c756a923-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...a576cfbc-1.jpg

All the bits and peices in paper are they original parts for that rifle, or a kit some one has made up.... interesting, will need to do some research on that future project of mine.
Regards
Fergs

I traded a 7.62 No 4 barrel a while back made by lithgow, It was full No4 mil spec, these ones shown above are definately shorter and look heaver.

Myles