Lithgow SMLE in .222 cal?

[Three-oh]

Hi all,
I have recently acquired a registered 1942 Lithgow SMLE action and bolt, that seems to have been modified to accept .222 cal ammunition, maybe .223?
This is the action and bolt ONLY, no other parts or info supplied!
It has a fixed magazine, and highly modified extraction system, along with some machining work carried out on the bolt itself.
This action was located in the back room of a gunshop that has recently closed its doors.

I will post some pics of the SMLE action in the "Gallery" section,under the heading .222 SMLE? and maybe some of the members could shed some light on it`s heritage, or provide some information on its build.
Cheers

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[RCS]

I remember some articles and photos about ten years ago concerning the conversion of No 4 rifles to the 223/5.56mm cartridge. This included a new barrel and the bolt had a washer added to the bolt face to support the smaller cartridge head. The extraction/ejection system also required modifications. I do not recall the magazine used.

[Three-oh]

I remember some articles and photos about ten years ago concerning the conversion of No 4 rifles to the 223/5.56mm cartridge. This included a new barrel and the bolt had a washer added to the bolt face to support the smaller cartridge head. The extraction/ejection system also required modifications. I do not recall the magazine used.

This action is actually a NO1 rifle, Mk111*, and doesn`t have the added ring on the bolt head.
I do have a NO4 Longbranch, (complete rifle) chambered in .223, fitted witha Ruger Barrel, and it has a ring silver soldered onto the bolt face to accomodate the base of the case
Thanks for your interest,

[Rusty.303]

One of my mates has a SMLE in .222.
The rifle has a Sportco barrel, I don't know if the rifle is a Sportco conversion.
The rifle is a repeater, the magazine uses a standard SMLE case with a single row type magazine inside it.
To give a bit of an idea it sort of looks like a Tikka LSA 55 mag is fixed inside the SMLE magazine case.
I did find a matching magazine for a spare at the Penrith gun-show for $20, so someone must have done them.
The bolt-face appears standard, definitely no silver soldered ring or recess to support the case head.
I did see an article a while back in an Aussie gun mag featuring an identical rifle, I never throw my magazines away, I will dig up the article.

Might have helped, then again might not have.
Good luck.

[Landy]

Hey Three oh,
Im Phil from Narooma, have an interest in SMLE rifles have built a 'new' 7.62 x 39 in .308 (normally .311 for this calibre) with a douglas barrel blank out of the states.
Anyway long story short had a .22/303 and the barrel was stuffed so going for something different. My normal shooter is a ruger 77 .270 in stainless but this is a bit big. (ive had it for 20 years and just recently put a new scope on it - wouldnt part with it for anything) So I wanted a smaller calibre that i can play with velocities and projectile weights - I reload my own ammo.

Getting back to the .222 smle, im trying to see how the ejector system is modified, My 7.62/303 is ready to go as a single shot but Im a bit stumped to see how to get an ejector to work.

is there any chance you could email me a couple of pix of the ejector setup or if you want to sell the action let me know.
My phone number is 0400 045 216 or PM me
cheers,
phil