Tell me about this rifle?

[browningautorifle]

Show us the boltface, .303 has a ridge too.

[303tom]

Show us the boltface, .303 has a ridge too.

Bolt face of the .303 British is as flat as Kansas !...............or has ridge all the way around..................

[303tom]

Here this is better, the .30-06 is on the left & Attachment 56160the .303 on the right !................

[engineboy]

Here is the one I have. Sorry about the dirty gun, it hasnt seen daylight in over 30 years.

[UNPROFOR1994]

Even if it looks like a M1917 bolt, that doesn't mean your rifle still has the original barrel chambered for the .30-06. You said it didn't have any markings. Take it to a gunsmith, it's better to be sure than sorrow.

[browningautorifle]

Or could it be original caliber...? .276 weren't they?

[303tom]

Yes like I said in the beginning have a Smith check it out good before you shoot it !..................

[Calif-Steve]

It sure looks like a very nicely done .30-'06 to me. Somebody spent real money on that stock and checkering and the whole rifle looks high quality. A gunsmith will likely offer you nothing on a real keeper. Hang on to it. it looks like a late 1940's or early 1950's job. Also lots of gunsmiths do not work on '17's anymore and checking the headspace is tricky. I guess the headspace is just fine, good luck and do hang on to it.

[engineboy]

I would never sell it to a smith....they are in the biz of buy/resale and Im real familiar with that game. BUT. Im torn on possibly selling them private party. I know they have been in the family for many many years, but Im not a sentimental guy. I keep nothing. Sell everything. To me stuff like this is just an object.

I will take it to a smith and see what caliber it is, I dont plan on shoving a 30 06 in there and hoping for a good outcome

I did keep, and plan on keeping, another rifle from his stash.

Its an octagon barrel lever action 1894 winchester 30/30 that is in pristine shape. Its dated IIRC in the 1930s, I will have to run the serial to verify. Its a beauty and it does get shot regularly. That one is going no where because I like the gun.

These other 2 are of no special interest to me, and they will live their life in the gun safe forever if I keep them. I have no family to pass them to, so I will be the last owner in this family.

Decisions decisions .....thanks for all the info though, it has been greatly appreciated.