First post and P17 sporter question

[browningautorifle]

I'm going to be replacing the stock on my sporter as well.

Love to see it when it's done...?

Information

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[rsu11]

Some pics attached - hope this helps. Entire rifle pic makes the stock look better than it actually is. However, no cracks and it does secure solidly to the receiver. Also included a shot of a chipped out area on the right rear of the receiver. The metal is in very good condition, including the bore. Everything works as it should, but I need to verify good headspace before firing it.

You can see it's a flat trigger guard version. I'm talking to a seller about a curved/stepped replacement stock with a military barrel channel. That would mean at least a stepped trigger guard and new mag box. Anyone else done a change like this? Is there anything else needed?

Hope this isn't a repeated post...tried to post last night but don't see it in the thread.

[jamie5070]

Love to see it when it's done...?

It's on the back burner as I have to rebuild my trucks motor. If you check the web site, I'm leaning towards a dual grip, thumbhole stock. I just haven't decided between walnut or laminate. It was my first rifle and I've had it for close to 45 years. So I figured, Why not.

[rsu11]

An update: I picked up a composite sporter stock as a testing platform and also checked headspace with a Forster field gauge for 30-06. Interesting results - the bolt nearly closes on the gauge. When I say nearly, I mean just a few degrees of rotation short of complete closing. I put witness marks on the receiver and bolt to show the 1/8" of difference - see the pics attached. Check was done with a stripped bolt using light finger pressure on the handle.

First pic shows completely closed bolt on empty chamber with safety engaged.
Second pic shows bolt just shy of closing on the gauge, about 1/8 inch between the marks. Safety will not engage.

I've read several other posts on this subject, one with the same issue but no pics. Most say the gun is safe to shoot, but hard on the brass. It seems like there is no more forward bolt travel around this point in the rotation, but there must be some slight cam action since the handle stopped just short of completely closing.

I'm inclined to shoot it once with a Garand load (lower pressure) and check out the brass measurements. If it checks out, I'll run some more Garand loads and look for consistency.

So technically it didn't close on a field gauge but it's within a gnat's eyelash. What say ye? Safe to shoot?

[browningautorifle]

So technically it didn't close on a field gauge

I'd say THAT...it didn't close.

[fjruple]

I'd say THAT...it didn't close.

Agree Jim, not closed. Probably needs a wicker of a turn on a final reamer or buy an additional stripped bolt and try it. Usually US Ordnance had a pile of bolts to try to fit probably not an option today.