First post and P17 sporter question

[rsu11]

Thanks guys. Next job is sanding the barrel channel out to get a nice even gap, then it’s off to the range. I’ll put calipers on the brass and report back.

[nevadany]

What stock did you end up getting?

I've got a couple of 1917's that I bought "sporterized" (rear sights ground off) and then I "resporterized" them by milled the rear receiver to be able to mount the correct Redfield 1 piece bases.

I only have 1 set up to shoot and it's got the flat floor plate configuration with some old sporter stock...looks decent, shoots ok with the crappy scope that on it...that's the next next upgrade.

The second one has the original trigger guard. I actually think I'm going to sell that barreled action. One of these rifles is Fine for me!

DW

[oldfoneguy]

I've had my sporterised 12/18 built Winchester M1917 since 1984. It came in a poorly finished NRA stock and I believe that it was part of a batch of post war built never issued rifles sold through the NRA as a sporter kit in the early 20's.

This rifle has been through many incarnations in our time together, multiple stocks and even a free floated, glassed and aluminum pillar bedded black walnut stock but never achieved its peak accuracy until it found its way into a full military stock!

It seems that these full length military barrels have to much whip for serious accuracy unless supported near the muzzle as originally designed. Once completed in what I assumed would be the ultimate combination for it, while using it at the range one could actually feel the barrel whip down and to the right as the bullet exited the muzzle. This was not only felt by me but also my brother several friends and even 2 range officers, all of us very experienced 40+ year shooters. A genuine fear I had was the possibility of receiver cracks from this exaggerated barrel motion.

By chance I happened to buy a Remington P14 that came in an Eddystone M1917 stock. Not one to leave such a situation alone I purchased a correct stock for the P14 and on a whim put the M1917 in the spare military stock. A small amount of barrel channel sanding and some thin shims under the centerline of the bore and this rifle finally achieved its true capabilities.

As the ears were crudely hacked off I had done much metal finishing work years before. Since it could never be a true restoration I decided to make it into a tribute to what might have been the greatest US Military Sniper Rifle that never was the US Model 1918. Obviously going with all original ridiculously expensive parts would have been foolish. I settled on a Weaver detachable side mount and a 3x Weaver 60 series scope with post reticle. The beauty of this setup is the ability to use several different scopes on it for different purposes. This side mount system is amazing in that it holds its zero perfectly with a scope change and never needs to be redialed in.

[browningautorifle]

never achieved its peak accuracy until it found its way into a full military stock!

Very interesting findings...

one could actually feel the barrel whip down and to the right as the bullet exited the muzzle.

[oldfoneguy]

This of course with a free floated full length military barrel no front sight and no barrel support forward of the chamber.

[rsu11]

Range day today with the P17 sporter. Ran 10 rounds through it with a pause to measure the brass from the first shot. My crude caliper measurements are shown in the attached pic. I was pleased to see no real differences compared to the same loads (PPU Garand 150gr) in my Smith Corona 03A3, which stops on the field gauge at 1/3 bolt handle travel. The remaining 9 cases measured the same as the first.

Target results at indoor 20 yards show low hits while I learned the sights and adjusted the rear sight to get the last two into the center. Just 9 hits as I kept my head away from the receiver on the first shot...you never know!

Last pic is of the composite stock. Nothing to get excited about but it does work. Picked up a NOS curved trigger guard and mag box still in cosmoline to convert it from flat to a belly gun. If all goes well, I'll probably order a walnut stock from Richards and have some fun finishing it. All in all, a good start with this 101 year old rifle.

[browningautorifle]

This of course with a free floated full length military barrel no front sight and no barrel support forward of the chamber.

Understood...very interesting.