Lee Enfield No 1. Barrel

[BVZ24]

I'm gathering parts for a winter project. I am starting with a stripped No 1 Mk 1 action and have not yet decided what form of LE or LEC I'm going to part it together as. It's marked as a full length rifle, so I'll likely build it that way, however the prospect of assembling an elusive cavalry carbine with new wood and metal from Ross Restoration is very tempting.

The only component that concerns me is the barrel. I have not yet contacted any barrel maker, but I am frequently near the Criterion office, and have heard that Armalon and Shaw both make similar.
I may make some enemies by saying this, but I'd also like to stay away from 303 British on this one. 303 ammunition and components have been difficult to find recently, and I don't think that is likely going to improve. I'm trying to think 30 years in the future and figure out what I can still shoot then. At least in store, a lot of surplus and vintage calibers have vanished following covid. I have not seen a box on store shelves of US made 8mm Mauser, 303 British, 30-40, 7.63 Mauser, 38 Colt etc. in several years. I briefly thought that 30-30 would be gone as well. Reloading components are out there, but I don't know for how long.

While 303 is the obvious caliber for a Lee Enfield, I may consider other .30 cal range modern non wildcat cartridges.
The best all around I could come up with that would be safe for the action was 7.62x39 or the similar 300 blk, low pressure and powerful enough for a carbine, however I would need a custom extractor and magazine.
Another option I had was 7.62 Nato. The extractor and magazine can come from the Ishapore 2a, reducing cost. I already load light for Ishapore 2a's, and to my knowledge they reverted back to the original steel in ~1965, theoretically making this proposed rifle no less safe than a 2a1, ignoring cumulative stress from being significantly older and more used. This will lead to an unsafe situation should someone try to fire this rifle with high pressure 308.
Trying to think for the future considers cartridges like the new US 6.8x51, which could be assembled with the parts above, but has a maximum pressure much higher than its parent, which rules it out. 6.5 Creedmoor also has a high maximum pressure.
Other suggestions are appreciated.

This is going to be a unique project, and I don't know what the best path to take would be. I have done every part of this project, but not all to the same rifle, so I'll be learning the whole time. If this idea gets anywhere I'll keep updating.

Information

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[browningautorifle]

O know you have doubts about the 30/30 cartridge but I always thought a conversion would go straight across. You could always cast a bullet to match and the cases would be easy. The pressures are down and a tight chamber would maybe help brass longevity. I had always thought about turning a .30 cal barrel to proper contour and then fit full wood for the original look. The mag lips would need alteration.

Short of that how about 357 magnum? The extractors are more forgiving that you think. I used 9mm in a LE action and it extracted without any alteration. 7.62x39 would be another excellent choice I think.

[BVZ24]

30-30 was one of the cartridges that I thought would never return. It's currently found everywhere I look, but it took the longest to get there. I was finding commercial 45-70 before I found 30-30. 30-30 is one of the most popular calibers in my region, as was .35 rem, which has not returned. .45 Colt is also slow to return here.
I thought about .30 carbine, 32 auto, and .357 but decided 7.62x39 was superior. I also thought about .223 and 22lr, but want to be in the .270-.32 range.

[Sapper740]

.....I'd also like to stay away from 303 British on this one. 303 ammunition and components have been difficult to find recently, and I don't think that is likely going to improve.

I keep hearing this but I've never had MORE reloading components and supplies for the .303 British cartridge than I do now. Sierra is back making the 174 gr. SMK, PPU makes bullets and cases, Hornady has bullets, LeHigh has bullets, Hodgdon is selling Varget, BL-(C)2 and H335 direct from the factory, cases; both factory new and once fired are commonly available online. I've recently bought several hundred factory new Winchester and no-name brass that I believe is actually some old Dominion or Imperial brass as well as a bunch of HXP once fired from GB recently.

[Daan Kemp]

If you reload no cartidge caliber is going to disappear, including 303.

[BVZ24]

Leaning back towards original 303. I mocked up a 10 rd mini 30 based magazine, and although it seems plausible, it's going to have feed issues. The 5 rd mini 30 magazine is much easier.

I suppose I should ask, what forms of carbine could have been converted from Metford Mk 2 actions?
If I go carbine route, I'd like to make a facsimile of either a cavalry or NZ carbine, because I'm not likely to find either of those any time soon.
What are the changes in the carbine rear sight, and does anyone have basic dimensions of the carbine front sight?

[Bruce_in_Oz]

My 2 Bob's worth.

Alternatives to .303?

.30-30, of course

.30-40 Krag; almost the same overall cartridge length, "standard" .300 / .308 barrel, same HS gauges (give or take) as .303.

.30-303: This is a Hybrid, using ",30 cal Barrels but with a .303 chamber reamer run in. I built one years ago as a "bitsa" bush rifle. It has a 1:12" twist, so is "marginal" at best with long / heavy bullets, but with 155gn SMKs or similar=weight "hunting" bullets it has put a bit of venison on the table.

Then, there are the various Oz and Canadian "wildcats", from .22 up to .358".

Or, the rimmed version of the 6.5 x 54 MS, the Dutch / Romanian 6.5 x 53R (same rim and body sizes as .303.

.
How "feral" do you want to get?

.44 Mag using desert Eagle mags? Again very similar head size to .303.

7.62 x 39 is a good option, BUT. Mini-30 mags are not ideal as the heavy mag spring can cause feed issues; rounds "popping out" during slow feeding, for instance. If you are handy at spring-winding, maybe.....

Better alternative id the single-stack 5 rounder for the CZ 527 bolt action. Less feed drag and easier ti work up an adapter for it.

HOWEVER, if you have an "un-bubba-ed" No1 Mk1 action, including the correct pattern of bolt and bolt head, consider a "functional "recreation" in a calibre from the above list. There must still be a few of the appropriate nosecaps and rear-sights still floating about. I have owned several of the "correct" components, (Nose caps, bolts and bolt-heads, etc, over the years, but as I was unlikely in my lifetime to ever see the rest of one for a sane price, I have traded or sold them.

[BVZ24]

Bringing this back up.
I managed to rather quickly find a majority of the correct parts for this rifle, including the magazine, bands, complete bolt, rear sight, and somehow a front sight.

I'm still stuck on the barrel as Armalon won't ship, and Krieger has stopped producing barrels in .303. I got a maybe from McGowan with their 4 groove Mosin barrels.

I'm starting to look back at alternative chamberings that I can get a barrel in, and 30-30 and 22lr seem like the best options.

I also would like thoughts on changing direction and making a NZ carbine. I believe this could be done from a muzzle damaged H barrel cut down and recrowned, and would also take advantage of most of the parts I have already gathered. I would probably order another set of wood from Ross Restoration. I think I would have an easier time finding someone who would part with a damaged H barrel than a usable full 30" barrel.

[tiriaq]

You mention .22lr - great use for a .303 barrel with a sewer of a bore. Bolt head, firing pin and extractor must be adapted.

[BVZ24]

I have a couple of complete 22 bolt heads. No firing pins, but I'm sure they are easier to find than some of the MLE parts.