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M1917/P14 confusion over receiver. Any resident experts able to offer help?
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08-07-2018 11:57 AM
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Lazer, Yes --This looks to be a P14 receiver with a 1917 bolt and barrel. The receiver is marked DP (Drill Purpose). The ERA marking and serial look odd to me like maybe restamped but I'm not certain on that. Unless the magazine well and feed rails have been altered it won't feed 30-06. The biggest difference in a P14 and 1917 receiver is the length and shape of the opening for the magazine box. People attempt this conversion because P14 barrels are really hard to find. Have you tried feeding from the magazine? If this were mine I would think of this as a rifle to "part out". A good unalterd 1917 barrel is worth 150-200 and stocks are similar. Salt Flat
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Thanks for clearing that up! I am unsure as to alterations in the magazine and feed rails, but the rifle feeds and ejects pretty consistently. Thanks again for the assistance.
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Lazerwolf-- The rifle is definite a parts guns made up of Pattern 1914 parts with a M1917 barrel, bolt and stock. At least from what I can tell. I would tell to just shoot the rifle if the headspacing is OK. The receiver is a very early Eddystone P14 one. I do not know the reason for the conversion. But if the rifle had all of the original P14 parts, it would be of interest to some P14 collectors. Someone probably purchased one of the cheap imports from several years ago and converted the rifle to .30-06. One of the few conversions from .303 to .30-06 Springfield that worked. I have found that most of the M1917 projects that I purchased required major fitting by a gunsmith. I am glad your's is not a Winchester P14, they seem to be the worst to fit M1917 parts to.
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Thank You to fjruple For This Useful Post:
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Hey Salt,
Have you heard of this going the other way? Do you think finding and swapping the receiver back to a M1917 is a worthy endeavor or cost effective? I can't imagine too many receivers on their own floating around, but I would hate to see this rifle go to waste. Lazerwolf987.
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Lazerwolf, This is possible, If you could find an unmolested 1917 receiver or action. I saw a complete action at a gun show about 3 months ago for 150. HOWEVER, some of the receivers have cracks. In the last few years I have bought 3 receivers at gun shows and only 1 was not cracked. So have a flashlight and a magnifying glass with you and examine closely when you go to the gunshows. You could also place a want ad on this forum. Salt Flat
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Lazerwolf, Here's a link to a thread on the cracking issue; https://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=47515
Also I think I would look for a barreled receiver unless you have the proper tooling to change barrels. This would be more of a drop in installation and a whole lot easier.
Salt Flat
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Lazerwolf- It is probably not worth the effort to try to fit a new m1917 receiver to your parts rifle. For the amount that you would invest in tools and parts (new receiver) you probably can find another nice m1917. I would check the head spacing to insure there is no problem there. Then shoot the rifle. They are great fun and accurate especially with a Parker hale rear target sight.
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I don't know if it'd be worth finding a M1917 receiver for. Especially with purchasing or making the tools beeded to take the barrel of and put it back on.
“There are three kinds of men. The ones that learn by readin’. The few who learn by observation.
The rest of them have to pee on the electric fence for themselves.” - Will Rogers
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Thanks for all the help gang. I really appreciate it. I will have enjoy it for what's it worth and keep my eyes peeled for the next one. Y'all have been great!
Lazerwolf