Enfield in 7.62 x 54mmR

[RobD]

I reckon it won't be long before India, China, or another country starts selling .303. My bet would be India, since their army still use it and their arsenals still manufacture it, look here:
Ordnance Factory Board
After all, if little Serbia can dominate the "unusual calibre" market (Prvi Partizan) then the market is asleep at the wheel...

[Robert303]

I suspect the Chinese will be in first. If they decide to go for a market the combination of commercial acumen and government willingness to make things happen (legally or not) will outstrip the Indian beaurocracy and red tape. Serbia did it as Privi Partizan was about their only foeirgn currency earner, provided good jobs and so was not going to have trouble with Greens or NIMBYS.

[Peter Laidler]

The price of .303" would tumble if someone simply went to Privi Partizan, put a wad of cash on the table and said let's discuss the price of 4 million rounds of .303". Someone like the NRA for example. Got to be someone in Europe to road freight it here at a sensible rate. It's all about speculating to accumulate

[Lee Enfield]

Attachment 64677

You would probably have to open the body for the larger rim.

The extractor and ejector might need some work too. You don’t need a new barrel, it can be rechambered like the Bren barrels. The big problem is 54R has a higher pressure than .303. I wouldn’t mess with it. Get a Nagant or a PSL.

My concern with this conversion is based on the fact the the relief cut necessary to the left side of the receiver is actually a support for the bolt.

Those of us who have experienced bolt tipping in SMLE rifles would like to avoid experiencing the same issues in a serviceable No4 rifle.

Where do you think the restricted service (D lisle, Grenade launching, line throwing, ect) no1 actions came from?

[Peter Laidler]

I don't believe that a relief cut is necessary anywhere on/in the body except a gnats knacker - if at all - where the rim of the 762x54R rim passes through the breeching-up ring to sit in the chamber.

Just thinking on my feet, you could start with an 'end of life' No4 with a No3 bolthead too. After all, if you're going to re-cut the 762x54R chamber into the existing chamber (as per Brens and Vickers) then you just cut the chamber depth to suit the assumed 762x54R CHS.

Ain't done it of course but as an optomist in all things, I think this glass is half FULL and not half EMPTY

[bigduke6]

I think this glass is half FULL and not half EMPTY

Looking through some old barrels I do have a used one that had a relief cut to remove it so was fitted to another No4 with a spacer.... Ideal candidate I reckon, anyone have a 7.62x54R reamer ?

[Surpmil]

P14 or a Ross MkIII would be a better bet.

Ross MkII for that matter as well; they were proofed to 24 tons in .303

[CINDERS]

The price of .303" would tumble if someone simply went to Privi Partizan

And what of all the gear that was about making these rounds in the past all cut up dumped! I agree with you Peter I really think there is a market for the rounds to be produced as close as possible to MK VII specs.
Why you could even do a run of 215 nickles for those who want to just have a bash with the original RN, the only thing stopping me is the few million dollars probably like about 20 mil would do it to get the gear up and running oh! and all the licenses and export places to sell the stuff.

[henry r]

taipan bullets has/had the bullet making gear from the no 3 and 4 small arms ammunition factories, bertram bullet co. has/had the case making gear from one (or more) of the factories...

not that i have ever pipe dreamed of having a .303 ammunition factory.

[bigduke6]

Thanks to all who have posted etc, it was mainly to see if anyone had done or known of a conversion done before and to see if there was any flaws (which there a few, more to do with pressure).

I had PM'd a member who did give me some sound advice and pointed me to the fact some of the surplus out there is VERY HOT , something I'd never thought of and looking at some of the surplus on the market it does fit this description which I found on the net.

To increase accuracy for the Dragunov SVD, the Soviets developed the 7N1 variant of the cartridge in 1966. The 7N1 was developed by V. M. Sabelnikov, P. P. Sazonov and V. M. Dvorianinov. It used match-grade extruded powder instead of the coarser ball propellant and had a 9.8 g (151.2 gr) boat-tailed FMJ jacketed projectile with an air pocket, a steel core and a lead knocker in the base for maximum terminal effect. Produced by “Factory 188” (Novosibirsk Low Voltage Equipment Plant), cartridges are only head-stamped with the number “188” and the year of manufacture. It came packaged 20 loose rounds to a paper packet, 22 packets to a metal “spam” tin, and two tins per wooden case for a total of 880 rounds. The individual paper packets, hermetically sealed metal 'spam' cans, and wooden shipping crates were all distinctly marked Снайперская ("Sniper"). Even the wax wrapping paper for the paper boxes was covered in red text to make sure it wasn't misused.

As hard body armor saw increasing use in militaries, the 7N1 was replaced in 1999 by the 7N14 special load developed for the SVD. The 7N14 round is loaded with a 9.8 g (151.2 gr) projectile containing a sharp hardened steel penetrator to improve penetration which is fired with an average muzzle velocity of 830 m/s (2,723 ft/s).


At the other end of the scale, I,m more into reducing the calibre and pressures rather than increasing ..... and with only snippets of info sourced from the net regarding pressures I,d be reluctant to do this for anyone bar myself....

Must admit I was quite taken by the idea as I,ve got some ammo on the way but this is for a future Nagant, so will get some tested to see what the pressures are when at the proof house for comparison.

Surpmil suggests a P14 or Ross, I do have a few P14 actions and a M1917 action but no Ross, in fact never handled a Ross.... I,ve no doubt regarding the P14 though and it was suggested.

One thing I will point out it was never the intention to take a run of the mill No4 and convert it....all my conversions in the process or future are from salvaged sporterized/ target rifles etc.


Looking at the ammo again, would be interesting as one member suggested to pull the bullet and use the powder, best of both worlds as I can use the 54R primed case for my downloads ...... (if the results come back with a thumbs up regarding the downloads/ gallery loads) and I find a Nagant.

Regards to .303 ammo, even if it was produced again to surplus spec and at a cheap price I suspect it wouldn't last long as someone would tax it more.

At the end of the day its the bean counters who run companies now, they make or produce a product thats in demand and can make a quick profit. I doubt RG are making the same amount as 5.56mm they were doing in the last 15 years ? supply and demand?

The other restriction on ammo (in the UK) is the amount we can store at home and buy at one time. Regarding the UK for use and shooting, I did run the Milsurps comp (in the range report part of the forum) it was only a hand full of people who took part in the end and IIRC was the only one in the UK shooting it.... so even if the ammo was available and considering the amount of reloaders there are I doubt it would be a big seller..... Just my point of view.

Anyway back to where I started and the person in question who asked regarding the conversion has had second thoughts and is now looking for a Nagant......