New Acquisition last week.........in need a of a little TLC.

[muffett.2008]

I agree Salt Flat, I was wondering how Roger got into my workshop.

[Roger Payne]

My wife says my garage workshop is such an (expletive) mess she won't go in there.....................................so being a sloppy bugger has its advantages.
Seriously, it is well overdue a tidy up. Soon.......& maybe I'll sort out my book case at the same time!
One of the pictures is for Lance - yes it does appear to be the original barrel. Maybe an early example that never got remarked???? Or could it conceivably have been modified for the civvy market???

[browningautorifle]

Seriously, it is well overdue a tidy up. Soon

I think it just needs a bit more space. It does look like there's a bit of everything there.

[Sapper740]

.55 Boyes to .22 rimfire conveyors were made by Cooey in Canada and come up for sale occassionaly. I'd buy one but my rifle has been converted to .50 BMG.

[303 Gunner]

I have been looking for one of these for years, but have never caught a sniff aside from a couple conveyors. Congratulations on a unique rifle. And if you ever get bored with it let me know

[browningautorifle]

I'd buy one but my rifle has been converted to .50 BMG.

So, get one made that fits and chambers something closer to your flavor. Like a .50AE or a 500 S&W. Then it's a bore match.

[Sapper740]

So, get one made that fits and chambers something closer to your flavor. Like a .50AE or a 500 S&W. Then it's a bore match.

That's an idea that has crossed my mind Jim but I've always imagined taking my Boyes to some indoor .22 RF range, slide in a conveyor and watch the faces of the shooters around me as they scramble for their hearing protection and the RO only to have a virtually indistinguishable "pop" come from the barrel. The .50 AE might work in a .50 BMG conveyor if you can find some of the original ammo in .510" but the new stuff along with the .50 S&W are now a true .500". There wouldn't be a huge cost saving either with the handgun cartridges which run aound $1.50/round. I made a bulk purchase of surplus .50 BMG ammo for $2.49/ round a few years back.

Regards, Derek

[browningautorifle]

taking my Boyes to some indoor .22 RF range

It too would be easy enough to turn a cartridge from a piece of .22 barrel to the length you seek. Some older scrap .22 barrel should meet outside dimensions and go from there. Would take about an afternoon to turn out. Hard part would be making the rimfire base for the adaptor and that's not bad either.

[Roger Payne]

Sorry, Salt Flat, I just noticed I didn't answer your question about how the liners are secured in these .22 trainers. I have only ever owned three of this particular pattern, & all were sleeved .303 barrels, secured with soft solder. However, speaking of .22 trainer SMLE's generally, both solid .22 barrels & sleeved barrels are common. Someone like Lance might be able to fill in with more detail on this one.

[Alan de Enfield]

I don't remember where I got this from :


.22 SHORT RIFLE MK III
Approved 9th August 1912 (LoC 16291) for Land Service, this rifle was made up from Converted Mk II and Mk II* SMLE rifles (which were themselves either "long" Lee-Metford or "long" Lee-Enfields converted to "short" Lees). About 11,000 conversions were done by BSA, LSA and RSAF Enfield.

.22 RF PATTERN 1914 SHORT RIFLE No. 1
A wartime trainer approved 24th May 1915 (LoC 17320) for Land Service, this rifle was also made up from Converted Mk II and Mk II* SMLE rifles (see above) by boring out the .303 barrel and inserting a .22 calibre liner inside the barrel. Conversions were done by A.G. Parker & Co. Ltd. and Wesley Richards & Co. About 427 conversions reported.
Amendment 30/1/24
The 427 is only one of the contracted orders found by Ian. Later he found more and they are mentioned on p285 of The Lee-Enfield. 3,000 were converted by Westley Richards and between 1,500 and 3,329 to A.G. Parker. The 3,000 by Westley Richards are just noted as .22 Short Rifles but as they only converted .22 Patt 14 No. 1's it can be assumed all 3K were.

.22 RF PATTERN 1914 SHORT RIFLE No. 2
Approved 28th April 1916 (LoC 17755) for Land Service, this is the first rifle made from up from an original SMLE Mk III. Again, the .303 barrel was bored out and a .22 calibre liner inserted. Conversions were done by A.G. Parker & Co. Ltd. and Wesley Richards & Co. Some 1,743 conversions reported.

.22 RF SHORT RIFLE PATTERN 1918
Approved 10th July 1918 (LoC 21675) for Land Service, this rifle is unique in that it used a dummy .303 cartridge as a holder or conveyor for the .22 rimfire cartridge. The .22 barrel liner was soldered into place after the chamber. About 975 conversions done by W.W. Greener Co.

.22 SHORT RIFLE Mk IV
Approved 19th November 1921 (LoC 24909) for Land Service, this rifle starts out with a used SMLE Mk III or Mk III* (like the 1914 Short Rifle No. 2, above) but uses a solid, not tubed, barrel. Total number of conversions done by RSAF Enfield unknown.

RIFLE No.2 Mk IV*
Same rifle as above; just a change in nomenclature adopted in 1926. This rifle was the principal trainer for the next thirty years and was widely produced by in Britain, Australia and India. Issued in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Ireland and India, a variety of issue and ownership marks can be found on these rifles. At least 30,000 conversions made by the various factories.