93 year old accuracy

[velocette]

Today, along with my newly purchased AR rifle, (post elsewhere in this forum) I took my year long project rifle to the range too. A 1917 Eddystone Enfield rifle. Made in 1917, Bubba'ized long before I got it. I spent almost a year sporterizing, (resurrecting?) it.
today, it went to the range & paid for it's keep.
It has the GI barrel that was on it when I got it. The barrel has been shortened about an inch and a quarter to get rid of the dovetail for the GI front sight and has been given an 11 degree target crown. Much much work on the rest of the rifle to make it a sporter. No power tools were used in any part of the work. All files, sandpaper, etc.
Today it gave me at 100 yds a 1" group of 3 rds. 1 1/8' 4 rds.
These groups were NOT from a bench NOT from a rest, NOT supported.
These groups were from prone, with a good sling & ammo I loaded for my Garand.
I love it when a plan comes together.

Roger

 

[LoonWulf]

Thats a lovely looking rifle and great shooting

 

[BrocLuno]

Good going. Lovely rifle and very well done on both the smithing and shooting. I have a soft spot for well done mil-sporters. You have the eye and the touch

I have a few of these projects waiting for the right parts. Two "seriously bubba" Eddystones and another I don't know what en route from CMP. I wanted a parts rifle so I ordered a "Parade 1917" but they ran out before my order was processed. They offered to substitute a Rack Grade 1917 which is what's coming. I won't know if it's a donor or a shooter until it gets here?

I may still be looking for parts for the other two? Such is this game

 

[fireside44]

Today it gave me at 100 yds a 1" group of 3 rds. 1 1/8' 4 rds.

Rad. Sounds like you put together a champ. It is beautiful. I always love seeing people use the old pattern 14 and 17 actions and bringing them alive. They seem kind of like cast offs in a way, but it is one of the great actions and overlooked, it would seem, by too many people. Best part is you can pretty well build whatever caliber you want on them.

 

[vellocet]

Nice rifle. Did you float or cork the barrel?

 

[velocette]

vellocet;

Barrel is free floated from just fwd of the action screw.

Where did you get your name? same 500 as me?

 

[nathan]

Good ole Sgt York used an Eddystone 1917 Rifle , right? No doubt it will put food on the table.

 

[mokin]

Beautiful rifle. There isn't anything wrong with a properly done sporter job.

As far as accuracy goes, I have a 1918 No. 1 Mk III that still shoots very well. Those old rifles are great.

 

[henschman]

Lookin good... and those are some nice groups. I have one I am restoring as well, which I bought at a gun show for $110. On mine the stock has been cut down like a "sporter," but luckily it still has the original rear sight and it hasn't been drilled and tapped. It has a completely shot-out barrel though. I'm looking for a replacement barrel and a GI stock. That and a parkerizing job should bump its value up quite a bit!

 

[ball3006]

Your rifle has a High Standard barrel. Those are very good barrels. First time I have seen one on a 1917 though. Usually they are on 03s......chris3

 

[velocette]

henschman;
go here for information on your '17 Enfield : http://forums.thecmp.org/forumdisplay.php?f=79

Then go their sales section for a very good barrel, new.

BEWARE! changing a barrel on a '17 Enfield is NOT an easy job You MUST have the correct tools, fixtures & knowhow. The original barrels are fitted VERY VERY TIGHTLY. Far more tightly than most other rifles. There have been a lot of Eddystone Enfields destroyed by folks trying to remove the barrel. The good folks at the CMP forum will know where to go and how to do virtually everything with your rifle. Also beware of the ejector's spring, they are "fragile" and new ejectors are getting hard to find.

Have fun!

Roger

 

[velocette]

ball 3006;
I gotta win occasionally in this lottery of life. That rifle was the first win in a long time. Almost a year of labor with no power tools and the sucker shoots just great. I could not be happier with it. High Standard barrel - - Hmm, I have one of their .22 autoloading pistols that is a gunmakers work of art.
Thanks for the info.

Roger

 

[kragluver]

If your ejector ever breaks, a field expedient replacement can be made using a spring from a ballpoint pen. Numerich still had replacement ejectors as of this past summer. I had to replace one in my sporter '17.

 

[Freedom_fighter_in_IL]

Ohhhhhhh Nooooooooo You didn'ttttttttttttttttttttttt!!!! You have completely and utterly DESTROYED that valuable milsurp!!! Now NOONE will ever want to even look at it!!! The value of that rifle that noone would have ever used again is now gone!!!! Man that just cuts me to the bone!!!! How could one ever do that to such a historical firearm??

Can't believe all the milsurp frogs haven't already jumped at this post. Figured id say it for them so maybe they wont bother

Very nice rifle and well done. I love seeing a rifle brought out of the trash and new life breathed into it. Good choice on the 11* crown. I've personally found that to be about the most useful degree of crown for hunting purposes. Still offers a good bit of protection while give the bullet a good release point.

 

[Owen Sparks]

My Swedish Mauser was made in 1907. I hit a dime with it at 100 yards.

 

[Brockak47]

Dude, Good job!

 

[henschman]

henschman;
go here for information on your '17 Enfield : http://forums.thecmp.org/forumdisplay.php?f=79

Then go their sales section for a very good barrel, new.

BEWARE! changing a barrel on a '17 Enfield is NOT an easy job You MUST have the correct tools, fixtures & knowhow. The original barrels are fitted VERY VERY TIGHTLY. Far more tightly than most other rifles. There have been a lot of Eddystone Enfields destroyed by folks trying to remove the barrel. The good folks at the CMP forum will know where to go and how to do virtually everything with your rifle. Also beware of the ejector's spring, they are "fragile" and new ejectors are getting hard to find.

Have fun!

Roger

Thanks for the advice... I have seen the CMP barrels, and that's probably what I'm going with. I just need to find a good stock with the metal. I have heard about the issues folks have when taking the original barrel off... thankfully mine has already had the barrel swapped on it (it is an Eddystone with a Remington barrel). I'm still taking it to a gunsmith who knows what he's doing though. I can do the parkerizing myself. The question is whether I will want to keep it and shoot it, or sell it and make a bunch of money on it.