M1917 Enfield rechambered in 458 Win Mag..safe to shoot??

[saturno_v]

Almost a year ago on the used rack of a gun shop I saw a sporterized M1917 Enfield, normally chambered in 30-06, that some gunsmith rechambered in 458 Win Mag to make an African rifle on the cheap.

It had iron sights and at first examination seemed in great conditions and the work well exectuted, action was smooth, etc...only few blemishes on the wood and blueing and it needed a butt recoil pad, the butt plate was missing.

The asking price was just a little over $200 (I do not remember the exact amount)..and it made me a little suspicious if the rifle was really safe to shoot, usually "African" rifles, even used, command very high prices.

Working pressure for the 458, accordingly to the SAAMI specs, is actually lower that a 30-06, still the jump in power and mechanical stress for the action seemed a bit extreme to me.

I did some research and I never found any info if this was a common conversion for that type of rifle.

So I did pass it up...but I'm still curious about it...did you ever heard of such conversion before???

 

[IndianaBoy]

Kind of common for Africa hunters who wanted more rounds than a double rifle and preferred the Enfield action to a Mauser.

If done correctly it should be safe to fire, but I am far from an expert on such matters.

If the win mag operates at lower pressure than the 06, that is more important than the size of the bullet it is throwing.


An case full of pistol powder in a rifle designed for a cartridge like the 460 Weatherby would probably blow the rifle apart. Pressure is what kills rifle actions.

 

[Jim Watson]

A-Square has used 1917 actions for all manner of monster magnums that just start with the .458. If it was well done, it is a safe and serviceable rifle.

 

[Bezoar]

thats the thing, who can tell you if the conversion was done correctly?

 

[JWF III]

thats the thing, who can tell you if the conversion was done correctly

A reputable gunsmith with a set of go/no-go gauges for the .458WM.

Wyman

 

[MMCSRET]

Actually the gauges are belted gauges as all the belted Mags headspace on the belt, so that set that he just used on the old 300 H&H is the same set he will use on the 458 Enfield.

 

[conhntr]

i thought the 1917 was a muaser type action?

 

[jpwilly]

1917 Enfields are Mauser type actions...

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

1917 enfield actions are about as strong as they get. If the conversion was done properly it should be good to go.

 

[nicholst55]

I have a 1917 sporter chambered for .458 Lott - what the .458 Win Mag wants to be when it grows up. Actually, more like a .38 Special versus .357 Magnum kind of thing - a 'long' .458.

As stated above, if properly done, there is no reason to believe that it is not safe to shoot. These actions have been chambered for some panatella-sized cartridges, and used very successfully.