New Owner (1917 Enfield) Question

[Keith944]

Greetings THR,

I'm Keith, recently bought my first rifle. It's a Winchester made 1917 Enfield 30-06. Bought it cheap at a local shop, figured it'd be a great first rifle just to enjoy and target shoot with (no hunting or anything super serious). I have a lot of experience shooting through scouts, family, friends, etc., so I'm no noob to firearms in general.

At some point in its life this rifle has been sporterized (custom stock, shortened barrel, Pachmayr butt, different sights), though the owner in between them and me got rid of the rear sight for scope mounts.

The original owner had a rear peep sight mounted to the right side of the receiver. I'm looking to get a rear peep for it but have had no luck finding something online - I've only found ones that mount on the left side. The holes have 5/8" spacing.

Hopefully somebody can lead me in the right direction, I really want to get this thing ready to take out to the local gun range!

Thanks.

 

[highpower]

The only sights that I can think of that will fit on top of the receiver bridge is the original one. The trouble is they have no provision for windage. Since the ears were cut off, I would get whichever type of side mounted peep sight the receiver is drilled for. I can't tell for sure, but I suspect that it was set up for Redfield sights.

In the old days when people were cutting up military rifles by the droves, the Lyman was a very popular side mount peep sight to install in lieu of the military sights. Most of the Lyman sights required a bit more of the wood to be removed though, which is the reason I think you might have to source the Redfields.

 

[gpb]

I don't know for sure, but here's a maybe.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/59...-remington-700-lh-daisy-99-299-aluminum-black

 

[carbine85]

These rifles made excellent sporters in the day and they sold for around $17.00. Mine has a forward mounted rear sight and a scope. Was this rifle tapped for a scope rail? I have seen examples with a Williams peep sight that is mounted on the side of the receiver. My thoughts are that's what was on your rifle.

 

[BCRider]

I suspect highpower nailed it with the Redfield sight option. A quick check for images using "redfield peep sight" got this as one of the first pictures. Scroll down a little.

http://collectorguns35625.yuku.com/topic/3766/M1903-Springfield-Redfield-Peep-Site-Original

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

I'm thinking a Lyman 48 on the right side... Peep, windage and elevation.

Todd.

 

[Keith944]

Thanks for the replies guys!

After further research and your help, I believe the original owner was probably running either a Lyman 48 or Redfield 70.

I'm gonna go ahead and buy a Williams 5D JEMS, see if it works. The thing I'm confused about is that they show it as compatible with the Mauser AND Enfield... But comparing to my brother's Mauser (see pic), the receiver is much rounder than my 1917.

 

[ClemY]

I'm thinking a Lyman 48 on the right side... Peep, windage and elevation.

Todd.

Concur.

 

[Mk VII]

The Parker-Hale PH6E was another sight made for P14/17 receivers slimmed down in this way.
http://www.gunauction.com/buy/9718458

 

[boom boom]

Just FYI, you can't mount the original 1917 sights as the sight pivot pin is mounted through the "ears" of the receiver. The front screw hole was to retain the sight spring. From the appearance of your pictures, the previous owner may have retapped the front screw hole for his aftermarket sight. Good luck on getting the aftermarket sights that you like--the 1917 Rifle and its P14 sibling are rugged. BTW, watch out for the ejector spring--it is a fragile design which can be broken easily. If you have the Remington model 30 (sporter version of the 1917) ejector retrofitted, then you will be ok. Numrich does have the original springs for now and an aftermarket version.

 

[MartinS]

"But comparing to my brother's Mauser (see pic), the receiver is much rounder than my 1917."

Looks like the roundness where the screws go is the important part.

 

[tark]

This has nothing to do with sights, but 1917s had a weak area, the ejector spring. It was small and flat and it often broke. I think Brownell's still sells a replacement that is more robust, you might want to get one as a precaution. They only cost a few bucks and they are easy to change.

 

[fguffey]

http://www.rifleman.org.uk/PH_Service_sights.htm

F. Guffey

 

[CB900F]

Keith944;

If I were you, I'd go look up an image or two of the gun as it originally was. Where you now have a rear receiver bridge, there used to be a rather large military rear sight that's been milled off. Consequently, the current shape of the rear bridge may bear no relationship whatsoever to any other gun. It'd be nice if it matched something, like the Mauser, but pretty slim odds it will.

Also, does the barrel have a flaming bomb cartouche? If so, it's the original U.S. Army barrel. But if not, do get the chamber checked before firing it. While the chamber's being checked, even if it turns out to be .30-06, also have the headspace checked. Some of the military barrels were known to be pretty "loose". That didn't matter too much to Uncle Sam's very own Marine Corps, because nobody on Guadalcanal was reloading their own ammo in 1942. But it very well could matter to you.

900F

 

[Vern Humphrey]

The Lyman 48 is almost certainly the answer. It was made for the Springfield, which cannot mount a peep on the left side, due to the magazine cutoff.

The Williams 5D-JEMS Receiver Peep Sight from MidwayUSA that GBP suggested will also probably fit, but call first to get the hole spacing to be sure..

 

[fguffey]

The sights that mount on the side had a radius that matched the receiver. I have three, all have the radius. The British have the steering wheel on the right and the peep sight on the left.

F. Guffey

 

[Keith944]

Thanks for all the responses.

Update:
I actually shot it last Saturday without a rear sight. It was awesome. Barrel was shortened so there's no stampings, but it is an original barrel as it has the 5 groove bore. Read somewhere about replacement barrels having different bore.

My Williams 5-D JEMS sight came in, and it fits PERFECT! Can't wait to sight it in.

 

[CB900F]

Keith944;

I'll strongly suggest that you take one of the fired brass from that gun and have it checked in a case gauge. If your LGS offers gunsmithing services, I'd think they'd check it for you at no cost. Surely there's a reloader you know that has an ought-6 gauge. If not, post a request on a nearby range's bulletin board. Somebody will do this for you at no cost, and it's a real good thing to know.

900F

 

[MartinS]

I like the looks of that thing. It'll be right at home in the outback, in a sneak boat in the swamp, in the Superstitions under the Needle, or the border country south side of anywhere.

 

[rszwieg]

The P17 is my favorite old milsurp. I don't even mind the cock on close feature.