P14: Just what can it pawdle?

[meles meles]

As you may have gathered, oomans, we have a fondness for Enfield P14s and have several: one in original .303 and quite a few 7.62x51 target rifle conversions. It's a strong action and has been used for many other calibres. We've just popped a few 7.62x54R drill rounds in our .303 rifle and it feeds then reliably almost fully into the chamber. This of course has given us ideas, not least of which is rebarrelling one of our 7.62x51 P14s to fire 7.62x54R. Can anyone see any snags with that?

Taking a step further, as the P14 has been used for quite a few magnum hunting rounds in its time, might it even be capable of coping with .338 Lapua ?

[Blighty]

Badger,

Not at all related to your post however yesterday I pawed a mint P13.

Right. Got it off my chest. Carry on Chaps.

[StanDeasy]

I wouldn't take the P14 beyond the std magnum boltface. The .338 Lap case has a larger internal base diameter than the std magnum and so generates more bolt thrust.

If you really wanted a P14 in .338, I would suggest the .340 Weatherby Mag.

[meles meles]

Badger,

Not at all related to your post however yesterday I pawed a mint P13.

Right. Got it off my chest. Carry on Chaps.

Upspeak, ooman. Tell us more...

[Charlie Muggins]

I've been dreaming of having a no4 rebarrelled in 7mm British for a while; sort of a "what if things had gone in a more sensible direction" rifle. Would such a chambering in a p14 be of interest? The .280-30 version is essentially 7.62x51 necked down to .280" (7mm) and there is an American who reckons you can make a close approximation by reducing the length of 7mm-08 dies and chamber reamer. Paw loads only of course.

[meles meles]

Hmmm, sort of returning to the P13... ?

[dave_303]

Badger,

Not at all related to your post however yesterday I pawed a mint P13.

Right. Got it off my chest. Carry on Chaps.

I'm not in the least bit jealous tesnews .............................

Ok maybe just a little



How did you score such a rarity!!! Seriously this needs photos!

[ovenpaa]

A P13 type thing is high on my list of projects, I have a donor Winchester TR chambered in 7,62x51 and I am looking for some original woodwork for it at the moment.

[meles meles]

Hmmm, maybe one of our P14 target rifles could be re-barrelled to 7 mm. Is it an easy job ?

[ovenpaa]

To re-barrel to 7mm is not a problem, knowing what to put up it afterwards is a bit more problematical. Finding original .276 brass is a nightmare however you can get close with the 8X68S Magnum brass so the question is would you chamber it in .276 Enfield with a 7mm barrel and work with the associated issues of bolt work and brass re-sizing/fire forming or go for the easier option of a 7mm-08 or something vaguely close to the .276 Enfield using .308 brass.

Of course you could always go for a 7mm EPPS variant. (.303 'improved and necked down to .284")