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I have recently completed two Long Term Projects that have been in the works for 10 years+.. Gunsmithing for me takes the form of Improving Operation on Generic Guns like Marlins and Shotguns like Mossberg's, and Refinishing and Building Sporting Guns out of Military Service Rifles from WW1 and 2. Sometimes these projects go on for years simply because of some missing pieces or a missing Skill that I have to develop.
I am a Machinist Toolmaker by Trade so the Machine Work is easy for me and I have the machines to do it. I have also developed decent Wood Working and Finishing Skills over the years So I can make wood look pretty decent. I won't hesitate to refinish a stock on a Gun that I buy that needs some TLC and that gun maybe even be brand new from the factory that didn't do much to finish the wood satisfactorily.
The first gun is a Parker Hale "Deluxe Sporter" that I bought about 2014 for $175. After WW2 Parker-Hale bought up thousands of British Service Rifles and converted them to Sporters. Most of these guns were sold in the US and Canada. My first one was a "Regular Sporter" that was essentially a Enfield #4 Mk1 with the Handguards removed it sold originally for $65 and I converted mine to look like a Enfield L39 Target rifle. #1 Mk3's were also done this way
The Deluxe Sporters were made from the Rifles with worn muzzles from being Over Cleaned. They got the barrels cut 3 " and re-crowned to get rid of the destroyed parts of the barrels, and a new Parker Hale Front Sight Ramp, modified Wood on the Fore End and Sling Swivels. They also got a new 5 Round Magazine which is worth more than the gun itself! These guns sold for $75?
Mine got new Boyd's Gray Laminated Wood with a Pachmayer Recoil Pad. The barrel was bored out to .35-303 by JES Reboring and the entire barreled action and all bottom metals were Cera-Koted. In addition I made an Adapter to fit a Redfield Receiver Sight to the gun which is something I have done before on other Enfield's.
I am pretty happy with how it turned out and am waiting on a Lee Boolit Mold to start shooting it. I am starting with load data for .35 Remington as that is close to what this cartridge will be when sussed out. It is not a new Wild Cat Cartridge as many guns like this were converted in AUS and other British Empire Countries. But it is not that common here in the US. My contacts in AUS as well as JES suggested the .35 Rem as a starting point for load development. Pretty sure this gun with 220 gr Jacketed Bullets will be sufficient for anything in N/A, and most other places as well.
It is functionally a "Hunting Rifle." Handles nicely and whereas it has an Enfield Trigger I got it to where it is not bad at all.
Here's some pics.
Randy
I am a Machinist Toolmaker by Trade so the Machine Work is easy for me and I have the machines to do it. I have also developed decent Wood Working and Finishing Skills over the years So I can make wood look pretty decent. I won't hesitate to refinish a stock on a Gun that I buy that needs some TLC and that gun maybe even be brand new from the factory that didn't do much to finish the wood satisfactorily.
The first gun is a Parker Hale "Deluxe Sporter" that I bought about 2014 for $175. After WW2 Parker-Hale bought up thousands of British Service Rifles and converted them to Sporters. Most of these guns were sold in the US and Canada. My first one was a "Regular Sporter" that was essentially a Enfield #4 Mk1 with the Handguards removed it sold originally for $65 and I converted mine to look like a Enfield L39 Target rifle. #1 Mk3's were also done this way
The Deluxe Sporters were made from the Rifles with worn muzzles from being Over Cleaned. They got the barrels cut 3 " and re-crowned to get rid of the destroyed parts of the barrels, and a new Parker Hale Front Sight Ramp, modified Wood on the Fore End and Sling Swivels. They also got a new 5 Round Magazine which is worth more than the gun itself! These guns sold for $75?
Mine got new Boyd's Gray Laminated Wood with a Pachmayer Recoil Pad. The barrel was bored out to .35-303 by JES Reboring and the entire barreled action and all bottom metals were Cera-Koted. In addition I made an Adapter to fit a Redfield Receiver Sight to the gun which is something I have done before on other Enfield's.
I am pretty happy with how it turned out and am waiting on a Lee Boolit Mold to start shooting it. I am starting with load data for .35 Remington as that is close to what this cartridge will be when sussed out. It is not a new Wild Cat Cartridge as many guns like this were converted in AUS and other British Empire Countries. But it is not that common here in the US. My contacts in AUS as well as JES suggested the .35 Rem as a starting point for load development. Pretty sure this gun with 220 gr Jacketed Bullets will be sufficient for anything in N/A, and most other places as well.
It is functionally a "Hunting Rifle." Handles nicely and whereas it has an Enfield Trigger I got it to where it is not bad at all.
Here's some pics.
Randy
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