M1917 Enfield . Is it a good action?

[rromeo]

I found a sporterized M1917 Enfield for sale, looked up the serial number which says it's Eddystone. The price seems to be a no brainer for a shooter, it's close to Mosin money. Are these solid build guns?

[Vlad 11]

1917s are at the top of the hill as far as Solid goes. Definitely a robust rifle

The concerns would be the way it was sportered and the condition of the bore

[Bobby Ricigliano]

I have admittedly never got around to shooting my Eddystone. But for a 100 year old gun it is obviously built robustly. The 1917 has always been in the 1903's shadow and lesser known, but it is a beautiful rifle.

[Full Clip]

Very strong action.

[NOTABIKER]

My dad had one chambered for 300 weatherby magnum.Long action can accommodate almost any high caliber round. Very popular in the 50s for conversion to big game hunting. the bent dog leg bolt will clear most scopes of the time.

[God Bless America]

Only one concern on those. The front ring can crack while rebarreling. If it is not cracked, then action strong like bull!

[BrocLuno]

I've played with a few of these, well more than a few... The receiver front ring cracking was usually related to over-torquing a new barrel to the index mark in the armory... The basic strength to contain the pressure spike is in the chamber end of the barrel itself. The receiver ring adds less than 10% to the radial strength.

It's funny to see an old milsurp Eddystone that has been Bubba'd and shot for years and look real careful and see a short crack and point it out. You get all sorts of strange stares and offers to sell it

I suspect that many were issued out to the field with cracks that no one saw ... That's why they still show up... That said, I'd rather not buy one that way unless it was dirt cheap...

If there is no crack, and the vast majority do not have one, it's a great rifle to build on. A sporter can be built all the way to 375 H&H if you find the right Smith. Or you can shoot it as a Mil-Surp and have a blast

[rromeo]

Only one concern on those. The front ring can crack while rebarreling. If it is not cracked, then action strong like bull!

This one is 30-06, so it may be the original barrel. If I get it, I don't plan to do anything other than shoot it as is.

[mosinnagantm9130]

At mosin prices I'd be real tempted.

[Enfield47]

For such an inexpensive price you can't go wrong. They are great guns with buttery smooth actions and very strong receivers. It's really a shame that the Brits and Americans didn't adopt them as their main battle rifle in WWI. The longer sight radius and use of a rear peep sight was pretty advanced compared to the rifles that other armies were fielding.

[jgaffney]

I bought an M1917 from CMP many years ago. The barrel was pretty black and, after much scrubbing and soaking, it didn't get much better. I was shooting 10" groups at 100 yds, and some of the bullets were keyholing.

CMP offered new Centurion barrels for $180, so I jumped on one. My local gunsmith showed me how he changed the barrel without hurting the action: He chuckled the barrel in the lathe, then cut a 1/8" relief cut in the barrel, right in front of the action, down to the depth of the thread root. The action spun right off, and the new one threaded on cleanly. It's not necessary to pull down as hard as you can. Just line up the index marks so the extractor slot and front sight will be right.

Now, I have lots of fun shooting this old war horse next to my Grand.

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[Gromann]

That would be the sort of thing I'd snag in an instant. C&R rifles are a bit of a conundrum, if it's sporterized it loses its collectors value, but apparently its value as an outright rifle too. An Enfield action 30-06 would be a fun rifle.

[Cincinnatus]

An Enfield action .30-06 would be a fun rifle.

An Enfield .30-06 IS a fun rifle. So's a 1903. And a Garand. Battle guns are joy.

[echo1]

I've got an EDDYSTONE that had been worked over long ago. Lacking one minor item to bring it back, I'm not in a rush. Here's a link I posted about it. PAX

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=1161553

[rromeo]

Damn, let it slip away. I got caught up with stuff and missed the end of the auction. I should have done the buy it now, but I was trying to save a few bucks.