Sporterized m1917 help, identifying receiver contour

[blackrat]

I've been trying to get this inherited rifle going for awhile now. It had trashed peep sight on it originally but was missing the front blade. I brought it to a smith that tried putting a picatinny rail on it but it was poorly done, was too high, and would loosen up on its own.

I found another smith that would fit some weaver bases if I bring them in to him. From my online research I'm aware there were at least 4 models that the contours were based on, usually Remington model 30 or 70, sometimes a rem 700, and a variation of an Enfield. I see the Enfield is flat though and my contour is not.

Can anyone identify what contour I have by these pictures? Given that the front of the receiver still has the engravings but some blue loss in not sure if that was molded as well or just wear from a base that was on there prior.











I did see this at apex and wonder if it might be a go as well.

https://www.apexgunparts.com/more/optics-mounts/scope-base-with-attaching-screws-for-m1917-p14-enfield.html

[elk hunter]

One thing I see here in your pics is that a plug was not made and epoxied or silver soldered into the hole under the rear sight. Your rear contour looks very similar to mine and I shaped it for Weaver Grand Slam bases. I'll pull my rifle out in a while and try to look closer I hate to take the scope or bases off because I would have to re zero it again.

[elk hunter]

The rear sight was probably hand worked from it's original configuration. Here's a pic or two of mine to compare where things are.






If you look behind the rear screw on the rear sight area you can see the the edge of the plug I hand fitted to the hole. Files are a good thing. HTH

[elk hunter]

If your going to hunt with this rifle you should get one of the ejectors in this pic.

[God Bless America]

If your going to hunt with this rifle you should get one of the ejectors in this pic.

[ATTACH]749169[/ATTACH]

Which ejector is it, and why?

[kendog4570]

Which ejector is it, and why?

Because the flat spring originally equipped with 1917's are fragile, and can break at the most inopportune time. Wisners makes the coil spring updated version for not too much $$.
As to the radius on your bridge, there is no standard, and many were ground to whatever the guy doing the grinding thought was right. A lot of them were ground to match the ring radius. Anybody that can tell you exactly what it is based on an internet picture is in the wrong line of work! Check it with a radius gauge and get a base a few .001" under your radius to avoid the base slipping around where you dont want it to. Or you can epoxy bed a close radius to fit. Try and match the height of the bases on the ring and bridge to be parallel with the bore. The "bathtub" need not be filled or plugged, only for cosmetics.

[Springfield45]

Because the flat spring originally equipped with 1917's are fragile, and can break at the most inopportune time. Wisners makes the coil spring updated version for not too much $$.
As to the radius on your bridge, there is no standard, and many were ground to whatever the guy doing the grinding thought was right. A lot of them were ground to match the ring radius. Anybody that can tell you exactly what it is based on an internet picture is in the wrong line of work! Check it with a radius gauge and get a base a few .001" under your radius to avoid the base slipping around where you dont want it to. Or you can epoxy bed a close radius to fit. Try and match the height of the bases on the ring and bridge to be parallel with the bore. The "bathtub" need not be filled or plugged, only for cosmetics.

You can cut down a ink pen spring and fit it inside with the original (broken) ejector for free.

[kendog4570]

You can cut down a ink pen spring and fit it inside with the original (broken) ejector for free.

But then Jim doesn't make any money.

[blackrat]

Thanks for taking the time elkhunter, and good point kendog. Bases are cheap, I'll order one of each and give them to the smith. Whatever he can make work will work, at least he'll have options.

[Scota4570]

Looks like Remington M30. The bridge and ring are the same on the M30.

Back them Redfield was the most popular. Find a shop with a stock of Redfield one piece bases. I bet one of them will fit. Make sure the distance above the bolt is the same front and back.

Avoid the guy you tried to put the picatinny on it.