Winchester Enfield M17

[Spooksar]

So I was just given a barn find, it’s pretty rusted in the barrel, but l got the action opened and it looks not bad. So what should I make with it. I’m thinking a 375-06 Ackely or a 6.5-06, with a 30 Gibbs as the third option.

 

[Ryan]

As an owner of two 30-06 besides a M1917 I acquired from my father I've wondered the same thing. The answer is just about anything that fits a long action. My thoughts would be 6.5-06 on the light zippy side and 35 Whelen on the heavier medium bore side. For a flat shooter the early Weatherbys fit the action. The 257, 270, and 7mm Weatherby. They're the reasonable three from Weatherby IMO. The down side of those is ammo or even brass prices. After a 375 or 416? Look into the 375 or 416 Ruger.

Good luck.

 

[Spooksar]

As an owner of two 30-06 besides a M1917 I acquired from my father I've wondered the same thing. The answer is just about anything that fits a long action. My thoughts would be 6.5-06 on the light zippy side and 35 Whelen on the heavier medium bore side. For a flat shooter the early Weatherbys fit the action. The 257, 270, and 7mm Weatherby. They're the reasonable three from Weatherby IMO. The down side of those is ammo or even brass prices. After a 375 or 416? Look into the 375 or 416 Ruger.

Good luck.

The 6.5-06, the 400 Whelen and the 375-06 are the only calibers on the standard 96 case I don’t have. Have a 357 Ruger and the Weatherby cartridges you mentioned

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

So I was just given a barn find, it’s pretty rusted in the barrel, but l got the action opened and it looks not bad. So what should I make with it. I’m thinking a 375-06 Ackely or a 6.5-06, with a 30 Gibbs as the third option.

@Spooksar.
You have a great STRONG action that will handle anything upto 505 Gibbs.
Work out what you wan to hunt and then decide on a caliber.
I have one in 25 cal and another in 35Whelen. Both extremely accurate.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

The 6.5-06, the 400 Whelen and the 375-06 are the only calibers on the standard 96 case I don’t have. Have a 357 Ruger and the Weatherby cartridges you mentioned

@Spooksar
To save a lot of time hit the magnifying glass on the forum and search for the 400 Whelen
Bob

 

[mdwest]

We have a Winchester M17 in 300 H&H in the safe that is a wonderful rifle. If I had another M17 action available I’d make another 300 H&H or perhaps a 375 H&H…

From what I can tell, whoever converted my M17, no work on the action or magazine was done, and it feeds 300H&H beautifully…

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

We have a Winchester M17 in 300 H&H in the safe that is a wonderful rifle. If I had another M17 action available I’d make another 300 H&H or perhaps a 375 H&H…

From what I can tell, whoever converted my M17, no work on the action or magazine was done, and it feeds 300H&H beautifully…

@mdwest
Holland and Holland made some beautiful bespoke 375s using the M17's action.
Bob

 

[fourfive8]

Not knowing what is currently in your battery hard to say but if a good gunsmith is available to do the work... 416 Rem, 375 HH or 300 HH- all come to my mind. May also depend on future hunting use. Might get an unfishihed DIY type partially inletted stock to save some money then put the difference into a good barrel... like a Krieger.

No argument about the 375 Whelen Ackley being a good choice but why not use the full potential of the M17 with the 375 HH. If you do choose the 375 Whelen for sure pick the Ackley version.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Not knowing what is currently in your battery hard to say but if a good gunsmith is available to do the work... 416 Rem, 375 HH or 300 HH- all come to my mind. May also depend on future hunting use. Might get an unfishihed DIY type partially inletted stock to save some money then put the difference into a good barrel... like a Krieger.

No argument about the 375 Whelen Ackley being a good choice but why not use the full potential of the M17 with the 375 HH. If you do choose the 375 Whelen for sure pick the Ackley version.

@fourfive8
You can always get a prefit Boyd's stock for a reasonable price.
Bob

Both Enfields with 2 different Boyd's stocks

 

[Spooksar]

Not knowing what is currently in your battery hard to say but if a good gunsmith is available to do the work... 416 Rem, 375 HH or 300 HH- all come to my mind. May also depend on future hunting use. Might get an unfishihed DIY type partially inletted stock to save some money then put the difference into a good barrel... like a Krieger.

No argument about the 375 Whelen Ackley being a good choice but why not use the full potential of the M17 with the 375 HH. If you do choose the 375 Whelen for sure pick the Ackley version.

That’s my problem I have close to 200 hunting rifles in my collection, from 17 Hornet to 585 HE so I’ve got everything covered,need to figure out some oddball wildcat that I’ll use a bit.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

That’s my problem I have close to 200 hunting rifles in my collection, from 17 Hornet to 585 HE so I’ve got everything covered,need to figure out some oddball wildcat that I’ll use a bit.

@Spooksar
The rifle with the walnut stock is in a caliber based on 2 others plus my own mods I wumped up with it.
It is a 303 British case necked down to 25 calibre. It has had the Epps treatment with the case blown out with minimal taper but instead of a 30 degree shoulder angle I went to 35 degrees. Top that off with the newton idea of moving the shoulder forward the neck is now one caliber. 257 long instead of the standard .311 neck..
This greatly increases case capacity.
With 100gn Barnes TTSXs I get over 3,600fps and 115-117s over 3,300fps. Both with outstanding accuracy.
The wildcat root is fun but can be expensive as well as frustrating working out what to do and what you want to use it for. Working out loads is another hurdle to overcome. If you can get hold of a P14 bolt it is already set for magnums as the 303 rim is the same size as the magnums and doesn't need the bolt face altered.
How bout a 257 weatherby necked up to 6.5. That would fill the very small gap in the 6.5s

Bob.

 

[CoElkHunter]

That’s my problem I have close to 200 hunting rifles in my collection, from 17 Hornet to 585 HE so I’ve got everything covered,need to figure out some oddball wildcat that I’ll use a bit.

.465 H and H. Be the first on your block and probably the first AH member here to ever own (or maybe even seen) one? Ha!

 

[Spooksar]

@Spooksar
The rifle with the walnut stock is in a caliber based on 2 others plus my own mods I wumped up with it.
It is a 303 British case necked down to 25 calibre. It has had the Epps treatment with the case blown out with minimal taper but instead of a 30 degree shoulder angle I went to 35 degrees. Top that off with the newton idea of moving the shoulder forward the neck is now one caliber. 257 long instead of the standard .311 neck..
This greatly increases case capacity.
With 100gn Barnes TTSXs I get over 3,600fps and 115-117s over 3,300fps. Both with outstanding accuracy.
The wildcat root is fun but can be expensive as well as frustrating working out what to do and what you want to use it for. Working out loads is another hurdle to overcome. If you can get hold of a P14 bolt it is already set for magnums as the 303 rim is the same size as the magnums and doesn't need the bolt face altered.
How bout a 257 weatherby necked up to 6.5. That would fill the very small gap in the 6.5sView attachment 415063
Bob.

View attachment 415064

Very nice I own a few wildcats and they are fun to play with.

 

[Prewar]

I just recently acquired a Remington model 30R express carbine in 30-06. Be a great rifle to convert to .375 and leave it with open sights or add a peep. Doubt I’ll modify it because it’s unmolested with no extra holes and she’s looking pretty good having been made in 1929. Anyone know where to get a Lyman 57sme and an original steel buttplate for the carbines? I got a plate from CFN parts but it’s way too big…carbines must have had a more compact stock..,

 

[spitfire_er]

I've built quite a few of these, here's what I've built from memory.
22-6mm, 22-250, 6 br, several 6mm-06 imp, several 308 Normas, 338 win, 6.5-280 RCBS, 280 RCBS, 338 RUM, 300 WBY, 308 norma Imp beltless, 308 win. I also own another in 7 RM, and use to have a 264 WM. Currently repairing a 338-416 Rigby Imp.

 

[AZDAVE]

@Prewar let me check, I might have a 57 laying around