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#5 mk1 caliber options

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Joelos View Drop Down
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    Posted: June 18 2022 at 8:24am
Been wondering if I could change the caliber of my #5 mk1 to something different, not sure if the action could take the pressures a different caliber would produce. Any thoughts? 
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Goosic View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Goosic Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 18 2022 at 5:14pm
Originally posted by Joelos Joelos wrote:

Been wondering if I could change the caliber of my #5 mk1 to something different, not sure if the action could take the pressures a different caliber would produce. Any thoughts? 
 
Welcome to the forum Joelos. My first comment will be to state. "If you have a complete and working No5Mk1, it would be ill advised to change it in any way shape or form."
 That being said however. The one caliber you can change to by use of a 2A1 Ishapore barrel, is to 7.62x51mm NATO.  It is time consuming and very arduous in the fitting up process though. There is a company in your neck of the woods, "Rhineland Arms" that makes 45ACP and 45/70 conversion kits for the Enfield rifle and in my honest opinion would be the best place to start...
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote yumastepside Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 18 2022 at 6:13pm
As everyone else will say " if its original, don't touch it " but if you think its beyond restoring, you have a few options.
From my own experience, the easiest conversion is 7x57 rimmed....purely a barrel swap...I also have one in 257 Roberts rimmed...so basically anything from .25 to.375 calibre using the 57mm rimmed case.
Once you start using different cases you need to modify magazines, but they have been done in different calibres using 444 Marlin and 45-70 cases.
I am currently working on a No.1 Mk111 in 45 long Colt using an M1 Carbine mag.
A popular conversion here and NZ was 7.62x39.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Joelos Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 18 2022 at 6:42pm
Thanks for the welcome, and for the info, I have worked on the Fer other modifications, but just wasn’t sure on the #5 mk1, I had actually been looking at the 6.5x55 being that it has very similar pressures, and it’s also know to be an accurate round. But your suggestion are also very interesting, this rifle was converted to a sport rifle before I got my hands on it. Everything on it look to be original, all of the SN and cuts match including the barrel. I will be looking into the suggestions. 
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Joelos View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Joelos Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 18 2022 at 6:50pm
Looks like there are a few other options that I will definitely be looking into. I have done a 1917 and chambered it in 6.5 creedmoor, very accurate. But I wasn’t sure on the action for the #5 mk1 I have read about it being a weak receiver, but then I saw the video, with the 300 win mag. That didn’t look like the action failed in any way, after several rounds but that bolt failed after a few oiled rounds, so I’m guessing it has some possibilities. Info appreciate the info and advise.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Shamu Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 18 2022 at 6:52pm
As long as the pressures of the chosen round don't exceed the pressures of the .303 Brit round it should be fine.
There was no "special" loading for the No5.
Because of that any caliber that could be used in the No4 could be used in the Carbine & vice versa, assuming it would actually physically fit, feed & chamber.
Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force)
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote yumastepside Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 18 2022 at 7:28pm
With a careful eye on pressures and handloading, wildcats based on the 9.3x74R case are handy as it is really only an elongated 303 case.
303B, 405W, 9.3X74R and 375x2 1/2 FNE all use the same basic brass size.

Roger
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote bubba ho tep Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 19 2022 at 10:30am
Many years ago I took a No4 and had a 16" 44 cal barrel mated to it. Rechambered for 44 mag. It was a blast to shoot ,and accurate. I never got around to modifiying a mag system to it - traded it off . 
  Was'nt there a common 22 cal necked down 303 cartridge at one time ?. 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Dragunov Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 19 2022 at 11:02am
I have given thought to rebarreling a roughed-up sporter to .30-40 Krag. It has the same rim diameter, same OAL and uses much more easily available. 308 diameter projectiles. 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Joelos Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 19 2022 at 1:00pm
That’s very interesting, I actually acquired an older #1 mk1 action, that as far as I can tell after doing some research, was chambered in 410, I think. It’s got a plate installed into onto the to of the mag well. I will try and post a few pics of it later this evening.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote A square 10 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 19 2022 at 5:35pm
welcome to the sit , 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote Goosic Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 20 2022 at 10:18am
I was goofing around at my reloading table last week, and made what to me would be an excellent little Wildcat Cartridge. I cut a 303B case down to the same length as a .243W case and then full length resized it in the 243 die. If you stay under a charge weight of 34.5grns of either IMR 4064/4895/3031 you should be well under the 45000 CUP rating for the Enfield No4 action body, by my calculations. Can anyone recommend someone here in the states that could make a barrel for this 6mm303 round?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote yumastepside Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 20 2022 at 12:53pm
Here in Australia, wildcatting the 303B has always been a common thing. Shortening cases, necking up and down, everything from .22 to .416....its our 30-06 if you like.
I would think that pretty much all of your barrel makers would do a 243/6mm barrel.

Roger
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Honkytonk Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 20 2022 at 1:44pm
Question... and please excuse my ignorance, but how did the body of a 303 casing fit into a 243 die for for a full length resize?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote Goosic Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 20 2022 at 1:58pm
Technically I just resized the neck and shoulder. The 303 case is smaller in diameter than the 243/308 case. 

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Joelos Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 20 2022 at 3:20pm
Thanks again for the welcome. So I ordered a 6.5x55 Swedish chamber Reamer this morning, so the #5 mk1 build is definitely a go. I already had a couple of 6.5 barrel blanks in stock. 
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