Sterling 7.62x51 Conversion
Printed From: Enfield-Rifles.com
Category: Enfields
Forum Name: After Market Enfields
Forum Description: What have you done to that Enfield??
URL: http://www.enfield-rifles.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=10649
Printed Date: March 26 2026 at 3:48pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.07 - https://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Sterling 7.62x51 Conversion
Posted By: WilliamS
Subject: Sterling 7.62x51 Conversion
Date Posted: June 14 2020 at 11:42am
| I recently bought a grouping of magazines, mostly being after the ShtLE magazines for my rebuilds. However, there were two of the Sterling conversion magazines included in the lot. Has anyone got any experience with these? Do they function well? And does anyone have the instructions for doing the new ejector? I may build a rifle to use these in if they are good magazines, although I'll probably skip the charger bridge conversion. |
Replies:
Posted By: A square 10
Date Posted: June 14 2020 at 9:51pm
|
OK -there was way more than one thing n this one , yes i have had experience with the stearling mags - they were fine , i cannot speak to yours without photos but ill bet they willl work fine for their intended application , mine did what are you installing the ejector into ? 303 or 308 ? goosic might have insight here , my rifles all had them and worked fine , charger bridge conversions ? im not following that at all ,
|
Posted By: Goosic
Date Posted: June 14 2020 at 10:28pm
| Would you consider selling one of them? |
Posted By: WilliamS
Date Posted: June 14 2020 at 10:33pm
Excellent. It was my understanding these were sold as kits, composed of a barrel, magazine, extractor, ejector and charger bridge conversion to use some other charger or clip, as well as instructions for the ejector and charger bridge conversions. Looking into it further it looks like the ejector is not a necessary modification so I'll probably skip it as well. Goosic, I don't see why not. I'll look them over when they arrive and let you know. Not sure what a fair price on them would be but I'm sure we can work something out.
|
A square 10 wrote:Posted By: Goosic
Date Posted: June 14 2020 at 11:07pm
If they are in very good condition I am willing to trade you one of my PH-5C target assembly with six hole diopter. 
|
Posted By: WilliamS
Date Posted: June 15 2020 at 12:21am
Sounds good to me. There was only one picture to go off of in the auction, so we will see but the side shown looked decent to good on one and near new on the other. The two ShtLE magazines appeared near perfect (No3 case) and in wrap (unknown case), so I'm hopeful.
|
Posted By: Fairbanks007
Date Posted: June 24 2020 at 5:53pm
|
So, I'm super interested in this conversion. What's involved beyond a rebarreling? I'm really drawn to these old warhorses, but also want to consolidate the types of ammo I have to stock. I already have an M1A in 7.62 x 51 mm NATO (long story, I initially wanted a CMP M1 in 30-06 but somehow that wound up being the M1A). I just got a Lee Enfield No 4 Mk 1 in .303 British that scratches the itch for a classic "as issued" rifle. Still think they're cool as can be. What would it take to convert another Lee-Enfield to 7.62 x 51 mm? |
Posted By: WilliamS
Date Posted: June 24 2020 at 6:05pm
My understanding is that with a Sterling magazine all that is needed is magazine and rebarrel. There are also other magazines that require some milling on the receiver to work. I'll definitely document this build as I do it.
|
Posted By: Goosic
Date Posted: June 24 2020 at 8:44pm
The two rifles pictured have been rebarrelled using the 2A1 Ishapore 7.62mm barrels. They were re-indexed on a lathe to fit the No4 and No5 receivers. Some very minor file work on the extractors were necessary to help with extraction. No machine work was needed for fitting on the Enfield CR141A magazines. 
|
Posted By: WilliamS
Date Posted: July 04 2020 at 4:53pm
  Both appear to be basically new to me. Any preference?
|
Posted By: Goosic
Date Posted: July 04 2020 at 6:03pm
| I will trust your judgment. PM me with your info and I will do the same. I found some extra adjustable irises for the target sight... |
Posted By: Shamu
Date Posted: July 06 2020 at 6:55am
|
The actual camera type iris that opens & closes or the 6-hole you dial in type? ------------- Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force) |
Posted By: britrifles
Date Posted: July 06 2020 at 7:25am
|
WilliamS, if you decide you don’t need the other 7.62 magazine, I’d like to buy it from you. I have two DCRA conversions that I’m currently using a 2A rifle magazine. |
Posted By: Goosic
Date Posted: July 06 2020 at 11:55am
| Shamu. As of 1 hour ago, I no longer have two six hole dial in peep sights and one A J Parker camera style adjustable iris. They,along with the PH-5C are currently on their way to Washington State... |
Posted By: Shamu
Date Posted: July 06 2020 at 3:46pm
|
Oh well, never mind!  ------------- Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force) |
Posted By: WilliamS
Date Posted: July 06 2020 at 10:53pm
I will keep you in mind, but I am fairly sure I'll be building a rifle to use the other magazine. If not you're first on the list.
|
Posted By: britrifles
Date Posted: July 07 2020 at 4:40am
| Thanks WilliamS. |
Posted By: Crater52
Date Posted: March 21 2023 at 3:35pm
|
Not really a reply but I had never heard of these conversions before . Are they still available and is/was there one for a SMLE No 1 Mk III? I have owned a deactivated SMLE for about 25 years and the thought occurred that I might 'reactivate' it by replacing the barrel and receiver. So I am exploring that possibility, but living in France makes sourcing parts difficult. So any advice would be welcome even if it's 'don't do it'. Alternatives would be an Ishapore 7.62 barrel/receiver or even convert the rifle to a .22, but each option relies on my being able to source the parts and get them sent to France. I have recently bought a 1915 SMLE with an aperture sight, but this is my first Lee Enfield (Indeed, it's the first weapon I have owned though I'm not a complete novice , having spent 20 years in the military). So any thoughts, advice or help will be much appreciated. TVM ------------- Flying Fool |
Posted By: Goosic
Date Posted: March 22 2023 at 5:39am
|
Those conversion pieces are a thing of the past. While they do pop up here and there every once in awhile, it is not worth the effort to try to locate them unless you have alot of spare money to throw out due to the high costs of those bits. As for you wanting to "reactivate" your rifle? There is a reason the rifle was "deactivated" in the first place. Do not attempt something as foolhardy as trying to get it to go bang again. |
Posted By: shiloh
Date Posted: March 22 2023 at 7:23am
|
Your best bet on reactivating if your deactivated smle is full original wood, would be to buy a sported smle, if the barrel hasn`t been cut, and swap out the wood and associated hardware. |
Posted By: Crater52
Date Posted: March 22 2023 at 9:08am
|
You may well be right. Personally I think the rifle was deactivated because this was Britain in the 1990s and there was a market for historic weapons but most of us didn't want to go through the nausea of getting a licence just to keep a gun in a locked cabinet. Hence there was a market for 'deacts' of many types. All of which is apparently irrelevant because it is now France in 2023, and, at the same time as I posted this query, I emailed a French gunsmith about the possibility of replacing the receiver and barrel of my enfield with working parts. The reply I got was - 'REACTIVATION _ INTERDIT!!!!' which, even if I didn't speak French is clear enough. Though I have to say some sort of explanation would have been useful.  Anyway my thanks to any and all who replied to my post and I'll look forward to shooting the SMLE I have bought when the ammunition arrives in about 2 weeks time. Oh, did I mention this is France?  ------------- Flying Fool |
Posted By: Crater52
Date Posted: March 22 2023 at 9:15am
|
Sorry guys, I got me reply buttons mixed up! The reply to Goosic's post appears under Shiloh's and vice versa. Be kind to me, I'm a forum virgin and new to Lee Enfields as well. So, Shiloh, the idea of buying a sporterized SMLE and swapping the parts over would be good in the USA, Canada and perhaps Oz, but I suspect that here in France it would get me arrested. Anyway, buying even a cut down SMLE would cost as much as the 1915 weapon I have bought, so I'll use the new one and leave the ols one over the fireplace. Many thanks to you all. ------------- Flying Fool |
Posted By: Shamu
Date Posted: March 22 2023 at 9:41am
|
Basically "Reactivation is forbidden". However there is a superior alternative available! India created an actual factory made 7.62mm NATO version of the SMLE! They called it the The Rifle 7.62mm 2A/2A1 (also known as the Ishapore 2A/2A1) I'm not sure how available they are in France but its probably worth checking out. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ishapore_2A1_rifle" rel="nofollow - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ishapore_2A1_rifle ------------- Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force) |
Posted By: Zed
Date Posted: March 22 2023 at 12:50pm
|
Crater 52. It's not worth trying to reactivate a deac'. But it's easy to find a Lee Enfield in France. However there are some "dog's out there so be careful. The "Naturabuy" website has quite a few on sale generally; although you need to be careful regarding condition and originality. Owning a military calibre rifle was more complicated before 2013; when the rules were changed to bring these bolt action rifles in line with civilian hunting rifles. So prior to 2013, many military rifles were transformed to civilian calibres; such as .303 Sporting. This is basically a shortened chamber modification for the original military .303 British. So if searching for an SMLE or No4Mk1; always check it's still chambered for .303 British. If not you may have issues finding ammunition; plus no collector value! Make sure you buy a big enough safe! they tend to multiply! We use our Enfields in the french Service rifle competitions (Tir Armes Reglementaire ) I would add that reactivation is a big problem because of the terror attacks at the Bataclan; which apparently were eastern European deact's rebuilt illegally. so deactivation requirements became stricter obviously.
------------- It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice! |
Posted By: Crater52
Date Posted: March 22 2023 at 1:39pm
|
Thanks Zed. As I mentioned in other replies I have bought a SMLE (through Naturabuy) which is in excellent condition and which I will be shooting in the near future. My idea about 'reactivating' the deact was that I thought it might be possible to produce a working 2nd rifle more cheaply than buying a complete weapon. It's obviously that is a non-starter and I shall stick to just the one (for now). I have bought a cabinet with room for 5 rifles but I will have to convince my better half that, like my guitar collection, one can never have too many rifles!! ------------- Flying Fool |
Posted By: Zed
Date Posted: March 23 2023 at 4:12am
|
Where are you based in France? ------------- It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice! |
Posted By: Crater52
Date Posted: March 23 2023 at 6:00am
|
S.W. France in the Dordogne; been here for 29 years now.What about you? ------------- Flying Fool |
Posted By: Zed
Date Posted: March 23 2023 at 10:06am
|
We are split between Paris and Eure et Loir. My wife and I shoot in the TAR competitions in the region Centre. ------------- It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice! |