caliber question

smoakingun · April 19, 2009, 06:26 PM

I just bought a sporterized 1917, but I am unsure of the chambering. I don't think it is 30-06 because the I can't load less than 2 rounds in the magazine.
So, what I need to know is what I can use to make some kind of casting of the chamber, and barrel.

ar15chase · April 19, 2009, 06:39 PM

Is this what it looks like?

https://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vi...=121234270#PIC

Your gun could also be a 300 wby magnum.

PetahW · April 19, 2009, 06:49 PM

Use cerro-safe, from Brownell's - they have a tutorial.

http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/Sto...ail.aspx?p=384

If you remove your bolt, and insert a .30-06 case head onto the boltface under the extractor, you can see if the face was enlarged for a belted magnum case.

The .30-06 would just fit, but if there's a wide clearance, the chances are good that the rifle's been at least rechambered.

I would also use the Cerro-safe to slug the barrel/muzzle inside diameter.

James K · April 20, 2009, 01:54 PM

Many of those rifles were rechambered and re-worked for .300 Norma Magnum.

Jim

smoakingun · April 20, 2009, 10:32 PM

ar15chase, nope, that's not the one, but it did come from gunbroker. I'll try the cerro-safe, from Brownell's thanks

**Mike Irwin** · April 21, 2009, 09:05 AM

"because the I can't load less than 2 rounds in the magazine."

What happens if you try to load fewer than two rounds in the magazine?

Do they pop out?

a7mmnut · April 21, 2009, 09:43 AM

The original .30-06 mag held six rounds and was big enough for magnum cartridges to fit in, so many were rechambered for several other calibers. It should be well stamped on the barrel, receiver rear tang, or the bottom of the magazine. The spring would have to be shortened for fatter cartridges, thus making the '06 fit very loosely. The bolt face would also have to be enlarged and a different extractor installed. Just measure across the face of the bolt. Standard cartridges like the '06 require a fit for a .473" rim, whereas magnums require a .532" fit. The .308 Norma Mag. is about .530".

-7-

smoakingun · April 21, 2009, 09:39 PM

just one round won't stay in the mag

smoakingun · April 21, 2009, 09:41 PM

the bore appears to be .30, the only marks on the barrel are standard ordinance marks, but the chamber could have been resmed to something else

**Mike Irwin** · April 21, 2009, 11:42 PM

You need to measure the bolt face and do a chamber cast to see what you have.

It sounds as if the magazine feed lips have been altered.

Markard · May 8, 2009, 12:33 AM

anyone thought of a 303?

smoakingun · May 8, 2009, 12:41 AM

1914 instead of 1917? I'll check that

James K · May 8, 2009, 10:42 PM

You can't insert a standard GI .30-'06 round in a P-14 magazine; it is too long.

Jim

smoakingun · May 9, 2009, 03:01 PM

the magazine is long enough for the '06

April 19, 2009, 06:26 PM	#1
smoakingun Senior Member Join Date: April 12, 2009 Location: melrose, fl Posts: 634	caliber question I just bought a sporterized 1917, but I am unsure of the chambering. I don't think it is 30-06 because the I can't load less than 2 rounds in the magazine. So, what I need to know is what I can use to make some kind of casting of the chamber, and barrel.

April 19, 2009, 06:39 PM	#2
ar15chase Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 2009 Location: Shallowater, Texas Posts: 444	Is this what it looks like? https://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vi...=121234270#PIC Your gun could also be a 300 wby magnum. __________________ A man who has nothing which he is willing to fight for, nothing which he cares about more than he does about his personal safety, is a miserable creature who has no chance of being free, unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself.

April 21, 2009, 09:05 AM	#6
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,381	"because the I can't load less than 2 rounds in the magazine." What happens if you try to load fewer than two rounds in the magazine? Do they pop out? __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

April 21, 2009, 11:42 PM	#10
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,381	You need to measure the bolt face and do a chamber cast to see what you have. It sounds as if the magazine feed lips have been altered. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

May 8, 2009, 12:41 AM	#12
smoakingun Senior Member Join Date: April 12, 2009 Location: melrose, fl Posts: 634	1914 instead of 1917? I'll check that __________________ Hundreds of years from now, it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove... But the world may be different because I did something so bafflingly crazy that my ruins become a tourist attraction.

April 19, 2009, 06:49 PM	#3
PetahW Senior Member Join Date: September 19, 2008 Posts: 4,678	Use cerro-safe, from Brownell's - they have a tutorial. http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/Sto...ail.aspx?p=384 If you remove your bolt, and insert a .30-06 case head onto the boltface under the extractor, you can see if the face was enlarged for a belted magnum case. The .30-06 would just fit, but if there's a wide clearance, the chances are good that the rifle's been at least rechambered. I would also use the Cerro-safe to slug the barrel/muzzle inside diameter.

April 20, 2009, 01:54 PM	#4
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	Many of those rifles were rechambered and re-worked for .300 Norma Magnum. Jim

April 20, 2009, 10:32 PM	#5
smoakingun Senior Member Join Date: April 12, 2009 Location: melrose, fl Posts: 634	ar15chase, nope, that's not the one, but it did come from gunbroker. I'll try the cerro-safe, from Brownell's thanks

April 21, 2009, 09:43 AM	#7
a7mmnut Junior member Join Date: February 27, 2009 Location: NC Foothills Posts: 1,150	The original .30-06 mag held six rounds and was big enough for magnum cartridges to fit in, so many were rechambered for several other calibers. It should be well stamped on the barrel, receiver rear tang, or the bottom of the magazine. The spring would have to be shortened for fatter cartridges, thus making the '06 fit very loosely. The bolt face would also have to be enlarged and a different extractor installed. Just measure across the face of the bolt. Standard cartridges like the '06 require a fit for a .473" rim, whereas magnums require a .532" fit. The .308 Norma Mag. is about .530". -7-

April 21, 2009, 09:39 PM	#8
smoakingun Senior Member Join Date: April 12, 2009 Location: melrose, fl Posts: 634	just one round won't stay in the mag

April 21, 2009, 09:41 PM	#9
smoakingun Senior Member Join Date: April 12, 2009 Location: melrose, fl Posts: 634	the bore appears to be .30, the only marks on the barrel are standard ordinance marks, but the chamber could have been resmed to something else

May 8, 2009, 12:33 AM	#11
Markard Junior Member Join Date: May 7, 2009 Posts: 8	anyone thought of a 303?

May 8, 2009, 10:42 PM	#13
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	You can't insert a standard GI .30-'06 round in a P-14 magazine; it is too long. Jim

May 9, 2009, 03:01 PM	#14
smoakingun Senior Member Join Date: April 12, 2009 Location: melrose, fl Posts: 634	the magazine is long enough for the '06 __________________ Hundreds of years from now, it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove... But the world may be different because I did something so bafflingly crazy that my ruins become a tourist attraction.