winchester 1917

MLC · December 3, 2001, 08:56 AM

I have a 1917 sporter that I am considering having rebarreled, stocked and having proper scope bases put on. When I bought it another customer told me that the action is so strong that folks rechamber them for heavy high caliber magnums. Is this action worth investing in? It is nearly 100 years old and I'd really like to improve on it. I've gotten 2" groups with it at 100 yards so the trigger is ok for me. There are a couple of rounds that I've been thinkin about, with 6.5x55 in this "strong" action I should be able to use warm handloads right?

Jim Watson · December 3, 2001, 02:46 PM

Physically possible, yes.
Economically realistic to HAVE it done, no.
I doubt you could have it rebarreled, restocked, and drilled & tapped for the price of a new .270 (If you couldn't find a 6.5x55.)
Endfields, '14 and '17, were commonly sporterized and "magnumized" when surplus was cheap, labor was cheap, and there were fewer choices in new rifles.

zot · December 3, 2001, 03:23 PM

P-17, in 30.06? not to start a fight but whats wrong with 06? its
a close .30 mag when loaded right, and barrels are available at
G.P.C, mostly they have P-14 .303 barrels but once in awhile they and others have new 30.06 barrels,strong actions and I love the
peep sights,I have a cut sporter too with scope, most accurate
rifle in 30.06,I own,but adding alot of bells and whistles it should be accurate. why the the 6.5 rd? why not 7mm mag?

James K · December 4, 2001, 12:18 AM

Rules of thumb:

Unless you can do most of the work yourself, converting a surplus military rifle into the equivalent of a new sporting rifle will cost about as much as the sporting rifle, and will be worth a lot less on the used gun market if you decide to sell.

Jim

Jim Watson · December 4, 2001, 02:18 PM

I never heard it better said about the resale value of a sporterized mil-surp: "Nobody is buying 9 pound hunting rifles anymore unless they are after elephant."

DeBee · December 4, 2001, 04:00 PM

You could pick up a really nice Carl Gustov 6.5x55 for the price of the rebarrelling job alone...

zot · December 4, 2001, 04:45 PM

ok,HKLVR is getting 2" groups at 100 yd's with a 30/06, whats wrong with this rifle? why change calibers? if ya want a 6.5 buy a
6.5, and I"m sure a heavy barreled Remington in .308 weighs
about 9lb.

December 3, 2001, 08:56 AM	#1
MLC Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 2001 Location: New Hope, PA Posts: 230	winchester 1917 I have a 1917 sporter that I am considering having rebarreled, stocked and having proper scope bases put on. When I bought it another customer told me that the action is so strong that folks rechamber them for heavy high caliber magnums. Is this action worth investing in? It is nearly 100 years old and I'd really like to improve on it. I've gotten 2" groups with it at 100 yards so the trigger is ok for me. There are a couple of rounds that I've been thinkin about, with 6.5x55 in this "strong" action I should be able to use warm handloads right?

December 3, 2001, 02:46 PM	#2
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,543	Physically possible, yes. Economically realistic to HAVE it done, no. I doubt you could have it rebarreled, restocked, and drilled & tapped for the price of a new .270 (If you couldn't find a 6.5x55.) Endfields, '14 and '17, were commonly sporterized and "magnumized" when surplus was cheap, labor was cheap, and there were fewer choices in new rifles.

December 3, 2001, 03:23 PM	#3
zot Senior Member Join Date: April 2, 1999 Location: U.S.A. Posts: 566	P-17, in 30.06? not to start a fight but whats wrong with 06? its a close .30 mag when loaded right, and barrels are available at G.P.C, mostly they have P-14 .303 barrels but once in awhile they and others have new 30.06 barrels,strong actions and I love the peep sights,I have a cut sporter too with scope, most accurate rifle in 30.06,I own,but adding alot of bells and whistles it should be accurate. why the the 6.5 rd? why not 7mm mag?

December 4, 2001, 12:18 AM	#4
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	Rules of thumb: Unless you can do most of the work yourself, converting a surplus military rifle into the equivalent of a new sporting rifle will cost about as much as the sporting rifle, and will be worth a lot less on the used gun market if you decide to sell. Jim

December 4, 2001, 02:18 PM	#5
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,543	I never heard it better said about the resale value of a sporterized mil-surp: "Nobody is buying 9 pound hunting rifles anymore unless they are after elephant."

December 4, 2001, 04:00 PM	#6
DeBee Senior Member Join Date: October 5, 1999 Posts: 408	You could pick up a really nice Carl Gustov 6.5x55 for the price of the rebarrelling job alone...

December 4, 2001, 04:45 PM	#7
zot Senior Member Join Date: April 2, 1999 Location: U.S.A. Posts: 566	ok,HKLVR is getting 2" groups at 100 yd's with a 30/06, whats wrong with this rifle? why change calibers? if ya want a 6.5 buy a 6.5, and I"m sure a heavy barreled Remington in .308 weighs about 9lb.