M1917 Enfield 5 or 6 shot

M14 · September 5, 2010, 03:36 PM

I noticed on another web site they referred to 5 or 6 shot M1917 Enfields. I've seen only 6 shot M 1917 Enfields. What's with the 5 shot?

velocette · September 5, 2010, 03:40 PM

The original rifle was designed for the British use of .303 rimmed cartridges. That was 5 rds.
The 30-06 is not rimmed, therefore the magazine could hold 6 rds.
The stripper clips of the time (and now) hold but 5 rds. But the 1917 Enfield mag will hold 6 rds of 30-06 ammo.

Roger

M14 · September 5, 2010, 05:13 PM

I realize that, but the web site was referring to 5 or 6 shot M1917's not P14's. Unless the author meant P14's & M1917's.

Cork

James K · September 5, 2010, 08:58 PM

The rifle was originally designed (as the Pattern 1913) for the .276 Enfield, not the .303 British. The .276 Enfield has a very large diameter case (.528") so the space required for 5 rounds of .276 was large enough for 5 rounds of .303 or 6 rounds of .30-'06. There were no "5 shot" Model 1917's; all will take six rounds. But the ammunition was issued in 5 round M1903 clips, so in practice the rifle was 5 shot and was often described as such.

Later, some sporterized Model 1917's and the Remington Model 30, which was made from surplus M1917 parts, were made with a true 5-round magazine.

Jim

September 5, 2010, 03:36 PM	#1
M14 Senior Member Join Date: March 22, 2006 Location: Southwest Michigan Posts: 110	M1917 Enfield 5 or 6 shot I noticed on another web site they referred to 5 or 6 shot M1917 Enfields. I've seen only 6 shot M 1917 Enfields. What's with the 5 shot? __________________ Strangers in the night exchanging tracers.

September 5, 2010, 03:40 PM	#2
velocette Senior Member Join Date: May 25, 2007 Location: South Florida Posts: 924	The original rifle was designed for the British use of .303 rimmed cartridges. That was 5 rds. The 30-06 is not rimmed, therefore the magazine could hold 6 rds. The stripper clips of the time (and now) hold but 5 rds. But the 1917 Enfield mag will hold 6 rds of 30-06 ammo. Roger __________________ Trigger control + Breath control + Sight alignment = Gun Control. http://www.hrpclub.info/ NRA Smallbore Prone Master, High Power Master

September 5, 2010, 05:13 PM	#3
M14 Senior Member Join Date: March 22, 2006 Location: Southwest Michigan Posts: 110	I realize that, but the web site was referring to 5 or 6 shot M1917's not P14's. Unless the author meant P14's & M1917's. Cork __________________ Strangers in the night exchanging tracers.

September 5, 2010, 08:58 PM	#4
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	The rifle was originally designed (as the Pattern 1913) for the .276 Enfield, not the .303 British. The .276 Enfield has a very large diameter case (.528") so the space required for 5 rounds of .276 was large enough for 5 rounds of .303 or 6 rounds of .30-'06. There were no "5 shot" Model 1917's; all will take six rounds. But the ammunition was issued in 5 round M1903 clips, so in practice the rifle was 5 shot and was often described as such. Later, some sporterized Model 1917's and the Remington Model 30, which was made from surplus M1917 parts, were made with a true 5-round magazine. Jim