P14 in 7.92x57 ?

[meles meles]

oomans, a question for those of you with smithing knowledge. We have a P14 that has been converted to a 7.62x51 target rifle. Would it be a complex job to convert this to either 7.92x57 (another rimless cartridge) or 7.62x54R (rimmed) ?

[Steve E]

7.92x57 should be no problem as it is just a barrel swop plus headspace (but why on earth would you bother as 7.62x51 is a far better cartridge). You would also need to check that the magazine is long enough for the 7.92x57 cartridge.
As to 7.62 x54R I doubt that you could do it. The bolt face is probably too small for the 54R and would need milling out to accept the large rim. Any new barrel would need a recess cutting to accept the extractor similar to the original .303 barrel. I doubt that you could find a gunsmith willing to do the job. If you could get a gunsmith to do the work it would not be cheap (think £600+ just for a new barrel) and therefore not economical on a rifle that at present is probably worth no more that £200. Also the magazine would probably not work with the 7.62x54R cartridge. All 54R rifles that I have seen have single stack magazines (as opposed to the double stack of the P14) and have a interrupter to ensure feeding(Nagant). Personally I would forget the 54R idea as it would not be worth the bother.

[meles meles]

It looks like the 7.92x57 is a possibility then. Why do we bother? Er, because it's possible. We have several rifles chambered for 7.62x51 already so this particular P14 is surplus to requirements in that sense and thus having it chambered for 7.92 is an interesting variation.

With regards to the 7.62x54R, we have often thought that that cartridge is probably capable of good accuracy in the right gun - ie something other than a Mosin Nagant (which we have already). We've considered a SMLE or P14 conversion, but it seems to be more complex than we imagined...

[ovenpaa]

I have a rather nice and unused .303 Epps reamer here...

[meles meles]

.303 EPPS reamer ?

*ikkle brain frazzles*

[ovenpaa]

Think of it as a .303 'Improved'

[Alpha1]

If the rifle is surplus to requirements why not just sell it and buy something else with money

[meles meles]

Ooooh no, it's our preshus !

[Alpha1]

Ooooh no, it's our preshus !

How can it be precious if you are going butcher it. Its all ready been abused by converting it to a target rifle and now you want to rape it again.

Do the right thing give it to some one who will shoot it for what it is. If you have no use for it give it to me and I will look after the old girl as she deserves. It makes my blood boil to see these old girls ragged about they deserve better.

[meles meles]

We already have a nigh on pristine .303 P14 and it will stay that way. This rifle has been converted already, and we have better 7.62x51 rifles to shoot, hence it makes sense to us to consider another option for it. 7.92x57 does seem a sensible way forward.