Help me decide on a wildcat

[6mm06guy]

Ok guys the sky is almost the limit on this one. I have a Enfield no4 mk2 action laying here I want to do something with, 270 is my favorite caliber, but I'm open to almost anything.
There's a catch,
1) I'd like the brass to be easy to form, so I dont loose interest in the gun
2) it has to shoot long range (it is a long range forum)
3)high bc bullets must be available.
4) must stay within the limits of the action

I hope this turns into a great brainstorming session.

 

[elkaholic]

Ok guys the sky is almost the limit on this one. I have a Enfield no4 mk2 action laying here I want to do something with, 270 is my favorite caliber, but I'm open to almost anything.
There's a catch,
1) I'd like the brass to be easy to form, so I dont loose interest in the gun
2) it has to shoot long range (it is a long range forum)
3)high bc bullets must be available.
4) must stay within the limits of the action

I hope this turns into a great brainstorming session.

What coal will your Enfield accommodate?

 

[tmmcampbell]

If I was going to build a wildcat I'd look real hard at the Sherman. Not only is it efficient, it is down right sexy.

 

[35 Whelen]

Am I correct that that action was for the .303 Brit. ? If so and the .270 is your favorite (one of mine as well) I'd do a .270-303 with a 1-8 twist barrel, so you could get the most out of the new high BC bullets. I know there are not as many in the .277 bullets as other calibers but if it's your favorite why not go for it.

 

[MudRunner2005]

6.5 Sherman or .280 Sherman would be a good option.

 

[Mustang72]

How much pressure can your action handle and what about modifying the boltface? If you wanted to keep it a simple low pressure barrel swap them pick whatever diameter bullet you want and do an ai version on the 303 case.

 

[therifleman556]

Get ready for some gunsmithing, lol.

-bolt face mods for anything not based on 303

-action that's barely able to handle 7.62. I think yours might actually be weaker being 303

-feeding system & magazine would need to be opened up unless you stick with the same body taper as 303.

I think 270-303 was actually a popular conversion in Australia & New Zealand. You could also send off to JES and have that barrel bored to 35-303. You might be able to go bigger. There's a reason it hasn't been done much, but hats off to you if you can make something work. I always wanted to do something similar myself.

 

[HARPERC]

Has the rifle been sporterized, customized or whats the current over all condition is it in.

 

[6mm06guy]

Has the rifle been sporterized, customized or whats the current over all condition is it in.

It's just an action I picked up, looks to be in good condition

 

[6mm06guy]

Am I correct that that action was for the .303 Brit. ? If so and the .270 is your favorite (one of mine as well) I'd do a .270-303 with a 1-8 twist barrel, so you could get the most out of the new high BC bullets. I know there are not as many in the .277 bullets as other calibers but if it's your favorite why not go for it.

This is what I want to do, but I'm not sure how to make the mag work yet.

 

[6mm06guy]

What coal will your Enfield accommodate?

I'll measure the box mag tonight

 

[6mm06guy]

How much pressure can your action handle and what about modifying the boltface? If you wanted to keep it a simple low pressure barrel swap them pick whatever diameter bullet you want and do an ai version on the 303 case.

I believe its somewhere in the 41k-45k psi, if memory serves the 444 marlin is about the same pressure as max for the action.

 

[therifleman556]

Straight up 270-303 shouldn't require magazine work. Only of you blow out shoulders and try to AI it would you run into issues.

 

[elkaholic]

The more I think about it, you may well be better off with something like a 303/270. Everything would fit and that action wasn't designed to take the pressure of something like the Sherman.