Re barrelling Question?

[BillT]

How easy a job is it for a gunsmith to change the .303 on a Mk4 enfield to a .308 barrel?

[desdem12]

I am betting it would be just as cheap if not cheaper and easier to buy a no.1 with a 7.62x51 nato ishapore then to do that. Is there a good reason for the change and not just the ammo?

[BillT]

Well I've always loved the Mk 4 and I was thinking if I could get one cheap that probably needs a new barrel, I'd rather it was .308 so I could get ammo, than buy a new .303 barrel.

[desdem12]

Sounds like alot of trouble just to go to .308. There are lots of rifles that you can buy with that caliber. Savage comes to mind. Not sure where you are from but the stores here are loaded with used hunting rifles. As far as the No4 goes it is a classic military rifle and would be a forever bubba if you did that to one. The ammo is a problem for alot of milsurps but to take away its history for the sake of ammo seems useless to me. Just my There are ishapores in .308, and south american and i think maybe spanish mausers in .308. A nice FR8 comes to mind.

[BillT]

It was just a thought, but you are probably right

[Junk Yard Dog]

The Enfield action is not designed to handle the .308's pressures, the Indians made it work with special steels and heat treating, not to mention milder NATO loads. I would not think of converting a wartime, or any other No4 to .308, it is also a violation of the preservationist policy of this forum to alter Military surplus weapons in a way that can not be easily changed back.

[BillT]

Point taken