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p 14 project

10 Aug 2014
@ 03:45 am (GMT)

thomas kitchen

hi guys i brought a p14 for a good price a little while ago to use the action as a project.
im planning on using a boyd stock and timney trigger.
the barrel is the original and bit pass it so looking for ideas if i reberrel what calibre to go with the mag is 78mm long but action is 91mm from what i can work out which leaves alot of options ( there a nice one in 458 win mag at serious shooters at moment )
i have thought bout using the 303 shell and necking it up to 338, 358 or 375
i done some research and found that a 375/303 is very similar to a 375 nitro express 2 1/2.
just after ideas and options
it'll be a long term project but want some direction before i start

Replies

10 Aug 2014
@ 09:58 pm (GMT)

William Langford

Re: p 14 project
I'm not familiar with 303 wildcats, but one that I've read about that intrigued me was the 416 Strauss. I gather it's used in South Africa and often built on the strong P14 action.

It's a 303 case blown out to a straight wall case using 416 bullets. It's supposed to come close to 375 H&H performance. Sounds somewhat like the 375 Whelen here in the US.
10 Aug 2014
@ 11:30 pm (GMT)

Nathan Foster

Re: p 14 project
There are definitely a few ways you could go. Just bear in mind that if you go too wide in bullet diameter, it can sometimes effect feeding with this particular case design. A .358 improved would be a good limit and you would very much enjoy this.

The other option is the .303 Epps (.303 Improved). This is also quite a potent cartridge.

Projects like this are really cool.
11 Aug 2014
@ 02:10 am (GMT)

thomas kitchen

Re: p 14 project
thanks guys
ill talk to arthur cleland about it as im proberly going to drop it off to him soon to fit a scope mount.
the 303 epp looks very interesting and has advantage as dies look easy enough to get hold of.
the only thing with a 311" bore is i think its going to limit my bullet selection
11 Aug 2014
@ 04:34 pm (GMT)

Nathan Foster

Re: p 14 project
Tough decisions huh. The Sierra SMK bullet is quite deadly in .303, the bullet design is different to other SMK bullets.

I guess the thing you have to ask yourself is how far do you want to shoot the rifle, what sort of hunting conditions. Range and game body weights will be deciding factors.

Arthur is very good with such projects, very patient and helpful.

Just a couple more random thoughts. If you go .303, you can use a True-Flite machine lapped match barrel which will give extremely good accuracy. If you go .358, Arthur will need to either get hold of a Shillen (stainless) or see if Collings still have one of their of their excellent Douglas barrels (blue). The Shillen are not up to the same grade as current TF barrels and technology but will hopefully be more than adequate for .358 bore.

Either way you will need to order a custom reamer from either Dave Manson or PTG.
13 Aug 2014
@ 03:54 am (GMT)

thomas kitchen

Re: p 14 project
definitely tough decision alright
it'll will be for hunting reds and maybe one day wapiti (elk for anyone else reading) i would limit it to 600 max 400 and less most of the time.
i wouldnt mind trying some of those field shoot days to improve on my shooting so will need to set it up well and reasonable weight barrel for multiple shots
13 Aug 2014
@ 11:22 pm (GMT)

Nathan Foster

Re: p 14 project
Hi Thomas, I talked to my earlier mentor today. Those who have read my second book will know of him as the man with the .264 Win Mag. That rifle was / is based on a P14. Arthur did the work. The bolt face did not need altering but the bolt needed an M1917 extractor fitted.

I would like you to have a think about the .308 Norma Magnum cartridge. You could use .338 Win Mag brass for this.
13 Aug 2014
@ 11:45 pm (GMT)

Bob Mavin

Re: p 14 project
Now your talking Nathan
I've used a 308 Norma mag, awesome!!! My mate has a 308 Norma and a 358 Norma, both great calibre's
Cheers
Bob
14 Aug 2014
@ 03:55 am (GMT)

thomas kitchen

Re: p 14 project
just my luck another cartridge to add to the list ha ha
had look at barrel thats on it last night as i was packing it up to send to arthur, looks like a shotgun barrel at muzzle end its that shot out so a new barrel might be the first thing to consider.
the 308 norma mag looks very interesting what length barrel would you recommend 24"
im after something a bit different but practical
14 Aug 2014
@ 05:00 pm (GMT)

Nathan Foster

Re: p 14 project
Hi Thomas, I would opt for a 1:10 twist 30 cal, 26" long, finished at between .650 and .675". That would make for an acceptable carry rifle without being either too heavy or too light- though by todays standards some would call it heavy.

If you want to go with the Brits original vision of a 7mm magnum powered cartridge, I would adopt the 7mm Rem Mag, 1:9 twist, 26" barrel and finish at .650".

If you ant something a bit different but practical, the Norma wins hands down.
15 Aug 2014
@ 04:42 am (GMT)

thomas kitchen

Re: p 14 project
thanks nathan i think ill go with the 308 norma mag.
just been looking at true flight contours so ill be looking at either no.3 or no.4
Barrel Contours
just wondering with the other dimensions are the more based around the calibre i want to chamber or would you recommend going the max dimensions.
Contour A B C D E
Lightweight up to 1.20" up to 2.50" .72" up to 22" .55"
No. 1 up to 1.20" up to 2.50" .76" up to 24" .60
No. 2 up to 1.23" up to 3.00" .79" up to 26" .62
No. 3 up to 1.23" up to 3.00" .82" up to 26" .65"
No. 4 up to 1.23" up to 3.00" .87" up to 26" .70"
No. 5 up to 1.23" up to 3.00" .92" up to 28" .75"
Varmint up to 1.23" up to 4.00" 1.00" up to 28" .87


15 Aug 2014
@ 03:36 pm (GMT)

Nathan Foster

Re: p 14 project
Hi Thomas, I suggest you go with a full diameter knox (A) at 1.23" for a length of 2", then taper down to .650" at 26". Arthur can make any final adjustments to the knox if need be.

You can dock down to 24" later if the rig seems too long.

A No.4 barrel would be nice to tame recoil but you talked about climbing high with the rifle so the #3 will make for an acceptable carry rifle for backpack hunting. If recoil proves to be unacceptable, you could dock the #3 barrel to 24" and fit a suppressor. There will be plenty of meat in the barrel for thread cutting and a degree of heat distribution. But I think you will find nthe rig fine as is. The Boyds had a degree of weight in it and the straight recoil design will help tame recoil.
16 Aug 2014
@ 05:37 pm (GMT)

chris murphy

Re: p 14 project
Hi Thomas
a bit of info that may be useful for you contour decision,
I have just re barreled my sako 85 ss 7mm rem mag with a no.4 contour trueflite 24" .70" at muzzle it is fluted(i also fluted the bolt) and rifle weighs 4kg with scope. the rifle is only 330grm heavier than factory i also use a suppressor on it an extra 300grm. I carry this rifle all day in the tops in marlborough high country and down south tahr hunting.
17 Aug 2014
@ 03:53 am (GMT)

thomas kitchen

Re: p 14 project
cheers chris any and all info is much appreciated
its a tough decision when you dont get to see barrels and pick them up
just been measuring barrels on my other guns to get a rough feel for it.
does anyone know how much difference there is weight wise between no3 and no4 contour
i normally shoot a tikka in 270 so i dont mind recoil to much but dont want it to affect accuracy.
is the "ultra match special match rifle" barrel the machine lapped barrel?
17 Aug 2014
@ 04:03 pm (GMT)

chris murphy

Re: p 14 project
my original sako barrel was a no.3 contour 24" i would say with out fluting it would be about 400gram difference between no.3 and no.4 the old barrel on its own weighs 1.35kg
17 Aug 2014
@ 04:50 pm (GMT)

Nathan Foster

Re: p 14 project
Yes, budget on about a pound difference.

If you know anyone with an old Finnbear or AV, this will be similar to the weight of your rifle with a #3 contour or a tad lighter due to slightly lighter stock and slightly shorter barrel.
18 Aug 2014
@ 03:14 am (GMT)

thomas kitchen

Re: p 14 project
hi guys just done some weights and profiles on my other firearms for comparision
i got a mosin nagant with ati stock everything else is stock standard at 8.8lbs and muzzle at .58 inches
bsa/parker hale lee enfield sporter 8.9lbs and .58 at muzzle.
im going to go with a no.3 as i dont think recoil will be problem by time i add a big sightron and wood stock.
thanks everyone for all your help
ill keep everyone updated and hopefully post some pictures
12 Oct 2014
@ 03:08 am (GMT)

thomas kitchen

Re: p 14 project
just an update on the project and hopefully some help for don on is p17
this is rifle back from gunsmith with bases done. got one of the bedding kits so thats the next mission to have a practice run with original stock [url=http://s40.photobucket.com/user/terdhydroslideengineer/media/IMG_0825_zpsb71cabc1.jpg.html][img][url=http://s40.photobucket.com/user/terdhydroslideengineer/media/IMG_0824_zps5a4fbcf5.jpg.html][img]http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e209/terdhydroslideengineer/IMG_0824_zps5a4fbcf5.jpg[/img][/url][url=http://s40.photobucket.com/user/terdhydroslideengineer/media/IMG_0823_zpsd0c53eee.jpg.html][img]http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e209/terdhydroslideengineer/IMG_0823_zpsd0c53eee.jpg[/img][/url]
13 Oct 2014
@ 03:17 am (GMT)

Nathan Foster

Re: p 14 project
She's a beauty. A bolt polish would finish her off after all is done.

No worries Thomas- I was a bit nervous but it seemed to go well.

I can't remember about the screws now sorry. I think I just started 1/4" UNF into the holes without pushing them. Winchester M70's have to be treated this way.
14 Oct 2014
@ 01:58 am (GMT)

thomas kitchen

Re: p 14 project
thanks nathan will try that and let you know how i get on. any tricks for polishing bolt or just use 3m pads and elbow grease. the poor old girl sat in someone gunsafe for 20years so its nice to bring some life back into it
14 Oct 2014
@ 04:59 pm (GMT)

Nathan Foster

Re: p 14 project
Hi Thomas, the extractor can be be slipped off, then polished by hand- hand sanding, then rag and autosol.

Remove the shroud and firing pin- leaving the bolt body on its own.

The bolt body cannot really be sanded otherwise it will lose tolerance. Best to take it into a stainless fab shop that employs polishers with a half dozen beer. The polishers can use rope mops (Sizals), soft mops and fine cutting polish Should take about 10 minutes to polish on an arbor:

Grades (take in note with job and beer):

Half treated sizal and carburex (A80)
Half treated sizal and LEA
White stitch mop LEA or Hi-Fin
Dolly mop and Hi-Fin or higher.
Use old mops- mild steel contamination present.

The pits won't come out but she will still look like a million bucks.

Otherwise- its all elbow grease with a rag and autosol. Not my ideal.

20 Oct 2014
@ 02:52 am (GMT)

thomas kitchen

Re: p 14 project
hi guys just wanting to check if im on the right track with my bedding might need to redo tape. also bolt seemed to come up good thanks nathan. been working long hours so didnt get to stainless shop just autosol and rag for couple hours
20 Oct 2014
@ 03:51 pm (GMT)

Nathan Foster

Re: p 14 project
Two jobs:

Tidy up plasticine as the smear marks will prevent adhesion. Use brake cleaner spray and cotton buds or a scraper (drag burred chisel perhaps). Try to get all the plasticine edge work tidy, clean and clearly defined edges.

Re do tape as you suggested.
21 Oct 2014
@ 02:43 am (GMT)

thomas kitchen

Re: p 14 project
thank you nathan will do.
just wanted to double check i got it in right place specially around rails that hold trigger. lining up bolts going to be interesting as the back one slopes forwards slightly
16 Apr 2015
@ 05:54 am (GMT)

Thomas Kitchen

Re: p 14 project
so been humming and harring bout uploading photo's of my first bedding attempt but figured if it can help someone avoid my mistakes i might as well.
this is the original stock as i know i'm one of those people that has to make few mistakes to learn something ( might explain why i'm not a pilot )
i had retaped stock but obviously not good enough in certain points.
the front didnt come up to bad but the back well lets just say looks bit like s#!t. i made the mistake of not allowing for the where the trigger hangs down below action, just one of the many points on my advance learning curve. im still a little way off rebarreling ( just got to put a sightron on my 270 first ) so half tempted to grind it out and have another go.
24 Apr 2015
@ 01:42 am (GMT)

Ben Grady

Re: p 14 project
Hey Thomas, grind it out and start again. It can only get better :-)
But seriously though, any advancements?
How does it look with the action back in place?
I am real keen to get a good p14 sporterised for hunting. I have two stocks waiting and a heap of CAC ammo to use. 13 mint boxes of 20 rounds each with the bullet tips drilled out. Not sure what weight projectile, I guess I could pull one out and weigh it.

cheers Ben
 

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