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Forum Index > Rifles general discussion > Bedding a 1917 Enfield in 30-06 (Mauser Action)

Bedding a 1917 Enfield in 30-06 (Mauser Action)

28 Sep 2014
@ 07:55 pm (GMT)

Don Jamont

Good day,

I am new to the site but an increasing my knowledge on a daily basis! Thanks to Nathan for such a great and well laid out resource.

I have inherited a sporterized Model 1917 Enfield in 30-06. The rear miltary site was replaced with a Lyman 57 peep, but I am hoping to find a set of bases to use, but it is troublesome as I don't have ready access to a gunsmith, and the receivers were all milled differently where the rear base would sit. If anyone has any suggestions on determining fot for a base I would really appreciate it.

My main question is about how to bed the recoil lug on a 1917 Enfield (Mauser) Action. I'm not sure if it is siimilar to a Mauser 96 or 98 or neither, but the recoil lug has the action screw in the center of it. I can't figure out how to set up a plasticine dam but still get a headless screw to align the action, and get it bungeed in place.

If anyone can give me a tip I would really appreciate it. This will be my first attempt at bedding a rifle. If I mess up the original sporter stock, I may replace it with a boyds, and try again.

Thanks again for reading!

Cheers,

Don
Nova Scotia, Canada

Replies

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28 Sep 2014
@ 11:36 pm (GMT)

Nathan Foster

Re: Bedding a 1917 Enfield in 30-06 (Mauser Action)
Hi Don. Right, where we go.

The Mausers have the same lug set up, the same goes for the Howa rifles and many others- the front action screw goes into the lug itself. But in your case, the lug is very small and fiddly huh. So rather than using electrical tape in areas you cannot get it to stick, use a heavy and brightly coloured nail polish, then release agent over this, then graphite over this.

During the clean up, you can look for any colour in the bedding job, then hit this with nail polish remover. The compound is ultra strong and can handle nail polish remover.

You have lost me regarding the plasticine sorry. You may have to send me a highlighted photo or phone me. Being human huh- communication.

Leupold can be quite useful for bases for the old rifles. You may have to do a bit of shimming to get the heights right but this is no major. It would be good to find a smith to help you. I see the Leupold site is not working at present (base selection) but they do have a phone line for help. I suggest you also call Weaver as they have some gems.

There are also the no gunsmithing types like the S&K bases.
28 Sep 2014
@ 11:39 pm (GMT)

Nathan Foster

Re: Bedding a 1917 Enfield in 30-06 (Mauser Action)
I should mention, sometimes it pays to go into a gun store with heaps of mounts and simply play with the different bases and see what fits. That can be best. Find a big gun store.
29 Sep 2014
@ 01:55 am (GMT)

thomas kitchen

Re: Bedding a 1917 Enfield in 30-06 (Mauser Action)
hi don i got a p14 at a gunsmith getting scope bases put on at the moment. hopefully ill have it back in next week or two and ill let you know what bases were used.

have you still got the original back sight ears on it?

keep us posted with how the bedding going im going to bed mine using nathans compound when i get it back with the orignal stock for practice then ill re do it after i rebarrel it and fit a boyd's stock
29 Sep 2014
@ 07:20 pm (GMT)

Don Jamont

Re: Bedding a 1917 Enfield in 30-06 (Mauser Action)
Hey gents,

Thanks for the feedback. I don't have the original dog ears, it was machined off and replaced with a Lyman peep site.

As far as my explanations of the plasticine dam for the bedding of the lug, I couldn't figure out a way to stop the bedding compound from running our of the action screw hole that shares the same stock recess as the recoil lug. Would you just dam up the action screw hole in the stock with plasticine, then insert the action with a headless action screw through the hole? My concern was getting too tight a fit around the screw, but I suppose you could machine/sand a small amount out of the screw channel if it was too tight after bedding?

I know the P17's had their receivers machined like either a winchester model 70, remington model 30 or remington model 721. I am not knowledageble enough to know which profile my receiver has, and I have very little access to good/large gun stores or gunsmiths... Nova Scotia is a bit scarce of things like that.

Thanks again guys.

On a side note, Nathan, how long does it take to ship items to Canada?

Cheers,

Don
30 Sep 2014
@ 03:41 am (GMT)

thomas kitchen

Re: Bedding a 1917 Enfield in 30-06 (Mauser Action)
hi don my gunsmith got hold of me today saying rifle is ready. he ground of the ears and fitted bases so hopefully get it back in next couple days so might be able to share some light on what bases etc was used with bit of luck.

on the book subject i brought the books not the ebook/paperbook combo as i tend to pick up more from reading off paper not a screen but one thing i didnt realise was the ebook has coloured photo's and the book has black and white so might be helpful specially with the 3rd book to have coloured photo's for bedding tips plus you dont have to wait for delivery for ebook
30 Sep 2014
@ 03:16 pm (GMT)

Nathan Foster

Re: Bedding a 1917 Enfield in 30-06 (Mauser Action)
Hi Don, sorry for the late reply, I was with clients yesterday for a day tutorial.

Yes, that's correct and the same goes for the Mausers. The front action screw hole is very wide because the bottom metal has a pillar attached to it. The trick, is to dam the hole tidily, then poke a hole through the plasticine just wide enough for the headless screw to pass through easily (sharp pencil can do it)

Then next trick, is to make sure that you don't knock the plasticine out when the stock is full of compound and the holes can co longer be seen. You have two options, either use drinking straws as locating guides (which also act as temporary plugs. Just make sure the tops of the straws are taped off as you don't want the headless screws to go into the straws- everything ends up bound up. The straws are guides only.

The other method is to plug the bottom of the holes with tear drop shaped plasticine plugs as shown in our tips and tricks video- but this means that you have to be on the ball regarding locating the holes without knocking out the front plasticine dam in the action screw hole. You can use pen marks on the top line of the stock but to be honest, you may be better off using the straw method as this second method is best used for those of us doing this work on a week to week basis.

OK, I hope that helps.
01 Oct 2014
@ 12:37 am (GMT)

thomas kitchen

Re: Bedding a 1917 Enfield in 30-06 (Mauser Action)
hi don received by p14 back today its got a weaver 46 mount on front of reciever and weaver 55 at rear ill upload some photos to the project p14 thread when i get a chance. hope its been some help
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