If you want something without a lot of work you might look for a P-14 in .303. I have a friend who finds .30-06 to have more recoil than he cares for but liked the P-14 in .303.
A-Square used to make commercial rifles on rebarreled modified P-14and M1917 actions but these were hotter rounds than the .30-06. I understand many were converted to .300 Magnums by home owners since the actions would take it. But apparently they must be carefully rebarreled as the barrels are screwed on quite tightly. A-Square was reputed to not use Eddystone made receivers since they had most issues with rebarreling. I believe that the DCM stopped selling rebarreled Eddystone rebuilds at some point after World War 2 due to this issue surfacing. A-Square if I recall right reportedly Magnafluxed their rifles after rebarreling to assure no cracks on the receiver.
The basic receiver/action is a strong one. I believe Remington sold some to a Central American country in 7mm Mauser in the 1930s: I think it was called the 1934 model. I believe the receiver had the front sight ears ground off and the sight was mounted on barrel but am hipshooting from memory here, which is often flawed.
Supposedly M1917s were less popular with US Doughboys (and the P14 with Brit Tommies) because they weighed more than a 1903 or a #1 Mk III SMLE. One would suspect that there was less felt recoil with the P14/M1917 series than those just due to the weight increase, but felt recoil is often subjective.
Remington also made a Model 720 as I recall and an earlier commercial action on the basic action. Most I think were surplus from receivers built during WWI but am not sure if all were. I suspect they came in a number of calibers but am sure the commercial rifles will run for more than a surplus rifle even though unadulterated M1917s and Pattern 14s have escalated quite a bit in last 15 years or so. And I'd expect that on the commercial series rifles, should you find one, the .30-06 was the biggest seller so other calibers would be likely to sell for more.
You might also check gun shows, pawn shops, etc. to see if you can find one already sporterized. But I would expect they might be chambered in something with more "oomph" than a .30-06. I think a friend had a rechambered M1917 redone by the PO Ackley gun shop in Salt Lake City, UT that was in .30-06 improved, which was an Ackley specialty.
Of course, if you reload you could also used a lighter load.

 

Typically 1917's are used as an economical way to go UP in caliber, 375 H&H, 404 Jeffery, etc.

If you want to find something more gentler recoiling, I would recommend the multitude of Mauser's that are available. Or you can build one fairly economically in any caliber you want.

If you for some reason really like the 1917, and want to build one on that action, they can handle any of the smaller cartridges, though I would stay away from some of the modern cartridges that approach magnum pressures.

So in short, 6.5x55 would be just fine in a 1917.

 

I personally enjoy the 6.5 swede and thought it an interesting thought experiment (what if the US went to a smalller caliber in the 1917) . It hunts well.

i am making the local rounds for one, i really want one with ears.

are p14s likely to be more expensive that 1917s here in US ( assuming both sporterized)?

 

In general, it seems like the P14 sells for less than a US M1917 in the US on gunbroker, etc. Some of the P14s are "drill purpose" rifles so would want to make sure that they are still shootable. I think M1917s are probably more available than P14s: total production back in the day was doubled (M1917/P14 ratio) but that's over 100 years ago.
Neither M1917 nor P14s were considered the "standard rifle" though more doughboys carried M1917s than M1903s overseas in 1917 through 1919. And both US and Britain gave large numbers away as military aid to countries in eastern Europe and Asia (supposedly the M1917 was the standard rifle of the Phillipines army in WW2.) Many did not come back from those places. 100,000 plus P14s were supposedly shipped directly to India during the WWI era without passing "go" in Britain. China got a lot as aid, and I think the Free French forces did as well (along with 03s). I think Mexico got some also.
Apparently a lot of the Allies after WWI really believed that the last big war had been fought and they wouldn't need all those arms again, even though there was PLENTY of evidence that wasn't the case: even before November 1918, let alone in the several years thereafter. But, hey, hope springs eternal in the human breast, or something.

 

You could rebarrel to pretty much anything on the .30-06 bolt face and body (e.g. .25-06, .270) and with some additional work even the shorter kin such as .243. The 6.5 Swede is actually .010" bigger in the head than the '06, and .007" larger at the rim IIRC, so depending on your bolt-face and extractor your particular Swede brass might or might not fit. Dumb question, but why not just load the '06 down (lighter bullets and/or reduced powder charge); cast bullets are great fun in those old fighting rifles.

 

Ahah, 25-06 would work too! I knew I bought those dies for a reason.

 

Reload you cartridges with hard cast bullets with IMR4759 for less recoil.

 

Reloading would be a good option for lower recoil. While IMR4759 powder is out of production there are quite a few others that work well.

 

Have you shot one in 06? They are a real hunk of wood and steel. They absorb some of the recoil and are not unpleasant. Or reloading opens up a whole new world in that caliber.

 

I haven’t shot one of these but I intend to sporterize it and lose some weight with that

 

I have a Winchester 1917 that bubba has his way with about 30 years ago. 22" barrel, never finished cutting the ears off the receiver. If it weren't for the almost mint barrel I would have never spent what I did on it. I took everything down to bare metal. Then finished contouring what was left of the years. Then using a home made buffer, buffed the heck out of it. Sent it to "Bolt and Barrel" to get it drilled and tapped for Weaver Grand Slam steel bases. Bead blast the heck out of it and then reblue. Including the bolt. Because of the alloy in the bolt it came out a little purple. Because of the bead blasting all the metal, a normal blue came out almost black. Right now it's sitting in a Canadian marked Fat Boy stock. Redid the stock as well. Hoping they will open the local sheriff's range soon. Frank

 

Bought my only copy of the Williams Gunsite Company's "How to Sporterize Military Rifle" while waiting orders to my ship in 1964 for the sum of $1. Still have it today. Frank

 

The '17 genre Enfields are big rugged nickel steel receiver actions. As noted, rather uniquely adapted among its milsurp peer to the big long magnum cartridges such as H&H, Weathrby Mag etc genre. Such 'long Tom' rounds are its forte. Conversely; big and heavy rifles! For today trend "lightweight sporters"... Not! As above noted, many converted to sporting use. Work done and sufficient number that with patience and diligence, to find about any configuration as desired. Moreover, typically inexpensive in relative sense. As for chamberings, I haven't seen very many such conversions 'other than' occasionally the referenced long mag chamberings. While I'd see no reason not to convert to 6.5 Swede, I'd personally seek a lighter rifle and likely a Husqvarna Model 1600 CRF action. Trim, lightweight and relatively 'modern'. In the milsurps the heralded Swedeish Model 1896 (aka '96) or later Model 38 rifles.

I've experienced the "I wanna just because I wanna..." syndrome and if so; go for it! But one of the pethora of already sporterized '17 Enfields to save a lot of effort/$$$.

Last suggestion, check out the Remington Model 30 rifles, the '17 commercial variant. Already sporter config by the factory and a variety of chamberings to 'live with' or further rechambering where bore diameter compatible. Early Model 30 rifles with interesting schnabel stocks but forwarned as NOT ergonomic from felt recoil perspective. Later 30 models as "NRA Stock pattern" better. Early 30 model, cock on closing as the '17. Later model, cock on opening.
Personal taste, I prefer earlier "closing" config.

In our present era of rampant inflation, nothing 'cheap'! Such as the '17 Enfield Bubba sporter genre, yet tending toward bargain and nowadays, moved to yet 'under radar' value.

Just my take
Best!
John

 

Popular conversion was to 308 Norma Mag....Norma used to either loan the long shank reamer to gunsmiths,or sell the whole kit ,rough and finisher for about $25.......the set would ream the chamber without removing the barrel.....there was series of Norma cartridges .....7x61 S&H,308 Norma Mag,and 358 Norma mag,all the same length as a 30 -06