Brian Dick (BDL Ltd) is one of the most experienced Enfield Smiths in the US.

http://bdlltd.com/

 

+++++1 ^^^^^ this...Brian's a gentleman, used him a couple of times. Wouldn't hesitate to use him again.

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Berkemberk1

Finding an Enfield savvy gunsmith around Illinois might be a little tough, but Brian could do it if still in the biz. I'm certainly not on top of costs for the work you need, but it might cost less to refresh your holdings by purchasing another rifle. I say this with the thought that your present Enfield doesn't have some special background that is important to you. If I can help in any way, please advise.

 

Berkemberk1

Finding an Enfield savvy gunsmith around Illinois might be a little tough, but Brian could do it if still in the biz. I'm certainly not on top of costs for the work you need, but it might cost less to refresh your holdings by purchasing another rifle. I say this with the thought that your present Enfield doesn't have some special background that is important to you. If I can help in any way, please advise. View attachment 3478283

This is a solid recommendation and worth your attention. Cost / Money wise...get another rifle with great barrel and be money ahead. Sell or keep rifle you have...its original. Rebarrel your rifle and its a surplus rifle of no real value but granted a great shooter. Brian Dick LTD could do the work right , I know of no one else in USA that could and even in the 50's when Enfields were cheap , no gunsmith wanted to mess with them as it was always cheaper to buy another. Right now your rifle has collector value and with new rifle will not be worth the sum of its parts.

Hate saying it but rebarreling an Enfield is a dead end. .. just my 2 cents.

 

post up a pic please

 

Right now, my 1900 "Irish" Mk i*** is wearing the Mk III's wood. My 1917 No 1 Mk III* for comparison.

 

I have re-barrelled a few SMLE's and P17/14 rifles over the years....did one 2 weeks ago with a Criterion barrel for a customer,came out nice and no doubt will be a solid shooter....but cost wise and originality wise its a dead-end.If your rifle was mine,I would either just leave as is....or,having the tooling at work as we do,maybe just convert it to a .410 shotgun if the rifling in the bore is absolutely munted.My 2 cents worth.....

 

I have a 1918 Enfield with a totally worn out barrel. I have a new replacement. It doesn't look too hard to replace but I don't have the fixtures to do the job. There are a couple gunsmith shops around here. I need to go by and speak with them. What is the going rate for a barrel change now days? All they have to do is change out the barrels and headspace. I will do all the disassembly and reassembly. I know how to do it but as I said, I don't have the tools to do so.

 

Unless they are a 'regular' Enfield barrel replacer then they may have problems headspacing.
As I know you know, headspacing is done by changing bolt heads until you find one that both headspaces and clocks correctly. Not may smiths have ready access to a few dozen Enfield bolt heads.

But - Good luck.

 

I do have a 22 conversion kit where the barrel insert will slide into the worn bore. That may be the way to go. chris

 

have you tried Cast bullets, at a reduced velocity thru it?

 

No, I have not tried cast bullets. I don't cast my own, as yet. I also have a No 4 Ishapore with a completely worn out bore also. I bought these two rifles at an auction for less than 100 bucks each.

 

If your barreled action has been FTR'd in it's life,the barrel is not too hard to remove. If it has not been, removing the barrel can be a real chore.
I have rebarreld a couple of SMLE's and it took a lot of effort since neither had been FTR'd.
The old barrel is cut off 6" from the breech. The barrel is then checked into a lath and the breech area is reduced in size right at the receiver ring. This is done to remove the force the stretched barrel threads are placing on the receiver ring when the barrel was torqued into the action.
The replacement barrel is then hand tightened into the receiver. If the barrel stops at 1 or 1:15 o'clock your pretty much good to go as the wrench should bring the barrel into time. ( looking from the breech end of the receiver) If the barrel stops farther out than 1:15 o'clock, then you have a job ahead of you. The barrel will have to breech turned/ and shortned as well as the head space will be too tight in most cases. A reamer may be needed.
I do not use SAMI head space gauges on the Endfield's. I only used HSG's made overseas.
Same goes if the barrel over times. Shims can be used but head space will be a problem.
Failing to do this can and has caused the receiver to twist up like a pretzel when trying to remove the barrel. I saw a friend cut corners and destroy an Enfield receiver this way.
I have had to drill out the barrel stub as well to almost the receiver ring thickness and then crush the remaining barrel steel in a shop press to release the rusted barrel threads.
Head spacing was no big deal. I HS'd using the smallest bolt head on the bolt body or replaced the bolt body with a longer stripped bolt.
Springfield Sporters ( now gone) always had the bolt body I when needed it.
Aligning the sights were the problem if the barrel was made by another company other than the receiver maker.
I've since sold the barrel wrench and vice and guages but I'm sure there are 'smiths that still have them and can do the work. It really is not that hard unless the barrel has to be set-back to align sights that are really off and the rifle has not been FTR'd.