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219 Zipper on a SMLE

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gmlieb View Drop Down
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    Posted: February 16 2014 at 11:18am
OK, looks like I am in the right place...tired of getting my head bitten off by people who think that every military rifle in the world should be restored back to its former glory.  I am a huge fan of Military rifles but I understand why they have been sporterized over the years...heck I have countless mausers that have met the fate of a sporter job only to come back to life as a really nice sporter.

Long story short I hear legend that they SMLE has been converted to .219 Zipper in the past.  Anyone hear of it being done?  I know it can be done just wondering about the feeding issues.


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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Zed Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 16 2014 at 8:06pm
I have no clue what the .219 Zipper round is like, so unfortunately can't answer your question! But I would be interesetd to know what it is? There are alot of .22LR trainers out there which started out as SMLE's, as well as the No8's and 9's etc.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote SW28fan Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 16 2014 at 9:42pm
The 219 Zipper is the  30-30 necked down.  Lee Enfields have been converted to it. The magazine may need some tweeking but it should work. 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote A square 10 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 17 2014 at 9:26am
i know our ausie friends have done many conversions of cartridge to stay within the law , maybe one of them will chime in on this , 

BTW , welcome , 

we here have our military purists and many of us are bent on preserving those that are left , i for one , have no problem with mucking about with one that is already sported , but i too frown on any sporting of an original rifle still in military nick , 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Lithgow Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 17 2014 at 4:38pm
There were a few different versions of the 303 necked down to .22.
The Lee Enfield has been converted to countless calibres, 219 would probably work ok. head diameter would be close enough. Feeding might be an issue though.
Why not go for one of the proven 303/22's.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote muffett.2008 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 17 2014 at 4:56pm
The 219 zipper is a smaller cartridge and would require modification to the bolthead and magazine to get it to feed.



  The case diameter at the head...... 303 - .452        219 - .415
                 diameter of rim         ......    "   - .528          "    - .498
                  case length             ......    "   - 2.209        "    - 1.926
                                                   
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote A square 10 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 18 2014 at 12:24pm
there ya go ....i knew we had folks well versed in the topic 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote hybridfiat Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 10 2014 at 3:03pm
Originally posted by gmlieb gmlieb wrote:

OK, looks like I am in the right place...tired of getting my head bitten off by people who think that every military rifle in the world should be restored back to its former glory.  I am a huge fan of Military rifles but I understand why they have been sporterized over the years...heck I have countless mausers that have met the fate of a sporter job only to come back to life as a really nice sporter.

Long story short I hear legend that they SMLE has been converted to .219 Zipper in the past.  Anyone hear of it being done?  I know it can be done just wondering about the feeding issues.



No argument from me. Here in Australia the sporterised Lee Enfield was the workhorse of the country.
If it hadn't been for them very little shooting would have got done.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote hybridfiat Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 10 2014 at 3:09pm
Id go with a .303-.22 Aussie round. Theres still reloading info for them and Im sure someone could knock up a die set. Alternatively go on Gumtree or www.usedguns.com.au and search for the dies.
Dealers sometimes get them with a traded rifle.
However, by far and away the best .303 wildcat is and always was the .303-.25. (my opinion of course :)
Even Barnes has something to say about it.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Longbow14 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 10 2014 at 10:21pm
any drive as to why you want a zipper? you could try a 25-35 or a 7-30 waters while your at it.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 1952musso Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 06 2014 at 12:59am
Hi there gmlieb the 219 zipper case and loaded round are a bit short to hold in a Lee Enfield mag a 219 case is at best 49mm long and a 303 case is 57mm long I think even a 60gr bullet would not reach the front mag lips and so could not hold in the mag. There were several 303/22 round developed here in Australia. The shortest off them the Varmint-r was way to short to work through the LE mag but very efficient round if single loaded, even the standard 303-22 the case when necked down to 22 ended up about 55mm long and was quit problematic in the mag and if you could get them balanced in the mag often after the first shot you opened the bolt and the rest off the rounds would gush out of the action like a geyser. the best light weight round was the 303-25 which worked great through the mag and produced velocity's between 250-3000 and 257 Roberts.
I have Lee Enfields in 303-25, 303-270, 303, 303-35 and 375x56 Steyr and may be a 405 Winchester to come I hope this helps you .
regards Musso     
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote muffett.2008 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 06 2014 at 1:55am
Musso, you have me a tad confused here, the only short case I remember was the 7.7x54, and it fed okay.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 1952musso Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 06 2014 at 4:48am
Hi there muffett there were at least four 303-22 the Sprinter the Varmint-R the wasp and the Falcon they were the main ones but there were others that individual gunsmiths developed them selves some improved case taper and overall length.The 7.7x54 did feed OK because it was only shortened by one thread removed from the barrel and still used a standard 303 projectile which still contacted the front feed lips off the magazine where the full length 303-22 (falcon) with a 55gr projectile missed the front feed lips completely.
regards Musso
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 1952musso Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 06 2014 at 5:01am
Hi again this is a list off 303 wildcats I just found
Wildcat/Improved Cartridge Specifications
Meredith 303/22
22/303 Varmint-R (22 Varmint-R)
22 Wasp
22/303 Sprinter
22/303 (22 Rocket - 22-4000)
22/303 Epps
22/303 British Improved 40
220/303 British
243/303 (6mm/303 British)
6mm/303 Epps
25/303 British
25/303 Epps
6.5/303 Epps
270/303
270/303 Epps
7mm/303 British
7mm/303 Epps (7mm/303 British Improved)
7.7x54mm Rimmed
303 ICL Improved
ICBM
303 Epps Improved (303 British Improved)
8mm/303 Epps
338/303 Epps
338 JDJ
35/303 Epps
375/303 Epps
these should keep you all busy.
regards Musso
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