219 Zipper on a SMLE |
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gmlieb
Newbie Joined: February 16 2014 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 2 |
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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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Zed
Special Member Donating Member Joined: May 01 2012 Location: France Status: Offline Points: 5585 |
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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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It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice!
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SW28fan
Special Member Donating Member Joined: July 02 2007 Location: Texas Status: Offline Points: 2951 |
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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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Have a Nice Day
If already having a nice day please disregard |
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A square 10
Special Member Donating Member Joined: December 12 2006 Location: MN , USA Status: Offline Points: 14452 |
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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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Lithgow
Senior Member Joined: October 25 2005 Location: Australia Status: Offline Points: 1417 |
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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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muffett.2008
Senior Member Joined: December 09 2011 Location: scone. nsw Status: Offline Points: 751 |
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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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A square 10
Special Member Donating Member Joined: December 12 2006 Location: MN , USA Status: Offline Points: 14452 |
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there ya go ....i knew we had folks well versed in the topic
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hybridfiat
Senior Member Joined: January 17 2014 Location: Western Austral Status: Offline Points: 175 |
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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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hybridfiat
Senior Member Joined: January 17 2014 Location: Western Austral Status: Offline Points: 175 |
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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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Longbow14
Senior Member Joined: April 29 2012 Location: W. Florida Status: Offline Points: 140 |
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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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1952musso
Groupie Joined: August 23 2013 Location: Adelaide S A Status: Offline Points: 30 |
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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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musso
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muffett.2008
Senior Member Joined: December 09 2011 Location: scone. nsw Status: Offline Points: 751 |
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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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1952musso
Groupie Joined: August 23 2013 Location: Adelaide S A Status: Offline Points: 30 |
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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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musso
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1952musso
Groupie Joined: August 23 2013 Location: Adelaide S A Status: Offline Points: 30 |
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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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musso
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