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I just pulled out my copy of Wildcat cartridges by Richard Simmons looking for some info on the .25 Roberts. First page I opened up to had the .405-.308 Pope. Not a lot of info is given, but he does mention that Pope made three rifles in the caliber. Two target rifles and one hunting rifle. He also mentions that Lucian Carey owned one of them built on a Winchester single shot.

John

Mark,

It looks as if the .405 case is longer (2.58 vs 2.31) than the .30 - 40 case with similar base diameters (.461 vs .457), so the .405-.308 Pope should hold more powder.

Terry you are right about the longer case, I have a Krag in .405 and the magazine box had to be massaged at both ends.

I recall when the NRA had a meeting, I think it was in San Antonio, Newton collector John Smyrl (a first class person who is no longer with us) had a High Wall with a shotgun butt in .25/.405 that Newton had been experimenting with. I also remember a heavy barrel .256 bolt gun in a sporter stock with a lot of engraving. Wonder who has them now.

I did not miss it by much....William D. Murphy died 26 May 1941.

I'm worn out chasing Mr. Murphy through history, see you all tomorrow.

Michael, like my namesake, and now alter ego, I went to private school in Rockville, Maryland. Unlike Mr. Murphy, I was raised in Rockville, Maryland, did not leave until I was recruited into a not so secret Government project in 1967, but my Dad remained in Rockville until his death in 1974. Let me know if you find out which school Mr. Murphy attended in Rockville and what his other connections may have been to Rockville. Bill Murphy

Sidelock, I have a complete, high # '03 action drilled for the Lyman 48.If you're interested' give me a call(406 721-5209).

Telecon completed, we're dealing, thanks much, Joe

Thanks for all the input I think I learned a lot. It became evident early on that other folks see a different rifle than I do. Not good or bad just an observation on my part. As soon as I saw pictures of this rifle I have a way (imagination run wild) to picture the original owner and some things about him. I think that must have been the fastest I’ve ever traced down an owner. Not sure how much further I’ll take it on the owner except to look into his shooting and hunting if possible.

I‘ve never heard that the barrel would unscrew with left hand rifling, did the P-14 have left hand rifling?

The bolt appeared at first to have been nickel or chrome plated but was just polished to a mirror finish.

The only unanswered question I have at this time is what to do about that aluminum buttplate. The Pacific buttplate was fitted much later with the other modifications and I dislike it. I will say whoever did the work did a good job and it fits nicely. I see two choices, one install a period Silvers pad or possibly have the buttplate anodized a dark blue-black. I know nothing about anodizing, anyone done this?

Michael, both the P14 and M1917 Enfields originally had left-hand twist rifling and this is the source of one of the problems with these rifles. In order to guard against the barrels unscrewing, the barrels were assembled to their receivers with two opposing chucks under power; this occasionally resulted in the receiver cracking if it was slightly too brittle. Eddystone rifles are supposedly more prone to this than those made at either of the other 2 locations. The quick-&-dirty check for this is the use of gasoline as a sort of dye penetrant, supposedly the gas will indicate the cracks but I have a lot more faith in MagnaFlux. The cracks typically occur along the front face of the receiver ring and are short or at least the ones I've seen were short and there were usually several of them.

Interesting side note: rifling throws the bullet off to the side at long ranges and the direction depends upon the direction of the twist. I had done some long-range shooting with my 1917 as a high-schooler but had never fired a 1903 at long range until I got to Trinidad; in my teenage ignorance my usual 1-foot horizontal allowance for the twist immediately turned into a 2-foot miss!

Anodizing will work perfectly as will some sorts of black chrome plating, but please choose your plater carefully. I have no suggestions, sorry.
Regards, Joe