My new P14

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My new P14

Post by Stoney » 25 Aug 2020, 8:02 pm

G'day Fellas, Today, whilst checking out a new, huge, treasure trove of old and unusual firearms I came across an old Sporterised Winchester P14 with a beautiful handmade chequered stock, steel PH type peep sights ( the back sight has been milled away ) and a good condition blued after market barrel. It screams 60's gunsmithing to me. Someone has spent a lot of money on this rifle. I bought it on the spot. Problem is, on the barrel it is stamped 303/25 Sprinter A.I. Does/Has anyone here have had any dealings or knowledge of the 303/25 Sprinter and/or the 303/25 Sprinter A.I. I understand the A.I stands for Ackley Improved. My research so far tells me the " Sprinter " is not a full case length 303 but rather a 3/4 case length? Any help would be very greatly accepted.
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Re: My new P14

Post by bigrich » 25 Aug 2020, 8:53 pm

mate , so tragic :lol: :lol: :lol: you've got "oldgunitis" :lol: :lol: :lol:
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Re: My new P14

Post by Ricochet » 25 Aug 2020, 11:35 pm

Ok I'm lacking in some knowledge regarding the dimensions of these calibres but if you realy like it or think it's worthwhile could the existing 303/25 barel possibly be re-bareled for a .303 or get the existing barel chamber reamed to .303?
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Re: My new P14

Post by straightshooter » 26 Aug 2020, 8:30 am

It is more likely just a simple 303/25 and the barrel and mods were done by Sprinter arms in SA.
You will soon find out by checking a standard 303/25 case for fit and then if OK firing a round and comparing the case with an unfired case.
To the best of my knowledge there was never a 303/25 AI but there was a 303/25 Epps improved which was like an AI but it never attained any degree of popularity here.
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Re: My new P14

Post by in2anity » 26 Aug 2020, 9:56 am

Got a pic for us Stoney? Man I'd love a p14 to compete with... my old No4 does the job, but well, let's be honest, it's a bit sh!t :lol:
At what point does lack of maintenance become patina?
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Re: My new P14

Post by Stoney » 26 Aug 2020, 10:43 am

bigrich wrote:mate , so tragic :lol: :lol: :lol: you've got "oldgunitis" :lol: :lol: :lol:


It's your bloody fault mate. You led me astray. :lol: :lol: :lol:
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Re: My new P14

Post by in2anity » 26 Aug 2020, 10:43 am

Last edited by in2anity on 26 Aug 2020, 12:49 pm, edited 1 time in total.
At what point does lack of maintenance become patina?
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Re: My new P14

Post by Stoney » 26 Aug 2020, 10:45 am

in2anity wrote:Got a pic for us Stoney? Man I'd love a p14 to compete with... my old No4 does the job, but well, let's be honest, it's a bit sh!t :lol:


Not yet In2anity. I will post one when I pick it up. No4's are great guns mate I have 2. Also 2 P14 Sporters now. :D :D :D
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Re: My new P14

Post by Bugman » 26 Aug 2020, 11:37 am

Lucky fellow. I too would like to some pics.
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Re: My new P14

Post by bigrich » 26 Aug 2020, 3:33 pm

Stoney wrote:
bigrich wrote:mate , so tragic :lol: :lol: :lol: you've got "oldgunitis" :lol: :lol: :lol:


It's your bloody fault mate. You led me astray. :lol: :lol: :lol:


tell these guys about the "barn find" brass mate ...... ;)
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Re: My new P14

Post by Stoney » 26 Aug 2020, 5:01 pm



I just shook my head. That must either be satire or a very ignorant author.
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Re: My new P14

Post by Stoney » 26 Aug 2020, 5:05 pm

Ricochet wrote:Ok I'm lacking in some knowledge regarding the dimensions of these calibres but if you realy like it or think it's worthwhile could the existing 303/25 barel possibly be re-bareled for a .303 or get the existing barel chamber reamed to .303?


I really want to keep it as a 303/25 mate. I have never in all my research heard a bad thing about a 303/25. Even the Yanks and Canadians rave about it.
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Re: My new P14

Post by Stoney » 26 Aug 2020, 5:24 pm

straightshooter wrote:It is more likely just a simple 303/25 and the barrel and mods were done by Sprinter arms in SA.
You will soon find out by checking a standard 303/25 case for fit and then if OK firing a round and comparing the case with an unfired case.
To the best of my knowledge there was never a 303/25 AI but there was a 303/25 Epps improved which was like an AI but it never attained any degree of popularity here.


I agree straightshooter. I have read that the Sprinter shoulder is set back further than the standard 303/25. My plan is once I have it, try and chamber a standard 303/25 with a soap blocked neck and perhaps 5 grains of trailboss. If it chambers I will then have a good idea of what I am dealing with.
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Re: My new P14

Post by in2anity » 27 Aug 2020, 7:49 am

Stoney wrote:I just shook my head. That must either be satire or a very ignorant author.

:lol: yes true Stoney, greatly exaggerated :P Although there is some small truth to what he says; LEs are complex beasts (by today's standards). And that's largely the appeal of the p14 - a Mauser-Lee-Enfield; good parts from both camps! :drinks:
At what point does lack of maintenance become patina?
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Re: My new P14

Post by Stoney » 27 Aug 2020, 10:19 am

in2anity wrote:
Stoney wrote:I just shook my head. That must either be satire or a very ignorant author.

:lol: yes true Stoney, greatly exaggerated :P Although there is some small truth to what he says; LEs are complex beasts (by today's standards). And that's largely the appeal of the p14 - a Mauser-Lee-Enfield; good parts from both camps! :drinks:


Absolutely mate. The P14 was engineered to be originally chambered for the high pressure 276 Enfield. It's a great platform for Big Game or Wildcat rifles. But yes a Mauser type design. The bastard child of the Germans and the Brits :lol: :lol: :lol:
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Re: My new P14

Post by in2anity » 27 Aug 2020, 10:26 am

The 303/25 is an interesting concept - was just reading about it. I guess my only complaint would be somewhat limited pill choice.

Given that the 6.5CM has solved the world's problems (and subsequently seems hotly in demand, driving 6.5 pill prices down) a 6.5/303 build would sure be cool.
At what point does lack of maintenance become patina?
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Re: My new P14

Post by bigrich » 27 Aug 2020, 12:17 pm

Don’t give him any ideas in2anity, he’s got enough projects already :lol:

Rebels got a few pill choices :thumbsup:
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Re: My new P14

Post by Stoney » 27 Aug 2020, 5:01 pm

No, I am determined to find a way to shoot this beast. Mr Swan has confirmed that the Sprinter 303/25 is indeed shorter than the standard 303/25, plus it is A.I. So that means I probably cannot fireform a standard 303/25 case to the chamber. Bugger.
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Re: My new P14

Post by Stoney » 27 Aug 2020, 5:05 pm

I'm off to buy some chamber casting material tomorrow just so I can get a good idea of what this thing is.
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Re: My new P14

Post by Wm.Traynor » 27 Aug 2020, 7:12 pm

Please excuse my ignorance but I suppose if you can't get dies for whatever chambering you discover that it actually is, you might be able to have it re-chambered to a variety of 303/25, that you can make or get ammo for.
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Re: My new P14

Post by Stoney » 28 Aug 2020, 12:11 pm

Wm.Traynor wrote:Please excuse my ignorance but I suppose if you can't get dies for whatever chambering you discover that it actually is, you might be able to have it re-chambered to a variety of 303/25, that you can make or get ammo for.


I agree mate. I think 303/25 Epps would work.
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Re: My new P14

Post by Stoney » 12 Sep 2020, 8:07 pm

Rightio, the gun does chamber a standard 303/25 round soooooo it may be a 303/25 Standard but A.I'ed if that makes sense. The barrel has a J ? Taylor signature on it. I think it WAS 303/25 Sprinter Imp as that is what is stamped on the barrel but someone reamed it to 303/25 Standard Imp. Anyhoo I will post pics shortly.
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Re: My new P14

Post by bigrich » 12 Sep 2020, 8:26 pm

c'mon mate , pictures for all these poor souls of your old school hand made bargain :D
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Re: My new P14

Post by Blr243 » 12 Sep 2020, 8:35 pm

I bought a 303 22 once. It was not until I tried to buy dies that I realised there was more than one version of this thing ....it was a nightmare piece of junk with headspace issues. I sold it for probably 50 bucks before it blew up in my face
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Re: My new P14

Post by bigrich » 12 Sep 2020, 8:42 pm

Blr243 wrote:I bought a 303 22 once. It was not until I tried to buy dies that I realised there was more than one version of this thing ....it was a nightmare piece of junk with headspace issues. I sold it for probably 50 bucks before it blew up in my face


this thing is a 1960's hand built ,winchester p14 . seriously , it's a classy bit of gear . hassle stoney for pics blr :lol:
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Re: My new P14

Post by Stoney » 12 Sep 2020, 10:09 pm

I hope this works. A few more pics to come. I'm not sure about the resolution.
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Re: My new P14

Post by Stoney » 12 Sep 2020, 10:28 pm

Honestly, pics do not do this rifle justice. It is an old school work of art.
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Re: My new P14

Post by marksman » 12 Sep 2020, 11:51 pm

a picture is worth a thousand words stoney,
l can see why you are happy :thumbsup:
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Re: My new P14

Post by Blr243 » 13 Sep 2020, 8:46 am

Very unique nice looking rear sight
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Re: My new P14

Post by Wm.Traynor » 13 Sep 2020, 9:43 am

Have you had the rear sight off to clean it, Stoney? Reason I ask is, that it looks like the kind of thing you would find on a target rifle( sorry, I haven't read the full post from the start). If so, it could be in good nick too even if there is some dust and grit on the threads. Those things were all detachable for transport and returned to zero within half an moa, owing to the parallel thread of the mounting plate. Cleaning these days is by squirting the exposed threads with G96 (and maybe scrubbing with a toothbrush), winding the knobs to their limits (careful not to go TOO far) and repeat.
Good luck mate :thumbsup:

p.s. any Full-Bore Target shooter would help you :)
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