Talk to me about the P14 action.

All right you older wiser fellas who have built your own rigs. And others as well

What can you tell me about the p14 action? Any of you ever build on one? I've got my eye on something…

It's a p14 action with a long heavy barrel of unknown manufacture and an aftermarket laminate stock, converted to a single shot and chambered in .30-378.

The barrel is worn already but if the price is right I'm thinking about it as a future project action and stock. And heck I might shoot it as is. But is this action suitable for prolonged use over multiple barrels with cartridges of this kind of diameter, bolt thrust, and chamber pressure?

I have done some reading and it certainly seems more than appropriate but figured I'd ask you trusted sources as well.

Wasn't the p14 just the 1917 in 303??

akdad said:

Wasn't the p14 just the 1917 in 303??

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Basically but it had the larger bolt face so was used for many magnum conversions. I have one I madden into 458 Lott. I think you have a great candidate for a really large cartridge rifle but I wouldn't think it would make the best precision rifle or long range build. It would make a fun big bore bolt gun for close range big game hunting. A 378-460 bee would be pretty cool. Or if your really into power the 475 A&M would be fun.

Thebear_78 said:

Basically but it had the larger bolt face so was used for many magnum conversions. I have one I madden into 458 Lott. I think you have a great candidate for a really large cartridge rifle but I wouldn't think it would make the best precision rifle or long range build. It would make a fun big bore bolt gun for close range big game hunting. A 378-460 bee would be pretty cool. Or if your really into power the 475 A&M would be fun.

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Right on good to hear.

Heck if you're going for max power on that case size the .550 magnum warrants consideration. Just a straight wall .378 case, 550 cal bullets, 750 grain pills at 2400

I think I have an extra bolt for a 1917 if you get crazy. It's 3006 face

The 458 was enough of a good thing for my build! 350hr speers at 2780fps will get you attention! I'm betting the 550 would be getting up there in the detached retina realm of recoil.

I have 2 P14's. Grew up with them in 303-25. One is on its 4th barrel, currently in .257 Weatherby.….
Strong, accurate, and reliable but locktime is slow. A speedlock enabling it to cock on opening will reduce locktime but doesn't always strike the primer with enough force for reliable ignition. It is a heavy action, not ideal for a mountain hunting rig. My triggers break crisply around 1.5 lb.

Col. Art Alphin, A-Square Rifles and ammunition.

A-Square produced three models, the Hannibal (Big Bore), the Hamilcar (Small Bore), and the Genghis Khan (Varmints). All of the large cartridge/large caliber rifles were produced only in the Hannibal model which was the "Coil Check" stock.

From the inception of this company, the supply of actions world-wide went into the production of A-Square rifles. This put a crimp into the making of custom big bore rifles using these actions.




500 A-SQUARE
The A-Square series of cartridges was designed in 1974 by Col. Arthur Alphin after a hunting incident with Cape buffalo using the .458 Winchester Magnum. He first designed the .500 A-Square to provide maximum stopping power. In order to gain more powder capacity and more power, all original A-Square cartridges were based on the .460 Weatherby case.




577 T-REX





https://www.madisoncourier.com/trim...cle_edcb3477-639c-56d0-8996-7e90fe27c3f5.html

P14 actions are very strong and a little on the heavy side. Some might call them clunky compared to the slick running customs. I have owned one in a sporterized 06 for 60 years. It has been restocked and rebarreled when I shot it out. Hunted with it for decades. I did change the firing pin to a custom 20 years ago or so. Still shoots .75 MOA and would work for North American game.
Worth using as a base for a custom rifle.

akdad said:

Wasn't the p14 just the 1917 in 303??

Click to expand...

The P1914 came before the P1917.

I had a bunch of them, both p14's and p17's. They are heavy and slow but strong and reliable. The long bolt throw and big bolt face is a plus if you like magnums but the magazines have to be lengthened and the feed rails altered by someone who knows what they are doing. If it's already been made to feed a .378 size case you may be stuck with chambering for that size. I hunted with a .300 Wby p14 for years and shot lots of game with it, did the same with a .270 Win p17. Lots of companies used to make upgrades for the action, including cock on opening which I never liked. The safety is one of the best I have ever seen on any rifle. It was a fun rifle to work on because it took a lot of work and left room for slightly different styles. It was great for a serious hobbyist.

The one I have is a cock on opening conversion which was easy 30 years ago. You just installed the revised parts. The reason I changed it over was because it made the bolt closing action smoother since you were not fighting the spring. I like it but some don't. Not sure if parts are still available now to make the changeover. Definitely a reliable strong action