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My RFI .410 SMLE Conversion

Posted: Sun Jul 25, 2010 2:54 am
by Aughnanure
This Indian .410 s/s shotgun is in better mechanical and cosmetic condition than most of my SMLEs and I wouldn't hesitate to fit it with a .303 barrel, except that I want to leave it as it is.
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Pinned and numbered rere sight
Pinned and numbered rere sight
Nicely blued action and Mk III* forend
Nicely blued action and Mk III* forend
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Conversion stamp. '.410, RFI (Rifle Factory Ishapore) and 1948
Conversion stamp. '.410, RFI (Rifle Factory Ishapore) and 1948
Magazine plug
Magazine plug
The 'Isshy' screw and a neat repair
The 'Isshy' screw and a neat repair
Large headed nosecap screw and evidence of hand finishing on the nosecap
Large headed nosecap screw and evidence of hand finishing on the nosecap
Nice clear stamp and the feint remains of something else
Nice clear stamp and the feint remains of something else
'L' for longbutt and a heel repair
'L' for longbutt and a heel repair

Re: My RFI .410 SMLE Conversion

Posted: Sun Jul 25, 2010 3:16 am
by Aughnanure
(continued)
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Another business end view, plus the number again. All numbers match.
Another business end view, plus the number again. All numbers match.
Slightly clearer view of the gun
Slightly clearer view of the gun
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Loading tray
Loading tray

Re: My RFI .410 SMLE Conversion

Posted: Sun Jul 25, 2010 8:43 am
by bradtx
Eoin, I don't know if there is an Ishapore without some kind of butt repair! Has it been reamed to accept the standard .410 shell?

Thanks for sharing such a nice example of a .410 conversion.

Brad

Re: My RFI .410 SMLE Conversion

Posted: Sun Jul 25, 2010 3:41 pm
by Aughnanure
Brad,

Still original, I load blown out .303 shells for it, and load 210 gr lead .41 Magnum projectiles for solids.

Re: My RFI .410 SMLE Conversion

Posted: Sun Jul 25, 2010 4:12 pm
by Niner
Oldironsights and I were talking on the chat a while ago about the old Springfield Sporters. I had one of the old catalogs out....and..

Well, I never got around to getting one back when I could have for cheap enough. :cry:

Re: My RFI .410 SMLE Conversion

Posted: Mon Jul 26, 2010 8:00 am
by bradtx
Eoin, That load would make a perfect 'companion' for my .41 S&W. I don't know why I hadn't thought of that before. How well does it shoot?

Brad

Re: My RFI .410 SMLE Conversion

Posted: Sat Sep 25, 2010 10:17 pm
by stevyn
Hi
Im new
A. The brit .410 is not the .410 that us yanks use.
B. Does anybody know why they didnt use the magazine with these? I've never seen 1 before so if its a dumb question I'm sorry.
But I am curious. Can you make them work with the Mag? :USA:

Stevyn


"Peace is that brief glorious moment in history when everybody stands around reloading".
--Thomas Jefferson

Re: My RFI .410 SMLE Conversion

Posted: Tue Oct 05, 2010 6:44 pm
by A square 10
thats a beauty , i once had both one in the original 303/410 and in the US 410 , but could never quite warm to them in my collection ,

IIRC/and if what i heard was true , they were issued to indigenous police force for crowd control , and one round at a time seemed safer to those issuing them , they do retain the bayo lug :lol:

Re: My RFI .410 SMLE Conversion

Posted: Tue Oct 05, 2010 8:35 pm
by Aughnanure
Brad,

Sorry I didn't get back with an answer; I've only loaded, so far, with full cases of 3F and I've managed 7" groups at 50yds, sometimes down to 5" except for a flyer. I think that with a good smokeless load they ought to shoot better than this. Possibly round ball would do better as I've managed 6" with my 20ga percussion trade gun.

These are best figures of course, most times I do far worse; I'm thinking of pre-rifling the projectiles to see if that will give them some spin and improve performance.