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Anyone still doing .50 conversions to the British Boys rifle ?
9/9/2011 10:02:35 PM
I have one in my shop with the chamber welded shut... and I understand it's a PITA to pull the barrel from the receiver without risking receiver damage.
Are there any qualified 'smiths out there capable of doing one of these rifles in .50bmg ?
It would be a shame if it spent the rest of it's life as useless showroom decoration.
It looks like this...
Are there any qualified 'smiths out there capable of doing one of these rifles in .50bmg ?
It would be a shame if it spent the rest of it's life as useless showroom decoration.
It looks like this...
9/10/2011 3:01:08 PM
Originally Posted By Dragracer_Art:
I have one in my shop with the chamber welded shut... and I understand it's a PITA to pull the barrel from the receiver without risking receiver damage.
Did you buy it as a deactivated/de-milled firearm?I have one in my shop with the chamber welded shut... and I understand it's a PITA to pull the barrel from the receiver without risking receiver damage.
9/10/2011 3:50:30 PM
Originally Posted By Dragracer_Art:
I have one in my shop with the chamber welded shut... and I understand it's a PITA to pull the barrel from the receiver without risking receiver damage.
Are there any qualified 'smiths out there capable of doing one of these rifles in .50bmg ?
It would be a shame if it spent the rest of it's life as useless showroom decoration.
It looks like this...
http://operatorchan.org/k/arch/src/k43061_UK%20WW2%20Boys%20RB-1%20anti-tank%20rifle%20in%2013.2mm%20BSA.jpg
I have one in my shop with the chamber welded shut... and I understand it's a PITA to pull the barrel from the receiver without risking receiver damage.
Are there any qualified 'smiths out there capable of doing one of these rifles in .50bmg ?
It would be a shame if it spent the rest of it's life as useless showroom decoration.
It looks like this...
http://operatorchan.org/k/arch/src/k43061_UK%20WW2%20Boys%20RB-1%20anti-tank%20rifle%20in%2013.2mm%20BSA.jpg
The first fiddy I ever fired was a Boyes conversion that a very dear friend, who has long since passed away had. I've got a Bohica upper with a "36 barrel i might cannilbalize if all the measurments work out. So, I'm in Pittsburgh and what would you take for it ??? - DR
9/10/2011 4:03:38 PM
I didn't really want to sell it... as it's a great piece of history.
I'd really like to put it back into service as a working title 1 firearm... but don't want to change the appearance of it if possible.
With a welded barrel, it's no longer a DD and is in my books as a title 1 firearm... as the receiver can technically still be 'smith'd into a working gun.
I will likely weld the muzzle shut as a precaution until the barrel can be safely removed by a competent gunsmith... as there would be no measurable bore to make a fuss over. The gun came into the shop as a "Grandpop attic-find" and the previous owner had no idea what to do with it.
We were relieved to see the chamber welded solid... but I will go a step further by welding the muzzle shut also. If there is no bore to measure at either end, it cannot be classified as a DD. At this point it's simply a Title 1 receiver with an unserviceable barrel that's welded solid at both ends.
I might consider parting with the rifle if barrel replacement turns out to be prohibitively expense of difficult to have done.
I'd really like to put it back into service as a working title 1 firearm... but don't want to change the appearance of it if possible.
With a welded barrel, it's no longer a DD and is in my books as a title 1 firearm... as the receiver can technically still be 'smith'd into a working gun.
I will likely weld the muzzle shut as a precaution until the barrel can be safely removed by a competent gunsmith... as there would be no measurable bore to make a fuss over. The gun came into the shop as a "Grandpop attic-find" and the previous owner had no idea what to do with it.
We were relieved to see the chamber welded solid... but I will go a step further by welding the muzzle shut also. If there is no bore to measure at either end, it cannot be classified as a DD. At this point it's simply a Title 1 receiver with an unserviceable barrel that's welded solid at both ends.
I might consider parting with the rifle if barrel replacement turns out to be prohibitively expense of difficult to have done.
9/11/2011 1:07:41 AM
There is a company here in Rapid City doing restorations and conversions on them. But I can't for the life of me remember the name of the place right now... 
9/15/2011 10:36:09 AM
That is a beautiful piece. I have always wanted one since I first saw one on a trip to visit West Point with my dad years ago.
Erik
Erik
9/15/2011 3:14:41 PM
Here's some current pics...
And a pic of the other big boy in the shop.
And a pic of the other big boy in the shop.
9/15/2011 10:05:34 PM
This used to be the guy to do resto work, but he now says he no longer does it & has sold all of his parts. He can probably answer any questions you have & point you in the right direction. http://muzzlebrakesrus.com/default.aspx
9/15/2011 10:30:16 PM
Originally Posted By falco18910:
This used to be the guy to do resto work, but he now says he no longer does it & has sold all of his parts. He can probably answer any questions you have & point you in the right direction. http://muzzlebrakesrus.com/default.aspx
This used to be the guy to do resto work, but he now says he no longer does it & has sold all of his parts. He can probably answer any questions you have & point you in the right direction. http://muzzlebrakesrus.com/default.aspx
I appreciate the info... and already spoke with O.J. at RMC a week or two ago...
O.J. told me he'd done 500+ Boys ATR's since 1965 and has had enough. He said he wouldn't do another even if he was offered $5k to do it.
I've since been in contact with another guy that will be getting the job shortly.
As soon as I get the original mag for it and a M2HB donor-barrel, I will ship it out for the overhaul.
9/16/2011 11:27:50 AM
I had a Boys 20 years ago, had to sell it to feed the kids during the oil bust in the '80s... loved it. A guy named Seiler in Pennsylvania helped me with the conversion, and sent me a template to feather the feed lips of the magazine well so it would feed .50BMG. Guess you can do it by eyeball, a little at a time.
