M1917 Enfield 5 or 6 shot

[M14]

I noticed on another web site they referred to 5 or 6 shot M1917 Enfields. I've seen only 6 shot M 1917 Enfields. What's with the 5 shot?

 

[velocette]

The original rifle was designed for the British use of .303 rimmed cartridges. That was 5 rds.
The 30-06 is not rimmed, therefore the magazine could hold 6 rds.
The stripper clips of the time (and now) hold but 5 rds. But the 1917 Enfield mag will hold 6 rds of 30-06 ammo.

Roger

 

[M14]

I realize that, but the web site was referring to 5 or 6 shot M1917's not P14's. Unless the author meant P14's & M1917's.

Cork

 

[James K]

The rifle was originally designed (as the Pattern 1913) for the .276 Enfield, not the .303 British. The .276 Enfield has a very large diameter case (.528") so the space required for 5 rounds of .276 was large enough for 5 rounds of .303 or 6 rounds of .30-'06. There were no "5 shot" Model 1917's; all will take six rounds. But the ammunition was issued in 5 round M1903 clips, so in practice the rifle was 5 shot and was often described as such.

Later, some sporterized Model 1917's and the Remington Model 30, which was made from surplus M1917 parts, were made with a true 5-round magazine.

Jim