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For an old sporterized 1917 Enfield, depending on bullet profile 1/4" freebore doesn't sound that bad to me. I was curious so I just tried the same thing with one of my USGI 30-06 rifles.
I don't have a 1917 Enfield so I tried it with my CMP service grade M1 Garand. It has an excellent bore and throat. I made up an empty case with a neck with light tension on a cannelured hunting bullet. Here's a photo:
Being an old, sporterized military arm, it really could be anything. I would suspect things like loose stock/bad stock bedding, loose scope mounts, bad crown, bore condition, all in about that order.
One thing I found a long time ago: on a rifle like that, paying a gunsmith to put a new barrel on it will usually cost you more than the gun is worth. Hopefully it's something simple. If you're handy there's a lot of things you can learn to fix yourself. Good luck with it!
Added: sorry, mixed up the photo somehow. Got it right now.
I don't have a 1917 Enfield so I tried it with my CMP service grade M1 Garand. It has an excellent bore and throat. I made up an empty case with a neck with light tension on a cannelured hunting bullet. Here's a photo:
Being an old, sporterized military arm, it really could be anything. I would suspect things like loose stock/bad stock bedding, loose scope mounts, bad crown, bore condition, all in about that order.
One thing I found a long time ago: on a rifle like that, paying a gunsmith to put a new barrel on it will usually cost you more than the gun is worth. Hopefully it's something simple. If you're handy there's a lot of things you can learn to fix yourself. Good luck with it!
Added: sorry, mixed up the photo somehow. Got it right now.