Questions about the Lee Enfield .303

[lendell]

I saw one of these guns for fifty dollars and was thinking about getting it and using it for hunting. I have a few questions about them though. First, how available is the ammo and what should I expect to pay? Does the long barreled version have the Wandering Zero problem that the SMLE has? Can I put a scope on one?

[cajungeo]

My dad bought one years ago. He cut down the forstock and refinished the stock. I'm not for sure, but I think I remember seeing a scope on his rifle. It looked pretty good when he got done with it. It was his deer hunting rifle for about 20 years. He got some too.

All the major ammo manufacures make ammo for it. If you reload, a variety of bullets are available. The ammo isn't as popular as say 30-06. So you may have to shop at a larger gun store, or order ammo. There is tons of ammo on the net.

There seems to be a number of mounts for the Enfield. Some may require taping and drilling for a mount. Here is a non-gunsmith scope mount for the Enfield. Brownells has them also. You mount it yourself.
http://www.combatstocks.com/Enfield_Scope_..._Mount_No_4.cfm (http://www.combatstocks.com/Enfield_Scope_Mount_No_4.cfm)

[lendell]

Thanks man. I think I'll check and see if he still has it. That was a pretty good price, should have bought it right then.

[swill269]

:o
lendell,

you can get monte carlo stocks, scope mounts and spare parts (canada), for the enfield. the stronger more scopeable version is the Mk4- no 1 (&2).

i have one barreled in 45/70. see in the gallery. this is a gibbs enfield summit.

i don't like the way the hammer is cocked, it is backwards from rem 700. push bolt closed to cock, this makes it harder to load next round and impossible to keep on target. :eek:
:cool:

[lendell]

Oh yeah, ATI makes a stock and scope mount for it don't they? How stupid of me. They are in Centerfire Systems, but they quit sending me a sale paper. So you say they are hard to keep on target? Well, would they work for deer hunting? That's pretty much all I want one for. I kind of broke the bank when I got my M4 and I can't afford that Remington 710 I've been wanting. Do you recommend any other old war rifle that I could find for $100 or less? Other than a Mosin Nagant, I just don't particularly care for those.

[swill269]

:o
lendell,
i prefer the mausers and rem actions. the best advise i can give you is to ask "sniper" here in the forum. he knows his poop and he probably has a couple of deals waiting in the wings. :lol:

good luck.
steve

[2rangers]

Lendell,
The lee-enfield rifle is a reliable and in some instances, a very accurate shooter. As with ALL military rifles, condition of bore and action can vary widely. I HIGHLY suggest you take your rifle to a reputable smith for a complete exam. As far as the "cock-on-closing" action, yes, it takes a little bit to get used to, but I personally find it very easy and smooth. If your headspace is a little off on the excessive side, it can be quickly and easily remedied at home with the removable bolt heads standard on these rifles. As far as a "wandering zero", I have never experienced it personally, but free-floating the barrel usually takes care of that. That's why you see so many that have been sporterised. As far as power goes, it is virtually equal to U.S. 30-40 Krag, .300 Savage, and similar .30 caliber cartridges from that era. It can surpass .308 Winchester w/ the heavier bullets. Some people criticize it for the rear locking lug bolt, but remember that many british target rifles, the british L-42 sniper rifle, and the very accurate Remington 788 were based on that action. I own several, and a couple of those(No.5 Mk.1, No.4 Mk.1[t]) will shoot sub-moa groups with the right ammo. If you do reload, I highly suggest you NECK-SIZE ONLY. This will prolong case life, and give markedly improved accuracy. Sorry for being so long winded, but the enfield family of rifles are sort of my forte.
Carlo

[swill269]

:o
lendell, 2rangers,

...not hard to keep on target in accuracy, but because the bolt is harder to close it causes you to move the barrel around a lot between rounds even on a sand bag. my remington's barrel does move near as much durring the cycle.

my 45/70 enfield is very accurate but i can not work the bolt action with the rifle still shouldered like i could a lever rifle or my remington. nothing wrong with the weapon though.

pip, pip, cheerio mates,
:cool:

[lendell]

So how much should I expect to pay for about 20 rounds of .303?

[swill269]

:o
lendell,
www.sportsmansguide.com has 32 rnds for $5.97 to 768 rnds for $144.97. :eek:
:cool:

[2rangers]

Lendell-
Be advised- the ammo that sportsmans guide sells is 1960's pakistani prod. It is loaded w/ cordite, w/ corrosive berdan primers(not easily reloadable), and will not group at all. Also, i had about 10% misfires and hang fires. For just plain old plinking and target practice, I highly recommend the UMC brand, 174 grain fmj-bt. It is reasonably accurate, non- corrosively boxer primed, and is loaded in good remington brass. Expect to pay between 8-11 dollars per box of 20. All the major ammo manufacturers make a decent .303 british cartridge, including S&B, but I find their ammo to be loaded a little bit hot. And SWILL269, not to be an instigator or anything like that, but the lee-enfield is capable of some impressive rapid fire. The standard grunt was supposed to fire 15-25 accurately aimed shots per minute, including reloading w/ stripper clips. I know of some older gents that can place upwards of 40, yes 40, center-mass hits on an NRA standard body silhouette in a minute or less. Just remember that the enfield bolt "pops" open almost for you. Thumb and forefinger on the bolt, pinkie in the trigger guard, and blast away!
Carlo :sniper:

[swill269]

:o
2rangers,
i think the enfield is a remarkable weapon, please do not get me wrong. it is just difficult for me to master it. i have arthritis in my arms, shoulders, hands and neck.

i just reported on what i thought might be of interest to lendell up front. since most bolts are different from the enfield. i think the ammo is wrong too but it was all i could find for him at the time.
:cool:

[2rangers]

Swill-
Like I was saying, I wasn't trying to instigate or be a pest- I'm sorry if I came off that way, truly. You are very correct about the mauser type action being smoother on opening- that's why all the modern style bolt action sniper rifles are based on the mauser action. They ultimately are stronger, but more importantly, quieter. The deal that sportsmans guide has on the .303 british milsurp does seem good- they got me for a 768 round case, but the stuff is so old and outdated that it shoots very poorly- even dangerously with all the hang and misfires. I ended up pulling bullets on just about all of them, dumping out the cordite(looks like uncooked spaghetti) burning it, and tapping the primers just so I could throw it all away. I didn't even want to give it away, based on all the problems I had with it.
At any rate, please accept my apologies, and I wish you many good years of shooting, and most of all, a very merry Christmas!!
Carlo :)