[aerod1]

Which Enfield rifle is the best shooter, most desireable collectable and etc.?

Thanks,

Jim Hall

[wild billz]

Can anyone offer insight into the wire wrapped Enfields? I know they were wrapped for the rifle to be used as a gernade launcer, but what are the bore conditions, etc. How do they shoot....

[nemesis]

I think those were all No. 1, Mk III's that were shot out. I'd pass.

Which Enfield rifle is the best shooter, most desireable collectable and etc.?

I ain't got much money, so I prefer the practical and the shootable. My choice is the No. 4 but the wartime rifles suffered from a need for high production capacity and didn't receive the attention the postwar rifles did.

My preference is the postwar Long Branch No. 4, Mk I, Improved or the Brit No. 4, Mk II.

[Andrew Wyatt]

as far as shooters go, the number4mk1 and mk 2 rifles are the ones to get. they have better sights and are in generally better condition.

[Gewehr98]

Might I suggest the No5Mk1, aka Jungle Carbine? Same action as the No4Mk1, same vernier rear peep sights, albeit set for 800 meters max, and several pounds lighter. Sure, it kicks more, but so does a Remington Model 7 in .308 Winchester...

[BamBam-31]

Go here: Parallax's Curio and Relic Forums (http://pub113.ezboard.com/fparallaxscurioandrelicfirearmsforumsfrm49)

Good forum. ;)

[TODD3465]

No.4:cool:

[buttrap]

P-14....

[jem375]

#4 Mk1 Long Branch..........

[Dave Markowitz]

The best shooters are the postwar No.4Mk.IIs that were never issued. They were made for Ireland and stuck in storage until surplussed off in the late 80s/early 90s. They came into the US in pristine condition still in the mummy wrap. These are MOA accurate rifles with the right ammo. I have one. :D

Next best would be an issued, excellent condition No.4 Mk.I or Mk.II. I have a No.4 Mk.I made at Fazakerly in 1944 that shows wear on the outside but has an excellent bore. It's quite accurate and I've shot it out to 300 yards.

No.5 Mk.I "Jungle Carbines" make nice hunting rifles as-is, but the recoil is nasty.

The No.I. Mk.III SMLEs can be good rifles, but most of those you'll see are pretty worn. The sights are ok for the range but stink under field conditions. (Open notch rear sight with a very fine blade up front.)

I would avoid the wire-wrapped SMLEs, unless you want to complete a collection. The wire wrap was to reinforce the stocks for grenade launching. The Brits selected rifles with barrels which were already worn out for this duty. Compound this with the stresses from grenade launching and you're looking at one tired old war horse.

"Most collectible" would be something like a No.1 Mk.V, a developmental piece between the No.1 Mk.III and the No.1 Mk.VI, which was later redesignated the No.4 Mk.I. Only about 10,000 Mk.Vs were made for troop trials in the 1920s.

[Gewehr98]

The earlier Charger Loading Lee Enfield, and the even-earlier Lee-Metford.


Lee-Metford with 8-round single stack magazine:


http://www.militaryrifles.com/Britain/MetfordMK1-02.JPG


Charger Loading Lee-Enfield:

http://members.optushome.com.au/lee-enfield/images/EarlyLees/CLLEMk1.jpg

[MolonLabe416]

No4 Mk II for a shooter.
The No5 "Jungle Carbine" is the handiest.
Lee Metford Royal Irish Constabulary Carbine for collecting.

[enfield]

Go here: Parallax's Curio and Relic Forums

That link doesn't work for me, get a 404 error.

[Spieler]

Try here.

http://www.geocities.com/lee_enfield_rifles/index.html

[4v50 Gary]

Most collectable? Why, the sniper rifles. They have a following of their own. Cutaways are nice (and I missed my chance).

[BamBam-31]

Sorry, enfield. Fixed the link. One too many slashes. :banghead: