Back from AIM, with Ishapores.

[jagdpanzer347]

I've been psyched like mad ever since I saw these on AIM's website Friday evening. Apparently, many of my fellow board members have as well.

First a couple of tidbits of information. These rifles were purchased two years ago and have just now made it here. They were imported by Numrich. I asked Bryan how many they had, and he said "plenty". They were very busy, so this is all the info I could glean.

Here's the part where I yet again bemoan my lack of a digital camera. Let me say however, I am very pleased with today's purchases. One rifle is dated 1964 with a four digit serial number. The other is dated 1965 with a serial in the fourty-eight thousands.

The bores on both are excellent. They have what I would call "honest" finish wear. That black paint they're finished in, is shall we say,functional. The earlier rifle has one splice repair and three different colors of wood. The later one looks like all original wood. Dents and dings on both are very,very minimal. Oh yeah, the numbers all match on both.

For those of you waiting (im)patiently, I think you will be quite happy. I for one wouldn't mine picking up another one or two while the getting is good.

-jagd

 

[Sunray]

Check the headspace before you shoot it. You have no idea what has been done to it in 40 years.

 

[Ad Astra]

Since you don't have a camera, keep talking! I have one on the way.

Are yours hand-picked or representative of the bunch?

 

[k_semler]

How soaked are these in cosmoline? And where can I get 7.62 NATO?

 

[jagdpanzer347]

I asked Bryan to pick me out two "extra sweet" Ishys. His reply was "they're all nice". I think mine are more or less representative of the lot. I only saw the two though.

As far as cosmo, there really is none. Mine were covered in a light coat of oil.

AIM has South African 7.62 in stock now. Get it while the getting is good. It looks like 7.62 may be pretty scare soon,at least temporarily.

-jagd

 

[DMK]

Thanks for the info jagdpanzer347. I'm really looking forward to mine. That low S/N '64 sounds like a real nice find.

I bought quite a few Indian Enfields from AIM, Some No.1s, some No.4s. One thing they all had in common was mirror bores.

 

[.45&TKD]

Any others come in? I ordered mine on Monday.

 

[Sam Adams]

Thanks for posting the info - I don't always have the time to surf through every surplus dealer's website, esp. with the crap in the Mideast going on the last week or so, and I have dearly wanted an Ishy for some time.

Question: where can one find extra 12-round magazines for these (AIM doesn't appear to have any)? I'd be interested in either original mags, or in quality new ones. What prices can I expect to find?

 

[.45&TKD]

Question: where can one find extra 12-round magazines for these

I'm not an expert, but most Enfield owner don't have spare mags. While it is detachable, I believe that you should load from the top with stripper clips.

Which leads to my questions:
What kind of stripper clips can you use on these?
And where can you get them?

 

[DMK]

I just got mine today. It was a handpick. I'm pretty pleased with it. It's a '64 with a four digit serial number. All the numbers match: wood, mag, bolt, receiver. The wood has no dings or gashes. It just has one splice right on the top of the butt stock. I have a couple No.4s with the same splice so maybe it's pretty common. The bore is very shiny and the lands are sharp. The crown is perfect. Soaking the bore with a patch of Hoppes for an hour showed no black or blue so someone cleaned it well. The only thing I don't like is the black paint globbed on. It's really heavy and they got it all over the stock too. Maybe some day I'll refinish it.

It looks to me like it certainly should be a good shooter and worth the price I paid for it.

 

[DMK]

I'm not an expert, but most Enfield owner don't have spare mags. While it is detachable, I believe that you should load from the top with stripper clips.

Which leads to my questions:
What kind of stripper clips can you use on these?
And where can you get them?

Yes, like all Enfields, the mag is serial numbered to the rifle. It was not meant to be removed. It's loaded with chargers via the stripper clip guide on the top of the receiver.

Now, as far as which chargers to use? When I bought some Australlian 7.62x51, it came on 5 round clips. I just tried one of these and it works perfectly. Does anyone know if these are interchangable with M14 clips? I assume they are.

 

[.45&TKD]

DMK, does the wood colors match, too?

I also ordered the handpicked.

 

[.45&TKD]

Also, how about a picture?

 

[joab]

I ordered mine Friday and just recieved notice that it would be here this Friday

Northridge has stripper clips for 303 , 10 for $10

 

[Sistema1927]

Northridge has stripper clips for 303 , 10 for $10

You need 7.62 stripper clips. I picked up some at a gunshow that work just fine with my 2A1, about .50 each, but I don't know if they were originally US or foreign.

 

[DMK]

DMK, does the wood colors match, too?

Yes, all the wood pieces match on mine. Has a nice rack number on the butt stock too. Aside from the black paint splashed on it and the one splice, it's very nice. I'm going to see if I can get the black paint off the wood with some Scotchbrite and mineral spirits.

Sorry, no pic. Right now I have it all apart for cleaning. It was covered with a light oil on the outside, but when I took the wood off, it was packed with what looks like white grease. It was in the bolt and action too. Wierd. I've never seen a surplus gun preserved like that.

 

[joab]

You need 7.62 stripper clips.

Yeah I know but by the time that dawned on me I had already posted

 

[Ad Astra]

I've read they use FAL strippers. Can someone else confirm?

http://members.fortunecity.com/warshamen/303faq.html

Says so here, FWIW. Some other opinionated stuff.....

 

[DMK]

As I alluded to in my post above. I've got FAL strippers and they work. (L1A1 strippers from surplus Australian 7.62x51 F4 Ball)

What I wonder is are FAL strippers and M14 strippers interchangable? With all the NATO rifles being chambered in the same round, you'd think they'd be able to share the same clips too.

 

[.45&TKD]

Are all of these 2A's or are there some 2A1's?

I think the distinction is the sights on 2A's goes to 2000 and the sights on
2A1's goes to 800.

 

[joab]

From what I read earlier, on a site that I can't find now, 2As are C&R 2A1s are not as their production started in '65

 

[joab]

Found it
Randy Ward checked the ATF book. There are a few exceptions to the 50-year rule. The book disclosed that

7.62 NATO chambered Ishapore�s produced in 1965 or earlier are (03) C&R eligible, but guns produced in 1966 or later require a (01) FFL.

 

[DMK]

Since the May '05 update of the ATF C&R list, all Ishapore 2A and 2A1 Enfields are C&R elidgable unless it turns out that any were made after 1973. The surplusrifle.com article seems to contain outdated information in that respect.

Lee Enfield Rifle, caliber 7.62 2A and 2A1 “India” all variations, originally manufactured at Ishapore Arsenal, India, through 1973.

http://www.atf.treas.gov/firearms/curios/0301to0505update.htm

 

[DMK]

Are all of these 2A's or are there some 2A1's?

I think the distinction is the sights on 2A's goes to 2000 and the sights on
2A1's goes to 800.

From all the reports I've seen so far on this and other boards, they do indeed seem to be 2As and some very early ones at that.

As far as I can tell from about four days of research, the only difference between the 2A and the 2A1 is the rear sight. Some have stated that 2A1s have stronger receivers, but I have not seen that claim substantiated anywhere and it apears to be internet hearsay.

 

[joab]

The same site that had the erroneous info I posted has info on the differences between the two

Wikipedia has a nice write up also
the sights were changed from 2000 m to 800 m, and the rifle re-designated Rifle 7.62 mm 2A1. There are no other differences between the Ishapore 2A and 2A1 rifles, and they are becoming increasingly popular with shooters as the supplies of affordable .303 British ammunition fluctuate.