303 Enfield | Tell me what I've got!!

[68lemans462]

I picked up this 303 British sporter today for $125 including 2 boxes of Remington ammo. I dont know much about these guns at all, so any information would be greatly appreciated!. I bought the gun because my uncle has one and it is one hell of a shooter!

The barrel is ~25" with 5 grooves and has an excellent bore. I see no stampings that would indicate where this was made. Do any of the numbers/markings make sense? Also, can a peep sight be added to this gun, like the ones that came on the mk4?

 

[68lemans462]

One more pic

 

[Ian]

The markings with date and factory are on the metal right between the buttstock and the trigger. Post a photo of those, and we can give you a lot more info.

As-is, it's a No1 MkIII Short Magazine Lee Enfield (SMLE). You got a pretty decent price on it, factoring in the ammo.

 

[68lemans462]

I'm not seeing any more stampings that look meaningful on the gun. Between the buttstock and the trigger? Is this on the bottom of the gun?

I did notice BA stamped on some of the internal trigger parts. Does this indicate australian manufacture?

 

[LAGS]

That is a good price for a sporter if it has a good barrel.
They are good Deer rifles like that, and ATI does make a scope mount for them.
It is a #1 Mk3 not the later #4 mk1

 

[68lemans462]

Is it possible to mount a peep sight on this rifle, similar to the one that comes on the mk4??

 

[Robert]

Nope. The No1 MkIII does not have the ability to use a peep sight, at least not that I have ever seen.

 

[Ian]

You beat me to it, with that second post. Your rifle was made in 1941, and is a "dispersal" gun. The production was overseen by BSA (Birmingham Small Arms) in England, but actual manufacture of the parts was shopped out to lots of small workshops after BSA was bombed in 1940. The "G.R." stands for Georgius Rex (King George). The III* is the model number, a MkIII*. The B means Birmingham, and if it had been a normal production gun is would instead be marked "B.S.A.Co".

 

[irish plumber]

peep sight

Central make a range sight that fits onto the Mk1 Enfield, just screws onto the lefthand side of the action. Not exactly the same as Mk4 but can be adjusted for windage as well.
Hope this helps, Keith.

 

[krinko]

The rifle is wearing an Australian Lithgow barrel dated 1944. One of the inspection marks from the barrel (VII) is repeated on the receiver ring and though the photo is dark, it's possible the Lithgow proof is also on the receiver ring.
So it looks like the rebarrel was done in Oz, officially.
More than a little bit interesting.
-----krinko

 

[68lemans462]

The VII stampings are on both the receiver and the barrel...

 

[tahunua001]

one thing that hasn't been touched on yet. it's still got original wood though the butt plate has been replaced with a soft buttpad and the forend has been cut down and a sling swivel added. handguards are also missing. I don't recall the correct barrel length for no 1s but 25 sounds aweful short so it was likely cut down.

 

[Scoped]

Haha, I was wondering where you came up with the GR BSA note! I was drawing the same conclusions from the first 4 pictures and completely missed the last photo added

 

[ball3006]

If the rifle still has the original front sight, you can restore it with parts from ebay.....chris3

 

[TwoWheelFiend]

No.5 MkI "jungle carbine"

 

[dprice3844444]

http://www.connection-junction.com/aperture-sights
http://www.ebay.com/sch/sis.html?_nkw=British+Lee+Enfield+SMLE+1+Mk3+Aperture+Peep+Sight
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/32...tish-lee-enfield-nos-1-4-and-5-aluminum-black
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/51...tish-lee-enfield-nos-1-4-and-5-aluminum-black
http://www.mojosights.com/sample-page/lee-enfield/

 

[tahunua001]

No.5 MkI "jungle carbine"

yeah.... not even close.

 

[Scoped]

No.5 MkI "jungle carbine"

I lol'd

 

[rondog]

No kidding! A Jungle Carbine? Um, no.

And someone mentioned a peep sight from "Central".....who is Central? I have two SMLE's, that sounds interesting.

 

[Radagast]

Central was an Australian manufacturer of competition windage and elevation adjustable peep sights for the No1. MkIII. A heavy barrel variant of that rifle was manufactured in Australia for Fullbore (Palma) bullseye competitions, Central was probably the most common variant fitted.
Lots of pics and info here:
http://www.connection-junction.com/aperture-sights

 

[TwoWheelFiend]

Lol I misread the title. Thought is said " tell me what you've got"
I have a jungle carbine. I don't know what you have Haha.

 

[rondog]

Oh, sorry TwoWheelFiend! I also have a No.5, a very nice one. Found in a pawn shop for $150. Plus two No.4's and two No.1's. The OP's rifle is a No.1Mk.III SMLE, the rear sight forward of the receiver is the most obvious clue. 4's and 5's have the rear sight at the very back of the receiver.

 

[68lemans462]

I ended up taking the gun out to the range over the weekend. I put some of the 180 grain Remington loads through it off the stand at 50 yards. I'm pleased with the way it shoots!! This gun will certainly kill some big game in due time!

 

[68lemans462]

One thing I noticed is that the front sight blade is hard to see. Is there a different front sight I can put on that has a brass ball or something easier to see???

 

[tahunua001]

a quick, easy and completely reversible fix is a small dab of bright paint on the front sight to make it stand out more.