Aim Surplus Enfield 2A .308 NATO Carbine - Anyone else order one?

[SapperLeader]

I received a email about a new arrival at AIM Surplus. I didn't think much of it, since I wasn't really in the market for any new milsurps (yeah right, c&r is a major addiction). To my surprise, it was a enfield I didnt even know I needed
http://www.aimsurplus.com/acatalog/Enfield_2A_.308_NATO_Carbine.html
Unfortunately due to the modifications its no longer c&r eligible, so you have to send it to your local ffl.

Even so, I succumbed to the impulse buy and placed a order right away(with bayonet lug of course). Ill let everyone how it turns out, but Scott at Aim told me they looked real nice, and the flash hider was of solid construction. I dont know if this is a Gibbs rifle, or if someone else had the same idea as Gibbs.

Either way, it will make a nice addition to my Enfield collection. I already have a Ishy 21" sporter that I rescued and am slowly turning into a scout clone, a untouched Ishapore 2a .308, and a Enfield MK4 no. 1 gunsmith special that I'm halfway through restoring the stock on.

Before anyone jumps all over me, yes I know it isn't really a no 6 rifle, and its just a 2a that has been sporterized. I don't care, I love any enfield or .308 milsurp I can get my hands on. To further increase my satisfaction, they had some SA battle packs set aside for purchase with these, so I picked up 3(max allowed) for 42.95 each Not quite as cheap as a few years ago, but cheaper than anything else Ive found lately.

So did anyone else order one of these, or was I the only one who saw one, thought it was neat and was interested?

 

[Ad Astra]

I am curious about one thing... if these are just shortened and not new 2A barrels, are the regular Ishapore 2A's barrels chrome lined as well?

from AIM: "Each Carbine features a Chrome lined, Bright bore;"

Hope you like it! For anyone who wanted a No. 5 but prefers 7.62x51, these seem like a good idea. Bummer they're not C&R, though.

 

[Gustav]

I have one similar that I bought from a friend years ago he was having problems with it it was made by Gibbs.
Hopefully yours is better built than the Gibbs as I had to replace the bolt face and the front sight/flash hider was loose.
Often rifles with bad muzzles or crowns are turned into jungle carbine clones.
Ishapore Enfields are good rifles especially for what they are selling for right now.
Gun Parts Corporation sells magazines that are almost the exact same as the issued 12 round magazine the difference is cosmetic and in the floor plate and magazine follower.
The Enfields are a fast bolt action to use the British developed a way of firing them at a high rate of fire.
Take your right hand and make like you are giving someone the birdie, place the bolt knob in between your curled trigger finger and thumb pressing down and holding on to the bolt knob with your thumb.
Cycle the bolt using your trigger finger and thumb while using your middle or birdie finger to pull or squeeze the trigger.
Pratice with snap caps after a while it becomes second nature.
Good luck on your new rifle

 

[Jeremy2171]

Yes,
Original barrels are chromed as well.

 

[DMK]

Looks like a fun carbine. Numrich (www.e-gunparts.com) is probably doing the conversion since they are the importer and they certainly have the parts.

It would be really nice if someone made a decent scout mount for them.

 

[HeavyDuty]

This looks like it would make a *great* trunk / SHTF gun, very much like the FR-8 from twenty or so years back...

 

[Limeyfellow]

Those fake carbines are pretty infamous for the cone to be loose and come flying off a 100 feet when you fire them. Not sure how good the Aim carbines are though having never fired one though I guess if they were going this far they could at least have removed the paint and reblued or parkarised them. The Ishapore paint jobs aren't so good.

 

[SapperLeader]

It is my understanding with the Gibbs hack job conversions, that the flash hider was obviously loose even before firing it. The flash hider launching itself downrange was a concern of mine and I specifically asked Aim about that, and was informed it was securely attached. If it isnt securely attached ill just have to see about fixing it permanently or replacing it with something else.

I actually was happy to see it was still the original ishapore black finish, as most of the Gibbs Ive seen were refinished in nickle or reparkerized. Im not sure who shortened these, but Im becoming more confident it isn't a Gibbs conversion from before they shut down a few years back.

No matter what Im not going to complain about getting a .308 carbine with a sweet enfield action. Its a real shame that no one makes any modern cock on close actions these days.

 

[joab]

Unfortunately due to the modifications its no longer c&r eligible, so you have to send it to your local ffl.

Is this an indication that i is not a true mil surp but some cobbled together novelty item.

When I first saw it I thought it would be a great truck gun or hunting rifle for my nephew.
But then I saw that the flash suppressor is permanently attacked and now that it is not C&R eligible

 

[Deer Hunter]

Hope you like it! For anyone who wanted a No. 5 but prefers 7.62x51, these seem like a good idea. Bummer they're not C&R, though.

So those Ishies are No. 5s?

My bayonet search has begun again...

 

[MudPuppy]

I was verrrry tempted (I don't care about it not being original--it looks fun!), but I'm putting my cash into things that may not be available once hillery is appointed.

 

[Jackal]

If I want a sporterized military rifle, I will make my own.

 

[MechAg94]

If I hadn't already bought one of the Ishapore rifles, I might consider this one, but too late.

 

[DMK]

Is this an indication that i is not a true mil surp but some cobbled together novelty item.

When I first saw it I thought it would be a great truck gun or hunting rifle for my nephew.
But then I saw that the flash suppressor is permanently attacked and now that it is not C&R eligible

I wouldn't say they are cobbled together. That has a very negative connotation, like it's shoddy work. It's just been shortened. Other than the barrel length and stock getting cutoff plus the addition of the front sight/flash suppressor, the rest of the gun gun appears to be unmodified.

I have one of those front sight/flash suppressor assemblies from Numrich. I'm using it with a butchered No.4(that one was shoddy work) that I'm rebuilding to a Jungle Carbine clone. The sight assembly seems like a quality piece. It's pressed on and pinned. I believe the original No.5s use the same method. I'm sure the workmanship of the installation is the key. I'll give Numrich and AIM the benefit of the doubt until I see otherwise.

Any modification to original voids C&R status. As soon as they chopped the barrel, these became 01 FFL transferable only.

Of course, I'd rather they kept these original unless they already had damaged barrels and stocks (not likely).

 

[DMK]

So, those Ishies are No. 5s?

No definitely not. No.5 Enfields were all made in England, were all .303, all have a rubber butt pad, and all were marked No.5 (although it could be electro-penciled). They also have a rear aperture sight like the No.4 Enfield.

If you ever see a No.6 Enfield for sale, it's a fake too.

 

[joab]

I wouldn't say they are cobbled together. That has a very negative connotation, like it's shoddy work

Didn't mean it as a reference to shoddy work just a modification someone decided to do that holds no historical significance so that they could suck another $100 out of a gun that was moving slowly.

I actually like the gun, except for the permanent flash suppressor, the non C&R status and the price.
Taking the last two items plus shipping into consideration the gun will cost around $300, which I believe is just a little too steep

 

[DMK]

idn't mean it as a reference to shoddy work just a modification someone decided to do that holds no historical significance so that they could suck another $100 out of a gun that was moving slowly.

I agree with you there.