I got my first bolt action today.

[cool45auto]

It's a British Enfield 303. Is there a place I can get some info on this rifle? Anybody got one and what do you think?

 

[BusMaster007]

Good choice!
Here's a few links to get you started:

First the Google:

http://www.google.com/search?q=British+Enfield+&btnG=Google+Search&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

Then, the .303 Page:

http://www3.sympatico.ca/shooters/303Page.htm

A couple more:

http://www.rt66.com/~korteng/SmallArms/leenfld.htm

http://www.uidaho.edu/~stratton/en-page.html

And this gem for all kinds of good firearm info:

http://www.alpharubicon.com/leo/leo.htm


That should get a lot of us lost in cyberspace.

 

[cool45auto]

WOW! Thanks BM!

 

[Andrew Wyatt]

you've made a good choice, irregardless of what some boardmembers will tell you about the enfield's gas handling capabilities (which are superb), and how they're supposedly inferior to a mauser because of that.

the enfield is a fine rifle, and a decent combat arm.

did you get a number4 mk1?

 

[ShaiVong]

I've been eyein a No.4 Mk.1 in the local gunshop for awhile now.. Its a hard decision, keep saving or buy something now

 

[cool45auto]

Andrew: Yeah. It's barely readable but it says "No.4 Mk1 Longbranch 1944". Is that good? Sorry, but I'm an idiot as far as this rifle goes.

 

[Andrew Wyatt]

neat. at least yours still has the markings on it.


one of the crack smoking monkeys at century ground those off of mine, apparently.


what kind fo rear sight does it have? the click adjustable model or a little L flip?

 

[Dave Markowitz]

"No.4 Mk1 Longbranch 1944". Is that good?

VERY good. Your rifle was made at Canada's Longbranch arsenal, and is one of the best Lee-Enfields ever made. My dad (Ron in PA here on THR) has one that is extremely accuracte with good ammo.

Stay away from UK-made .303 ammo, unless it's marked "MK VIIz" or "MK VIIIz". The "z" indicates that it is loaded with nitrocellulose powder, rather than Cordite. Cordite burns very hot and is erosive to your bore. Save Mk. VII or VIII ammo for collecting.

Sellier & Bellot .303 is good, not too expensive, non-corrosive, and accurate in my rifles.

 

[Andrew Wyatt]

I use PMC .303 ball in my rifle.


i had a quantity fo the south african stuff, but it shot high (6-8 inches) in comparison to my PMC.


stay away from british issue ammo of all types. it's corrosive and 50+ years old. it hangfires like the dickens.

 

[9mmepiphany]

the "longbranch" is very good, with only the "savage" being more desirable...excluding the "T" models which are in a class by themselves.

i consider the enfield #4 mk 1 and 2 the best bolt action battle rifle made. it offers superior sights, 10rd mag and the fastest bolt action from the war.

i'm still working my way though a case of .303 from PMP (south african). it is box primered and brass cased...it even comes boxed in their commercial ammo packaging.

 

[John G]

I just ordered some great .303 ammo from Cheaper than Dirt. Here's their .303 page: .303 ammo

 

[BusMaster007]

Here's another very good link:

http://www.african-hunter.com/303_british.htm


Elsewhere on that site is another link about firearms:

http://www.african-hunter.com/the_firearm_files.htm

It's worth checking out.
I got lost there for a couple of hours once!

 

[cool45auto]

Thanks everybody, this is great stuff.

Andrew: It has a flip up sight with a circle you look thru when it's down. The part that slides up and down came with the gun but its in pieces. There's not enough there to put it back together. I guess I can shoot it with the sight flipped down. Where can I get a replacement sight set up for it?

 

[Nero Steptoe]

" irregardless "

Andrew! Is that a word??

 

[Andrew Wyatt]

http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=irregardless


My number4 mk1.


you can get replacement sights from the gun parts company.

www.e-gunparts.com

 

[T.Stahl]

You can't go wrong with an Enfield No 4. Good choice!

Mine is a No.4Mk1 (ex T). Shoots better than my SL8.

 

[cool45auto]

Andrew: Those sights look really good but they're not like what's on mine. I have the flip up part but there's only a square shaped piece of metal on it with a little spring-loaded lever that holds it where you want it. Well if it was all there that's what it would look like. It doesn't have the dial on it like the one on e-gunparts. Will this effect the value if I change it?

 

[Andrew Wyatt]

what you have is one of the stamped rear sights.


the one that originally came on my rifle was the L flip, which i replaced with the milled sight.



i don't think it will harm the value much, if any if you change the rear sight. i'd replace it with the milled sight and keep the current sight parts, just in case.

 

[cool45auto]

Sounds good, and thanks for the link.

 

[jolly roger]

I have a 1950 Longbranch. I reload a lot, but for this rifle I got a little Lee hand loader which just neck sizes the brass. Then I use 174 grain Sierra match bullets with match primers and RL15 powder. Will shoot into 1" at 100yds when I do my part.

 

[GD]

I've got a #1 Mk3 and a #4 Mk1. Both are great fun to shoot and my #4 got me a deer this year. In fact in my large group of modern firearmed hunters, this guy with the old milsurp was the only one to get a deer! They are fine firearms - ya done good!

 

[RandyB]

Congrats. Have fun and be safe!

 

[Sactown]

Here's another link for Enfield information.

http://pub109.ezboard.com/fparallaxscurioandrelicfirearmsforumsfrm49

 

[cool45auto]

Thanks guys. Keep it coming! I was going to go shoot it yesterday but only found one place in my area with .303 ammo in stock! It was $20 for a box of 20!! I bought a box so I could at least try it out till I can order some ammo but then didn't get to go at all. I'm really looking forward to shooting this rifle!

 

[Andrew Wyatt]

as for good ammo, PMC makes some excellent stuff.

I get it from my dealer for cinsiderably less than 20 dollars a box.