Ishtapore Enfield in .308--How Good?

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Dave R

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Local gun store is going out of business. They've got an Ishtapore Enfield in .308 marked at $150. I may be able to get it for $125 or less. Bore looks good.

So how are they? Is it a good coversion? Any durability issues converting an Enfield action to the higher pressures of .308? Anything specific to look for? Jump on it or back away?
 
They are not old Enfield actions, they are newer, beefier actions.

My gun is beautiful, bright bore, decent wood. The only problem is it looks like it was finished in black paint :barf:

FWIW, mine was $100, but since that one I have never seen them under $200.
 
That's a very good price for a really neat weapon. The Enfield action is probably one of the most reliable, survivable actions ever made.

The Ishy 308's are among my favorite rifles, since they are the only bolt-action I know of that are both chambered in 7.62NATO and have a cock-on-close action.

If you pass on it - PM me the shop's phone number and I'll buy it.
 
The Ishy 308's are among my favorite rifles, since they are the only bolt-action I know of that are both chambered in 7.62NATO and have a cock-on-close action.
Click to expand...
Samco Guardia Spanish Mausers, man. .308, COC. Good stuff for cheap.
 
Pretty good guns, and I found them very accurate (a lot more accurate than the average SMLE). They were made for paramilitary use and, while stronger and of better steel than the Rifle No. 1 Mk III, they were never intended for extensive shooting. Since I doubt you intend to put 10 or 20 thousand rounds through it, that likely won't be a problem. Stick to 7.62 NATO spec ammo, though, and avoid commercial .308.

Eightball, the Spanish 7mm rifles converted to .308 are cock on closing, but are even less durable than the Indian 2/2A. They will (just barely) stand up to 7.62 NATO spec ammo, but will beat themselves up pretty quickly if fed a diet of .308 Winchester commercial loads. They were designed and made for the 7mm Mauser, a 40k psi cartridge. The NATO stuff goes 48-50K and the commercial stuff runs 52K and up. They were converted to use the 7.62 CETME round, a lower pressure version of the 7.62 NATO; every full charge 7.62 NATO or .308 Winchester is a proof load or more.

Jim
 
About the only good thing about my Ishpore SMLE was that it was accurate. It didnt like to feed .308's, required a new replacement mag to even try, and did not eject on a regular basis, even when the ejector was replaced. It was also at its limits on headspace and I was getting case head separations on once fired brass. I later found out that that could be addressed with a new bolt head, but it was gone by then. I like the rifle type, but I would not go with it in .308 again. .303 would be a different story. If you want a great little bolt gun in .308, check out the FR-8.
 
I've owned two Ishies.

One was full size, and was stolen from me..... :cuss:

The other was chopped down into a faux-jungle carbine, and which I coverted into a homemade scout rifle.

Get that puppy.

hillbilly
 
Got it. I checked the mag--tight fit, and would not come out without using the mag catch. Headspace was good. Would not close on the .308 'no go'.

Its a 1965 2A1. $126 out the door. Score!
 
My pseudo-scout is built on an Ishy; I had some issues with the mag, but I seem to have resolved those. Other than that the gun is winner; Sounds good at $150; any break beyond that is a bonus.
 
"...looks like it was finished in black paint..." It was. Not exactly a paint, but close. Check the headspace.
 
Dave R,

Small world, I have checked out that same rifle a few times. I was there all day today except for lunch. When were you in?
 
ID, I was in at lunch, of course! You probably noticed it was gone after. Hope you weren't after it, too.

I couldn't wait till next week to shoot it, so I stopped at the indoor range on the way home from work, gave it a quick cleaning and a test-firing. 25 yards, only, at the indoor range. Trigger wah a little stiffer than my K-31, but still pretty nice. Crisp break. Ejection was inconsistent. Some good, some just rolled out. May need some work there.

Jeff asked for pix, here are a couple. Excuses for the target--the first group, circled, was me shooting for function. The unmarked cloverleaf was me concentrating. And its hard to see that 1" square target at 25 yards with my ancient eyes. Hard to dot the i with a blur.

Looks like I'm gonna have to adjust windage. Anyone know how to adjust windage on an Ishy?
 

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I have only sold three guns. Two were because I already had at least one of the same kind and the other was my Ishy .308. The font sight and wood would fly off after I shot it a few times, it was loud, it kicked, and it shot a mile high. I wasn't too impressed with it, but as you can read, these guys love them.
 
Ironlance, thanks for the links. Good info.

I had to figure out that the front doohickey (pugnose?) had to be removed to get to the front sight, but I was able to drift the sight. Probably over-adjusted it, but I'll need to get to the range again to verify. At least its not stuck.
 
Get it! It's a deal. A Marine showed me exactly what it can do.
I did clean the wretched paint off of it. The gun was originally blued and at some point paint was used to cover scratches. The magazine had either been rusted or rusted under the paint. The paint cause magazine fitting problems and feed problems. After stripping the paint off this gun looks excellent. I *think* it was paint. It could have been oil, grease, cosmoline and/or paint. Cleaing out the trigger group improved it so much it is awesome. The wood was so so and I've stripped off the wood and metal and stored it. I put an Advanced Technology stock on it which is a sweet stock. I managed to get mine for 150 as well.

The Ishapoor 2AI Enfield was made specifically for the .308 and has heavier parts to withstand the cartridge.

Dave R said:
Local gun store is going out of business. They've got an Ishtapore Enfield in .308 marked at $150. I may be able to get it for $125 or less. Bore looks good.
So how are they? Is it a good coversion? Any durability issues converting an Enfield action to the higher pressures of .308? Anything specific to look for? Jump on it or back away?
Click to expand...
 
The Ishapoor 2AI Enfield was made specifically for the .308 and has heavier parts to withstand the cartridge.
Click to expand...
Interestingly, it doesn't.

Take the furniture off a No4Mk1/2 in 303R and then do the same to an Ishy 2A and look at the receivers and barrels. The No4 is a much more robust design than the 2A. The 2A may or may not have better steel (alloy and/or heat treatment) but it's surely not beefier.
 
Guys,

I own a couple of the Ishapore 2A-1's. Nice shooters.

I agree.... Not beefier than any other Enfield, but they are supposed to be made of a much tougher steel alloy than the old #1 Mk III's they are patterned after.

Best to all,
Swampy

garands forever
 
Smelly Ishy

I own a 2A made in '67 it is a nice gun. While it is true some of the surplus guns sold had less than stellar stocks, this is easily and inexpensivly fixed. Numrich Gun Parts has most of what you will need. They are accurate and Very Very rough as far as Metal Finishing is Concerned. Paint them or Park them don't try to polish them and blue them.
 
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