lee-enfield buttstock

[Renton83]

I have a No4 Mk2 lee-enfield rifle that has a sporterized stock made from beechwood but the butt stock has the original brass butt plate with the cleaning kit inside. It's a great gun in near mint condition but I find the butt stock is too short for me since I'm 6-3. I don't like the idea of using a rubber spacer but someone recommended cutting the butt flat and shaping a 1 or 2" thick piece of wood to the shape of the stock and screwing it in place. I thought that sounded simple enough but I'm having a real hard time figuring out how I can shape a piece of wood to match up with the butt stock. Anyone here have experience with something like this? Also I would like to ad a scope when I get the money but I see that a scope on lee-enfield's are mounted pretty high so do I need some sort of cheek rest to use it? Thanks for any ideas you might have.

Kiel

 

[gb6491]

Kiel,
Just think of your oversize extension/butt plate as a recoil pad, then do a Google search for "installing recoil pad"; you will turn up quite a bit of good "how to" information.
You are correct in that most scope mounts for the Enfield mount the scope quite high; a cheek pad is probably in order. If I were going this route with a sporterized No.4, I would probably just shop around for the best deal on an ATI synthetic stock. FWIW: I've read that the length of pull (LOP) on the ATI stock is 14". There were 4 different length butt stocks for the No.4. I just measured my No.4 MK1 and the LOP on it is 13", so I would be gaining an inch of length by going with an ATI. Perhaps you would experience similar results and kill two birds with on stone by going with an ATI stock.
Regards,
Greg

 

[Jim K]

Simply put, you cut the stock off to remove the cuts for the original buttplate. You make the extension oversize, then use a belt sander to cut it down to meet the stock. Done right, the extension will look OK but will be too long to put the original butt plate back on; you will have to get an oversize buttplate.

Just make sure you extend the original stock lines. What some folks do is to cut the extension straight back so there is an unsightly "bend" where the original stock meets the extension. I recommend two things. Remove the stock before working on it as it is a lot easier to manipulate a stock on the sander than the whole rifle. And drill out a hole in your extension for a screwdriver so you can reinstall the stock when you are done without taking the extension back off.

If you want a cheekpiece for use with a scope you can buy one or buy a new buttstock with a cheekpiece on it. You might or might not have to put an extension on the new stock, depending on how long a stock the stock makers have available.

Lotsa luck!

Jim

 

[Sunray]

No. 4 butt stocks came in several lengths. 'Long' being one. If you can find one, buy it. There should be an 'L' stamped on it. Takes a 12" screwdriver to get the stock off.
You'd likely be best to find an aftermarket stock. An issue butt stock runs around $30 these days.
A reproduction walnut cheekpiece runs $36.70 from Gunparts. Goes on with screws.

 

[Renton83]

As a temporary measure I bought one of those recoil pads that slips over the buttstock. It's ugly but it seems the right thickness and really helps reduce the nasty kick. I know that the 303 British round is not supposed to be too bad with recoil but with the brass butt plate it always made me wince a bit. I fired about ten rounds at 50ydrs and the group was tight but for some strange reason it was 1" low, I used the flip up sights and the lowest they go is 200yrds so maybe that has something to do with it.

 

[spily]

Hi , try googling A.J.Parker in the UK, Enfield butts come as standard, small and long, they may be able to help. Also Fultons of Bisley UK may also as they do lots of Enfield work. Good luck.