Lee Enfield for $100?

[slh02]

Hello all, I have an opportunity to buy a lee enfield rifle chambered in .303 British for $100. From checking on auction prices, this seems to be a fairly good deal. I have my choice of two different ones, and both of them are in decent shape (not the best looking wood, but the steel seems fine). This is from a friend of a friend who I trust when he says that they function fine.

I do however have a couple of questions. First I was wondering if this was as good of a deal as I'm thinking it is? My second was is this a good, reliable rifle? You see, this would be my first true rifle and although I would love to have a nice .308, I would have to save for a long (read: probably a year) time to get one. I thought that maybe the enfield would be a cheap way to see if I even like bolt action rifle shooting.

My third and final question revolves around the .303 British cartridge itself. I was wondering if this is a good round. I have seen some pictures of it and it looks like it would pack a wallop. Would this be a round ok for deer hunting? I am not into hunting at the moment (and may never be) but have a whole family full of hunters who are just itching to get me in the woods with them

All thoughts are appreciated.

p.s. When thinking about the possibility of hunting, I was just wondering if it is possible/recommended to put a scope on the enfield.

Here is a link to a picture of what the enfield I would be buying looks like.

http://gunbroker.com/auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=7974509

 

[3 gun]

The answer to all your questions is Yes. A 303 Enfield for $100 is a good deal, they are reliable, they can be scoped, and the 303 is a potent round. Personally I'd pass on the scope idea but that's just me.

 

[Stinger]

FWI,

If it takes you a year to save up the money for that 308, double that time if you buy the Enfield. You'll burn up $ on ammo, range-time, and a couple of other milsurps to keep that Brit in line in the safe (ie 1903, Mauser, Mosin-Nagant).

As far as the scope, I wouldn't, but it is YOUR rifle. If you want to do it, go for it. Some people will gripe and say that the rifle is somehow historic. A battle rifle is NOT historic. People make history, not rifles.


Stinger

 

[Britt]

$100 for an Enfield is a decent deal although not remarkable. Last year I bought one for a friend on hard times who couldn't afford a rifle but was an avid hunter. The total price was $110 and included 100 rounds of military surplus ammo. Although not dazzling, it is certainly a reliable, solid built rifle. It is certainly possible to scope an Enfield, but unless really necessary I would shy away from it as the same money could be better spent for ammo and practice... the one thing that the quality of any gun will make up for. Good luck, BD

 

[cratz2]

My third and final question revolves around the .303 British cartridge itself. I was wondering if this is a good round.

There are plenty of bodies from England to India and beyond that will attest to the abilities of the .303 round. With surplus ammo, it's probably right in the .308/30-06 league plus or minus.

The Enfields are great guns. My favorite MilSuprs without a doubt. I've bought one Ishapore 2A1 (308 version of the Enfield platform) for $100. Good deals are out there. Just got to go to shows and keep looking.

Regarding the scope, not sure what model you're looking at, but any of the guns with the rear peep sight should allow for very quick and very accurate shot placement. One of mine came with a mount so I scoped it but sometime, I'll get a rear sight and take the scope off.

The one in the auction is a nice piece but other than the fact that the seller insinuates that there are no import markings on it, it's overpriced. I haven't paid over $180 for any of my Enfields.

For hunting, Hornady, Winchester, Federal and Remington all offer 150 and/or 180 Gr soft point ammo that should work just as well as most similarly priced and constructed 308 or 30-06 ammo.

The South African (stamped PMP) ammo comes available every once in a while for a very good price. By all accounts, this is very choice ammo if it can be obtained for a good price. And when it is available, buy all of it you can afford. Much of the surplus ammo available is corrosive. Some would say 'mildly corossive' but to me, it's either corrosive or not. Just take a little bit ammonia with you, even windex will work. After shooting, plug the back end of the barrel and pour a little ammonia in and tip the rifle one end to the other and clean it when you get home. Barrel will last for 100 years. Just something to be aware of.

You can also check out www.milsurpshooter.net for more info on the Lee Enfields, and most surplus rifles, that you would ever care to read.

[edited to remove pictures]

 

[hps1]

Cratz:

Those are good looking Enfields.

I know nothing about them, however........tell me what models you are showing in your pictures.

Regards,
hps

 

[Prof]

cratz2: where did you get the cheek piece on your scoped Enfield?

 

[cratz2]

Well, I don't want to take slh02's thread away.

I'll start a new thread.

 

[P95Carry]

Sounds a very fair deal .... I have 2 Enfields, an Ishapore 2a in .308 ...... not overly accurate but enjoyable nonetheless.

And, a sporterized mkIV ........... I had heard bad things about sporterizing but gotta say, this piece is a delight. Pretty much my #2 deer rifle. I have reloading dies and so tend to work on a 180 grn SP based load ... it lacks the energy of .308 but, is plenty adequate for whitetails out to 200 IMO.

I scoped mine and it works good ..... S&K mount from Brownells ... bit pricey at near £70 once shipping factored in but .. works well .... uses rear sight pin for rear positioning then the front is sorta ''drawn up'' by a camming arrangement onto the stripper clip protrusion. here are left and right views of that mount in case of interest.

 

[cheygriz]

The Lee Enfield was one of the finest battle rifles of the 20th century. The .303 cartridge was also one of the finest military cartridges of the 20th century.

Grab it and run before the seller changes his mind!

 

[diyj98]

If it's in original (not sporterized) condition, then it's well worth $100.00. If it's been sporterized by an amateur, then to me it's not worth $100. I've passed on quite a few Enfields in the $50 to $75 range because the stock and or barrel had been cut down or reconfigured.

 

[slh02]

Thanks for all of the replies...

I've got the money, so I think that I'm going to go ahead and go for it as long as things seem ok when I check the rifles out. Is there anything I should look for specifically? I think I know which one I'm going to get but I have only based that on looks because I havent held them in my hands yet.

Also, does anyone know of a good place to get cheap .303 ammo? Im looking for the non-corrosive stuff if possible. I checked in local sporting goods stores and they have it for $17.00 a box for the hunting rounds.

Thanks for all of the replies!

p.s.- Cratz... you didnt take my thread away, those rifle are beautiful!!! I hope that I can get the one that I want to look like one of them.

 

[M1911]

My first rifle was a No.4 Mk1 that I picked up for $100. Nice rifle. Slickest bolt I've ever used.

 

[P95Carry]

slh02

When lookin .... just see you have a bore that's half way decent .... check bolt for fit and lock-up ...... hoping it is the bolt for that gun. Check mag for engagement .... see if trigger feels Ok .... remember, Enfield has 2 stage trigger ... lot of pre travel then 2nd pressure.

You may have to go for some corrosive ammo to keep costs down ...... if so, just treat cleaning as if post black powder .... and dissolve those salts. It ain't that bad really ..... and once all shot in and set up .... upgrade to expensive stuff.

Good luck.

 

[Jaeger]

Take a look here for lots of great .303 information. You can see a short article on my Enfield Scout rifle there as well.

Steve's books are worth the $.

I've shot several deer with the 303. It works very well as a hunting round.

 

[cratz2]

I bought 900 rounds of the stuff url=http://www.midwayusa.com]Midway[/url] currently listed. It says it's the non-corrosive stuff from South Africa but the stuff I got was clearly corrosive from the Czech republic.

I wouldn't shy away from the corrosive stuff at all. Just be sure to clean it quickly when you're done... either with ammonia method described or just take a cleaning kit and clean it when you're done shooting.

Far as things to look for... for $100, I'd be happy with 50% of the metal finish and a bore that wasn't completely black. I'd work the bolt, engage and disengage the safety and pull the trigger. See what you think. Really, for $100 you can't expect a whole lot but you may be surprised. If the wood isn't banged up too bad, a good cleaning and tung oil or boiled linseed oil can work wonders.

 

[Mk VII]

I would pass by any L-E that didn't have the matching numbered bolt with it, but maybe we are just spoilt for choice here.
The Cadtech scope mount [Brownells] seems to be favoured by a lot of people in North America, though the sightline is high enough for most people to need some sort of cheekpiece.

 

[nemesis]

The Lee Enfield is a good rifle and the .303 British is a very under-rated cartridge. I would, respectfully, suggest that you choose the No. 4 and not the No. 1 for a number of reasons. I won't go into it but it's just a far better rifle.

 

[slh02]

nemesis

If i can have things my way, I will be getting the No. 4. The only problem now is that I contacted the seller and he said that he already promised them (both of them) to someone else. He also said that he hasnt been in contact with that person for a while so he might sell me one. Guess I will find out soon.