Lee Enfield, No 4, Mk 1, edumacate me, please!

[Nushif]

So I've been eyeing this beautiful little beat up Enfield and I may have found a way that the wife will gift it to me.

Now, I've heard a lot of good stuff about these and one of them is the rate of fire people can produce on them.

Is this because the bolt springs back when you flip it up? Care to explain something about these sexy rifles?

 

[essayons21]

The short throw of the bolt has something to do with it.

I just recently picked up an Enfield and I'm loving it. Posted a review and range report in this thread

 

[DanTheFarmer]

I believe two main items contribute to the reputed high rate of fire of the Lee Enfield series of rifles.

1. A 10 round magazine. This is more capacity than most other designs (The k98 has a five round magazine).

2. As mentioned in the post above the bolt throw is shorter. The Lee Enfield has rear locking lugs. The bolt only has to move back and forth the length of the cartridge. For a front locking lug design the bolt has to move back and forth the length of the cartridge plus the length of the locking recesses into which it locks.

I think item number one is the bigger contributor but if you are trying for rapid fire the shorter throw will certainly contribute.

Dan

 

[1KPerDay]

the cock on close design helps speed things up as well IMO

 

[nathan]

My first Enfield No 4 drew its first blood yesterday. I put this 180 lb sow to sleep . Shot it behind the neck using Prvi Parizan 180 gr SP. A perfect clean shot, no meat damage to rest of body. Bullet came off the snout . And i like the soft recoil and accuracy of the old time favorite, .303 Brit.

 

[Jeff F]

Nice shooting nathan. I'm going elk hunting in Montana this year and I'm taking a No4 Mk2.

 

[nathan]

Exit hole , small hole in snout. Bullet trajectory was from back of neck , passing the brain and out the snout. Amazing clean shot. The spine was cut into two. Lol

I couldnt asked for a much better angle of shot. Actually i sneaked close to this hog lying on its side and facing away.

 

[DougW]

The "cock on close" made the rifle fast and smooth. Quick hold on the bolt allows a person to fire rapidly. The Germans in WWI thought the British were armed with machine guns instead of rifles because the rate of fire is so high compared to what they were used to.

I fired one of my #4mk1's on Monday rapid fire and averaged about 2 seconds per round (5 rounds down range). You can rock and roll with an Enfield.

 

[Curator]

Allow our friend Steve Regwell to educate you: www.303british.com
Steve is a former Canadian armourer with many years experience. His books are good info and he'll share a lot for free on his site. Beware getting inocculated with "Enfielditis" there is no cure but more Lee Enfields. Most Yanks don't understand but these rifles have CHARACTER!

 

[GCBurner]

They're fun to shoot, too. I have a BSA SMLE made in 1912 that undoubtedly saw use in World War 1, and quite possibly in World War II as well. The barrel is a little worn by now, but with military ball ammo, I can still keep most of the shots inside a 10" bullseye at 100 yards with the open sights. It's not a target rifle, but I feel like I'm shooting a real fighting rifle when I fire it.
I also have a 1947 vintage No. 4 Mark II, with the fine micrometer rear sight, that looked almost unfired when I got it. It groups a bit better, like 6" at 100 yards with surplus ball ammo. Someday I'm going to work on fiberglass bedding the action, and work up some handloads to see what it's really capable of.

 

[Maverick223]

My first Enfield No 4 drew its first blood yesterday.

I somehow doubt that.

I think the biggest factor in the speed is the well trained infantry utilizing the rifle. That said, it is a fine rifle with a smooth/short action and large magazine capacity, so that certainly contributes. I don't, however, believe that the "cock on close" feature had any significant impact on speed.

 

[Nushif]

So I [edit] got to buy it today. Although she did get something out of it, too.[/edit]

I got it. A Lee Enfield, No 4 Mark I ... the stamps in it are all over the place anywhere between '43 and '47. It came with the simple spike bayonet though, not the bladed one.

Haven't been able to shoot it yet, but man, handling it is fun. Now, I am wondering how on earth they dragged these things all over creation. It's heavy as hell, compared to an AR, of course. But it looks in perfect functioning order, if a bit beat p and cycles rounds just fine from the magazine. Nice trigger, too. Breakdown is easy as well.

 

[Snowdog]

I have tons of respect for both that rifle and the cartridge. The No. 4 Mk1 was the second rifle I ever owned and stirs up fond memories.

Of all the issued rifles of WW2, it is my favorite due to its simplicity, ease of function and effectiveness.
Both mine are plenty accurate enough during slow aimed fire, but I'm fully aware the volleys produced by a just a few men using these rifles gave any advancing Jerry some real hell.

It may not have fired the most powerful cartridge or possessed the strongest action of those fielded during that war, but one would be hard pressed to fine a rifle as robust.

 

[Sunray]

"...Germans in WWI thought..." Only when they faced experienced, pre-war, professional, Brit, troopies.
"...the bolt throw is shorter..." Nonsense. Shorter than what?
If you buy any Lee-Enfield, checking the headspace is essential. Thousands of 'em were assembled out of parts bins without bothering to ensure the rifle was safe to shoot. No. 4Rifles are a bit easier to fix, if the headspace is bad. The bolt heads are numbered, 0 to 3. If the headspace is bad, checked with proper guages only, going up 1 number with the guages might fix it. A matching S/N(receiver and the back of the bolt handle) does not guarantee good HS.
In any case, go here for good info about Lee-Enfields. http://www.enfieldrifles.ca/main.htm
.303british.com is fabulous for info about the cartridge.

 

[supergoat343]

Just bought a No4 Mk1 today as well.
you know you have found YOUR gun when you pick it off the table at the gun show... and your hands begin to shake.

 

[35 Whelen]

The ability of the British enfields to be fired rapidly lies in the placement of the bolt handle relative to the trigger. If you'll notice:


....when the rifle is being held so as to be fired, the bolt handle is immediately above the right hand which allows for a minimumal amount of movement to operate the bolt.

On the other hand, notice on this 1903A3

....that the bolt handle is slightly forward of the trigger which means the right hand must be moved forward slightly to operate the bolt.

Even a modern-day hunting rifle such as this Ruger 77 doesn't have its bolt handle where it can be rapidly cycled:


So, that's the main reason that the British Enfields have the capability for such a high rate of fire.

35W