Lee Enfield Rifles

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cratz2

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First of all, I'd like to state that compared to the really dedicated folks, I know next to nothing about these rifles. www.milsurpshooter.net has near infinite resources on such things and there is more reading over there than can be done in 24 hours.

These are my Enfield Rifles. I had been wanting to get one for a very long time and when Gewehr98 got one with a scope mount, it really put me over the edge and I started actively looking for the right one.

First one I bought was actually an Ishapore Model 2A1. These were made in Indiana and were based pretty closely on the Enfield Model 1 Mk III but chambered in 7.62x51 NATO instead of .303 British. I found one at a local shop that has a room full of surplus rifles but usually has very few Enfields. They had four or five, most were pretty well worn out but this one had potential. It was listed at $149 or $159 but when I showed them that one of the stock repairs was cracked and wouldn't hold the buttplate on, the onwers wife gave it to me for $100. Got it home, cleaned it up a little bit with warm water and attempted to clean the bore but it wasn't dirty in the least. Finally got around to cleaning in a bit better, took all the wood off and cleaned the metal underneath which was hideous. Man was it dirty. I cleaned the non-exposed areas of the wood with hto water and allowed to dry. Then I oiled all wood with tung oil. The correct finish for these, and all Enfield rifles is linseed oil or boiled linseed oil but I had tung oil so I just used that. I put maybe 3 or 4 layers allowing them to try inbetween. Covered the metal in FP10 inside and out. I think it came out quite nicely. The wood doesn't all match so it's been arsenal refinished but the metal is nicely blued not parkerized so it wasn't a Thorough Refinish.

One unique thing about this rifle is it has a peep sight soldered on in place of what should be a standard notch. No big deal as it hits close the point of aim (about 3 inches high at 100 which is fine) but certainly not standard practice.

Still haven't done much serious accuracy work but I can keep most of my shots within a 5" black at 100 yards and this isn't taking a lot of time for a precise shot. Mostly just having fun.

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Next one was a Long Branch No 4 MK I*. Long Branch is a Canadian aresnal and while they may not have quite the historical value as the Birtish-made guns, they had the benefit of making rifles during the war without being bombed thus these rifles are generally very well put together. This one is dated 1943 and came with an after market scope mount and lace-up leather cheek piece. The scope mount is an S&K that accepts standard Weaver style rings. This one was definately someones shooter. The bore was filthy but it came out very shiny so I assume the shooter was shooting factory, not corrosive surplus, ammo or handloads.

Did the same cleaning I did on the 2A1 but this one wasn't nearly as dirty underneath the wood. Tung oiled this one as well but didn't take my time as I had four other MilSurps waiting to clean and oil. I only put two coats of tung oil on this one but it still came out looking very nice. It has a very nice blue, as nice as any Colt I've ever seen. There had just a very little bit of pitting on the left side of the receiver but a little work with that looped steel woll stuff and some FP10 and it's gone.

I originally put my 26mm Swarovski 6x42 sniper scope on it but the cheekpiece didn't raise my eye up enough to line up with the crosshairs. I put 40 rounds through it with the Swarovski and replaced it with a cheapie BSA 22 Special that is a 2.5x24. It looks more part and lines up much better.

Took some more time with this one shooting the first time as I was alone and took no other guns. I keep every shot within about 2" of each other and again, I could probably do better with better ammo. I was using Czech surplus ammo which isn't known as being the best ammo out there. I have some Hornady ammo but haven't shot any of it yet in any of the rifles. It should prove to be as effective as standard .308 or .30-06 ammo I'd think.

I think I paid about $210 for it and couldn't possibly be happier. This thing is so slicked up, it's just amazing. It's had a lot of use but seems to have been generally well cared for except the bore. If you lift the bolt and hold the rifle at about a 20 degree angle from the floor, it slowly slide back down with no resistance at all. It's really quite like a Swiss watch. One of these days I will get an original rear peep sight. Or maybe I'll just get a Russian 3x21 scope to use with this rifle.

I wouldn't hesitate to use this in a SHTF scenario. It is accurate, reliable and durable and has been well proven in multiple wars. The round is very capable. What more can you ask for?

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Last one is amazingly another Long Branch No 4 MK I* dated 1943. This one was thoroughly refinished at the arsenal. It has all new wood and all the metal is parkerized black. Very nice looking rifle. I haven't shot this one yet. With all the other MilSurps, I think I'll just leave this one alone for a while.

I did take it apart but it was pretty much spotless. I tried to oil the stock but it just wouldn't take in much tung oil. It did make the stock a bit darker and the grain more pronounced but again, it probably still has 99% of its original finish.

The barrel appears to be unfired. The trigger is a bit rough, at least comapred to the other two Enfields. Still better than most Remingtons and Winchesters of today. The bolt is a bit more difficult to work but then, it's been used much less no doubt.

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So there you have it. My Enfield rifles. I have a couple Mausers including one unissued and a nice Schmidt-Rubin K31. Also a Mosin Nagant M44 that appears to have never been unissued. All are nice battle rifles that are still very functional but for me, the Lee Enfield rifles, esp the MK I and MK I* are what I think of when I think of a bolt action battle rifle.

I still need to get a 1903 and a couple long Mosins and an Arisaka or two. My father in law has all those covered and I can shoot them when ever I want so there is a less pressing need. For now, my Enfields keep me pretty happy.

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Thanks, Cratz

Have limited my milsurps to US rifles but wouldn't mind an Enfield, especially one in 308 .

Any idea on fair price for one in good condition, there's a gun show in town this weekend. :D

Regards
hps
 
hps1,

Before Springfield Sporters went out of business, you could pick up a nice No. 4 for $90.00 plus shipping if you had a C&R or FFL. Prices seem to vary around the country, but I sold a nice Savage No. 4 for $150.00 about two weeks ago. The ones I've picked m up have ranged from $50 up to $100 depending upon condition and exact model. At a gunshow I'd look for a nice one in the $150.00 range.
 
Cratz:
Thanks, again. Wasn't sure how long ago you purchased yours.

I know just a few years ago you could pick up a good 03A3 for less than 200 bucks. Not so today!

This gives me a ballpark idea of what they are bringing.

diyj08:

Savage made Enfields, too? Boy, I got a lot to learn on this subject.:)

Thanks, fellows.

Regards,
hps

PS For a shooter, is any one model/mfg. better/worse?
 
During WWII, Longbranch made No. 4's in Canada and Savage made them in the U.S. Some folks feel that wartime Canadian and U.S. Enfields are better made than the the British guns due to Britian being under bombing pressure. As far as a shooter, I haven't found any one manufacturer to be more accurate than another. But I'm not by any means an Enfield expert. Just make sure you buy one with a good barrel.
 
Cratz2

are you satisfied with the S&K mount? Does it hold really good?
I'm busting a gut to scope my No.4!
 
It seems dead tight to me. I haven't shot the rifle enough to recommend it but haven't seen anything that would make me advise against it.

Time will tell.
 
Cratz2,

Thanlks for all the good info.

However, I had a problem with the link to milsurpshooter.net.

Might be my computer, but could you check it and post if it's not correct? TIA
 
Cratz, once I got over my laughing fit...

First one I bought was actually an Ishapore Model 2A1. These were made in Indiana and were based pretty closely on the Enfield Model 1 Mk III but chambered in 7.62x51 NATO instead of .303 British.

(don't suppose John Mellencamp could show me this Lee-Enfield factory near his old stomping grounds in Bloomington, Indiana?) :D

Gorgeous rifles, all of them. I'm missing my NoIMkIII* Lithgow after seeing your SMLE pic. :(

Maybe when I file my TDY voucher I can talk the new owner into selling it back to me...
 
I can't believe I did that... Guess I've probably typed the word 'Indiana' so much that I keep typing even when I want to stop... :p

You know you want that Lithgow back.

For the record: the Ishapores were made in India not in Indiana.
 
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