Looking at buying Enfield Ishapore 308.

[kmcintosh78]

What do I need to look for?
I am looking for a fun, inexpensive rifle, in 308 for distance plinking. Maybe varmint or small game hunting later on. Not worried about if it is in "collector" condition.
Locally, asking $250. After market stock.
No scope mount (Will buy aftermarket in a bit)
Matching numbers, ID'ed as 7.62mm 2a1 RFI 1968.

Talk me out of it.
Talk me out of not jumping all over it.
What to look for.

Thanks

 

[Storm]

I paid $200 for one of mine, and less than $100 for the other. The $200 one is Ishapore made that was coated in black paint typical for the Ishapore. I couldn't live with that black paint and removed it (quite a job) to find a wonderful Parkerized finish underneath. Be forewarned that if you remove the hideaous paint it's a crapshoot what you will find underneath. I only removed the black paint as I saw direct evidence beforehand of what was underneath.

My other Ishapore I picked up for well less than $100. Its metal was painted metallic silver by the previous owner and was coated with a gloss finish that made it look like a donut. The previous owner said that his efforts made the gun "pretty". I snagged it realizing that it was a British made SMLE that had been scrubbed of markings by Ishapore and allowed to remain in its original 303 British. They had replaced the SMLE nosepiece with an Ishapore one with the squared wings. The gun cleaned up beautifully, now fully restored, and I was able to obtain the original SMLE nosepiece which is now on the gun. The finish underneath is a very nicely blued. I believe the wood my be Ishapore as well.

They are both fine guns.

What kind of aftermarket stock does the gun have?

 

[kmcintosh78]

An ATI.
I would probably just make my own stock.
Always looking to stay within budget.

 

[kmcintosh78]

Also, how accurate are they, out to 200+ yards?
Do you have scopes mounted?

 

[Rshooter]

It's a sad day when the original stock is not present. Many had repairs but they were all beautiful if properly refinished. I used Tung Oil on mine and she looks really impressive. Right now I have left the black paint on, in later years as it gets chipped off I may remove but currently it is serving it's purpose. I would say iron sight accuracy to 300 yards. I paid $100 apiece but that was a long time ago. $250 is about right depending on the bore condition, it should be excellent and I would try to work him down.

Good luck, these are fun guns to shoot, I have a 1903, Garand, M1A, AR, etc and my Isshy is my son's favorite rifle.