My Lee Enfield made me VERY proud today!

Status
Not open for further replies.
R

rugerdude

Member
Joined
Aug 14, 2004
Messages
575
I took my Lee Enfield No.4Mk.1* out to the range today to get the scope sighted in. I added the scope around christmas because I could never get the sights on paper at 100 yards (300m and 600m aperatures). Anyway this was the first time I actually got to see how it shot, and here is my best group of the day:
DSCF4314.gif
SUB-MOA WITH A SURPLUS RIFLE SHOOTING CORROSIVE SURPLUS AMMO!!!!!!:D :D :D

I was stunned to say the least. I can't wait to try my S&B 150 grain ammo now!

The mount is made by ATI and the scope is a BSA 3-10x44mm Catseye. I was shooting off of a bench with a rolled up sleeping bag as a front rest, and a bunched up blanket as a rear rest.

Here she is:
DSCF4315.gif
Now, that grouping wasn't the norm. The others were around 2 inches or so, but I'm still very pleased. Those 2 shots marked at the top are from another group.
 
You should be pleased. I did the same thing with my 2A but with LC NM ammo. You can probably make that group smaller (okay there's no real need to but fun to try) with better ammo or working up a reload.
 
NICE! I have gotten some MOA with my No4Mk1*, with the irons, but thoses were handloads.
Is the scope mount one that doesn't permanatly alter the rifle? Just my preservationist coming out. Very nice, indeed. Enfields rock.
 
Great job! Great shooting! That #4 is going to grow on you. With a very little bit more practice you will have her hammering tight 5 shot groups in no time.
 
You can probably make that group smaller (okay there's no real need to but fun to try) with better ammo or working up a reload.
Click to expand...

Funny, my FIRST thought was "...and that was with Pakistani surplus!? Imagine a handload!"
 
Very nice shooting with subpar ammo, good looking rifle too. Looking forward to results with quality ammunition.
 
I have a Lee loader, so I think I will definitely start using it! I figure I'll get all of my practicing done with this ammo, so I can be sure that I'm not flinching and pulling shots with the better stuff. I caught myself flinching a lot today, this thing has more recoil than I remembered.

150 grain stuff should be a little lighter shooting.

Interestingly enough, the ammo has some really crappy primers that cause a slight ignition delay. You can literally hear the *click* an instant before the *BANG*.
 
Very impressive shooting with that POF ammo. The last time I shot any of that stuff was back in the mid-80s, when half of it went, "CLICK .... BANG."

Lee-Enfields are very underrated from an accuracy standpoint.
 
Nice groups, especially for the junk pakistan ammo. Just imagine the groups you could get for good handloads. I've got a no. 5 mk1 and with s & b ammo I get about 2 or 3" groups at 100 yds. I'm curious about your ati scope mount. Was it hard to mount and does it hold it's zero?
 
Okay, about the mount!

It is a solid chunk of aluminum and it replaces the rear sight, and sits on top of the stripper clip guide. You use 2 hex screws to secure it to each side of the rear sight area, and you use 2 set scrwes in the front that basically just push against the left side of the reciever to help lock it solidly against the right. Loc-tite is a must for those! It was also very easy to install. I did it christmas morning almost immediately after I opened it and the scope I got.

Now, initially, I was worried about it shifting zero as I was shooting. I just couldn't get that scope on center, and now that I'm thinking back on it, I was making too large of adjustments (20 clicks-5 inches! Duh!) to the scope. I was also very excited about my grouping, so I wanted to leave on a good note. There seemed to be some shifting, but I'm certain that it was my errors in adjusting the scope, as it would be very hard to shoot a <1" group with a shifting scope or mount. I'm not that lucky.

That rifle knocked me around for a while when I was getting used to it again, and I have also realized that I wasn't sitting properly, and that my hold on the rifle could have been better. I think I was also flinching at first which led to one flyer on all my other groups that day.

I also had a bunch of rounds that did the whole click-bang deal. It helped me realize that I was flinching!

One of the reasons I was suprised was that I was never led to expect this from an Enfield. I always hear of 2" groupings with handloads on a good day, but that somehow the .303 round carried it's accuraccy better at longer ranges. I must have had the biggest smile on my face when I realized how close those shots were.
 
And people wonder why my Savage Enfield is going to be my deer rifle this fall!
 
rugerdude, With the mount attached can you remove the bolt? Also do you have any problems getting your head high enough on the stock to look thru the scope?

Thanks, Ken
 
Yes, the bolt can be removed normally with the mount attached.

However, you won't be able to get a good cheek weld with the normal stock. I have really low mount rings on mine and still need that cheek piece. It laces on and I think it was meant for a 1903, but it works well. You may be able to find one online somewhere. I paid 20 bucks at a local shop for mine.
 
Thanks again for your input. Looks like I'll be getting a scope on mine as soon as I can. I found out that hornady loads a light magnum load for the 303. I wonder if it is safe for the lee enfields? I don't think they advertise this load, but they told me they still have some in stock. Would this stretch the action or would it just spring back? It came with a zero bolt head and I replaced it with a no. 1.
 
I honestly have no idea as to the strength of the enfield action, only that it is fast, inventive, and uses interchangeable bolt-heads.

I never even got mine headspaced before I shot it. To be fair, I had never even heard of headspacing when I got it, and in any case it seems to do alright;) .
 
Enfield is strong enough. Good rifle - as long as it isn't made in Khyber Pass!:D
Thanks for sharing, rugerdude, very nice, makes me want to get out to the outdoor range.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

B
  • Locked
Gale McMillan comments on the Lee Enfield Rifle
Replies
16
Views
4K
Tamara
T
atek3
  • Locked
review of my new ishy enfield 2A1
Replies
5
Views
1K
asknight
A
P
  • Locked
Lee-Enfield barrel wobble
Replies
8
Views
5K
bigedp51
B
3
  • Locked
Lee enfield No. 5 accuracy
Replies
5
Views
794
DougW
DougW
B
  • Locked
Mosin or Enfield sporter for all your short-range deer needs?
2
Replies
35
Views
2K
303tom
3
Back
Top