lee enfield rifles

harmoniums

Manic Moran wrote: »

I have a new-found respect for my Smelly.

Was at the Army range yesterday, shooting our annual qual. After we were done with the Army issue gear, the opportunity arose to open the boots of the cars and pull out whatever we brought.

The small arms team were on the range, they had their sniper rifles and whatnot set up with iron targets (man silhouette) up to 600m. Never having shot the No4Mk2 beyond 100m before, and with the minimum setting at 200m, I picked out the 150m target that was in front of me, and started plinking. All hits. Then rapid fire at the 50m target, 7 hits in about 12 second. Cool, thinks I.

Chap next to me is trying out a new rifle, he's done well at the 200m target, moves to the 500m. Spotter is calling trace.

"Miss. High and left...... Miss... Shoulder high, two forms left.... Miss, lost...."

For Ss and Gs, I ask "Which is the 500m target?"

"Echo, it's just to the right of the '6'"

I peer down. I can barely make out the distortion in the background which is the target. Twiddle the rear sight to the 500m mark, and take up an aim at what I hope is the silhouette. Send a round downrange.

"Hit"

"Huh? You're joking"

"No Sir, centre mass hit."

"OK, I'm going to call it good for the day. See you next time.."

NTM

Was that the one I sold you?
I could do about 2 inches at 100 yards with that rifle (an Irish contract BTW lads) so 10 inches at 500 yards would be fine for center mass shooting.

Manic Moran

Not an Irish Contract rifle. The serial number is out of the range. From what I can gather online, it's former RAF contingency stock. No matter. It's still a good rifle.

NTM

harmoniums

Manic Moran wrote: »

Not an Irish Contract rifle. The serial number is out of the range. From what I can gather online, it's former RAF contingency stock. No matter. It's still a good rifle.

NTM

Oh yeah , the UF -55 one?

Manic Moran

Correct.

NTM

FISMA

Manic Moran wrote: »

I have a new-found respect for my Smelly.

Smelly?

I called my SMLE smiley! It always makes me smile when I pull the trigger:)

As for the Irish contract, weren't there a few - one delivered and one not? What are the numbers for the ones that were delivered.

I am looking to pick up [in the States] a new/mint/unissued condition No4 MKII. I would prefer one that was not re-arseneled. Any ideas?

Manic Moran

FISMA wrote: »

Smelly?

I called my SMLE smiley! It always makes me smile when I pull the trigger:)

As for the Irish contract, weren't there a few - one delivered and one not? What are the numbers for the ones that were delivered.

I am not sure about the delivered/not distinction, but the ones made under the contract were PF309348 to PF359347.

NTM

harmoniums

FISMA wrote: »

Smelly?

I called my SMLE smiley! It always makes me smile when I pull the trigger:)

As for the Irish contract, weren't there a few - one delivered and one not? What are the numbers for the ones that were delivered.

I am looking to pick up [in the States] a new/mint/unissued condition No4 MKII. I would prefer one that was not re-arseneled. Any ideas?

I've got one that's in the correct range that MM stated.
I think it may have been issued in Ireland due to the very tight arsenal liek repair I see on the buttstock.
It looks very similar to buttstock repairs I've seen on FF marked No1s
The ones that look brand new can be found on gunbroker and are getting about $800 a piece.







you can have that one for $400

nogie11

I have a no4 mk1 British and have been shooting it for bout a year now. Yes you can put a scope on one without tapping it..s&k do mounts thats require only removing the appature sight and using the existing holes to attach the mounts without any alterations. The are supposed the be excellent for not moving. I myself prefer to shoot the way the Enfield was meant to be used and that is by using the battle sight at say 300y.Its good to challenge both the rifle and yourself. Scopes are for girls lol.

tac foley

It wasn't me! wrote: »

Still restricted, but yes, if it's semi-auto, it would be licensable.

The problem with a BREN is that it looks, y'know, a bit like something that the military might use.......:rolleyes:

Harmoniums has one, but he lives in the state south of Oregon.

tac

tac foley

nogie11 wrote: »

I have a no4 mk1 British and have been shooting it for bout a year now. Yes you can put a scope on one without tapping it..s&k do mounts thats require only removing the appature sight and using the existing holes to attach the mounts without any alterations. The are supposed the be excellent for not moving. I myself prefer to shoot the way the Enfield was meant to be used and that is by using the battle sight at say 300y.Its good to challenge both the rifle and yourself. Scopes are for girls lol.

The sight, as you have noted, is made ONLY for the No4 rifle, and cannot be fitted to any earlier version of the Lee-Enfield because of the design of the action. B-Square also make a no-drill scope mount for the No4 rifle of all marks.

A target-type diopter sight from A J Parker or Parker-Hale CAN be fitted to the earlier models, but it involves cutting away part of the stock and drilling holes where Mr Lee did not feel they were necessary.

BTW, I'd like you to tell my Uncle Geoff, a sniper in the PPCLI like his brother, Tom, and great fan of the SCOPED N04[T] that he is a girl.

As for hunting ammunition in .303Brit - 174gr SP is made by PPU.

Accuracy with ANY Lee-Enfield is a touchy subject, as the rifle itslef is VERY susceptible to minor changes in temperature and stock pressure on the complex and multi-piece woodwork. It's a bit of a black art, as the cost of accurizing an older L-E by THE specialists, Fulton of Bisley, would testify - £500 is about average, and needs to be redone every couple of years shooting to maintain the accuracy they put into what was originally a 4MOA rifle. Yes, that's a FOUR inch group at 100 yards - the manufacturers' accuracy standards. Anything less, and it was usually set aside for conversion into a sniper version.

tac
vcrai.com

PS - the 6.5x55 Swede is a sweet shooter, with two bullet weights - 140 and 120gr readily available for hunting from numerous makers, but again, for an ex-military rifle or carbine, there is NO easy-fit scope mount without carving away wood and/or drilling holes.

tac foley

tommyboy26 wrote: »

hi lads

i have a couple of questions on lee enfield rifles....

1: can you mount a scope on them?
2: what is the .303 round like i.e accuracy,distance, does it kick much,price and the availably of the round?
3: any body using them for hunting?

the two im looking at are


no1 mark3 rifle






or the no4 mark1 rifle



if these are no good i would like something in a 6.5x55 or if you have another suggestion along the same lines



thanks in advance


tommy:D

Not sure what you mean by 'no good'. About 48 million Lee-designed rifles and carbines of one kind or another were made over a period of almost seventy years, equipping the armed forces of the British Empire, and then, the British Commonwealth [and the PDF]. So what would you call 'good'?

tac