Any Enfield shooters here? [Archive] - The Firing Line Forums

Tom2

September 5, 2008, 08:39 PM

I have a nice one with the light beech stock like the lower one. Not a sniper. It is setting in it's khaki transit bag right now just because ammo is not so plentiful anymore. Besides cruddy old mixed lot green surplus or commercial loads $$$. Maybe if I were in some part of the empire there would be better lots of ammo floating around.

MJ1

September 5, 2008, 11:12 PM

People like them or they don't. With all the little things you have do adapt to with one make or another. I was caught or seduced by this silly rifle with a two part stock and rear lugs. I had to learn to hand load so I could shoot the thing. Thats a road you don't want to go down. First thing you know you will be buying Mosin Nagant's from N. Korea.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v130/montereyjack/bkt254.jpg

Look for help now. Don't let you self sink to buying French rifles.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v130/montereyjack/18900017a.jpg

Cheers
..MJ..

Curtis(USAF)

September 6, 2008, 11:45 PM

I have a Lee Enfield No4MK1 that I picked up a little while back. Its a little worn, but I still love it.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v460/darkskies109/DSC00133.jpg[/IMG]

ronl

September 7, 2008, 03:00 AM

Very nice rifles you have there. I have two Enfields a No4 and a no.1 mk 3*. I really like my mk3. It is a Lithgow rifle made in '42, issued in'43. It is in very good condition despite the small pieces of shrapnel embedded in the buttstock. I've pretty much given up firing mine since the surplus ammo dried up. I have a box of WW2 ammo but it's for display not for shooting.

moose fat

September 7, 2008, 03:37 AM

Ooh, nice snipers!

I had to learn to reload to shoot mine also. My first Enfield, sort of, is a Model of 1917. It took awhile to figure out what to shoot in it bullet wt. wise. Then I got an Ishapore 2a and got into relaoding so I could shoot it; I researched the .308 vs. 7.62NATO and decided relaoding would be the thing to do.

Then, since I have a C&R lisence, I started looking on the auction sites, just to see. I next bought a 1943 BSA Shirley No.4 MkI and then a 1943 BSA No.4 MkI Maltby w/a pristine two groove barrel. Then I found a Fazakerly No.4 MkII w/a UF55 prefix, then a Longbranch No.4 Mk1/3 that looks like it was FTR'ed in India, Ishy screw, all matching and new looking, nice bore. And then my last one a PF50 Fazakerly No.4 MkII. The seller said it had a pitted bore(sigh), but it looked new and all matching. When it came in the mail I cleaned it. The bore had some pits and not much rifling near the muzzle. I scrubbed out the bore, oiled it and set it aside. A few months later I cleaned the bore again and set it aside. The next time I looked down the bore most of the pits were gone and the rifling looked pretty good, lucked out.

I have only been shooting and working up loads for the UF55 Faz and PF50 Faz I've shot some surplus ammo through. I have yet to take a moose with one of my .303's but more sooner than later I will.:D

Some day I am thinking of putting on a no-gunsmith scope mount on the Maltby and getting a replacement "sniper stock" for it. The two groove barrels were supposed to be fairly accurate.

Tamara

September 7, 2008, 09:57 AM

Sadly, I'm more an "owner" than a "shooter". I have a 1918-vintage BSA No.1Mk.III (not a III*, interestingly enough; as best I can gather, in the immediate postwar wind-down some rifles were actually made with the windage-adjustable rear, mag cut-off, and volley sights again,) and a very late production Fazakerly No.4Mk.II, one of the batch of "unissued" rifles that came into the country a few years back. I don't know it my Faz was actually "unissued", but it is definitely pristine.

Unfortunately, as a city-dweller, I get a lot more chance to shoot pistols than rifles, and I have yet to pull a trigger on either of these... well, I'm not sure I'd call Enfields "beauties", but you get the picture. :o

MJ1

September 7, 2008, 11:31 AM

I have one .308 now.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v130/montereyjack/DSCF0006a.jpg

Building another (on the btm) soon and restoring a 1945 #4T (top pic.)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v130/montereyjack/DSCF0024a.jpg

..Cheers..
....MJ....

oldmaster111

September 8, 2008, 02:01 PM

I have a nice #1 Mk 111. pretty old gal. I added a cheek rest also.:D

T. O'Heir

September 8, 2008, 02:27 PM

"...given up firing mine since the surplus ammo dried up..." The supplies of good milsurp .303 ball dried up long ago. Reloading fixes that.
Slug the bore(Lee-Enfield barrels can measure between .311" and .315" and still be considered ok. Over .315", the barrel is shot out) to find out what the actual diameter is, then use the closest diameter bullet. Most manufacturer's make .311" or .312" bullets. Steve at .303british.com is making .313" and .314" 200 grain jacketed bullets.
With any Lee-Enfield check the headspace.

MJ1

September 13, 2008, 09:32 AM

Never tampered with 1942 MkI

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v130/montereyjack/0004a.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v130/montereyjack/0001a.jpg

I roll my own .303 and 7.62X54R.

Cheers
..MJ..

Gewehr98

September 14, 2008, 12:01 AM

I won't own 'em if I cannot shoot 'em.

1944-dated BSA No5Mk1:

http://mauser98.com/jc-3.jpg

1941-dated Aussie Lithgow NoIMkIII*, with Weaver K4 for Mrs. G-98:

http://mauser98.com/lithgowscope.jpg

1917-dated Enfield Lock NoIMkIII*, my favorite of the batch:

http://mauser98.com/smle-3.jpg

And remember kids, neck-sizing dies are the Bee's Knees for reloading .303 British!

MJ1

September 14, 2008, 11:59 AM

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v130/montereyjack/M3ONL42LSIDE01.jpg

...MJ...

TEDDY

September 30, 2008, 10:42 PM

I have a win cartridge adapter for 303.shoots 32acp.very neat I have them in 06/8 mm/303.also make my own reloads,Lee 312-160 TL 16 grs red dot.:rolleyes:

tokarev762

October 1, 2008, 12:23 AM

Gewehr98: That's a nice #5 you have there. I have one from Burma, dated Feb. of '44 from Frazackerly(sp?). The bore is shot out though. Bullets hit sideways at less than 15 yards. I'll either keep it as is or rebarrel it sometime. Maybe in a different caliber.

I like shooting my Ishey .308 with cast loads and want to start reloading for my #4,II* as it's such a shooter with new factory ammo. I picked up an Indian wire wrapped grenade rifle with the cup launcher & would like to make blank loads for it, but the bolt won't close on a round. Very nice rifle with a like new bore. I'll have to find some different bolt heads for it I guess.

I do have a 1945 Lithgow III*, but it's one of those Gibbs/Navy Arms 45/70 conversions.

GoCart

November 12, 2008, 07:16 PM

I am waiting on my first enfield in the mail, should be here next week.

Pics on the way gentlemen.

This gun has been my dream gun for a long time and when I can afford/find a good one a No. 5 will be next!

Have a good one!

How did you do those sniper conversions on the first post?

MJ1

November 12, 2008, 07:37 PM

Those are #4T rifles as issued.

...............................:cool:...........................

gandog56

November 15, 2008, 02:49 AM

My 1943 ROF(F) No 4 MK 1:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v196/Gandog56/PICT0006.jpg

And it doesn't shoot too bad, either.:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v196/Gandog56/PICT0012-1.jpg

kwells6

November 19, 2008, 01:33 PM

I've carried a '27 No.1 Mk. III (no *) for the past 6 years in the deer woods. I recently found a set of match grade Hornady dies at a YARD SALE for $5... I reaload with Speer 150gr SP's that are .311". Extremely accurate in my rifle.
And down here in Arkansas, commercial .303 rounds are cheap ($15/box) where I shop.

hanno

November 19, 2008, 03:27 PM

At one time I had nice collection of No4s including one from every maker. I gradually found myself shooting my Garands and 03s more, so sold off most of my LEs.

I'm down now to a never issued Faz No4 Mk2, a NZ marked LB (pristene - appears to have never been issued) and a Greek issued LB. The Greek issue LB is my shooter. I put a PH sight on it and it is a very accurate rifle.

brewman

November 19, 2008, 08:42 PM

G’day.

Here in Australia there are many Enfield’s still kicking round.

A lot of the early No1 MkIII have been sporterized and ruined in my humble opinion but there are still a lot around that retain the full wood and military markings.

I have an original 1943 Lithgow SMLE No1 MkIII* with all matching numbers, the barrel is a little pitted but it still shoots very well and the throat is not too eroded. Coupled with its 1907 bayonet it looks and feels great. The SMLE holds dear to many Australians as it was used by our troops in WW1 & WW2, personally for me my grandfather fought in Tobruk with a rifle identical to the one I now own and it is a humbling feeling to shoot a rifle like he would have used to fight with in war.

As some have mentioned in there posts it is very advisable to neck size the 303 case as many have done a lot of work and the throats are generally quite long, another thing to watch for with the No1’s is head space being excessive, the bolt head just screws out and there are many that have been made up of bits and pieces and had any old bolt head screwed on without headspace being checked. I have seen several friends rifles that stretch the cases excessively, this may be something you can get away with if your only using your brass once but if you reload they are bound to fail and have a head separation sooner or later.

I will try to post some pics of my SMLE in the near future.

Cheers from down under….

alistaire

November 20, 2008, 10:39 AM

Wolf sells .303 in the "wolf Gold" line of brass cased ammo.

MJ1

November 20, 2008, 12:32 PM

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v130/montereyjack/bkt047.jpg

spanishmauser51

November 21, 2008, 07:26 PM

hey, i'm just getting into LE collecting and shooting and have yet to purchase my first enfield. i personally like the design of the No.1 Mk III over the later No.4's. is it safe to shoot a WWI Mk III w/ commercial ammo?

MJ1

November 25, 2008, 12:48 PM

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v130/montereyjack/MJ20pete20Nigela.jpg

.........................:D............................

spanishmauser51

November 25, 2008, 10:29 PM

:) nice rifle. since that last post i have aquired a no.1 mk III from 1917. its in excellent condition and i got a pretty good deal on it. i dont plan to shoot it much, mabye occasionally. anyways their was another guy looking at it when i was and we started talking and he said that these were safe to shoot w/ any commercial ammo, that handloads werent required. is that true?

e-bear

November 30, 2008, 02:50 PM

I've got a '44 LB with all the proper stamps and matching Serial #'s. Got it for what I considered a steal from a local 5&dime about 15 or so years ago.
I've also got a

e-bear

November 30, 2008, 03:07 PM

Got a No4 Mk1* that I purchased about 15 years ago. It has matching Ser #s
and all the proper stamps and marks, except the four digits on the magazine.

I've also got a 1918 #III* that my brother gave me a millinea ago to get me started shootin and reloadin. I've had the shootin and reloadin curse ever since.

Both of these rifles are a pleasure to shoot. Both very accurate. Sure is fun to shootem' but they kick me like mule. I've made up some reduced loads to go a lil bit easier on my old body.

I'm thinkin I might sell the No4 MkI* to make some room for a new toy I want to aquire. Not too sure what these babies go for any more.

Old e-bear

sonic1

November 30, 2008, 03:30 PM

picked up this shootout mklll....rebarreled it to 45-70
http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd86/sonic1_1/fire/MVC-038S.jpg

moose fat

December 8, 2008, 04:22 AM

Just put together a Faux No4 T, as close as I'll get, from my Century parts gun. A 1942 No4 Mk1 BSA Maltby, two groove barrel.

http://www.hunt101.com/data/548/medium/DSC00455.JPG

I got a nice walnut cheek rest from "Gun Parts", Cad Tech-nik scope mount from Brownells and Weaver Classic V 1-3X scope w/Leuopold QRW rings.

http://www.hunt101.com/data/548/medium/DSC00458.JPG

http://www.hunt101.com/data/548/medium/DSC004733.JPG

I found a load it likes; 180 gr Sierra Pro Hunter
39.0 gr of IMR 4064 and Win brass, CCI LRP.

Now I just have to shoot it more.

gandog56

December 8, 2008, 04:46 PM

I just got a 1943 No. 4 Mk. 1 not all that long ago. Lets just say I love it!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v196/Gandog56/PICT0011-3.jpg

GUNZABLAZIN

December 9, 2008, 11:39 PM

I guess this is the place to ask a question, I work with a fellow that has an Ishapore SMLE, I don't know which (Mk) it is I, II, III, IV. But it doesn't have a magazine. Are the Ishapore's the (junkier), or less desireable ones, and are magazines hard to come by, or are they gonna cost you your first born!!! I'm going to try to get this gun and get a little more info from him, maybe try to buy it, wondered on prices,? ballpark what the high and low are going for??

spanishmauser51

December 10, 2008, 09:02 PM

mags are out there. and the Ishapore is a fine gun, the main difference is that it is chambered in .308 NATO as oppposed to .303 british.
as far as values go look on www.gunbroker.com my estimate would be, in good condition of course, about 350$, if its not matching #'s and its in poor condition {i.e. the bore is not good} 250$ or less.

MJ1

December 10, 2008, 10:44 PM

I have said before I didn't have a MkIII of any kind. But I think that has all changed.

I found these pictures on the wifes cell phone Monday. I was looking for a picture on the grandson from last week. The text said it was still covered in grease/wax.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v130/montereyjack/LithgowMkIIIa.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v130/montereyjack/DSCN0295-1.jpg

Hmmmmm?

.............................................:D...........................................

Calfed

December 10, 2008, 11:30 PM

I have a couple-
No.4 MKII, unissued
http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s194/Calfed/DSC_0072-1.jpg

No4 MKII, with matching bayo and scabbard (in the range to be an "Irish contract" enfield).
http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s194/Calfed/Irishenfield008.jpg

and a 2a--but no pics

DoctorXring

December 11, 2008, 01:20 AM

.

Fazakerley No.5 MK1

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b357/doctorxring/no-4.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b357/doctorxring/no-6.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b357/doctorxring/no-1.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b357/doctorxring/no.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b357/doctorxring/no-5.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b357/doctorxring/no-8.jpg

MJ1

December 11, 2008, 02:06 AM

Can I have a picture of the full rile to save? I will title it to you.

Cheers
..mj..

DoctorXring

December 11, 2008, 03:26 PM

MJ1 --

You bet. Here are the other two pics I have of this rifle.

This is an interesting rifle. One of the last no.5 rifles ever built
according to Skinnerton. I must admit, I haven't shot this
one. Again, this was a rifle purchased under the pretense
of "this here rifle is like new". I had two surprises when
the rifle arrived. One, the bolt knob was sticking out of
the side of the box. Luckily no harm. Two, the condition of the rifle.

It doesn't always turn out like that !!

:)

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b357/doctorxring/no-7.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b357/doctorxring/no-3.jpg

MJ1

December 11, 2008, 03:42 PM

I have two unfired ones tucked away.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v130/montereyjack/5354003.jpg

..................................................:D...................................................

Rick61

December 20, 2008, 11:27 PM

I have a #4 Mk1 Smelly :)

I REALLY want/need one of those unissued cherry looking items.. anyone selling?

MJ1

December 26, 2008, 07:36 PM

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v130/montereyjack/DSCF0017a.jpg

w_houle

December 26, 2008, 10:01 PM

I have a nice Lithgow No.4 Mk1 with two lands and grooves.

Tikirocker

December 26, 2008, 11:04 PM

I have a nice Lithgow No.4 Mk1 with two lands and grooves.

Err no you don't ... Lithgow never made the No4 Mk1 and only ever made the No1 MKIII or No6 MK1/MKII. If you have a No4 Mk1 you either have a Fazakerley, Shirley, Maltby which are British or Savage ( U.S ) or Longbranch ( Canadian.