enfieid MKIII

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sewerman

New member
can i get some info on buying an enfield fas a fun range gun?

i have read that the #1, MK III armory remans from austrailia are the best buys.

prices seem to be around $240 to whatever the market will bear!

i don't expect to get a super accurate rifle that is from the early 20th century but, well; like most people i want the most for my hard earned cash.

so if their are any enfield shooters out there willig to educate for the love of the shooting hobby i'm all ears!

i'm new to milsurplus firearms ...that is knowing where to purchase and my efforts on the net seem to provide me with just lots of russian and soviet block rifles.

thanks
 
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frankxd

New member
Aim has the Enfield 2A. They are essentially No1's chambered in 7.62 Nato made in India. Mine was ugly, but after refinishing it looks nice. It is a great shooter. Other than the 2A's, you can still find No 4's for sale from the surplus dealers. The Savage rifles are generally considered the nicest of the No 4's. Good luck with your search.
 
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Tikirocker

New member
i don't expect to get a super accurate rifle that is from the early 20th century but
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Those rifles will be more accurate than you, you can count on it - the early Australian Lithgow No1's was chosen in preference to the later for conversion to HT Snipers due to tighter tolerances. Don't assume an early Lithgow won't be accurate - if you set it up right and the bore isn't junk you'll have a very accurate rifle if you know how to shoot. ;)
 
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T. O'Heir

New member
"...The Savage rifles are..." Only in th U.S. Post-war Longbranch rifles are the best of all No.4's. A No. 4 is actually a better rifle than a No. 1 from anywhere. Better sights and should the headspace be bad(always check the headspace on any Lee-Enfield no matter where it came from), it's easier to find another bolt head.
"...from the early 20th century..." Australian No.1's were made right through W.W. II. They opted not to switch to the No. 4. They continued to make them until 1956.
The Indian made 7.62 rifles were made from scratch in the mid-60s. They're not conversions. Good quality too. It's a pity the Indians couldn't manage the same kind of quality in the ammo they made.
The accuracy of a Lee-Enfield these days is dependent on the quality of the barrel and the ammo used. A barrel's diameter can measure from .311" to .315" and still be considered ok. You measure it by hammering a cast .30 calibre bullet through the barrel and measuring it with a micrometer. Then use bullets that are as close to that diameter as possible. A diameter larger than .315" means the barrel is shot out and needs replacing.
Factory ammo usually comes with a .311" bullet, but reloaders can use commercial .312" bullets. If the bore is on the high end, 200 grain SP .313" and .314" bullets can be had from www.303british.com.
Go to .303british for lots of info on the rifles and the ammo. Another good site for learing about milsurps is www.surplusrifle.com. Your local public library is another good place. Most of 'em have lots of books on the subject.
And always check the headspace on any Lee-Enfield. Thousands both models have been assembled out of parts bins with zero QC.
 
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RedneckFur

New member
I've got a British BSA that was rebarreled and restocked by lithgow in 1941. Its a nice rifle, but i havent shot it enough to really see how accurate it is. The bore shows a little wear, but its bright with no dark spots or pits.

The recoil is another thing... Its the hardest kicking rifle I've ever shot, and I dont see how anyone short of goliath or a madman could complete a "mad miniute" with one.
 
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joab

New member
That is your subjective opinion of course ... many would argue otherwise.
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Please do
I have the No1, No4s and 2As even have a 1901 whatzit rifle from SOG but have not shot any enough to form an opinion

I am in the process of selling mine off but I would like to keep at least one

I am leaning towards the 2A for ammo availability

I have a Brit No4 ,how would I find the origin
 
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moose fat

New member
Sewerman might I suggest getting a Curios and Relics lisence. It costs $30 and is good for 3 years. A C&R lisence broadens your choices and allows C&R guns to be shipped directly to you.
http://www.atf.treas.gov/firearms/relics/

I got one just to get an AIM Ishapore 2a.

I have had good experiences with these sites;
http://www.aimsurplus.com/
http://www.auctionarms.com/
http://www.gunbroker.com/

I have been looking at these sites;
http://www.bdlltd.com/index.htm
http://www.joesalter.com/
http://www.simpsonltd.com/index.php
http://www.newphillysports.com/index.html

A good milsurp forum site, the "Enfield Forum";
http://p102.ezboard.com/bparallaxscurioandrelicfirearmsforums

A good site;
http://www.surplusrifle.com/index.asp

joab;
http://home.earthlink.net/~smithkaia8/id3.html
for manufacturers marks and more.

I thought that the UF 55 No4Mk2, the No4Mk1 BSA made in 1943 and the 1942 Maltby w/two groove barrel were the best.:)
 
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DougW

New member
Joab, post the numbers and letters from the butt stock socket. The serial number and other letters/numbers are how we can trace the rifles to the manufacturer.
 
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T. O'Heir

New member
"...That is your subjective opinion..." Read this slowly.
"...Better sights and should the headspace be bad...it's easier to find another bolt head."
 
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joab

New member
The numbers and markings on the Brit are
what looks like a weakly hand struck A K the A is missing the cross bar and the A is missing the leg
The hand stamped serial is 10400

And here is a challenge for you

Right side of butt socket

Crown (image stamp)
ER
ENFIELD
1901
L E
1
Left side

Under an arrow pointing up
R 1 (?)
, I
1927
 
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Tikirocker

New member
"...That is your subjective opinion..." Read this slowly.
"...Better sights and should the headspace be bad...it's easier to find another bolt head."
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It reads the same either quick or slow ...

As you are already aware Australia maintained the No1 as it's main battle rifle over both world wars ... subsequently the study of marksmanship using these rifles and the sights on them both militarily and domestically is not to be found wanting - in Australia - in comparison to those using a No4 with the ladder sights.

My point is that I know people who are better marksmen using a No1 than those using a No4; these people also prefer the No1 - the sights may be better on a No4 ( subjective also ) but it is the rifleman that makes the shot. Hence stating the No4 is a better rifle is purely subjective and anecdotal at best.
 
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Hawg

New member
The recoil is another thing... Its the hardest kicking rifle I've ever shot, and I dont see how anyone short of goliath or a madman could complete a "mad miniute" with one.
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You're kidding.....right? Pretty tame if you ask me. They can be had for less than 200 bucks if you look around. I recently sold a 1917 BSA #1 MK III for 175.00 with a bayo and sheath.
 
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James K

Member In Memoriam
Hi, Joab,

Maybe a bit of help - the rifle was made at the Royal Small Arms Factory at Enfield Lock in 1901. ER is Edwardus Rex, or King Edward VII (1901 was the first year of his reign; Queen Victoria died on 22 January of that year).

It was made as a Lee-Enfield (LE), Mark 1, though many were remodeled without any change in marking. James Paris Lee is the designer of the action, Enfield refers to the type of rifling developed at RSAF Enfield; that designation was in conformance with British practice at the time. A previous rifle was the Lee-Metford, with Metford rifling.

The other side probably reads "RFI" for Rifle Factory, Ishapore (India) where it was rebuilt in 1927.

Jim
 
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RedneckFur

New member
You're kidding.....right? Pretty tame if you ask me.
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It could just be me. Some folks feel recoil differently. I've a few rifles that weighed a little less, and were more powerful, but none of them put a hurting on my shoulder like the SMLE did. Could be the shape of the stock, or how it fits my shoulder. I put about a pound of lead in the cleaning kit hole in the stock, and now I can shoot it standing without a flinch. :) Benchresting still gets uncomfortable after about 20 rounds though.
 
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DougW

New member
Joab, that is an older and more desirable (to a collector) Enfield. The mkI are not that numerous, based on their age and numbers produced. The Ishapore Factory in India was run by the British until around 48 or 50. Your FTR in 1927 is another point collectors would be interested in. Nice find!
 
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