Lee-Enfield No.1 Mark III Shotgun

Capt'n Mil Coll · 04-13-2008, 08:56 PM

.410 Lee-Enfield

This is a Lee-Enfield Number 1 Mark 3 bolt action single shot .410.
It chambers 2 7/8” or 3” .410 shotgun shells.

It is marked .410 R.F.I. 1948. RFI is Rifle Factory Ishapur, India.

The Magazine well is filled with a wooden block and its fitted with a special Trigger Guard and Magazine Plate.

According to US law if it is marked .410 on the receiver like it is, then it is a shotgun.

It has a very clean and shiney bore.

mitch_mckee · 04-13-2008, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Capt'n Mil Coll

.410 Lee-Enfield

This is a Lee-Enfield Number 1 Mark 3 bolt action single shot .410.
It chambers 2 7/8” or 3” .410 shotgun shells.

It is marked .410 R.F.I. 1948. RFI is Rifle Factory Ishapur, India.

The Magazine well is filled with a wooden block and its fitted with a special Trigger Guard and Magazine Plate.

According to US law if it is marked .410 on the receiver like it is, then it is a shotgun.

It has a very clean and shiney bore.

I think that I saw one of those on another thread.

wunhunglo · 04-14-2008, 03:52 AM

They converted lots of these rifles for police use.

quote:

The Ishapore .410 is a converted No1 MkIII rifle. This modification, sanctioned by the Indian government, was introduced to provide the Indian police with a riot-gun.

The essentials of the conversion consisted of boring out the barrel and reaming its chamber to accept the British .410 shotgun shell. The magazine was removed and the magazine well fitted with a wooden plug, this acted as a filler and loading platform for the single shell. Finally, the rear sight was pinned to eliminate adjustment.

The chamber, as stated, was designed to fit the British .410 shell unlike the standard 3-inch .410 chamber. Shells for this rifle would have to be purchased in .410 British or fire-formed .303 cases would have to be used and hand loaded, should the owner wish to go bird hunting.

Farmer · 04-14-2008, 05:03 AM

Yeah,

The 410 was originally based on a .303.

If your brave you can put a 410 in your stock 303. I put a cartridge in but havent been brave enough to pull the trigger.

Big Dog · 04-14-2008, 05:20 AM

I'd call that more foolhardy than brave. I value my hands and eyes more than that.
I remember some vendors selling these .410 Smellys awhile back. Wish I'd picked one up!

irish murphy · 04-14-2008, 07:52 AM

My mate has made 410 brass from 303 shells.Made his own dies too.

timberlord · 04-14-2008, 07:52 AM

If this is for 3" commercial ammo then it's been reworked from the original 2.222" the Ishy .410 "riotgun" is chambered for , using .303brit brass.
I tried a commercial 2 1/2" round in an Ishy 410 and it did not go in ...too big in dia.
There are civilian conversions that converted SMLE's into 2 1/2" ( usually a Brit conv.) and the more practical 3".
I have a Brit conversion , stamped in two places as 2 1/2" .410 and re-BNP'd for 3 1/4ton . It still uses a mag which has had the ears ground off and the follower welded to the top of the mag making it a loading ramp for single shot.
I also tried .410ammo in an LE No1 mag . They just about worked but not quite and I didn't go any further with it.
This is a "fun" gun that I've had a blast with while bunnie hunting and really gets some fellas going busting clays...
-" you ain't gonna shoot clays with that ol' 303? are ya? "
-" wanna bet ? "

irish murphy · 04-14-2008, 07:55 AM

Most of the aussie lithgow converts used to sit behind the back door as snake guns.One of the properties i shoot on has still got one at the back door and his mrs loves it.Snakes and hares look out.

And i would say you would have more than rocks in your head if you squeezed off a 410 round through a 303.

Capt'n Mil Coll · 04-14-2008, 03:39 PM

In mine I have shot the 2 7/8" shotshells. In fact I shot a lot of them. Trouble is they are hard to find. It will chamber a 3" shotshell but its very tight. I never tried to light one off. I have a lot of the 2 1/2" slugs but wasnt sure if they could be fired in it so have not done that either. I was told the chamber was opened up a little to accept US .410 otherwise its impossible to find anything to shoot in it in the US. The 2 7/8 is in the white and red box.

irish murphy · 04-14-2008, 05:13 PM

Here is my mates short story on his 410 brass made from 303 brass.Hope you enjoy it fellas.

Back Blocks Outdoor Discussion Board making 303 into 410 Brass

REM.303 · 04-15-2008, 12:59 AM

I have also heard that you can run 45 Long Colt's in these like you can with a regular .410 shotgun.

irish murphy · 04-15-2008, 02:04 AM

I have heard the same thing but i dont know how safe it is.

04-14-2008, 05:03 AM	#4
Farmer Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Limbri NSW Au Posts: 315	Yeah, The 410 was originally based on a .303. If your brave you can put a 410 in your stock 303. I put a cartridge in but havent been brave enough to pull the trigger. __________________ Cheers, Rob I'm into gun control - I always use both hands!!!!!!!

04-14-2008, 05:20 AM	#5
Big Dog Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Tallahassee, Florida Posts: 10,351	I'd call that more foolhardy than brave. I value my hands and eyes more than that. I remember some vendors selling these .410 Smellys awhile back. Wish I'd picked one up! __________________ Moderator of: AR15/M16, M14/M1A, New/Beginning Shooters and Militaria/Collectables.

04-14-2008, 07:52 AM	#7
timberlord Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Ontario Canada Posts: 314	If this is for 3" commercial ammo then it's been reworked from the original 2.222" the Ishy .410 "riotgun" is chambered for , using .303brit brass. I tried a commercial 2 1/2" round in an Ishy 410 and it did not go in ...too big in dia. There are civilian conversions that converted SMLE's into 2 1/2" ( usually a Brit conv.) and the more practical 3". I have a Brit conversion , stamped in two places as 2 1/2" .410 and re-BNP'd for 3 1/4ton . It still uses a mag which has had the ears ground off and the follower welded to the top of the mag making it a loading ramp for single shot. I also tried .410ammo in an LE No1 mag . They just about worked but not quite and I didn't go any further with it. This is a "fun" gun that I've had a blast with while bunnie hunting and really gets some fellas going busting clays... -" you ain't gonna shoot clays with that ol' 303? are ya? " -" wanna bet ? " __________________ http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...LongStamp1.jpg Last edited by timberlord; 04-14-2008 at 07:58 AM.

04-15-2008, 12:59 AM	#11
REM.303 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: 15 miles PAST the end of the earth Posts: 145	I have also heard that you can run 45 Long Colt's in these like you can with a regular .410 shotgun. __________________ Remember, the easy path IS ALWAYS Mined... Last edited by REM.303; 04-15-2008 at 01:05 AM.

04-14-2008, 03:52 AM	#3
wunhunglo Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: currently "Sunny West Africa" Posts: 1,957	They converted lots of these rifles for police use. quote: The Ishapore .410 is a converted No1 MkIII rifle. This modification, sanctioned by the Indian government, was introduced to provide the Indian police with a riot-gun. The essentials of the conversion consisted of boring out the barrel and reaming its chamber to accept the British .410 shotgun shell. The magazine was removed and the magazine well fitted with a wooden plug, this acted as a filler and loading platform for the single shell. Finally, the rear sight was pinned to eliminate adjustment. The chamber, as stated, was designed to fit the British .410 shell unlike the standard 3-inch .410 chamber. Shells for this rifle would have to be purchased in .410 British or fire-formed .303 cases would have to be used and hand loaded, should the owner wish to go bird hunting.

04-14-2008, 07:52 AM	#6
irish murphy Banned Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Canberra,Australia Posts: 1,028 Blog Entries: 5	My mate has made 410 brass from 303 shells.Made his own dies too.

04-14-2008, 07:55 AM	#8
irish murphy Banned Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Canberra,Australia Posts: 1,028 Blog Entries: 5	Most of the aussie lithgow converts used to sit behind the back door as snake guns.One of the properties i shoot on has still got one at the back door and his mrs loves it.Snakes and hares look out. And i would say you would have more than rocks in your head if you squeezed off a 410 round through a 303.

04-14-2008, 05:13 PM	#10
irish murphy Banned Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Canberra,Australia Posts: 1,028 Blog Entries: 5	Here is my mates short story on his 410 brass made from 303 brass.Hope you enjoy it fellas. Back Blocks Outdoor Discussion Board making 303 into 410 Brass

04-15-2008, 02:04 AM	#12
irish murphy Banned Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Canberra,Australia Posts: 1,028 Blog Entries: 5	I have heard the same thing but i dont know how safe it is.