Enifield no4 rifiling question.

Zephri · 02-03-2008, 12:22 AM

I bought an Enfield no4 a while back at a gunshow, and the barrel only has 2 grooves. I've been thinking of getting it rebarreled for a while but after reading the second post by irish murphy in billy's blog and seeing the picture I'm starting to wonder Is this gun supposed to be this way?

not the best picture of the rifling but you get the idea

wunhunglo · 02-03-2008, 06:51 AM

Yes, it is supposed to be this way. I take it it is an American manufactured model, probably No4 mk1*, almost certainly Savage, with the simple two position rear sight, maybe even stamped "US Property."
Unusual thing I see is the stacking pin on the nose cap; haven't seen one on a No4 before.

billy · 02-03-2008, 06:53 AM

mines got the stacking rod also.

Zephri · 02-03-2008, 04:49 PM

thats good to hear, mines probably marked us property some where but it's been around the block a few times so the metal's a bit worn. I only paid 65 dollars for it anyways.

billy · 02-03-2008, 05:02 PM

JBS · 02-03-2008, 05:17 PM

Mine's a 2 groove and it is pure British. All matching numbers, too.

Zephri · 02-03-2008, 05:35 PM

here the receiver markings or lack thereof on mine It's hard to get a picture but under the elecro dimples there are some Very light markings.here's what I can read No.4 covered up )6/43

Falcon2 · 02-03-2008, 05:40 PM

Many of our ww2 Springfeilds also had two groove rifling.
Falcon2

sunray · 02-17-2008, 10:34 PM

It came from Century Arms. Check the headspace before you shoot it. Century assembled thousands of 'em out of parts bins and sold 'em cheaply($65 for example) without bothering to check the headspace to ensure the rifle is safe to shoot. Century has no QC. Your rifle looks like they may have milled off the original markings. That's not entirely likely though. They probably just stamped over them.
Two groove rifling was a wartime manufacturing expedient thing. It does not affect accuracy in the least.
The only barrels that you'll easily find are used and in assorted condition. There are no aftermarket barrels. Occasionally, very occasionally, new in the wrap Irish contract barrels appear though. They are not cheap when the wood work opens up and one rolls out.

jon_e_buck · 03-16-2008, 05:15 PM

Zephri:
The Lee Enfield 303 came in 2,4 ,&5 grooves so your's is not a design flaw , and will shoot just as well as the next rifle....You might want to try hand loading aposed to using old militery loads which had corrosive primers.
I have been the proud owner of a 43 Long Branch (with 5 groove berrel)for many years, and i see some making the coment that the berrels measure up to .311......they accurally were made to handle ammo fron.310 - 313 the latter i find a little to snug,and have opped for the .312 174gr round nose (avalable from Hornady) using IMR 4350 @42.5gr this configuration is a hel dam on Deer, Moose, & Bear.
You may find some very helpfull books and info here in Canada At 303british.com , which explains groove setups , where guns were mfg'd by the SN etc., i hope this has been a help to you.
By the way if your gun is in mint shape, leave it that way, it's worth more if you ever want to get rid of it, and besides some gunsmiths arnt as good as they think they are, my Long Branch needed some serrious attention when i got it thanks to a butcher.

02-03-2008, 12:22 AM	#1
Zephri Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Indianapolis, IN. "The city where nothing happens." Posts: 1,115 Blog Entries: 6	Enifield no4 rifiling question. I bought an Enfield no4 a while back at a gunshow, and the barrel only has 2 grooves. I've been thinking of getting it rebarreled for a while but after reading the second post by irish murphy in billy's blog and seeing the picture I'm starting to wonder Is this gun supposed to be this way? not the best picture of the rifling but you get the idea __________________ "All rifles need a sharp pointy object on the end!" http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l195/zephri/

02-03-2008, 06:53 AM	#3
billy spiritual counselor Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: a secret lab on the shores of lake titicaca Posts: 13,878 Images: 9 Blog Entries: 154	mines got the stacking rod also. __________________ Last edited by billy; 02-03-2008 at 06:54 AM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost

02-03-2008, 04:49 PM	#4
Zephri Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Indianapolis, IN. "The city where nothing happens." Posts: 1,115 Blog Entries: 6	thats good to hear, mines probably marked us property some where but it's been around the block a few times so the metal's a bit worn. I only paid 65 dollars for it anyways. __________________ "All rifles need a sharp pointy object on the end!" http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l195/zephri/

02-03-2008, 05:02 PM	#5
billy spiritual counselor Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: a secret lab on the shores of lake titicaca Posts: 13,878 Images: 9 Blog Entries: 154	__________________

02-03-2008, 05:35 PM	#7
Zephri Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Indianapolis, IN. "The city where nothing happens." Posts: 1,115 Blog Entries: 6	here the receiver markings or lack thereof on mine It's hard to get a picture but under the elecro dimples there are some Very light markings.here's what I can read No.4 covered up )6/43 __________________ "All rifles need a sharp pointy object on the end!" http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l195/zephri/

02-03-2008, 06:51 AM	#2
wunhunglo Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: currently "Sunny West Africa" Posts: 1,974	Yes, it is supposed to be this way. I take it it is an American manufactured model, probably No4 mk1*, almost certainly Savage, with the simple two position rear sight, maybe even stamped "US Property." Unusual thing I see is the stacking pin on the nose cap; haven't seen one on a No4 before.

02-03-2008, 05:17 PM	#6
JBS Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Tacoma, WA Posts: 796 Images: 6	Mine's a 2 groove and it is pure British. All matching numbers, too.

02-03-2008, 05:40 PM	#8
Falcon2 Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Mich, Retired to Arizona Posts: 31	Many of our ww2 Springfeilds also had two groove rifling. Falcon2

02-17-2008, 10:34 PM	#9
sunray Banned Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 98	It came from Century Arms. Check the headspace before you shoot it. Century assembled thousands of 'em out of parts bins and sold 'em cheaply($65 for example) without bothering to check the headspace to ensure the rifle is safe to shoot. Century has no QC. Your rifle looks like they may have milled off the original markings. That's not entirely likely though. They probably just stamped over them. Two groove rifling was a wartime manufacturing expedient thing. It does not affect accuracy in the least. The only barrels that you'll easily find are used and in assorted condition. There are no aftermarket barrels. Occasionally, very occasionally, new in the wrap Irish contract barrels appear though. They are not cheap when the wood work opens up and one rolls out.

03-16-2008, 05:15 PM	#10
jon_e_buck Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 2	zephri Zephri: The Lee Enfield 303 came in 2,4 ,&5 grooves so your's is not a design flaw , and will shoot just as well as the next rifle....You might want to try hand loading aposed to using old militery loads which had corrosive primers. I have been the proud owner of a 43 Long Branch (with 5 groove berrel)for many years, and i see some making the coment that the berrels measure up to .311......they accurally were made to handle ammo fron.310 - 313 the latter i find a little to snug,and have opped for the .312 174gr round nose (avalable from Hornady) using IMR 4350 @42.5gr this configuration is a hel dam on Deer, Moose, & Bear. You may find some very helpfull books and info here in Canada At 303british.com , which explains groove setups , where guns were mfg'd by the SN etc., i hope this has been a help to you. By the way if your gun is in mint shape, leave it that way, it's worth more if you ever want to get rid of it, and besides some gunsmiths arnt as good as they think they are, my Long Branch needed some serrious attention when i got it thanks to a butcher.