I am a new chum here, I also have a passion for Enfield rifles and currently own a No1 M3, made in Australia 1941 and a No 5 Jungle Carbine, both rifles are in pristine condition and used very frequently.
Welcome to G&G, Cazna! You are in good company - many of us have Enflield rifles too. I've got two 1917-dated BSA NO.1 Mk.3's and one No. 4 Mk.2/3 Fazakerly rifle.
Got a BSA Martini International .22 match rifle too. Love those Brit guns!!
I take it you are "Downunder". We have many members from that part of the world.
I went to a "Turkey Shoot" today ( shooting comp. where the prizes were turkey or hams ...lol) and there was a BSA Martini .22 match rifle with Canadian Govt. stamps all over it ...nice rifle ! That fella won a turkey .
I used my Cooey M82 and took home a turkey as well .
SMLE's are fantastic actions well proven in the world wars. However, they do suffer from accuracy problems as in the rush to manufacture them bore diameters were accepted up to .311 in World War 2. Have your barrel swaged to get its true diameter. Otherwise, the .303 and the SMLE are a wonderful combination.
My first high-power acquisition was a .303 British Mk. I No. III*. It is an Australian Lithgow. It had been somewhat sporterized when I got it, and my grandfather finished it for me. It is a beautiful rifle and shoots very well. I put a Bushnell 3 X 9 Sportview on it several years ago. I bought this rifle in 1973 in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, at a bait and tackle shop. I got the rifle, a good military sling, a box of ammo, and an extra magazine...for $20.
I bought my Enfield because I had shot my dad's when I was younger, and loved to shoot it. His was a Mark 4, which I have since inherited. It, too, has been beautifully sporterized and has a Lyman peep sight.
I've been wanting to shoot some of the .303 Hornady Light Magnums, but have difficulty finding the ammo. Any ideas?
I'd have to say that I've never known the British to do very many things well, but they sure knew how to build a premier bolt-action battle rifle.
I have a 6.5mm Swedish Mauser, a Finn Mosin-Nagant, a Model 93
7mm Spanish Mauser, and both a Winchester Model 94 and Marlin 30-30. My Enfields are by far my favorites. As my uncle said when we were out shooting many years ago (I with my Mk. I and my cousin with his .223), "That rifle speaks with authority."
My wife handled one on Saturday. She really like the smooth action. I was rolling my eyes at her thinking oh not a another caliber Red. We went home and she got a Mosin fix. after that we shot our 45s and 9s and 22s.
Today I reloaded my mooseman 45s to 900fps with 200g bullets. Had about 200 of them.
SMLE's are fantastic actions well proven in the world wars. However, they do suffer from accuracy problems as in the rush to manufacture them bore diameters were accepted up to .311 in World War 2. Have your barrel swaged to get its true diameter. Otherwise, the .303 and the SMLE are a wonderful combination.
Most trouble with a smle barrel is caused by the use of corrosive ammo without proper cleaning.The barrel becomes pitted and rusty.Causing accuracy problems.
Mine all shoot very well with the surplus Mk.VII ammo, but don't care for the American sporting ammo!
In most cases I feel the same ...there's nothing like the real deal.
I found that Winchester 180gr CXP3 ammo shoots well and my groups are the same as using Canadian MkVll ammo. Win.CXP3 is the ammo I'll use for hunting.
Welcome Anzac,stick around a while if you please,you will find this a good site to get any info you might require as there are some very knowledgable people here with some good advice on most subjects as well as a whole lot of "gun porn" as they say!! Regards.
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You dont need a weather man to know which way the wind blows
"...bore diameters were accepted up to .311..." Bore diameters are .303". Barrel diameters across the lands between .311" and .315" are considered to be ok. Slug the bore, not swage, by hammering a cast .30 calibre bullet through the barrel, preferably from the chamber end, and measure the bullet with a micrometer. This'll give you the barrel diameter. However, if the barrel measures more than .315" it's shot out and needs replacing.
Then use a bullet as close to that diameter as you can. Most bullet manufacturers make a .312" jacketed bullet. Good 200 grain .313" and and .314" jacketed bullets can be had from Steve at 303british.com. Not until Spring though.
I have heard that some earlier model SMLE's had some problems with accuracy, that may be true but i have Lee-Enfield Mark 3 Star with 2000 yard sights and if you can see it you can hit it. I love that gun
"...with 2000 yard sights..." Volley fire sights. Also known as indirect firing. Popular with military types prior to and during W.W. I. A whole unit, up to Regiment size, would form up, set the sights and fire in a volley. MG's were used this way too.
Volley sights are hard to find still hanging from a smle.The no3 also had them.Its like finding a smle with the magazine cutoff still attached.Doesnt happen much anymore.
Nah,not yet,but i have used it out to 1000 yards,shooting at crows in the paddock.Have missed many but have hit a few,out to 700/800 yards on the sights.The misses werent by more than a foot or two.If you were standing in the paddock up to 1000 yards away i am pretty confident i would have you ducking for cover pretty quick or leaking.
I have heard that the smelly can be rechambered with a Mosin round. Takes some machining but it is possible. It is a great bolt weapon. Better than the the m44. Ammo is getting expensive. The SMLE can be converted to Russian.
Above all never point a weapon at anything that you don't want to kill
