Enfield vs Modern Rifles

can a guy really use the term "nice" and "sporter" in the same sentence?

As for the SKS, I've had one, I hate it, cheap to shoot but not my cup of tea. That thing is getting sold too, come to think of it.

I didn't mean to lead people off topic, as I am very well aware of the punishment an Enfield can handle. As people have stated, its a military design, purposely built to withstand the mud and crud of WW1 europe. And I'm not asking what would be a good "truck gun", as I already have a Marlin 336 that fits that bill perfectly.

What I am looking for is a very accurate "shooter", if you will. Right now, my Enfield fits the bill of being able to do 1.5 MOA at 100 yards, and that is a completely stock Longbranch (minus the brownells scope mount). If I bed the action IN ACCORDANCE WITH milspec guidlines and stuff (As I said, I hate bubba as much as the next guy), then it will shoot even better, but still keep all the "knockabout" ability that I want.

That being said, it is still an excellent condition longbranch with matching numbers, and I'd feel somewhat iffy about "using the rifle", so to speak. Thats why I was trying to get opinions on the newer modern actions in comparison to the old Lee. I know that the modern rifles will maybe be more accurate right out of the box, but how will they stand up to the same #### the enfield dealt with in two world wars? Cheers -Cameron
 
Well - A typical modern rifle is capable of greater accuracy than the typical LE. I'm not knocking the LE, but the two piece stock, and sloppy chambering/feed, are limiting.
However, its not clear whether you reload or not. To get the best rewards out of an accurate rifle, reloading is essential. Also, a fibreglass stock would best retain dimensionality/accuracy under tough conditions. Couple that with a stainless barrel, and you'ver got a rifle that it quite impervious to the elements (Some would say moreso than the LE)
 
One rifle that i have alot of respect for....is the P 14 rifle in .303 ..or the U.S. Model 1917 Enfield..30 cal....both these rifles are more accurate than a Lee Enfield...and will take more abuse and kicking around than many other rifles....just look at the massive action and well protected sights
 
x westie said:
One rifle that i have alot of respect for....is the P 14 rifle in .303 ..or the U.S. Model 1917 Enfield..30 cal....both these rifles are more accurate than a Lee Enfield...and will take more abuse and kicking around than many other rifles....just look at the massive action and well protected sights
Click to expand...

+2 on the Pattern 14.
Even with iron sights mine outshoots my scoped bubba #4.
If you can find one of them for sale, get one! :)
 
Didn't they try out a Ruger with some Ranger units a while back, to see how they would hold up to real use (and be able to replace the No4), and wasn't the result that they (the Rugers) basically didn't? I'm sure I saw that somewhere here. Maybe Stevo or Riflechair can comment? I've owned a lot of guns, and I know that out of everything in the safe right now, if I had to pick one as a survival tool, it would be the No4. Hits HARD, accurate enough and always,always,always goes bang.
 
My main hunting rifle is a 1915 smle #1 mkIII. Sporterized in the '50's. It's seen countless abuses, but yes I do my best to keep her clean and free of damage. Point is- already bubba, mil spec tough, floated and bedded, good scope, 1.5 moa at 100yrds, any weather, any time. I hand load the ammo, next is a trigger job and a barrel re-crown. Is it as nice or flat as my buddies stainless on black rem 700-300 win mag, no, but it didn't cost me a paycheck, I don't cry when it gets a little scratch, and sub -moa is only good from a bench. If you are hunting and can shoot from position 2 moa is fine 1"-1.5 moa is perfect. I have yet to drop a critter and go "ahw man, I could have shot .5" lower!" That is all crap!, With a 1 shot 1 kill mentality and practice I don't care if my big game rifle will clover leaf. Any thing inside 300 yrds, with a good shot, will drop when hit by a .303 Brit.

Keep your good Enfield, sell your SKS, and find a good "sporter" or bubba Enfield for hunting, give it a hug, and you'll never be disapointed.
 
I have an all matching LE No.5 that I used to hunt with when the weather was shi*ty (that's 50% of the time here in BC). I use my Marlin 1895GS in that role now and the JC has become a bit of a safe queen.

Great legal 10 shot rifle!
 
I have worked in gun shops myself, and I am a milsurp collector because that'w what I can afford...... sometimes.

My opinion: the only current-production rifles that I would want to be lost in the mountains with would be a Ruger 77 or a Remington 798. The 798, of course, is just a Yugo '98 Mauser, built on original German tooling from 'way back when, with a Remington sticker and stoc on it. Ruger has that nice claw extractor.

Otherwise, I'd stay with my old SMLE or Number 4 or Ross. If I had the Number 4 and wanted the best of both worlds, I would stick a Bubba stock on it for beating around and keep a full suit of nice wood in the safe.

Troopies were harassed into cleaning their rifles all the time in War Two mainly because there was a helluvva pile of corrosive ammo still being made...... like ALL the Dominion Arsenals stuff, ALL the British .303 amm, ALL NZ, ALL Aussie, ALL S Afrikan, ALL Indian....... noncorrosive ammo was very much in the minority, with Defence Industries being the only Commonwealth maker to produce all NCNM ammunition. The British primers would start rust in a barrel in 4 hours, given warmth and humidity: they hadta be careful.
 
great post smellie; that was pretty much what I was looking for when I asked my original question. Any other opinions?
 
I'd like to have your enfield,but hey..i won't go again my good side ;) : Keep the Longbranch ,sell the SKS (to me :D?),get yourself a bubba no4 and maybe even scope it :)..

Personnally,i would keep the no4 with the SKS but your needs/wants are not the same as mine's ;) !

Schneider
 
haha hey Schneider. like I told you, I'm back home in a month, so thats when those suckers will go up for sale. The SKS for sure, the enfield I am now contemplating. Still trying to decide between keeping it or buying a savage 12fv.
 
#4 Long Branch Lee Enfield wins Grand Aggregate Winona Sept. 2003,against M1's, 98K 's, M-14's and even $2000 Colt AR-15 with optics! Plus many others.
Mark, thanks I drink beer from that trophy,ha ha ha.
The Lee Enfield rifles are inheritly accurate, can be tuned to be more accurate. They can take a beating, ask a Ranger, or an allied combat Vet. . They are made of Steel and Hardwood, not alloy or plastic!
At the risk of blowing my horn, after my 3rd. beer, I will stand behind a good Lee Enfield in combat and in International Service competition! There are only a few of the perhaps hundreds of rifles in the last century, that I have this much confidence in.
AR's, Rem 700, Win 70, Augs and other big names, very accurate, but whimps!
Ak's FNFAL, G3 tough, but not that accurate.
The Lee Enfield, very fast bolt action plus what I already stated is about the best or near best.
Anyone dare to argue?
 
I am a big fan of the Lee Enfield....i own 3 Long Branch and a Aussie Lithgow SMLE.....accurate...large mag capacity..fastest bolt action rifle anywhere....stepped in history....but don't forget the P14 rifle...this is one rifle that always seems to be side lined...it was the Canadian sniper rifle in the Second World War..until sufficent No.4 rifles replaced it....it is one well made rifle....
 
woodchopper said:
Not anymore, more like $75 - $100 just for a beater, and it may not have a mag either :mad:
Click to expand...


Here in NB you can still find sporters easily, I gave one away a few months ago, was given one without a mag, turned down another for free, have seen a couple offered for under $50 a with mag (which ironically is worth near that alone)
... I should add that these are usaually no1s, often with weak rifling near the muzzle. The no4 sporters usually go for $80 up and aren't near as plentiful. I did refuse a FTR sporter freebie with a good bore a while back thoiugh, it had had a couple bothed attempts at scope mounting I think, several holes drilled in the chamber area of the barrel, none through but I didn't want to trust or bother with it.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom