Enfields...so do you guys actually shoot them?

Yes I shoot mine, I’m not concerned with resale value as I would never be interested in selling them. Bore would need to be fairly crisp with minimal pitting, I consider them a very shootable rifle. I hunt with my No.4 sporter, it’s a great rifle to lug around the bush.
 
I was fortunate to have added another full stock no1 to my Enfield collection for $75 about two years ago. It was from a widow who's husband's grandfather owned. Story goes that he purchased one because it was the same rifle he carried in the war. Where he got such a nice specimen with so little markings (no decommissioned, import or refurbish marks of any sort) is beyond me. Rumours have it that there were situations where older rifles could be bought from the military back then but that is all speculation. I told the widow that a rifle with all matching numbers on a bad day would go for $650 but all she wanted was $75. I shoot this rifle at the range every chance I get because it is one of my most accurate Enfields I own. I however hunt with my EAL with a no smith Addley mount topped with a 3x9x40 Bushnell.
 
The Mosin's stock is ridiculous, concentrating recoil-kick into a small metal plate... :yingyang:

There's always a slip-on Pachmyr (sp?) "decelerator" pad; those non-permanent additions tame recoil on just about anything, without changing LOP too much... :wave:

I bought one of the caldwell shoulder pad things a few months back as my shoulder is a mess, and damned if that thing doesn't take all the sting out of it. Bonus points because it only extends the LOP by maybe half an inch, and you don't have to be switching it between rifles.

Also I love my enfields. I shoot them as much as I can.
 
I have everything from a long lee to a AG Parker regulated no4 mk1.

I shoot all of my 303s mostly with cast loads, but some eat full house loads when we are shooting at long range.
 
The #1 mk iii is one of my favorite rifles, and gets shot as much as anything. One question is if you reload or not? 303 can be a little pricey for factory ammo. But reloaded with cast bullets its pretty inexpensive. Cast also has the advantage of minimizing bore wear to almost none. Either way, the Enfields are very shootable. Heres a pic of my #1 sniper reproduction I just finished a few weeks back.
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Details about this build! Thanks
 
Pretty sure Prophet River still has a No7 for sale. Beaucoup bucks tho and serial does not match known production year stamped on receiver. Still cool tho.
 
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I have a 2-war No. 1 (made for the 1st, re-barreled at Long Branch for the 2nd - that rifle has seen things, many things...), a Longbranch No. 4, and a No. 5. All are "full wood."

The only thing that keeps me from shooting them more is the cost of .303 ammo.

These are durable guns, made to survive the rigors of war, and worse, the average infatryman. So long as you're more or less carefull with them, you don't have to worry about ruinging one.
 
Maybe not strictly a Lee Enfield anymore, but I shoot this one and shoot it a lot.

1915 Sht.LE Mk.III converted into a Sht.22 Mk.IV* which was subsequently converted (call me Bubba!) into a .222 Remington varmint rifle.

I am well practised with this gun and know its qwerks. If I can see it, I can hit it.

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I built it for pest control and it gets the job done. Cheap to reload for. Easy on the shoulder and pocket book. I love it!
 

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Yes. Alot. I have the no1, no4 and no5.

Always thought id love the no4 the most.

The no1 mk3 is usually with me. A 41 lithgow. I also like standard leaf sights over the battle aperatures. The smaller dialable ones i can hit with pretty good. But can smash 2l pepsis with the no1 leaf at 100 yards. The no4 mk2 large battle aperature is awful for anything smaller than a man sized target. (Makes sense really)

The no5 is punishing...

I hand load with a lee loader and neck size only. Fized sized group at 100 with the no4 and speer hot cor 180grn round nose bullets and imr 4064. Have to cast soon...
 
.....The no5 is punishing...

I hand load with a lee loader and neck size only. Fized sized group at 100 with the no4 and speer hot cor 180grn round nose bullets and imr 4064. Have to cast soon...

You're right, the No5 can be a little hard on the shoulder. Seeing you hand load, just reduce your powder charge. I've found that my No5 shoots just fine with 35-36gr of H4895 under a 150gr bullet without punishing my shoulder. The side benefit is that this load is super easy on the cases.
 
Thanks!. Ill have to give it a try. Havent even tried any 150gr yet. The bores on all 3 look really good and shoot all the .311 180s i have with good enough milsurp and ammobox rest accuracy at 100.

Right now i am using up some .312/175grn hornadys with 36.3 gr of 4064. Should be in the 2200fps range...according to the hornady 9th bible. See if i can switch all rifles to that easier load after.
 
OMFG that's gorgeous!!!

The #1 mk iii is one of my favorite rifles, and gets shot as much as anything. One question is if you reload or not? 303 can be a little pricey for factory ammo. But reloaded with cast bullets its pretty inexpensive. Cast also has the advantage of minimizing bore wear to almost none. Either way, the Enfields are very shootable. Heres a pic of my #1 sniper reproduction I just finished a few weeks back.
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