Questions about sporterized Lee Enfields

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Max-4

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Hello, I have a few questions about sporterized or Bubba'd Lee Enfields, specifically No 4 Enfields. At the risk of upsetting Milsurp collectors let's just say that I am looking for an already Bubba'd rifle.

I am looking for a "poor man's" do it all hunting, SHTF and plinking rifle. I would like it to look roughly like the one that RifleChair is holding in this video: https://youtu.be/h2wEHOLpv5c

What is my best course of action to find a good shooter that I can make look like this rifle? Am I looking for an "all matching" rifle, wartime rifle, I want the factory sights. How much am I looking at spending for a nice clean Lee Enfield?

What would the overall length of the rifle be and weight with this configuration assuming the barrel hasn't been cut down? Thanks
 
I took a quick look at the video - at least near the start, the rifle he is holding has a hand guard - and seems to have the standard military front sight, although that barrel has been sawed off to remove the bayonet mount lugs. I did not look closely enough to determine if it was a genuine or a "put together" - but if in 303 British, and if it was a repeater, was likely a modified standard rear hand-guard, with a shortened forearm, inletted to use the original barrel band at the front - just a bit further to the rear. There were "actual" rifles made like that - the L42 sniper rifles and L39 target rifles, but I think they were mostly done with heavy barrels and in 7.62x51. Parker Hale made various sporter rifles from No. 1 and No. 4's - each in about 4 "grades" of conversion - all stayed in 303 British, I think - the higher grade ones had pistol grip and monte-carlo butt stocks - lowest grades used the more or less standard military ones - like the one on his rifle. I do not recall seeing a Parker Hale version with military front sight and a pistol grip type butt stock, though. Since you are making one, can do whatever you want!! I am sure there were 10's of thousands of No. 1 and No.4 that were converted to some version of "sporter" rifle - no need anymore to chop up a "good one", but again, if it is yours, can do what you want with it. Not real "usual" to see one like that with the handguard, any more, but creates a very solid and useful front attachment point for the carry strap / sling.

You might want to find this book - lots of good information - who knew there were 9 variations of No. 4 receivers ("action body"), and 9 different variations of rear sights, used at one time or another and by different makers!!!

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Max-4 said:
Hello, I have a few questions about sporterized or Bubba'd Lee Enfields, specifically No 4 Enfields. At the risk of upsetting Milsurp collectors let's just say that I am looking for an already Bubba'd rifle.

I am looking for a "poor man's" do it all hunting, SHTF and plinking rifle. I would like it to look roughly like the one that RifleChair is holding in this video: https://youtu.be/h2wEHOLpv5c

What is my best course of action to find a good shooter that I can make look like this rifle? Am I looking for an "all matching" rifle, wartime rifle, I want the factory sights. How much am I looking at spending for a nice clean Lee Enfield?

What would the overall length of the rifle be and weight with this configuration assuming the barrel hasn't been cut down? Thanks
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Chgeck these guys out https://ellwoodepps.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=lee+enfield+303&x=0&y=0&order=relevance&dir=desc
 
Specifically to your questions about length and weight - look at the Wikipedia write-up. The "original" war-time No. 4 was about 44 1/2" long, with a 25.2" barrel and weighed about 9 pounds. What you end up with, is sort of a function of what you remove or cut off. Some of the Parker Hale sporters came with 5 round magazines, not the original 10 round ones, so some significant weight saving there (5 fewer cartridges) if that is important to you. FYI, the No. 5 was the official attempt to make a lighter, handier rifle - essentially from the design of the No. 4 - it ended up 39.5" long, with an 18.8" barrel and weighed 7 pounds 1 ounce - again from Wikipedia. And, may as well clarify that these were not "tack drivers" - "good enough" for Army use was putting 5 rounds into a rectangle 1" wide by 1 1/2" high at 100 FEET - 33 yards - so, 3 to 4.5 MOA was the standard to be expected for service use.
 
He copied the exact rifle I built when I was 18. I'll be 55 soon.
But I used a US 2 groove I bought at an MNR auction for $45, cut it down to 19inch's and put a #5 butt stock on it and modified a Middle band with a butchered handguard to make a sling on the left hand side for easier carrying
 
If you want a poor mans do all, an enfield would not be my first pick. 303 is very expensive to shoot. I would argue that they are a very good quality and reliable rifle, but a hundred rounds will cost you over 400$.

I would really recommend a savage axis or ruger american in .308, but those rifles arent as good as a lee enfield, but very much lighter in weight. I hope you find what you want.
 
Locally, 308 is not cheaper than 303. An advantage the 303 has, is that it seems to be the last mid sized centerfire ammo on the shelf.

Another advantage is that sportered 303's are cheap enough to buy one for every person in the house.
 
S1de8urnz said:
If you want a poor mans do all, an enfield would not be my first pick. 303 is very expensive to shoot. I would argue that they are a very good quality and reliable rifle, but a hundred rounds will cost you over 400$.

I would really recommend a savage axis or ruger american in .308, but those rifles arent as good as a lee enfield, but very much lighter in weight. I hope you find what you want.
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Maybe $200 for decent hunting ammo. I haven't seen any at $80 per box yet, even with premium bullets.

There are other good options, depending on your personal preferences.

The OP liked what he saw in Riflechair's video.
 
Yes the more "military esque" look of Riflechairs Enfield is what appeals to me. I am drawn to those types of rifles like the CZ Ranger or Tikka T3X Arctic, to a certain extent Ruger Gunsite Scout or Mossberg MVP or Savage 110 Scout. I like the idea of the Enfield with it's 10 round magazine and using stripper clips.

Unfortunately he States in another video that he bought that rifle as is and reblued with the wood re-done for $175! There is no way in hell I would be able to recreate that now a days. In order to get a Enfield to look like that I would have to bubba a full military spec rifle or buy a No4 mk 2 and chop it. Myself not knowing alot about gunsmithing or reloading it would be hard to find a nice rifle with good bore in good shape.
 
Max-4 said:
Yes the more "military esque" look of Riflechairs Enfield is what appeals to me. I am drawn to those types of rifles like the CZ Ranger or Tikka T3X Arctic, to a certain extent Ruger Gunsite Scout or Mossberg MVP or Savage 110 Scout. I like the idea of the Enfield with it's 10 round magazine and using stripper clips.

Unfortunately he States in another video that he bought that rifle as is and reblued with the wood re-done for $175! There is no way in hell I would be able to recreate that now a days. In order to get a Enfield to look like that I would have to bubba a full military spec rifle or buy a No4 mk 2 and chop it. Myself not knowing alot about gunsmithing or reloading it would be hard to find a nice rifle with good bore in good shape.
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There is a similar rifle on the EE in that price range now
 
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