Sporterized Lee Enfields

Hardly a quick and dirty chop job, but there are some really excellent Lee Enfield based sporting rifles.
A SMLE action set up like a Lee Speed sporting rifle can be absolutely elegant. The ones made up in one piece stocks using a receiver with the butt socket removed can be very attractive, slick rifles.
These, of course, have nothing to do with over-priced beaters. Seems like most things are over-priced these days.

As it happens, I have a '42 Lithgow receiver which has had one of the rear trigger guard screw lugs mashed. I suppose it could be repaired with some very careful welding - or it would be a great candidate for conversion to a one piece stock. Pulled the barrel yesterday. Bore is black stovepipe grade; great candidate for a .22 liner.
 
Well I just picked up a nice sporterized Parker Hale Lee Enfield for under $300. I’ll admit I waited till ammo was once again available, as was impossible to find for a bit. I do have a soft spot for the old rifles as I remember shooting one for the first time when I was 9 years old that my grandfather had behind the backseat of his pickup truck. Yes there are modern options out there that may be as good or better but I still prefer the character and reliability of the Lee Enfield. Looking forward to going out and enjoying the old rifle even ammo is a bit pricey but I do enjoy old school nature of it…
 
I'm looking at getting a couple more Lee's. Been thinking of converting one in 45 acp, then a scoped one general purpose to leave my No4 alone.

Guess I cannot afford the ammo. Yet I have enough reloading components for couple hundred rounds, and got about 100rds of SP 303.
 
Expensive sporter Lee-Enfields and expensive ammo … where are all the SKS price complainers now? Lol

I missed out on the time of cheap Lee-Enfields … sure wish my dad bought a barrel of them when he could have.
 
My first LE cost $15 plus 8 for a new mag. Never could sight the scope in on it for more then a couple of shots. It spread lead all over a 4 by 8 sheet of plywood. Finally 40 years later sold it for like 150 and then couple of years got a PH sporter for 130 but got sick and never got to shoot it yet still had 8 bucks a box ammo sitting here so am good for a while. A lot of game got shot with them over the years but out in the wilds of Alberta I seen many guys empty the mags at every animal known.
 
There are those that love the Lee EnField such as myself regardless of their condition, whether original, or sporterised.
You naysayers will never change our minds! They are beautifull!
 
For me, it's the history/ nostalgia piece,esp with the SMLEs. Both grandfather's carried them in the first war. Stepdad commanded an artillery regiment with the Desert Rats in the second go round and carried one in a scabbard on his motorcycle. Whenever I pick one up I can't help thinking; where have you been on the world stage?
 
I Dont Care About You said:
A sporterized LE is worth the same amount as 100 rounds of the ammo that rifle shoots. There is no other rifle I can think of that operates within those kind of economics.

I saw one post where a guy was asking $1200 for a sporterized LE along with ~200 rounds of ammo. That means he valued the rifle at $400 and the ammo at $800. The economics of that deal is insane.

The worst ammo prices for 303Br I've seen are near $5 a round. That is what match 338 LM ammo used to cost. I think even 50 BMG used to be able to be had for that price.

Maybe It is me who is out to lunch and there are hundreds of guys across the country happy to have a $300 bubba'd rifle that shoots, difficult to find, $4 a round ammo as their truck and tractor gun ..... but somehow I doubt it.
Click to expand...

The feeling I get when speaking of LE with a enthusiast whom I wouldn't have seen buying one...in other words ' I wouldn't have guessed you'd buy one...' is that the fact that it was our main battle rifle, and used by militia as well ( are the Rangers militia?).
The No 4 has got a decent peep usually. It is a smooth extremely fast bolt action rifle. There is the whole 'rim lock' argument...but if rim lock can defeat you and that is a main arguing point for one... weak position for an argument.
Their history is probably the main selling point. Blaggarding them on all their failing points and shortcomings is like laughing at a fellow driving an old pickup truck with a manual transmission.
Yes, your SUV is smarter ( lane sensing, traction control etc), more efficient, better for the environment, will help regrow thinning hair, stop ED...good for you. Glad you are happy.
Some folks like to have an old pickup truck sans computer with a manual transmission... doesn't necessarily make them wrong. They just enjoy the task of driving an old truck...and are willing to pay a little more to keep doing it as they wish.
I use an old truck to go town once every couple weeks. Funny thing is I get a significant amount of thumbs-up from other drivers. No doubt an equal amount mutter and complain that I shouldn't be in their way...some folks are like that.
You be you.. I'll be me. And I don't have a LE at the moment, but my son has three...trying to recall if we dropped him on his head as a youth...?
 
tokguy said:
The feeling I get when speaking of LE with a enthusiast whom I wouldn't have seen buying one...in other words ' I wouldn't have guessed you'd buy one...' is that the fact that it was our main battle rifle, and used by militia as well ( are the Rangers militia?).
The No 4 has got a decent peep usually. It is a smooth extremely fast bolt action rifle. There is the whole 'rim lock' argument...but if rim lock can defeat you and that is a main arguing point for one... weak position for an argument.
Their history is probably the main selling point. Blaggarding them on all their failing points and shortcomings is like laughing at a fellow driving an old pickup truck with a manual transmission.
Yes, your SUV is smarter ( lane sensing, traction control etc), more efficient, better for the environment, will help regrow thinning hair, stop ED...good for you. Glad you are happy.
Some folks like to have an old pickup truck sans computer with a manual transmission... doesn't necessarily make them wrong. They just enjoy the task of driving an old truck...and are willing to pay a little more to keep doing it as they wish.
I use an old truck to go town once every couple weeks. Funny thing is I get a significant amount of thumbs-up from other drivers. No doubt an equal amount mutter and complain that I shouldn't be in their way...some folks are like that.
You be you.. I'll be me. And I don't have a LE at the moment, but my son has three...trying to recall if we dropped him on his head as a youth...?
Click to expand...

Ha funny.

I want a old farm truck, and my father trying to get me to buy a EV. As he just bought one.

Guess I got dropped on the head for not wanting new stuff and for having a dozen 303s.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom