LE No5 MK1 vs AIA M10 B1 Sport SMLE rifle

Airborn_69

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
277   0   0
Location
GC, AB
Decided to start a thread on the pros & cons of both these fine rifles..
Any data is appreciated. I own a ''Jungle Carbine'' for bush purposes myself but AIA ''Jungle/sport'' version looks like its a good one too!

800px-Jungle_Carbine.jpg

VS
M10-B1-XL.jpg
 
Apples and oranges. One has no collectability, but shoots readily available cheap surplus. The other is very collectable, but is more expensive to shoot unless you handload.

Depends what you want it for.
 
The AIA will be more accurate, the jungle carbine is good collector original, but they had a wondering zero problem, very few use jungle carbines in military shoots as the full Enfield’s are more accurate, for hunting the AIA, new gun, new barrel, straight shooting, common .308 ammo. As mentioned above different classes, I have the AIA M10 a nice rifle.

.02c
 
Last edited:
I wish they had produced an AIA that was a little closer to L42 spec that would be an interesting comparison.
 
IMHO For a rifle made in Vietnam the AIA is waaay too pricey.

I'd rather spend the money on a real #5.
Also wasn't the "wandering zero" a myth?
 
The wandering zero story has a life of it's own just like Jennifer Love-Hewitt's breasts have a career all their own. :D - heck this wandering zero story long ago adopted the characteristics of a thought-form. :rolleyes: Anyways as Stevo said expensive to shoot unless you reload. :(
 
Last edited:
Seeing the pic of the AIA gave me an incredible urge to have the bbl cut to 18 inches, move the front sight back and install a Mk I rear aperaure and an L1A1 flash hider

Have no idea what caused this 'No. 5 Redux'
 
Seeing the pic of the AIA gave me an incredible urge to have the bbl cut to 18 inches, move the front sight back and install a Mk I rear aperaure and an L1A1 flash hider

Have no idea what caused this 'No. 5 Redux'

If you bubba a repro, is it still a bubba?

You didn't have the urge to make No 4 'Tanker Carbines' out of the AIA guns?
 
Also wasn't the "wandering zero" a myth?

Quoting from an armorer who worked in Asia, Mr. Peter Laidler:

"Ah, yes. You must accept that the little run of work No5 rifle wasn't as accurate as a No4 and on the ranges, for zeroing purposes it was OK but the problem, so said and well reported, was that during a gun battle it exhibited the wandering zero problem. We knew about this problem in Malaya but to be fair, a gun battle there lasted minutes and it was over in a flash... The jungle is a good place to hide."

I doubt that I could replicate at the range the conditions that allowed the wandering zero problem to be observable...

Lou
 
Personally, I like the AIA rifles. As far as I'm concerned, they took a good thing and made it better.

If you're a shooter and not a collector, the AIA is a darn good rifle. So what if it was made in Viet Nam. Get over it already, if you don't like it don't buy it.

The AIA series of rifles I've seen and fired, have all been accurate, well built and very nice to look at.

My only complaint is the front sight attachment system. Just not rugged enough. It's my only peve with the rifles. That being said, a bit of JB weld or acraglas could cure the problem permanently.

I think that the AIA rifles wil eventually be like the "ENVOY", and we'll be kicking ourselves for not buying one.

Get them while you can.

bearhunter
 
The AIA will be more accurate, the jungle carbine is good collector original, but they had a wondering zero problem, very few use jungle carbines in military shoots as the full Enfield’s are more accurate, for hunting the AIA, new gun, new barrel, straight shooting, common .308 ammo. As mentioned above different classes, I have the AIA M10 a nice rifle.

.02c

The alleged "wandering zero" never existed. It was a fantasy created by English Squaddies, who were envious of the rest of the world's semi-auto's. The myth has also been perpetuated by those with delicate shoulders, who don't know how to properly hold a real rifle, and get thumped silly by the No5.

That said, I'd love to try out an AIA, as .303 is starting to get stoopid expensive!

Neal
 
Seeing the pic of the AIA gave me an incredible urge to have the bbl cut to 18 inches, move the front sight back and install a Mk I rear aperaure and an L1A1 flash hider

Have no idea what caused this 'No. 5 Redux'

OOOOh! What a cool idea!

What else can we do to one? Long eye relief scope to make a "scout rifle" perhaps?
 
From a personal perspective I'd rather own an original No5Mk1. The AIA rifles simply do nothing for me. I'm not convinced there ever was an issue with the wandering zero. Partially a wive's tale in my opinion.
 
Personally, I like the AIA rifles. As far as I'm concerned, they took a good thing and made it better.

If you're a shooter and not a collector, the AIA is a darn good rifle. So what if it was made in Viet Nam. Get over it already, if you don't like it don't buy it.

The AIA series of rifles I've seen and fired, have all been accurate, well built and very nice to look at.

My only complaint is the front sight attachment system. Just not rugged enough. It's my only peeve with the rifles. That being said, a bit of JB weld or acraglas could cure the problem permanently.

I think that the AIA rifles wil eventually be like the "ENVOY", and we'll be kicking ourselves for not buying one.

Get them while you can.

bearhunter

I think that AIA front sight setup is genius...it allows the headspace to be set precisely with that Savage style collar, then the front sight can be rotated to any position and clamped down with socket head cap screws...great design.
Have you seen the front sight come loose after a lot of rounds?
 
Cantom, I haven't had a problem with a front sight comeing loose, other than my own fault for not tightening the screws enough. Mine are scoped. My eyes aren't what they used to be.

bearhunter
 
Back
Top Bottom