mosin nagant vs lee enfield
- Thread starter ratherbefishin
- Start date
I've owned LOTS of Lee-Enfields, and love them. But, they have so many quirks, they could give a guy ulcers. All but the No.4 Mk.2 have the trigger pivoted on the triggerguard, so as the bedding deteriorates, so does the trigger pull. The Lee has the WORST bedding system of any military rifle, and is made even worse when crappy Ishapore wood is used. I've seen several rifles that had the bedding totally collapse in normal use. The safety on the L-E can be trouble, especially on SMLE's. Depending on how tight the safety spring screw is tightened, the safety can be too tight to move, or so loose it won't work. L-E screws always seem to work loose, too. The No.4's have rear sights that are fine for target shooting, but in real life are slow to adjust and fragile. Lee magazines are a PITA, you have to find the one that works best with your rifle and stick with it. I've seen some that were so loose, they rattled when you shook the rifle, while others were so tight only King Kong could have removed them. Lee extractor springs break often if you single load directly into the chamber. The ejector system on the Lee is extremely weak. It's not uncommon to have an empty case flip around backwards and jam the rifle, rather than fly out of the receiver. This sometimes happens even with new condition rifles. The old SMLE of the Great War scores high marks for ergonomics, but it all comes down to the soldiers that used them. The British Army of 1914 trained constantly, practiced rapid fire, etc. Armourers were always available to keep the rifles running. The Mosin is simple enough in design, that the services of an armourer shouldn't even be required to maintain it. Taking an SMLE apart in the field could easily end in disaster. You need at least two different screwdrivers, punch, a wooden block, etc. and preferably a vice to hold the rifle while you work on it. The Mosin comes apart in minutes using the bayonet and the tools in the cleaning kit. Buy the L-E for its looks, feel, history, and to impress your friends. Buy the Mosin to plink and hunt.
Maybe there is a reason it looks unfired, could just be a lemon like any other commodity.
- Location
- Tucson, Arizona
Sorry guys, I don't have ANY of those problems with my Lee-Enfields and I have lots of them. One thing I don't like about the noisey maggot is that itty bitty stub they jokingly call a bolt handle. Sometimes have to whack the bolt open.
To the OP,
Let's compare Apples to Apples here; my two favorites both unissued: No4Mk2(F) and Finnish M39.
Prices: No4Mk2(F) $600-$1000, M39 $300-500; Winner: M39.
Appearance/Fit/Finish: I think the No4Mk2(F) is a little better looking rifle but not by much. Winner: No4Mk2(F)
Stock: IMO the M39's stock feels/looks like it would take much more abuse. Winner: M39
Sights: M39 has very nice easily adjustable sights, No4 also has nice yet somewhat slower to adjust peep sights. Tie
Trigger: No4 crisp yet somewhat unpredictable second stage break, M39 you can 'feel' the trigger all the way through; nice and clean. Winner: M39
Safety: No4 hands down.
Accuracy they will both shoot around 2" groups @ 100 with quality ammo so a tie. (I have had no problem finding ammo for either and prices are similar.)
If had to choose one it would be the M39...
Sorry, got the 54 mixed up with the 39.
Interesting thread. Personally, I also (like many others) own a few of each. So if I ever get to prefer one over the other, I can let them argue in the gun locker over why that is.
There's got to be a reason for this... Argh I want to know!
There's got to be a reason for this... Argh I want to know!
Had both....Owned two LE's and one MN.
First off, I am not a huge guy, skinny as a rake....but did find that the MN kicked less than the Lee. The Lee has Canadian heritage and history going for it.
I like the MN for ease of tear-down...did it for the first time at a friend's place when showing it to them.
Accuracy is similar....I popped the gongs at 100 M with the MN on the first round, first time fired...did it a few more times too, to make sure It was not a fluke.
I like the "all original and full wood" versions of both.
Owner's choice for favorite?....both for different reasons.
First off, I am not a huge guy, skinny as a rake....but did find that the MN kicked less than the Lee. The Lee has Canadian heritage and history going for it.
I like the MN for ease of tear-down...did it for the first time at a friend's place when showing it to them.
Accuracy is similar....I popped the gongs at 100 M with the MN on the first round, first time fired...did it a few more times too, to make sure It was not a fluke.
I like the "all original and full wood" versions of both.
Owner's choice for favorite?....both for different reasons.
Deltasilver
Regular
- Location
- Right behind you...
Buy one of each. There it is. All of us have our favorite and there are as many reasons as there are different models of each rifle.
I prefer the Finn Mosin Nagant M39. The peak of Mosin technology (if you can call it that) and a real joy to shoot. Then the Polish M44.
There is currently no cheap milsurp ammo option for either rifle, but when johnone or one of our other importers manages to slip a few hundred cases past our friends in the dangerous goods office it is 7.62x54r.
I prefer the Finn Mosin Nagant M39. The peak of Mosin technology (if you can call it that) and a real joy to shoot. Then the Polish M44.
There is currently no cheap milsurp ammo option for either rifle, but when johnone or one of our other importers manages to slip a few hundred cases past our friends in the dangerous goods office it is 7.62x54r.
Strange, I cringe equally at the thought of firing either a M38 an M44 or a No5.
Of all my Mosins, my favourite shorter version would have to be the Finnish M39. Mind I do have a soft spot for my five foot long 1915 Westinghouse, especially given its' condition.
I find it funny people compare the sights of a No4 so poorly, given the number of variations of rear sights that were made.
I like my Mosins and my Enfields. Given the option it would be my P14 Enfield.
Of all my Mosins, my favourite shorter version would have to be the Finnish M39. Mind I do have a soft spot for my five foot long 1915 Westinghouse, especially given its' condition.
I find it funny people compare the sights of a No4 so poorly, given the number of variations of rear sights that were made.
I like my Mosins and my Enfields. Given the option it would be my P14 Enfield.
And that is the solution to many of these firearm pissing contests. IMHO the more guns the better. I'm a shooter AND a collector. Even if the rifle isn't in collector shape. It's still collectable to me.
I'd say it's pretty apparent that you're going to have to try both and make the call yourself. If civilization was collapsing/someone invaded/zombies attacked, I'd be grabbing both my M91/30 and my No4. If I had to only pick one, I'd choose my No4...but that's because I've put about 300 round through it as compared to 20 on my Mosin and thus know and trust my Enfield better. The Mosin seems like it would stand up to abuse a bit better, and I could get it filthy and still be able to chamber and fire a round. On the other hand, I'd be able to put more rounds down range on target faster with my Enfield.
You could get both of these fantastic rifles for under $500 all in. I don't recommend getting a mid-war M91/30 however...I could fill this post with descriptions of what's off about my 1942 Mosin, but the damned thing still works.
You could get both of these fantastic rifles for under $500 all in. I don't recommend getting a mid-war M91/30 however...I could fill this post with descriptions of what's off about my 1942 Mosin, but the damned thing still works.
Interesting thread. Personally, I also (like many others) own a few of each. So if I ever get to prefer one over the other, I can let them argue in the gun locker over why that is.
There's got to be a reason for this... Argh I want to know!
I wish I knew, I really do. Whats really weird is its an all matching, all original 1942 Longbranch, really looks mint, even has the C broad arrow marked wood, mag, everything. The nicest clean, sharp bore I have EVER seen on any milsurp, and bam, shoots like garbage. I have tested it with different loads, taken it to a gunsmith,even let otherts shoot it to make sure it wasnt me, and at 25m it can (on a good day) group about 8 inches
- Location
- WMU247 near Edmonton
I have a few of each
Enfields, No1 No4 No5 including a DCRA 308 and EAL
Nagants, M91, M91/30, Finn M24 , M44, I guess I need a few more to round out my collection
But the only advantage the Nagant has is that there is still some cheap ammo out there for it.
But now that I have an SVT40 I dont think my stockpile is going to last very long
Enfields, No1 No4 No5 including a DCRA 308 and EAL
Nagants, M91, M91/30, Finn M24
, M44, I guess I need a few more to round out my collectionBut the only advantage the Nagant has is that there is still some cheap ammo out there for it.
But now that I have an SVT40 I dont think my stockpile is going to last very long
Rifleman1911
CGN Regular
- Location
- Leduc county AB
to Artyman.
I have had a few No.4s and also when I was in the CDN Rangers, we toyed with them to make them shoot better, try checking the beading of the wood around the barrell.
I just finished fixing up a 1916 No.1 that is a tack driver that had been partially sporterized.
I put it in a new dress and at 50 yards it was all over the place. I soon figured out that the wood was pulling it over to the left.
After a few beers with my buddy and a bit of rasp and sanding I think that we fixed the problem.
We will see as it is too cold to go to the range at the moment, but soon, my precious, soon.
I would sit down and have a look and try it.
good luck.
Rifleman
I have had a few No.4s and also when I was in the CDN Rangers, we toyed with them to make them shoot better, try checking the beading of the wood around the barrell.
I just finished fixing up a 1916 No.1 that is a tack driver that had been partially sporterized.
I put it in a new dress and at 50 yards it was all over the place. I soon figured out that the wood was pulling it over to the left.
After a few beers with my buddy and a bit of rasp and sanding I think that we fixed the problem.
We will see as it is too cold to go to the range at the moment, but soon, my precious, soon.
I would sit down and have a look and try it.
good luck.
Rifleman
To Rifleman,
Funny, when I was working with the CDN rangers this past summer they said the same thing! Spent a lot of time talking Enfields, and they basically said the same thing, to check the stock bedding. I did spend some time on it, and tightened it up A LOT, then the rifle re lost its zero and in the cabinet its been ever since. Perhaps its time to give it another go....
great guys those rangers
Funny, when I was working with the CDN rangers this past summer they said the same thing! Spent a lot of time talking Enfields, and they basically said the same thing, to check the stock bedding. I did spend some time on it, and tightened it up A LOT, then the rifle re lost its zero and in the cabinet its been ever since. Perhaps its time to give it another go....
great guys those rangers
