Get both. But then, I don't have to say that because you WILL end up with both, sooner or later. The problem is simply 'which one first?'.
You can solve that problem by putting away some cash every paycheque and keeping your eyes open viz. a rifle. Hang around here and learn all you can so that you can make a wise purchase when a good one pops up. Every rifle has its peculiar problems and you will have to know about these in order not to waste your hard-earned money.
Then, once you have made a purchase, find out what you ARE getting out of it and tune it so that you are getting the most. Many people seem to think that a Lee-Enfield is a 4-MOA rifle. That's funny: if they didn't shoot 2 MOA, back in 1916, they weren't even allowed out of the factory.
Given a good barrel to start with, I can tune an SMLE for about 1.5 minutes, a Number 4 the same and there are lots of guys who can do the same for the Garand. I'm no super-genius gunsmith, either. I started off just like you, knowing nothing, and I learned. So will you. And you will have a LOT of fun learning it, too.There are lots of guys on here who are willing and even eager to help, and there are even more over on Milsurps dot com, including some of the VERY best.
Recoil could be a factor in your choice, also. Recoil between the Lee-Enfield and the Garand is approximately equal when measured on a recoil dynamometer, but the Garand FEELS as if its recoil is much less. Lee-Enfields give you a smack, Garands give you a shove. This is because the gas action of the Garand then reloads the rifle and takes time to do this.... so it SPACES OUT the SAME amount of recoil over a longer TIME, which gives you a lesser degree of PERCEIVED recoil. That said, we look at the other side of the coin and find that the old SMLE had FOUR different lengths of buttstock, so you could fit your rifle to YOU for less perceived recoil and better control. As if that weren't enough, the Number 4 which replaced the SMLE had SIX lengths of butt!
As to scoping your rifle without ruining its value as an original piece, there DO exist mounts for the Number 4 which you can attach without wrecking your original rifle. Our friend GAIRLOCHIAN spends time on this forum.... and he also makes a very good mount of this type which just happens to be the cheapest one on the market. There is a no-gunsmith mount available also for the SMLE. And there are no-gunsmith mounts available for the Garand; they replace the rear sight in its pocket and necessitate using a 7-shot non-ejecting clip, but they do work. On the other hand, there is a little trick you can do with a Garand rear sight so that, for most shooting, you don't need a scope. I have written on it before, so won't repeat myself here.
And, just so you have an idea in what illustrious company you will be moving, I might point out that both James Paris Lee and John Cantius Garand were Canadians. Lee was born in Scotland, came here at age 6, did all his designing here and moved to the US to manufacture and sell his designs. John C. Garand did the bulk of his design work while employed by the US Government. Between them, they armed the Free World for a century.... and BOTH men's rifles are still doing precisely that today.
But save your money, learn all you can and then, when the Perfect Deal surfaces, you will be ready for it.
In the meantime, hang around here and Milsurps and learn everything you can. It's free.... and there are no friendlier people than gun-nuts..... or nutz, as the case may be!
