No 4 or No 1

Which Lee-Enfield do you prefer

  • No4 Mk1 etc.and variants

    Votes: 79 65.8%

  • No1 Mk3 etc. and variants

    Votes: 41 34.2%
  • Total voters
    120
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For target shooting, a Number 4 out to 600 yards. If you want to play with the big boys at over 600 yards, you better get yourself a Number 1 Mark III. They compensate better at longer ranges.
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I prefer the No4 for the vernier peep sight and sight radius but prefer the No1 for carry. The single hand carry ballance point is just forward of the mag where-as the no4 is on the mag. Still I love both. The No1MkIII evokes a more emotional response from me that the no4. Not sure if that makes any sense.
 
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I chose the SMLE for a number of reasons:

balance

suitability for snap-shooting

bayonet-fighting capability

sheer looks: put 17-1/2 inches of steel on the front and you have the single most brutal-appearing weapon ever built. PERFECT for crowd control: if you can scare the bejabbers outta them, you don't have to shoot them.

Number 4 was probably a better RIFLE in many ways... but the old SMLE still pulls the heart-strings.

Make sense?

Likely not.

But then little does these days. Look at some of our stupid laws for proof.
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I love my No.4 for the sights, the smoothness of the action compared to my No.1, and just the meatier look of it. Although points have to be given to the No.1 because the nose cap just looks so awesome.
 
I prefer the No.4 just because I do. As smellie says, likely it doesn't make sense.

I'd like the No.5 better if they fit me well enough to shoot them well. I'm working on one now that already had the metal modified, but when I have the stock sorted to suit me it won't be in original configuration and I don't think that counts in the spirit of the question.
 
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Own a No1, No3 (well actually a M1917, but they are damn near the same thing), No4 and a No5 its hard to choose.

I would have to say a No4. Why, because it is what my grandfather would have been trained on and used during the war.

That takes care of the emotion pick. I also like it for the sights and the sight radius, and the grooved handguards that are on some of them. It feels good to me; some texture under the fingers.

I do like the sights on the No3, longer radius and smaller peep, but it is heavier.

The holdback on the No1 is the bolt handle. For some reason I don't like the feel of it. Maybe because it is a little straighter then the No4?

The No5 is a nice light, little carbine, but it is no full sized rifle.

And like Smellie says, a long sharp piece of metal hanging off the front just feels good.
 
smellie said:
I chose the SMLE for a number of reasons:

balance

suitability for snap-shooting

bayonet-fighting capability

sheer looks: put 17-1/2 inches of steel on the front and you have the single most brutal-appearing weapon ever built. PERFECT for crowd control: if you can scare the bejabbers outta them, you don't have to shoot them.

Number 4 was probably a better RIFLE in many ways... but the old SMLE still pulls the heart-strings.

Make sense?

Likely not.

But then little does these days. Look at some of our stupid laws for proof.
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Click to expand...

Makes sense to me Smellie, and I concur....Bayo aside, the rifle just...uh...feels better??? don't know it's hard to put into words....sights, cheek weld, balance.....whenever i shake hands with her, it shakes back. God I love that rifle,gotta work on fixing her "damned crack":redface:
 
Has to be the No.4 for me purely on sentimental grounds. It was the first centrefire rifle I ever fired when issued one as an army cadet in Scotland 25ish years ago. I will definitely be looking to acquire one once my PAL comes through.

Tom
 
I really like my no4 and no5, but I love my No1. The balance, the feel in the shoulder, the sturdy look, not to mention the sheer badassory of the sword bayonet!

Everyone seems to love peeps and says they're more accurate... maybe it's just me shooting notch and blade since I was a kid, but I find them better for tighter target shooting.
 
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