$150-$200 Enfield Sporters? Safe?
- Thread starter cptseawolf
- Start date
cptseawolf
CGN Regular
- Location
- Saskatchewan
that particular one sold while i was researching and making up my mind. I have found other nice ones though.
thanks for the comments
thanks for the comments
The critical thing is the bore. Get one that is excellent. If it is, everything else is likely to be OK too. If everything else isn't, it is easily put right. One of the beauties of the design.
Given the choice, I'd get a post-WWII Mk2: stronger action and better machining than the WWII British rifles. Stronger than the Long Branch & Savage actions too probably, but not better machining. Serial numbers in the PF---- and UF----- range will tell you it's a post-WWII Mk2 rifle.
Personally I don't like the bolt head release via the slot found on almost all Long Branch and most Savage No4s. Rifles that have it are marked "No4 MkI*" The * indicates the bolt head release via the slot rather than the catch. The UK made rifles never had that modification.
One good point is you can chop and change these sporters with cut down barrels and not worry about messing up a rifle that should be restored; unless you're lucky and find something like a 1941 or earlier rifle. In that case, check back with us!
You might find it cheaper and quicker to spend a little more for a decent quality sporter conversion if you aren't into doing the work yourself. Parker Hale and other companies made many thousands of them.
If you want to try your hand at stockwork or simple modifications, get one as in your photo and have at it.
Millions of animals two and four legged have gone down before the Lee Enfield. Yours will too.
Look into Lee Speeds if you really want to see some beautiful sporters!
Given the choice, I'd get a post-WWII Mk2: stronger action and better machining than the WWII British rifles. Stronger than the Long Branch & Savage actions too probably, but not better machining. Serial numbers in the PF---- and UF----- range will tell you it's a post-WWII Mk2 rifle.
Personally I don't like the bolt head release via the slot found on almost all Long Branch and most Savage No4s. Rifles that have it are marked "No4 MkI*" The * indicates the bolt head release via the slot rather than the catch. The UK made rifles never had that modification.
One good point is you can chop and change these sporters with cut down barrels and not worry about messing up a rifle that should be restored; unless you're lucky and find something like a 1941 or earlier rifle. In that case, check back with us!
You might find it cheaper and quicker to spend a little more for a decent quality sporter conversion if you aren't into doing the work yourself. Parker Hale and other companies made many thousands of them.
If you want to try your hand at stockwork or simple modifications, get one as in your photo and have at it.
Millions of animals two and four legged have gone down before the Lee Enfield. Yours will too.
Look into Lee Speeds if you really want to see some beautiful sporters!
Though don't dismiss too soon the importance of the wood beneath the barrel....
....I used to think that the bore was everything, until one CGN'er here took the time to show me just what could go wrong/could influence the accuracy based solely on the underlying wood.....
A year ago I was given a Lee Enfield. Just take it home, get it out of here was the statement.
It had problems, like #### it, put the safety on, take the safety off and it would fire, plus something, I forget what now, was missing. So I went to my friend, who has lots of LE parts and lots of knowledge on them. I told him I had a deal he couldn't refuse, "Just fix this thing up and you have half interest in a rifle."
He had to make a tool to get the defective part from the bolt, replaced it with a good one and in general, fixed it up. After he was done, I took it to the range and fired two factory loads in it. The empty brass looked better than most fired brass in the Lee Enfield.
We put it on our table at the gun show and on the last hour of the last day, I reduced the price to $70 to sell it. At least we got enough to pay for our tables at the show, but someone got a great deal on a sound rifle.
It had problems, like #### it, put the safety on, take the safety off and it would fire, plus something, I forget what now, was missing. So I went to my friend, who has lots of LE parts and lots of knowledge on them. I told him I had a deal he couldn't refuse, "Just fix this thing up and you have half interest in a rifle."
He had to make a tool to get the defective part from the bolt, replaced it with a good one and in general, fixed it up. After he was done, I took it to the range and fired two factory loads in it. The empty brass looked better than most fired brass in the Lee Enfield.
We put it on our table at the gun show and on the last hour of the last day, I reduced the price to $70 to sell it. At least we got enough to pay for our tables at the show, but someone got a great deal on a sound rifle.
The Pattern 14 rifle, the best version of the Enfield IMHO.
Mine is from 1916 and I still find it neat that I can buy ammo for this 94 year old rifle at a local big box store.
I've never been able to love the things...find them way too clunky and awkward...since nobody ever seemed to use them as a front line weapon, others must have agreed. Yeah, they're strong...
You should try racing someone with a No 4 to shoot 10 rounds at a target...
The reason the P14 wasn't used as a frontline weapon was that a war happened before they could change over the whole army, and the rifle it was supposed to replace turned out to not need replacing. Then after that war, there was no interest in spending on a new rifle with a great surplus of the old one, now proven satisfactory, in hand.
But as a design, the P14 was used as a frontline weapon, by the U.S. Army. Their M1917 rifle was the P14 in .30-06, and they used more of them in WWI than of their own 1903 Springfield model.
But I still like the Lee-Enfield better than the P14Enfield and the M1917Enfield.
But as a design, the P14 was used as a frontline weapon, by the U.S. Army. Their M1917 rifle was the P14 in .30-06, and they used more of them in WWI than of their own 1903 Springfield model.
But I still like the Lee-Enfield better than the P14Enfield and the M1917Enfield.
cptseawolf
CGN Regular
- Location
- Saskatchewan
I just bought a nice N1Mk3 sporter from louthepoo.
I leave for vacation in a couple hours and am posting this from my phone so no pics. But if you search his posts you will find it.
Its my first rifle. Ill have to get some ammo on vacation so I have some when I get back and have a rifle waiting for me.
Mike
I leave for vacation in a couple hours and am posting this from my phone so no pics. But if you search his posts you will find it.
Its my first rifle. Ill have to get some ammo on vacation so I have some when I get back and have a rifle waiting for me.
Mike
Where did you find this information?
You should try racing someone with a No 4 to shoot 10 rounds at a target...
It wouldn't be fair to the No 4 owner as only shots that hit count.
The Bubba'd Enfields are everywhere, at any gunshow I attend, they are by far the most numerous, and cheapest. Fun and fairly easy to restore too! I also picked up a nice sporterized Winchester made P14 for a measly $50!!! I'm just looking for the proper full wood stock and other bits to restore it-there's a place in the US that sells the proper P14 stock set for $150, and they have all the metal parts as well.
As long as the headspace is ok and the barrel ID measures between .311 and .315"(slug it. Hammer a cast .30 cal bullet or suitably sized lead fishing sinker through the barrel with a plastic mallet and a 1/4" brass or Al rod, then measure it with a micrometer.) any Lee-Enfield is safe to shoot. They're kind of like the VW Beetle of firearms. Hard to kill.
"...there's a place in the US..." Gunparts. No P14 stock sets though. A used, 'As is', stock with no metal, runs $74.95US. $22.70US for a rear handguard, $16.20US for a front. Plus the $25US export fee.
"...there's a place in the US..." Gunparts. No P14 stock sets though. A used, 'As is', stock with no metal, runs $74.95US. $22.70US for a rear handguard, $16.20US for a front. Plus the $25US export fee.
I have have owned 2 No 4s and two SMLEs....restored 3 off them...one of the No4s had a cut barrel but made it into a nice sporter.....sold it on here after using it to hunt with for a few years.
The one No4 that was restored was 90 bucks....lots more for the parts but its the only No 4 I borught back to life.
The sporter No 4 I bought was 225 but it came with a Bushnell 3200 elite on it...good deal I must say for a bubba. (I think Lou the Pou has it now...traded for a mosin but kept the scope)
One of the SMLEs that I restored was free....better deal and with all the excess parts I bought during that project I just had to find another....so on the EE bought one for 80 bucks and restored it too. First is a 1919 enfield and second a 36 Ishapore. Still working on stipping the wood on the 36.
Also currently working on a No1 parker hale sporter for a friend, might go one of two ways on it, make a hunter or since it has a cut barrel I am thinking of making a No1 JC or tanker carbine with some old damaged wood and parts I have. We will see.....that will be 5.
Thanks for the addiction...I blame all of you.....lol.
Sure it costs more to restore than to just buy one but I have found a hobby that I am quite enjoying.
Thas was quite a ramble and Hijack...sorry guys...carry on.
The one No4 that was restored was 90 bucks....lots more for the parts but its the only No 4 I borught back to life.
The sporter No 4 I bought was 225 but it came with a Bushnell 3200 elite on it...good deal I must say for a bubba. (I think Lou the Pou has it now...traded for a mosin but kept the scope)
One of the SMLEs that I restored was free....better deal and with all the excess parts I bought during that project I just had to find another....so on the EE bought one for 80 bucks and restored it too. First is a 1919 enfield and second a 36 Ishapore. Still working on stipping the wood on the 36.
Also currently working on a No1 parker hale sporter for a friend, might go one of two ways on it, make a hunter or since it has a cut barrel I am thinking of making a No1 JC or tanker carbine with some old damaged wood and parts I have. We will see.....that will be 5.
Thanks for the addiction...I blame all of you.....lol.
Sure it costs more to restore than to just buy one but I have found a hobby that I am quite enjoying.
Thas was quite a ramble and Hijack...sorry guys...carry on.
That was me, sorry...
(well not really sorry...)I think it looks like a nice set up, and was suprised it didn't get snapped up sooner. Already got a few originals, thinking about scouting this one, forward mount low power scope.
It's on it's way here right now...
I enjoy the milsurps a lot, and loathe to see someone hacking one up these days, but that being said, a sporterised Enfield is about as Canadian as you can get. Aside from the wrecked military collector value, it's still legit Canadiana.
cptseawolf
CGN Regular
- Location
- Saskatchewan
No problem about getting that one. I have one on the way as well
