Buying an Enfield sporter?

C

czechsanchez

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Looking to get in to my first hunting rifle, I want something I can make my own and for cheap.

I've narrowed it down to either a mosin or an enfield, since the bubba'd sporters seem to offer more accuracy and function than the nugget, I'm strongly considering the .303


1. What is the max price I should look at for an entry level sporter?
2. What pitfalls should I avoid?
3. Any reasons this isn't a good rifle for a newbie?
 
You should have no problem finding a Lee Enfield sporter for under $200.00

Pitfalls - I will defer to the many folks on this board with tons of knowledge on that subject. I will say these are great rifles, cut up or not. They seem to shoot very well regardless of age, abuse or neglect (within reason on the last two).

Again - but I can think of no reasons why it is not a great rifle for anyone starting out. These were the staples for everyone and anyone hunting just about anything up in my neck of the woods until not so long ago.


Just my 0.02 - good luck!
 
Just occurred to me to add the obvious here - regarding your last question:

The army issued these rifles to (hundreds of thousands??? I used to know this number!) young soldiers from 1914-1918 and again between '39 & '45, with the idea that all of those folks, regardless of their skill level to that date, could pick them up and be proficient with them in short order.

Definitely makes these a good choice for a "newbie" in my books!

Happy shooting :)
 
The lee enfield is an outstanding rifle by any standard. It will reliably kill anything in North America, (ask the rangers up north). Also one Colonel Patterson successfully took at least 5 lions with a lee enfield. The movie "the ghost and the Darkness" was about part of his time in Africa. If you want to find out more I recommend the book "Man Eaters of Tsavo". It is a great book for anyone who wants to hunt or already hunts. If you stay with 180 grain bullets you won't have any lethality issues. Buy some FMJ bullets and practice lots and you won't have any need to buy another big game rifle.. ever. My other reccomendation is to replace the brass buttplate the rifle comes with and sell it to someone restoring a lee. You can get a nice buttpad for less than 40 bucks. Last thing don't even look at that POS ATI stock for the lee enfield it is stupid heavy, fits like crap and has nice sharp flash to cut the crap out of your hands. Happy hunting. OK actually this is the last thing look up indestructable scope mount on 303 british . com .
 
If you are considering getting a .303, make sure and check the bore carefully. A lot of them are like sewer pipes, whereas the Mosin Nagants for the most part have been refurbished, and have good to excellent bores.
 
If you are going for an enfield, look for the ones with the better aftermarket stock as opposed to the cut military. Bore condition, wood fit & sights or scope mount are all important. Lots to choose from, take your time.
 
I got mine for $150 shipped, and it had an excellent refurbished bore... it'll take down anything! karamojo bell took down elephants with an ol' enfield...
 
Go with the lee enfield for hunting. Prices are inbetween 75-200$. Try and get what with the peep sights. Easier to hunt with. Ive owned a few lee's and they all shot accurate. The nice thing about these lee enfield sporters is that you can rebuild them to full military for not a lot of money and it will be worth way more. Mosins are decent. There sometimes to long and somes times you cant get good accuracy with them.
 
I bought a LE Lithgow No.1MarkIII from SIR Mail Order back in 1991. I paid $96 for it. I still use it today. I have shot numerous moose and caribou with it. Longest shot was around 250m, closest was 20 feet. I love it. My rifle is very accurate with Federal ammunition. The moose antlers you see in my avatar picture I shot in 2009, 48" spread, 140 lb quarters. One shot to the neck at about 30m. You MUST go with the 303; its a Canadian tradition!
 
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