Enfield for Sporter?

simko

simko

CGN Regular
Rating - 100%
45   0   0
Location
Ontario Canada
Hey guys, im usually a rimfire / black rifle/ newer stuff kinda guy, but was doing some thinking.

I know there were tons of lee enfields made in different variants, jungle carbines and other configurations.

Do you think it would make sense to buy a bubbad (wont make me feel as guilty) and use one of these rifles for a general purpose rifle?

The .303 is such a common caliber i think it has a sort of multi purpose design
Probably able to take down most north american game?

Would it make sense to buy a bubbad gun, along with one or 2 other rifles for parts to maintain the one shooter? Are all the different configurations compatible?

Is it simple for these guns to be modified or does it require a smith.

just curious
-aaron
 
Im sorry if this is a NO BRAINER, i realize its a good rifle etc, since so many were chopped because they were cheap after wartime. Just curious what some people "in the know" think about this . Is the LEE enfield the model i want? or should i be looking at a p14 or p17
i really want: simple, available (common) tough/bombproof / reliable
 
I think you know the answer, from what you'Ve already mentioned :)

- tons of them around, lots pre-Bubba'ed;
- many, many successful hunts, anything smaller than a bull elephant (ok that's a metaphore)
- the rifle won't mind if it's not shiny
- cheap to acquire

Only downside (as far as I'm concerned), ammo isn't cheap. Most 303 shooters I know will reload if shooting more than a few dozen rounds per year...

But, don't bubba one that's not been there yet please!

Lou
 
Enfield sporter

simko said:
I would never chop up a nice gun. Looking for beaters really.

Is there another rifle with cheaper ammo i should be looking for? Mausers?
Click to expand...

All decent hunting ammunition for the milsurps is about the same price 303,
8MM, 6.5X55 - about 20.00 to 25.00 a box. And we could start a long debate over which is the best caliber. But an Enfield No 1, No 4, or a Pattern 14 in 303 will make a dependable sporting rifle capable of taking game as they have for about a hundred years. My first centerfire rifle was an Enfield and I still have one in the safe.
Tick
 
Ideal choice for an Enfield sporter is a No4 which has had the barrel cut just past the sights as they are not restorable without a new barrel. And cheep, there is one in the EE right now for $125.00. P14's are getting few and far between, but there is one of them with a dark bore dirt cheap in the EE right now too. Another option, although I haven't seen many on list for a while and their price is going up fast (although I have seen a couple on tables at shows where I got mine), is the M1917 aka the P17. Again regularly on the wrong side of a hack saw. Advantage here is they are in 30'06 which you can pretty much find at every bait and tackle shack in every small town in the nation, which is handy, where as you're only likely to find .303 in larger centers and sporting goods stores.

Down side of the P14 and the P17 is they're heavier than hell, so if you're carrying it all day you'll notice it.
 
I agree with Gary D's choice of the Enfield No.4 for a sporter. Though it's damn handy and wonderful to carry, the No.5 jungle carbine will beat you up a bit, especially with the military stocks on it, and you can see burning powder out the too short barrel in bad light conditions. Carrying the P14s and P17s for any length of time will make you feel like your hands are going to fall off at the wrists. A 22" barrel on the No.4 is a nice compromise for the 303 British caliber but bobbing the No. 4 barrel isn't really necessary. You lose the front sight and then may have scope mounting problems. I like a factory converted sporter with the magazine flush with the bottom of the stock. There's a few available online now at different Canadian websites. In a pinch you can always buy a military stocked No. 4, put one of the fiberglass stock sets on it, and keep the military stocks so you can restore its virginity if you get a bad conscience. It isn't worth spending much money on an Enfield but I think you'll find it surprising how fast the bolt action is. Last tip is to look for a low numbered bolt head, a 1 or maybe even a 0, and if you reload cases don't more than 3 times.
 
carl gustav said:
A 22" barrel on the No.4 is a nice compromise for the 303 British caliber but bobbing the No. 4 barrel isn't really necessary. You lose the front sight and then may have scope mounting problems.
Click to expand...

To be clear on this shortening the bbl gives you nothing. It was common practice to remove the bayonet lugs by chopping the barrel off (lugs are part of the barrel on the No4, but not the No1) when being sporterized in the past to make the rifle look more "clean and modern" but did nothing for the rifle's accuracy. It just ruined the restorability.
 
"...only likely to find .303 in..." You'll find commercial .303 British everywhere in Canada.
"...make sense to buy..." Yep. However, if you opt for one(you won't need to buy several for parts though), get proof of good headspace before you lay out any money. Thousands of 'em have been assembled out of parts bins with zero QC. Even if the serial number on the bolt handle matches the one on the receiver. That gives you no guarantee the bolt head hasn't been changed. It's easier to fix bad headspace on a bubba'd No. 4 than it is on a bubba'd No. 1. Bolt heads are usually easier to find. Won't be any less expensive though.
"...Probably able to..." It will with no fuss.
"...bobbing the No. 4 barrel isn't really necessary..." Absolutely no need. Mind you, a lot of bayonet lugs were just machined off.
 
A No4 can make a decent sporter. Here is one I bought in the early 1960's. Just last year in shot a 1 inch group of 5 at 100 yards. The block on the stock was added to make scope acquisition faster as the original butt stock was designed for iron sight use.


DSCF6315.jpg
 
sunray said:
"...only likely to find .303 in..." You'll find commercial .303 British everywhere in Canada.
Click to expand...

I beg to differ, Living in Maple Creek SK, (which is a large town as far as SK towns go) the closest store to buy .303 in is Medicine Hat or Swift Current both approx an hour away, but 30'06 is everywhere being arguably the most popular hunting round. So make sure to bring enough ammo when hunting with a .303 .
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom