Enfield no.4 MK2 sporter

M

mbogo3

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
87   0   0
Just picked up a Enfield no.4 MK2 sporter .Someone cut the barrel at 24" removing 1.2" and the forend. It is marked 9/50 [F] and looks to be 5 groove? Serial # in the [PF ] 221###X range.The bore looked hideous but came out like a mirror after a couple doses of Wipeout. Was thinking it would make a decent hiking,loaner or knockabout gun. Nicer trigger than the MK 1 no.4 I have a S+K scope mt so no D+T
 
Last edited:
If the ways are still tight, you're going to be very pleasantly surprised at how well that rifle will shoot 150-174 grain bullets at close to max velocities, with partially resized cases (neck and just a bit of the shoulder)
 
mbogo3 said:
I'm hoping it shoots as well as an acquaintance's SURREY barrel marked MK2 .
Click to expand...

If it doesn't shoot factory ammo, don't be discouraged.

If the ways aren't tight, glass bed the action with the stock and things will come together very quickly.

I bought and gave a home cut down MkII to a young fellow last fall.

It had some serious accuracy issues, mostly becaue neither he nor his father knew how to properly clean their firearms and took the MkII apart, screwed up the ways and ended up splitting the fore end.

I glued the fore end, bedded the receiver to the ways with Acraglas, then cleaned the fouling from over 80 mixed lot surplus rounds "Dad" was given and all shot off one Saturday afternoon. (I know you won't do this and have probably seen similar abuse)

"Dad" liked to drink a few beers while he went shooting. Great way to teach a youngster.

Anyway, thankfully that 44 dated Winchester brass was Boxer primed and non corrosive, because it was close to a month after their shooting lesson that the rifle was brought back by an "indignant" Dad.

I asked the Dad if I could take the 14 year old to the range with me to sight in the rifle and emphasized PROPERLY.

I took a box of Winchester Blue Box 174 grain and a box of hand loads put together with a recipe that will shoot acceptably for hunting in most rifles, loaded on the brass, fired in that rifle he gave me.

The rifle was fitted with a fixed 4X US built Weaver and it was sharp/clear.

The Winchester Blue Box shot a bit high, after bore sighting but only took a few clicks up to bring it 1 inch above POA, with a 2 inch group at 100 yds.

The hand loads shot almost to the same POA but slightly lower. The groups were tighter, slightly over 1 inch, if we did our part.

The young fellow was recoil shy and anticipated every shot with a bit of trepidation, causeing a flinch.

We fitted a recoil pad to the butt and took him back to try it out. It was a take off Sorbothane pad from a shotgun, so was easily fitted to his butt stock after we cut it flat.

His groups tightened up to right around 2 inches with both factory and hand loads.

We went back and he properly cleaned the rifle, then reloaded all of the ammo we had shot off.

I gave him a Dewey cleaning rod, that I had from an estate sale, along with a bottle of Wipe Out, brushes, jag and patches.

He came back to me this spring, with a Cooey #60 that his grandfather gave him and we cleaned it up. The stock was beat to hell and there wasn't any finish that was visible. I don't think that rifle was ever cleaned from the day it was purchased.

After cleaning the crud from the bore, the rifle shot well.

Oh, the MkII was locked in his personal closet, because his "Dad" wanted to use it to hunt with and the young fellow didn't want it screwed up.

I don't think his Dad really minded and was pulling his son's leg. I think he was quite proud of him and how well he shoots and takes care of his firearms.

The Dad must be doing something right with the youngster, because he came over one Saturday and helped with a bunch of clean up and split some firewood for me.

Nice young fellow.
 
Last edited:
Sounds like an appreciative young man. Being a good mentor sets a good example. ...............Kudos to you Sir
 
Although the bore looks shiny I've been alternating Wipeout, copper wrapped scrub on a jag and boiling water poured down the bore with a funnel. The patches still are coming out tar colored. Less now but how does one let a gun get like this? The lands are clean and proud but the accumulation of crud is in the grooves.
 
The patches are now coming out clean. Were the MK2's painted as opposed to blued? The bayonet lugs are still there under the sporter ramp sight cover, it's a shame someone cut 1 1/2" off the barrel.
 
mbogo3 said:
Although the bore looks shiny I've been alternating Wipeout, copper wrapped scrub on a jag and boiling water poured down the bore with a funnel. The patches still are coming out tar colored. Less now but how does one let a gun get like this? The lands are clean and proud but the accumulation of crud is in the grooves.
Click to expand...

For you and I, it's sacrilege to allow the fouling to clean up like that.

Most folks on this site take a lot of time to make sure their firearms are properly maintained, cleaned and stored.

But when it comes to the general public, they don't know anything about proper maintenance or cleaning, or why it's important for proper function and accuracy.

With your experience, I'm sure you've run across this quite often.

I've had firearms from estates that were ridden hard and put away wet.

Some of them needed very aggressive measures to get them clean.

In the old days, I used "Motty's Bore Paste" which was the forerunner of JBs or IOSSO bore paste but much more aggressive.

Now, I use an electronic foul out unit and walk away while it does the job.

Just like the youngster that went out and shot 80 rounds through his MkII, over a couple of hours and wondered why it wouldn't group.

There are some rifles that will do that, but they're mostly one offs and if you have one, dont' trade it off.

The Lee Enfield system of bedding is rather rediculously complicated and if it isn't properly maintained will give otherwise good rifles a bad reputation.

Poor maintenance was the main reason Leen Enfields got all sorts of ubiquitous, derogatory nicknames.

They were usually quite well maintained when in the possession of the military, it was post disposal use by amateurs and novices that screwed them up.
 
millwright said:
Lots of friends in the hills, bearhunter. Ya just have to let them find you.
Click to expand...

I'm not much of a social butterfly, other than at gun shows.

I do participate in local political endeavors, just to put a face on firearms enthusiasts.

I tend to be to outspoken for most people's tastes, especially WOKE types or ????

People that like me, usually really like me, people that don't, well it varies.

I don't hide from folks, but tend to surround myself with people I can trust. Some of them are far more outspoken than myself. All of them are friends in deed before being friends in need. I like to return that favor.

I have a few very good friends here on CGN, whom I've never met face to face. Ganderite, Wheaty, Potashminer and now deceased Smellie to name a few. Money isn't as important to these folks as paying it forward and mutual respect.

A person can have to many friends, if they aren't choosey about scruples/morals.
 
mbogo3 said:
Were the MK2's painted as opposed to blued?
Click to expand...

Yes - they were finished with Suncorite, which is a pretty toxic version of paint. The stuff isn't used much now, but back in the day it was the toughest finish you could get. There are still some specialist places that apply it for specific uses, but generally the fact that it contains asbestos and other extremely toxic ingredients and requires special permits to apply has reduced is use to close to zero. Don't try to sand it off, you'll end up with a pile of toxic dust that gets everywhere - including your lungs.
 
Good to know...............an Enfield restorer in SK figures it's a sporter done up by PH ?
 
Last edited:
mbogo3 said:
Good to know...............an Enfield restorer in SK figures it's a sporter done up by PH ?
Click to expand...

Depending on which model/grade of sporter it is, PH dumped it in a bath of chemicals that stripped all of that Suncorite off and some of their tradesmen polished the exterior surfaces to prepare them for a lovely Neuhausen type, very deep, almost black, shiny finish. Some even had polished and chromed bolts.

They had lesser grades as well and did many up for commercial business outlets in North America and around the world.

IMHO, Parker Hale was very picky about the quality of the firearms they worked over. I don't ever recall seeing one of their offerings with a bad or oversize bore.
 
Mine has light colored furniture not sure if it's beech or birch 12 1/4" stock measured edge of socket to edge of brass butt plate. I'm running tables at a gunshow this weekend so will get a longer stock.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom