Some of you may have remembered a fella in the Ottawa area selling an Enfield T awhile back that was Indian. Well after checking it out in person I bought that rifle.
Although it has no markings to prove it is Indian it does have the Ishy screw and there is a white painted rack number on the buttstock. I have an Indian FAL that has a similar kind of painted rack number. I believe it was used by the Indians at some time.
However it is still a 1943 BSA Enfield T with a 1944 Scope. They don't match, but many do not. Nothing wrong with the Indian army. They have a heck of a lot of WW2 battle honors including some big ones like Monte Cassino. And who knows, they might not have even been given the rifle till afterwards. Could have been used by anyone in the Commonwealth nations during the war.
The rifle scope is in very good condition. There are quite a few marks and serial numbers on it to suggest it has been on a few rifles. I think that is a good thing. Obviously the scope worked, and it has been used. Likely quite a few snipers have aimed through this particular one. Oh if rifles could talk!
The rifle itself is a fine specimen. There are some professional stock repairs. An armorer did a fine job back in WW2 or afterwards.
I like a milsurp with a bit of character. I own a never issued Irish contract No.4 thats is still in the original wrapping. It is mint, but I doubt I will ever shoot it, and I don't really have a lot of love for it. Perhaps there is such a thing as TOO MINTY when it comes to a milsurp. We love these things for the history right? Well sitting in a storage locker during the war ain't much history.
Here are some pics of the rifle.
I finally took it to the range today at EOHC. Warm, clear, no wind. Lot's of horse flies though. HOOOAAAH! was it a fun day even though the flies almost took off my scalp.
I set up at 25 and fired a few rounds to confirm basic zero and windage. I got it dialed in fast and then set up a target at the 100yd.
Here is the sight picture at 100.
It is a pretty sight isn't it? The glass is good, the scope is a beauty. It is VERY heavy and it clicks easily and crisply. Damn they made a fine scope. I have an M1D and I have handled a 1903A4. This is THE finest sniper rifle of WW2 IMHO.
So I fired 3 sets of groupings with handloads. Nothing special. My first batch reloading 303 actually. Used N140, mixed brass, hornady 150gr SP.
First group went tight slightly right, over adjusted on second which went slightly left and low, and the 3rd group went in the white center. Two bullets keyholed. Love it when those bullet holes kiss like that.
Well now that I was dialed in, and it only took a dozen rounds to get it zeroed, I loaded up the mag to 10rnds.
Now I hear some don't like to fully charge up an Enfield mag because it weakens the springs or something to that effect. Mamma mia...that is like dating Bar Rafaeli and being celibate. It holds 10 rounds - BOMB UP!
So fired a full MAG. Not a mad minute but I did not dwaddle. Fast as I could accurately fire em.
Voila.
I did not set out to make a happy face, but it is funny how things happen.
Well I don't think 100yds is a fair range to test a sniper, so I took it to 200.
I only had 3rds left, so I put a few clicks in for elevation and 1,2,3.
Bingo. That white bull area is about fist sized. Very happy with the results.
I am going to work on some really sweet reloads and see if I can get her to Connaught ranges one day at longer ranges. 800m if I can. Will report back then.
This rifle is a real treat. I don't know what it is about Enfields but they are fun to shoot. The Enfield T is not a cheap milsurp, but if you work hard you deserve to play hard. I recommend you get one, just not the one I plan on buying next!
Although it has no markings to prove it is Indian it does have the Ishy screw and there is a white painted rack number on the buttstock. I have an Indian FAL that has a similar kind of painted rack number. I believe it was used by the Indians at some time.
However it is still a 1943 BSA Enfield T with a 1944 Scope. They don't match, but many do not. Nothing wrong with the Indian army. They have a heck of a lot of WW2 battle honors including some big ones like Monte Cassino. And who knows, they might not have even been given the rifle till afterwards. Could have been used by anyone in the Commonwealth nations during the war.
The rifle scope is in very good condition. There are quite a few marks and serial numbers on it to suggest it has been on a few rifles. I think that is a good thing. Obviously the scope worked, and it has been used. Likely quite a few snipers have aimed through this particular one. Oh if rifles could talk!
The rifle itself is a fine specimen. There are some professional stock repairs. An armorer did a fine job back in WW2 or afterwards.
I like a milsurp with a bit of character. I own a never issued Irish contract No.4 thats is still in the original wrapping. It is mint, but I doubt I will ever shoot it, and I don't really have a lot of love for it. Perhaps there is such a thing as TOO MINTY when it comes to a milsurp. We love these things for the history right? Well sitting in a storage locker during the war ain't much history.
Here are some pics of the rifle.
I finally took it to the range today at EOHC. Warm, clear, no wind. Lot's of horse flies though. HOOOAAAH! was it a fun day even though the flies almost took off my scalp.
I set up at 25 and fired a few rounds to confirm basic zero and windage. I got it dialed in fast and then set up a target at the 100yd.
Here is the sight picture at 100.
It is a pretty sight isn't it? The glass is good, the scope is a beauty. It is VERY heavy and it clicks easily and crisply. Damn they made a fine scope. I have an M1D and I have handled a 1903A4. This is THE finest sniper rifle of WW2 IMHO.
So I fired 3 sets of groupings with handloads. Nothing special. My first batch reloading 303 actually. Used N140, mixed brass, hornady 150gr SP.
First group went tight slightly right, over adjusted on second which went slightly left and low, and the 3rd group went in the white center. Two bullets keyholed. Love it when those bullet holes kiss like that.
Well now that I was dialed in, and it only took a dozen rounds to get it zeroed, I loaded up the mag to 10rnds.
Now I hear some don't like to fully charge up an Enfield mag because it weakens the springs or something to that effect. Mamma mia...that is like dating Bar Rafaeli and being celibate. It holds 10 rounds - BOMB UP!
So fired a full MAG. Not a mad minute but I did not dwaddle. Fast as I could accurately fire em.
Voila.
I did not set out to make a happy face, but it is funny how things happen.
Well I don't think 100yds is a fair range to test a sniper, so I took it to 200.
I only had 3rds left, so I put a few clicks in for elevation and 1,2,3.
Bingo. That white bull area is about fist sized. Very happy with the results.
I am going to work on some really sweet reloads and see if I can get her to Connaught ranges one day at longer ranges. 800m if I can. Will report back then.
This rifle is a real treat. I don't know what it is about Enfields but they are fun to shoot. The Enfield T is not a cheap milsurp, but if you work hard you deserve to play hard. I recommend you get one, just not the one I plan on buying next!
