Enfield vs Modern Rifles

hansol

hansol

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Hey All,

I'm just curious as to how the old no4 mk1* rifles stack up against modern rifles. Or on the flip side, how modern rifles compare to the enfield lol.

Why I ask is because I am currently looking for a very accurate bolt gun, but have a few stipulations:

-must be able to get kicked around, dropped, and treated roughly, and still function
-must be able to get dirty, wet, go a few days without cleaning, and still be able to function
-lastly, much be able to get dirty, wet, carried around uncleaned, dropped, tossed into a truck, banged around, and then pulled back out and be able to shoot 1.5moa.

So all that being said, I currently have a 1942 original longbranch that does about 3" groups at 200 yards, but I could tighten that up if I bed the stock and tinker a bit. I have the chance to pick up a savage 12fv in 308, but wonder about the reliability and "knock-about" factor of that rifle, as well as modern bolt actions in general. I figured I would post this in the milsurp forum as you guys would know both "worlds", so to speak, and would know how much punishment modern rifles can take in comparison to their wartime counterparts.

Let me know what you think, If picking up that savage would be worth it instead of tinkering and tuning my enfield. Cheers -Cameron
 
the venerable Mk4 is a battle proven tough rifle.

but it pales in comparison to the accuracy, smoothness and strength of modern bolt actions. specifically the Mod 700.
 
Hey All,

BBQ: I already have the enfield, but as a few people here know, I am contemplating selling it. I have a tough time myself abusing a milsurp, but all my rifles are purchased to work, and work hard if need be. But again, I feel terrible abusing a historical piece if a new modern "remchesterage" will work better

Potatoes: I hate remington. Period. But that isn't a reflection on you, so don't take that the wrong way. Stainless steel is nice, yes, but I don't have endless pockets these days. Again with the milsurp: If a $250 rifle can do as good (or better) than a brand new $1000+ stainless steel wizzbang stick, then why not save all that extra money for ammo?

Amphib: I think the enfield is the smoothest bolt action I have ever handled. That thing cycles crazy fast, and is soooo nice to handle compared to the other bolt guns I've had experience with. I would agree with the accuracy thing though. And that leads me to my question.

How do those new rifles take to being bashed around and treated harsh. Do they keep their zero (if the mounted optics are decent etc) if dinged or worked hard? What are the tolerances of the bolt to getting dirty and wet? Cheers -Cameron
 
Oh, for ####'s sake. Military rifles were build SPECIFICALLY to be abused, not to be pampered and collected. You won't find a rifle that tolerates abuse better
 
hansol said:
Hey All,

BBQ: I already have the enfield, but as a few people here know, I am contemplating selling it. I have a tough time myself abusing a milsurp, but all my rifles are purchased to work, and work hard if need be. But again, I feel terrible abusing a historical piece if a new modern "remchesterage" will work better

Potatoes: I hate remington. Period. But that isn't a reflection on you, so don't take that the wrong way. Stainless steel is nice, yes, but I don't have endless pockets these days. Again with the milsurp: If a $250 rifle can do as good (or better) than a brand new $1000+ stainless steel wizzbang stick, then why not save all that extra money for ammo?

Amphib: I think the enfield is the smoothest bolt action I have ever handled. That thing cycles crazy fast, and is soooo nice to handle compared to the other bolt guns I've had experience with. I would agree with the accuracy thing though. And that leads me to my question.

How do those new rifles take to being bashed around and treated harsh. Do they keep their zero (if the mounted optics are decent etc) if dinged or worked hard? What are the tolerances of the bolt to getting dirty and wet? Cheers -Cameron
Click to expand...


I agree. the enfield is the best action of any rifle.

however, again, please dont abuse a mislurp.
the AIA are the same action, more common (cheaper) cal, and new.
get an AIA no.4 and enjoy.
 
haha wow boys. Like I stated in my other posts, I feel just as badly as everyone else about "bubba" getting ahold of a rifle. But again, my rifles are all working guns, and as such I take them out hunting, in the truck, at the range, in the tractor, out in the bush, etc etc. And in doing so, they get smacked around, kicked, knocked about, etc. And like everyone else, I do cringe if my marlin gets knocked against the truck or whatever, but it happens.

And its actually because of this reaction that I even asked the question. Because I hate seeing actual mislurp abused, I wondered if a modern rifle, and more specifically the Savage 12FV model, could handle the abuse just as well as a milsurp. If they can, then the enfield will probably be sold off. But if the new rifles can't handle rough treatment or getting dirty or such, then it wouldn't be worth my time.

Hence my asking how well modern remingtons or savages or winchester handle rough treatment. Cheers -Cameron
 
If you want to use the Enfield, use it - as long as it's not a de-facto collectors piece.

It'll take a #### kicking. That's what it was designed for.
 
maybe invest in a synthetic stock so that you wood does not get ruined.

Or for the price of that stock buy A bubba'd No.4 in good shape and shoot the hell out of it (I went through the same dilemma as you and thats what I did) I bought one with a chopped barrel so I absolutely wouldn't be tempted to restore it

Heavy barrel
free floating
comparable ballistics to the .308
Cartridge with proper loadings has been succesfully used to kill every land mammal this planet has to offer
slick action
high capacity
Battle proven design and reliability
Plenty of replacement parts readily availible (important if you are gonna abuse it)
Muscle memory will carry over when you need to kill zombies with your No 5 (I would use a No.1 for the sword bayonet though:shotgun:)

How can you go wrong?????
 
Well - I guess the sight furniture is a consideration - most modern rifles are scope only - your unaltered LE has a peep only.
Why not pick up a sported LE for 100 large, you can have both irons and scope on the same rifle. And no one will cry if it gets roughed up... Heck - you can even throw the rifle at game!
This way you can keep your original LE (as a shootable investment), an you retain familiarity between the two guns.
 
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There are so many bubbaed $50 Enfields out there, it'll make your head spin. Pick up one of them.

+1 on the Enfield. Two World Wars and then some, in action all over the world, there's no rifle test that can compare to that.
 
I can't imagine any rifle designed to take MORE abuse than a WW2 era bolt action of almost any stripe, including the Enfield. That being said, the Enfield alone isn;t the whole system. Troopies were REQUIRED to regularly clean and maintain these rifles as their lives DID depend on it.

Your Longbranch is up to the task of mechanically withstanding more abuse than you will ever dish out, but you do have to clean it to avoid rusting the bore. That's reality.

If you don't want to clean the bore regularly, buy something else designed to take abuse but that has a chromed bore on it, like perhaps a modern AIA No.4Mk4 or a VZ58L or an early war japanese Arisaka Type 99.
 
Lot's of nice sportized Enfields around, a Parker-Hale one are quite nice and a good deal. If your rifle is untouched and stock, leave it as a treasure to be shot at the range. Buy yourself a Bubba for the bush.

Anyone here ever shot one of the Gibbs Enfields?
 
Sure a bubba enfield will work but thats not what I hunt with

I use a Savage 111F in 300WM for bigger critters, If it gets banged up so what its a workign gun they are under $500 and work fine, 3rd detachable mag, no accutrigger crap, synthetic stock, simple and reliable.
 
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