Enfield vs Modern Rifles

If I were a new hunter and was faced with the choice of using a Lee-Enfield or modern Remchestervage w/scope combo, I'd go for an Enfield any day of the week.

There are an abundance of Bubba'd LE's out there for cheap. Some of the worst ones will still outshoot the owner and group well enough to kill a deer effectively out to 150+ meters. Most shots are made within that distance anyway. You just don't need a $1000+ .300wsm with a 24x scope to kill a deer at that distance.

The .303 round can kill any creature in the world, just ask any Ranger who's shot more than their share of Elk, Moose, and Polar Bear with .303. You can't go wrong with it, and you'd be able to buy .303 in the butt-f**k nowhere general store. Good luck with .300wsm or whatever the hell the gun co.'s are pushing these days.

If I had to build a hunting rifle tomorrow, I'd pick up a Bubba'd LE, P-14, or M-17 with a good bore and that was already drilled and tapped. I'd strip it, clean it, parkerize it, put a decent stock on it, and scope it off with something decent. Bingo! I'd have a reliable and accurate hunting rifle that will last for generations and for a fraction of the cost.
 
If someone is looking for an affordable, reliable rifle to knock down game with, the Enfield is very hard to beat. For $150.00, scoped, slung and ready to hunt, it really is in a class all it's own.
 
Win/64 said:
My 1899 7x57 still shoots 1 1/2" groups. Guess the Mauser wins.
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Yeah but an average deer won't feel the difference between 1 1/2'' and 2'' groups. :)


I have AIA M10 Sport and here what it got me for an opening day
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Next weekend it has spent a couple hours in the rain, no any sign of the rust. Cleaning is fun - I spend a quoter of the time cleaning it of wht I spend cleaning say cz858 or Mosin (non-milsurp ammo!)
 
I hunted for years with a No.5 fake (aka No4mk1 carbine). Out to 100 yrds(with iron sights) I felt ok taking the shot. I got a better paying job this year so I figured I "needed" a new hunting rifle. So I buy a T3 in .308 with scope, after the smoke clears it a $1000+ rifle. With factor ammo I get 1-1/2" to 2" groups. After about 4 different hand loads I found one that the rifle likes and bearly squeek in sub MOA groups. Best thing about my Tikka is that they hold there value.
 
V1 said:
Yeah but an average deer won't feel the difference between 1 1/2'' and 2'' groups. :)


I have AIA M10 Sport and here what it got me for an opening day
842215.jpg


Next weekend it has spent a couple hours in the rain, no any sign of the rust. Cleaning is fun - I spend a quoter of the time cleaning it of wht I spend cleaning say cz858 or Mosin (non-milsurp ammo!)
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Hey man congrats on the deer! Pretty nice rifle there what kind of scope and rings are you using? Best regards Tony.
 
Sticker, you must be full-length sizing your brass. Dont be an idiot. Neck sizing is the only way to go on a tapered cartridge like the 303 or the 375H&H among others.

I'm already on my 8th reload for my enfield brass. I love it.

Rimmed cartridges are just simpler, whether it be for extracting, headspacing, or whatever. Go rimmed or go home.
 
fat tony said:
Hey man congrats on the deer! Pretty nice rifle there what kind of scope and rings are you using? Best regards Tony.
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Thanks!
It's Bushnell Trophy 3-9x40 mildot and KIngsArms "Arsoft" 25/30mm low rings ;) (eHobby Asia, eBay: Mil-Spec STEEL LOW Scope Ring Mount 25/30mm #KA-SM-12)
 
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Originally Posted by hansol
I'm already on my 8th reload for my enfield brass. I love it.

Calum said:
My #4 stretches the brass, and my Pattern 14 is really good with it, and barely stretches it at all.
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I recently tested out the theory that the 303 Brit, and particularly the Lee Enfield No4 was only good for 2-3 reloads before case separation. I'm shooting a P14 as my main gun for hunting this Fall, and my backup is a no4. I'm now done my load development and on my 5th reload with Federal brass. I am using published max loads and neck sizing (of course). The brass shows absolutely no signs of incipient separation, and chambers as it did on the first load (that was F/L sized). I am particularly fortunate that the rounds will chamber equally well in either rifle, so by chance I got two almost identical chambers.

I am convinced that short brass life with the 303 Brit in a No4 is complete myth - if you follow the elementary practice of neck sizing.
 
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There are only 2 things you need to remember to have a happy life: (1) always toast the Queen, and (2) always neck size.
 
I think the Parker Hale's are one of the best deals going. usually less than 300 to 400$ with a nice Parker Hale barrel and some very nice finishing work you just don't see nowadays. You really can't go wrong with a Mosin (cheap surplus ammo) Mausers (duh they are MAUSERS) P14's and P17's(if you don't like rimmed cartridges go30-06). There are some decent new rifles like the Stevens (budget bad boy) ,the Remington's both the classic 700's and the Yugo mausers and I know I will get heat for this one but a NEF handi rifle.
 
Out of my 4 Lee enfields the only one that doesn't chamber my neck sized ammo is my No 5. So thats the only one that I have to worry about keeping the brass seperate. I tried all different bolt head sizes thinking it was only because of a couple of .000 but it just didn`t like the other brass. I use a old Herters NS die given to my by a buddy and some of my brass is on its 7th reload. FYI.Jim
 
fat tony said:
What do you do if you have more than one .303 though? :runaway:
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I keep the brass in separate containers.

With the reloaded ammo in one of those plastic ammo holders I run a coloured sharpie pen across the cartridge bases.

Red for one type, green for another etc etc.
 
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