Ishapore 2A/2A1- The Last Lee-Enfield
At some point just after the Sino-Indian War of 1963, the Ishapore Rifle Factory in India began producing a new type of rifle known as the Rifle 7.62 mm 2A, which was based on the SMLE Mk III* and manufactured to use the 7.62 mm NATO round. Externally the rifle is very similar to the classic Mk III*, with the exception of the magazine which carries twelve rounds instead of ten, although a number of 2A1s have been noted with 10 round magazines. Ishapore 2A/2A1 rifles are made with strengthened steel (to handle the increased pressures of the 7.62x51 round), and the extractor is redesigned to cope with the rimless round. From 1965-1975 (when production is believed to have been discontinued), the sights were changed from 2000 m to 800 m, and the rifle re-designated Rifle 7.62 mm 2A1.
There are no other differences between the Ishapore 2A and 2A1 rifles, but they are often incorrectly described as ".308 conversions". It must be stressed that the 2A/2A1 rifles are not conversions of .303 calibre SMLE Mk III* rifles- they are new manufacture, and are not technically chambered for commercial .308 Winchester ammunition. The Ishapore 2A1 has the distinction of being the last non-sniper military bolt action rifle ever designed and issued to an armed force, and they are becoming increasingly popular with civillian shooters and collectors in the US, UK, and Australia as the supplies of affordable .303 British ammunition fluctuate.
