Just bought it today at the Markham Fair Grounds!! My first Lee-Enfield!

Definitely a put together, but it looks nice from here. I'd definitely get anything stamped DP checked out before shooting, some of the drill rifles were unfit for firing but it could be your wood was just salvaged from one. And have fun learning all there is to know about these rifles, I recently got my first full stocked one and the amount of reading material out there astounds me! The collectors library in the stickies is a great place to start. :)
 
To be honest, you could have easily spent $650 easily to buy a sporter then parts and restore it. You can't spend to much, just too early. You've learned a bunch now and have a rifle you can shoot the hell out of without remorse to get your money's worth back from. As an added bonus, you now have your nice looking shooter so now it's time to find a nice all original one to go with it.
 
RRCo. said:
You have a 1918 SMLE that has been grit blasted and reblued or painted black and probably restored from a sporter with a new looking forend and rear handguard. The back sight protector is Lithgow made and not original. How is the barrel? The "legs" are missing from the rear of the longer handguard, but that was not uncommon. Usually they were removed from both handguards rather than just one. If the bolt is matching and the bore is very good or better, you have a good shooter.

Can't say anything about your BP blanks, except they've been packaged for commercial sale for some application unknown to me.
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A Frankenfield?
 
I can't advise on the rifle but want to take this opportunity to compliment you on your picture taking. Nice macro photography, I'm so used to everyone using their potatoes, er, iPhones.
 
Given the current market madness - even my local store - which is milsurp heaven, and contains things people spend their lives looking for, currently has exactly zero 303's No1's and zero No4's or 5's - I'd say you didn't do too badly. You have a full wood, complete Lee Enfield No1 in very nice condition, and I'm sure it will shoot extremely well, the vast majority do.
 
You paid a bit too much, but heck, we've all done that. Gunshows are usually either sellers who take tables mostly so they can get in early, scoop some deals and BS with their buddies, and those other folks who are actually trying to sell stuff. It can be hard to tell who's who at first!

I'm guessing your barrel is in good shape and the bolt matches, otherwise it wouldn't be worth doing up a rifle like that.
 
Thanks to everyone for your comments (and critiques). I guess I'm just starting to realise the learning curve of the shooting world. Hopefully, it won't be that steep since my wallet probably won't be able to handle it! :D

Otherwise, I do like my purchase and I do hope I get a chance to shoot her soon. But, I have never shot anything larger than a 7.62 NATO. Anything I should expect?

Since only one person has really said anything about those blanks, I guess I'll be opening that box up tonight and see what's inside! :)
 
RAYdiation said:
Thanks to everyone for your comments (and critiques). I guess I'm just starting to realise the learning curve of the shooting world. Hopefully, it won't be that steep since my wallet probably won't be able to handle it! :D

Otherwise, I do like my purchase and I do hope I get a chance to shoot her soon. But, I have never shot anything larger than a 7.62 NATO. Anything I should expect?

Since only one person has really said anything about those blanks, I guess I'll be opening that box up tonight and see what's inside! :)
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I would not worry too much about how much you paid as firearms generally go up in value with time.....get the 303 checked out and go have some shooting fun , we only live once.....ENJOY !
 
RAYdiation said:
Thanks to everyone for your comments (and critiques). I guess I'm just starting to realise the learning curve of the shooting world. Hopefully, it won't be that steep since my wallet probably won't be able to handle it! :D

Otherwise, I do like my purchase and I do hope I get a chance to shoot her soon. But, I have never shot anything larger than a 7.62 NATO. Anything I should expect?

Since only one person has really said anything about those blanks, I guess I'll be opening that box up tonight and see what's inside! :)
Click to expand...

To build on what Tiriaq said Re: blanks; not only will they depreciate on opening, but you will be disappointed to boot! It's just a .303 case filled with Black and crimped over where the bullet (projectile) would go. If you fire one, all you'll get is a "fftoom" white smoke and a whole lot of tedious cleaning (BP is corrosive {salt}).

I'll give you the same advise I've given others. Buy a box of Winchester whitebox at CT for around $20 and bring your red headed step brother (the adopted one) to the range with you. Chamber a round, put the rifle on safe and hand it to him. Helping him to figure out how the safety works and which direction is downrange is the extent of your assistance at this point. Stand well clear and let him determine if the head space is correct.:) Statistics show 6 times out of 10 the step brother enjoys trips to the range;)

"anything I should expect?" I find the .303 British to be a brute on recoil (and Mk5 carbine worse...read unpleasant), but then I'm a pu$$y. All kidding aside, you do not want the butt contacting collarbone, it will ring your bell. Tuck it under your collarbone and on top of pectoral muscle, elbows tight under the rifle with back pressure on your (inside out :p) sling or fore hand...both actually is how the army taught. If your brother lives, you'll have a ton of fun. BTW, less (reduced) recoil could mean a worn barrel. A quick sort of test is to invert a live round (making sure your brother is nowhere near, live ammo...and all) into the muzzle. The bullet should only go slightly less than half way into the muzzle. If it falls in up to the brass...disregard what I said about the recoil of the mighty .303 British:).
 
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Good advice from PLINKER, especially as regards the step-brother.

Good advice on the ammo, too: Winchester is available almost anywhere and not expensive, although the brass is a bit of the small side (SAAMI specs) for the normally-generous LE chambers.

So what you do is get some small elastics or O-rings (I use pony-tail ties from the Dollar Stor, 500 for a buck). You put one of these just ahead of the Rim on your cartridges, just the FIRST time you fire them. The rubber centres the round in the chamber AND pushes it back against the bolt-face, so you are working with ZERO headspace.

When the round fires, it fire-forms to YOUR chamber...... perfectly. Now you keep that brass for that rifle ONLY, reload it by neck-sizing..... and you are well on the way to Match-grade home-rolled ammo.

Pop over to milsurps dot com and download a MANUAL for your rifle. I would suggest "RIFLE - 1942". Then get the various Armourers' manuals for the Number 4. The rifles are similar enough that you will be able to tune your trigger, etc, using the Number 4 manual. An SMLE just looks so very basic and simple that it is difficult to believe, at first, just how incredibly WELL you can make one shoot.

Nice rifle.

Welcome to the Club!
 
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You have taught me well master. ;)
 
Well, just started taking her apart and already noticed a few things.

1) I now understand the reference to the "legs".
2) When taking her apart, there is supposed to be a spring loaded screw under the nose cap? I noticed it's not there. Anyone know where I might be able to get this part? I guess I might as well try and get an upperstock with the legs while I'm at it.
3) Didn't know they also serial numbered the barrels!!
4) Found some more markings. Almost like deciphering code! :)
5) Didn't know there was a cleaning kit as well! Pretty well hidden compartment.
 
plinker 777 said:
Cleaning kit or a pull through and oiling bottle? (cord w/a brass lug on one end and a loop in the other, and a brass cylinder with spoon attached to the lid)
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Actually, the one with the cord and brass lug and oiling bottle. Didn't know there's an actual cleaning kit.

So, I started my hunt for some of these parts so I can make my rifle more complete. One thing I came across was a 22cal breech bolt head. Just wondering: if I replace my .303 British bolt head with this, I can just start shooting 22LR? I just think that's amazing! I've never heard of a rifle that could do this, if it is possible!
 
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RAYdiation said:
Actually, the one with the cord and brass lug and oiling bottle. Didn't know there's an actual cleaning kit.

So, I started my hunt for some of these parts so I can make my rifle more complete. One thing I came across was a 22cal breech bolt head. Just wondering: if I replace my .303 British bolt head with this, I can just start shooting 22LR? I just think that's amazing! I've never heard of a rifle that could do this, if it is possible!
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Please tell me that is not a serious question and you are just messing with us right...
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Seriously though, swapping the bolt head and seeing if you could fire 22lr, is a bad idea.
 
Re: what to expect - the 308 has about 2% more energy than the 303 at distance, the recoil is actually not that bad, considering the weight of the LE is higher than a hunting weight 308. That said, the relatively heavy bullets of the 303 do make a very satisfying sound on steel out to 300 yards ( I had a 223 shooter ask me what I was using at the range one day, I told him it was God's Hammer - he didn't get it).
 
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