Lee Enfield Accuracy

K98ACTION

K98ACTION

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Well seeing as I am a Mauser fan, my experience with the Lee Enfield rifle so far has been a very good experience.

ALREADY GOT THE NAMING SPANK.. SORRY Mk's and No.'s JUST IGNOR THAT PART.
My first is a Savage No.2 Mk4 FTR. Took it to the range for a test shoot. With the battle sight at 100yds aiming at an imaginary belt buckle, all five shots grouped under 3" dead center of chest..

At 200yds, using the flip up sight clicked for 200yds, again same result.. grouping still nice and tight

My second Lee Enfield, a No.1 Mk4 1943 Longbranch, which has some noticable throat wear, shot even tighter?

I am amazed at the calibration of the open sights and the .303 light recoil and it's accuracy.

Starting to really like these rilfes.:)
 
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That's it now...you are addicted!!!!!
Those damn "field" guns will get in your blood and all others will pale in comparison.
Time to sell all your Mausers and buy more of the bloody "field" guns...first Lee Enfield, then Springfield.
Come over to the dark side Luke.
Cheers
 
If you REALLY want the best accuracy from any rifle, including even a .303, you pretty well have to handload. Your rifles are shooting nicely now, but if you really want to astonish yourself, try a Sierra 180 spitzer flatbase at 2250 ft/sec, with the bullet seated to the overall length of a Mark VII Ball round.

If the rifle is bedded okay and the ammo is really up to snuff, you can aim using the corner of the front sight and shoot from sandbags. I have several old .303s that will shoot groups under an inch at 100 if handled this way, and I know that there are lots more out there.

Testing for "sniping" or hunting accuracy, there's nothing like the 2-quick-rounds-from-a-cold-barrel test. This tells you just what to expect from your rifle in a pinch, and some of them can REALLY surprise you.

Most important point of all: have fun!
 
K98ACTION said:
Well seeing as I am a Mauser fan, my experience with the Lee Enfield rifle so far has been a very good experience.

My first is a Savage No.2 Mk4 FTR. Took it to the range for a test shoot. With the battle sight at 100yds aiming at an imaginary belt buckle, all five shots grouped under 3" dead center of chest..

At 200yds, using the flip up sight clicked for 200yds, again same result.. grouping still nice and tight

My second Lee Enfield, a No.1 Mk4 1943 Longbranch, which has some noticable throat wear, shot even tighter?

I am amazed at the calibration of the open sights and the .303 light recoil and it's accuracy.





Starting to really like these rilfes.:)
Click to expand...

Errr...K98action...

Surely you meant No 4 Mk 1 (with a *), Long Branch 1943?
 
I sold the only accurate Enfield I ever had, a JC 2-3" at 100 and no wandering zero, just wanted a bit more punch. Good on ya smellie for doing an inch with yours, that's awesome.
 
"...Savage No.2 Mk4..." That'd be a No. 4 Mk. I that went through a Factory Through Repair.
"...the .303 light recoil..." With what ammo? Although you may just be used to the felt recoil of an 8mm.
 
sunray said:
"...Savage No.2 Mk4..." That'd be a No. 4 Mk. I that went through a Factory Through Repair.
"...the .303 light recoil..." With what ammo? Although you may just be used to the felt recoil of an 8mm.
Click to expand...


Sorry dudes got my Mk's and No.'s all screwed up... Got to get used to the British Mk this and that nominclature.
 
These rifles are legendary for their accuracy... in fact, back in my Army cadet days, we used them for competition, at least the #7s in 22lr.

No BS... competition varified... I shot a perfect 100 out of 100. I nearly needed a new set of shorts when my score came back. I thought I was going to have an accident.

As soon as I got the money, I went out and bought my own in .303. I've had it ever since and it will never be sold.
 
I shot 303 once this summer and instantly fell in love with them 303's, especially JC's. I had to buy my own in short order. Three JC's I happened to shoot over last few months all were under 2" groups at 100 yards with their original sights. The one I have now shoots close to 1" two-shot groups off cold barrel. Standard factory 180 grain bullet ammo from Wal Mart, god only knows how well will it shoot with handloads and glass, I do not even want to try, I am happy with what I have. Needless to say this JC is my hunting rifle now
mewithJChuntin.jpg
 
I generally load this cartridge with 4895, although I have noted loads with 4064 also to shoot very nicely.

I think that the "seated to the length of a Mk VII Ball round" has more to do with it than you might think; this allows the Sierra bullet, which has a much different ogive from a Mark VII, to crowd the leade jusst a bit. Same general formula seems to work small wonders in a Ross also.

Loads about 10% lighter than full-combat loads will generally turn out great accuracy, this because of the method that the British used to determine the combat load for the Mark VII Ball round. They assembled a "worn-out" rifle from spare parts, then put an absolute-minimum barrel onto it. They already knew the most accurate load for the new cartridge, so they just stepped loads up until they started getting problems in this "problem" rifle, then split the difference between the (known) most-accurate load and the "problems start" load..... and that became the standard for the Mark VII Ball round. The known most accurate load was LESS than the standard loading by aboutt 10%...... so that seems a good place to start. Works.
 
I like the hornady 174 g FMJBT with 36 grains of WC735. I have not tried any diffferent brands of bullets but I have used the 150 g SP and 174 G FP and definitly prefer the 174 g FMJBT. I have also used H335 and IMR 4064 with good sucess.

Anyhow, here is 8 rounds last January of the 174 g FMJBT with the WC735.

DSC03155.jpg


The shots were at 100 Yards ane the black bull is 8". The timing between the shots would best be classified as "rapid fire".
 
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Like Smellie my L/E.'s love the Sierra 180's. Still trying to find the magic load for the Ross.When I said open sights on the target that meant a Parker Hale peep sight for the No1....Bob
Target.jpg
 
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K98ACTION said:
I am amazed at the calibration of the open sights and the .303 light recoil and it's accuracy.

Starting to really like these rilfes.:)
Click to expand...

I will agree with you as to the accuracy o these rifles, mine is accurate enuff to be used as a sniper rifle. I must however correct you on the recoil! I have shot several Lee Enfields over the years and they all kick like a bloody mule! The iron butt plate doesn't help, so mine has a slip on limbsaver recoil pad which tames the kick quite a bit. I find the bare assed .303 recoils harder than my 300WM.
 
I need to get a service rifle load worked up for this spring anyway so this adds in will with some previous treads. Need a load that shoots close to the standard #4 sights from 100m to 500m.
 
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