Lee Enfield Assistance

[Deep Sea Diver]

Hey guys,

I am looking to purchase a Lee Enfield (ideally a No4) in the future but before I do I want to put as much research into it as the prices are high and want to make sure I get the right one, mainly for use on the range.

Is there a specific website or book you guys use or would recommend specific to the Lee Enfield? There is some great info here, but just want to make sure I hitting all the right areas.

Thanks, J.

 

[milsurpo]

DSD: If you're looking to buy one soon and want it to be a good range gun you might be best off putting a WTB add in the exchange and searching for a local sale where you can actually get a good look at it. There's a lot to be aware of with Lee Enfields not the least of which is the importance of proper forend fit (unlike anything else out there). Of the last 5 I've bought, the forends were crap in two. If you're lucky someone close to you might be willing to sell you a range ready rifle and show you what makes them tick. In addition to CGN you should get onto Milsurps which has piles and piles of excellent Lee Enfield info. Good luck finding one.

milsurpo

 

[mkrnel]

What Milsurpo says is true but even if you get one with a bad stock fit it can be fixed, the more important thing to look for when looking for a range gun for reliable performance is a very good to excellent bore as this is something that can only be fixed by installing a new barrel which will cost you as much as a complete rifle and is a better guarantee of potential good shooting than nearly anything else on a Lee Enfield as all the other things can be changed for better accuracy cheaper and with more ease.

 

[smellie]

Ideally, for long-range shooting you want a Long Branch, early production, 5-groove barrel.

If you can score one which has been MARTIN ADJUSTED, bedded by A.G. or A.J. PARKER, or by Holland and Holland or REGULATED BY FULTON, so much the better.

A BALL BURNISHED Barrel (marked on the muzzle) adds greatly.

These all are top-grade target rigs and they all are rather scarce, The box-stock 5-groove Long Branch, though, often can be worked-on by people other than these luminaries, and turn out excellent scores.

There do exist Canadian 6-groove barrels; these do top-grade work out to 600 yards or so but fall off past 800. These all are post-War.

Get a rifle, get the Armourers' Manuals and learn to tune it yourself. Only way.

SHOOT it with the best handloads you can assemble.

The minimum rear sight you will find of use is the Mark 1; it is fully adjustable for range out to farther than you can see clearly. For PRECISION shooting, get one of the Parker-Hale fully-adjustable rear sights and the special mount for it. These are truly excellent and there is NO substitute. Be sure to get a proper SLING. You may want to use a Target Sling, in which case you will need the special swivel for it. These do exist and turn up from $20 and up.

Anything you don't understand, come back here and ask.

With any luck, you should be able to find the Rifle itself under 500.

Good luck!

 

[5THBATT]

You can spend Thousands on a target rifle even for just smallbore shooting, may i suggest keeping a eye out for a No4 Mk2 in the wrap, they are out there & you get a new rifle to build on.

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

Really appreciate the advice and help and will look into milsurps and grab an Armourers' Manual.

I'm glad to hear that a few good ones may be found for around 500 because some of the sites online have been selling them for 700+, however if it has all the right stuff I'll go for it.