Hey everyone. I've never been big on modern hunting rifles, but I do love the old Military rifles and was considering picking one up to do the job. What I would ultimately love is Mas 36,but they're pretty hard to come by. I've seen a few Lee Enfield Jungle Carbines though and was thinking they'd make a good lighter rifle for hunting. I've been doing some research on them and have seen a bunch of people talking about accuracy issues and wandering zeroes. I dont know how true this is and was wondering if enyone has experience with them and could shed some light on the matter. Thanks.
Lee Enfield Jungle Carbine Accuracy?
- Thread starter DES0LAT0R
- Start date
I was talking to a vet who was stationed in Malasia and issued the #5.
They also used them as their target rifles and took them to Bisley for the service rifle competitions.
He said he never heard of a "wandering zero". They accuracy issue was a shorter sight radius and more kick.
If you want to set it up as a iron sight hunting rifle for up to 100 yards, it is an excellent rifle.
Personally, I would change the front sight to a taller sight so it would be zeroed at 100 yards.
They also used them as their target rifles and took them to Bisley for the service rifle competitions.
He said he never heard of a "wandering zero". They accuracy issue was a shorter sight radius and more kick.
If you want to set it up as a iron sight hunting rifle for up to 100 yards, it is an excellent rifle.
Personally, I would change the front sight to a taller sight so it would be zeroed at 100 yards.
Did the No.5 have the Long Butt stock option to fit the shooter, as the SMLE and No.4 had this feature
Being lighter than a No4, it does have more kick with standard loads. I use lighter loads and then the the rifle is very pleasant to shoot without sacrificing any accuracy. Most of us don't shoot at the maximum range indicated on the rear sight (800y). The load I use in the No5Mk1 is a 150 gr flat based soft point bullet over 35gr of H4895. I have no problem shooting this load into 2.5" -3" at 100y using the iron sights (bench rested of course). Also, I never had issues with a "wandering zero". I think that rumour may have started when the rifle was used in the very humid jungles of Malaysia warping the stocks.
I have owned several of these JC rifles over the years....some real Bubba Jobs,..and some very nice ones.
They either shoot dam good......or horrible "3 6 9 & 12" all over the place. "worn right out".
as for the wandering zero....NO. the ones that shot good,..always shot good.
Some were good to 400 yards,.....a couple couldn't hit #### at 100 yards.
well thats my experience with them. Most are accurate.
They either shoot dam good......or horrible "3 6 9 & 12" all over the place. "worn right out".
as for the wandering zero....NO. the ones that shot good,..always shot good.
Some were good to 400 yards,.....a couple couldn't hit #### at 100 yards.
well thats my experience with them. Most are accurate.
once you figure out the zero for the ammo I found my #5 to be roughly equal in accuracy to my #4. Mostly I have been using Remington 303 FMJ cause they were cheap a couple years ago. The #5 with the sight dialed to 100m will shoot a few inches high and group about 2 inches.. I only fired about 15 to 20rds so could likely do better. The #4 will get 1.5 inch groups from the same ammo and 1 inch groups from Winchester SP's.
If not worn out they make a fine tough hunting rifle for all Canadian game excepting maybe polar and grizzly bears and bison out to whatever range you are capable of humane accuracy. The only downside is, if you are one of those who hunt with your rifle slung on your shoulder the flash hider works like a funnel for rain anf pine needles and the bayonet lug can (will) hook on a low hanging branch with unpleasant effects.
^ mines not quite as accurate as above but it gets the job done, but then again it could and most likely is my fault, my vision has been getting worse since I first got it lol was the first rifle I bought $200 years ago I used to be able to hit consistently at 4" from a rest but for a few years I never upgraded my glasses and got worse and worse, my barrel has also been draw lapped, 1st month of 45 faz
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TacticalTeacher
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Georgian Bay, ON
You People are driving me to rush out and snag one.... they are aesthetically pleasing. And I do enjoy an iron sighted rig for hunting shorter distances up here in WMU 82A
Not to mention Rifledude and ORA Milsurp shoots at Langemark Range Bay 4, also!!
Cheers, Barney
Rumour has it that the wandering zero "issue" or complaints rather, were an invention of the top brass looking to sully the reputation of what was considered by the troops to be a fine little rifle. Let's face it, by the end of the War the Brits were looking (like most nations) to drop bolt action battle rifles and move into semi-automatics - and while the troops were quite happy with their equipment (other than the No.4 bayonets) if you can start rumours that there are inherent issues with the equipment it can help persuade politicians to approve spending obscene amounts of money on weapon development/procurement programs.
Lee Enfield
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Republic of Alberta
Yes, i owned an S stocked No5MkI and have seen an L...
Interestingly I'm holding a Long stocked No5MkI right now...
Interestingly I'm holding a Long stocked No5MkI right now...
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Thanks , that’s good to know , i much prefer to shoot a Lee Enfield with the Long Butt Stock ,
As far as stock length goes, the butt socket is the same on a No5 as it is on a No4, you can (and probably should) fit a No4 stock of your liking, it'll let you get the length right and probably reduce some of the "ouch" factor that the hockey puck stock creates.
I have one that was my fathers. he cut the cone off it, and put a set of fancy woods on it. dated 45 it doesn't matter what you put in it for ammo it will print a clover leaf at 100 damed amazing rifle. he used it to hunt everything from moose to antelope
You People are driving me to rush out and snag one.... they are aesthetically pleasing. And I do enjoy an iron sighted rig for hunting shorter distances up here in WMU 82A
Not to mention Rifledude and ORA Milsurp shoots at Langemark Range Bay 4, also!!
Cheers, Barney
you should have kept that bastrdized wanabe JC in 308 I sold ya that was an amazing lil hunting rig to
The best that can be expected from a No 5 is around 2-3 MOA. Its good that animals don't know that because I've shot a few truckloads of deer, as well as a moose and bear with mine.
They are an excellent timber rifle; light and fast handling with a big heavy slug. I've never shot anything at much more than 100 yds range with mine.
They are an excellent timber rifle; light and fast handling with a big heavy slug. I've never shot anything at much more than 100 yds range with mine.
