Lee Enfield question(NOOB}

Rubikahn

Rubikahn

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What are enfields like to shoot? Are they fun and would they be a good gun for a noob to learn how to shoot? Is the .303 british ammo easy to find? I've been thinking of a SKS but now have seen a few enfields for relatively cheap and figure they would be a better rifle to learn with. Any feedback would be appreciated.
 
cheap

They are a very reliable rifle with a lot of history with it. I had fun shooting it, and I believe alot of others use them as well..

The .303 british round is very common, and you can pick it up at your local walmart or canadian tire.
 
There are a couple of cautions with regard to learning to shoot with a Lee Enfield. First, they're not exactly pussycats - less so if you're not used to a full power military bolt action rifle. That's not to say the recoil is severe, but it is much more severe than a medium calibre semi like the SKS. The second thing is that the ammo costs much more than either 7.62x39 or .223, and there will probably not be much cheap surplus on the market soon, or ever.
 
ian_in_vic said:
There are a couple of cautions with regard to learning to shoot with a Lee Enfield. First, they're not exactly pussycats - less so if you're not used to a full power military bolt action rifle. That's not to say the recoil is severe, but it is much more severe than a medium calibre semi like the SKS. The second thing is that the ammo costs much more than either 7.62x39 or .223, and there will probably not be much cheap surplus on the market soon, or ever.
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I am planning on getting a .22 also. I wanted something in a larger caliber to get used to the recoil. Later on, if I find that I'm hooked, I will buy something more accurate. Normally, when I try a new hobby, I have to get the best immediately.:D This time I'm trying to be a little more sensible.
I've shot the FN-C1 back in basic so I have shot larger caliber rifles, it's just been 20+ years since I did so.
 
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I tried the Mauser switch ..once , and tried the Mosin thing ...once , didn't work .:rolleyes:
Recoil on the full wood Enfield isn't quite as punchy than what the sporter stocked bubba is . Same can be said about the No5 compared to the No4 .
 
Lee Enfields are awesome classic rifles. Some are more accurate than others. Best is to get a LongBranch, made here in Canada for WWII. They are the best Lee Enfields, obviously ;)

Ammo costs too much, though, averaging $1 a round, and they are not ideal for reloading. If you only shoot once or twice a month 40 rounds per outing, it's not too bad, but if you're shooting 200 rounds per month, it's far too expensive to buy factory.

I like my Lee Enfield, you can get them in the No 1. Mk 3 or the No. 4 (better sights, usually) variants. Fast, slick bolt-actions. The best combat bolt-actions by far and a piece of Canadiana. You will enjoy them if you treat them like the classic rifles that they are. And buy a full-wood as it isn't bubba and recoils less. (If recoil bothers you, just slip on a recoil pad and you won't notice.) If I had an excellent condition Long Branch Lee Enfield No. 4, it would probably be superior to all my other military surplus bolt-action rifles.
 
Rubikahn said:
What are enfields like to shoot? Are they fun and would they be a good gun for a noob to learn how to shoot? Is the .303 british ammo easy to find? I've been thinking of a SKS but now have seen a few enfields for relatively cheap and figure they would be a better rifle to learn with. Any feedback would be appreciated.
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i would really recommend a norc m305 for a noob learning to shoot for these reasons;
1] a very good rifle in an excellent calibre
2]ammo is available anywhere including bulk surplus is avail.[lots of options] avail]
3]its affordable to both buy and shoot
4]bone stock rifle is moer than accurate for most

lol,i expect to get burned with that,considering its a milsurp forum.

i have two lees' one no.1 Mk3 and a no.4 Mk 2
they are great rifles and a MUST HAVE in your collection,but, like you're already hearing ,they're a little pricey to shoot especially if you intend to shoot alot.you would be making it easier on yourself if you did your own reloads.

the sks is definitely the most affordable.its alot of fun and will allow you to shoot alot,thus you can learn how to shoot ,but at some point you will be disappointed in the accuracy department.still its a reliable and a cheap learning tool.its a MUST HAVE for alot of people.

for your intended purpuses [a good gun for a noob to learn how to shoot]choose something thats easy on your budget to feed,even if the rifle costs more than you planned on .
 
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I don't need a quiz to tell me that I'm addicted :)

I tried the mauser approach but sold it (still have 20 rounds of 8mm)

I have a few nagants for when I want to try something else.


Get an enfield, shoot it, keep it clean, prices are going up on these rifles so you wont lose anything when/if you ever want to resell it, as long as you keep it in good condition.
 
"...have shot larger caliber rifles..." A bolt action .303 ain't as pleasant to shoot as a C1A1. The felt recoil is considerably more with a Lee-Enfield. The butt stock is narrow and there is no gas system or added rifle weight to help absorb the recoil.
I wouldn't suggest a Lee-Enfield for learning how to shoot. Nor would I suggest an SKS.
"...expect to get burned with that..." Nope. A gas operated semi-auto is far better than a milsurp Lee-Enfield for learning to shoot. At least for that type of rifle. A bolt action hunting rifle with iron sights to learn how to shoot a bolt action. Commercial rifles have a better stock design that helps lessen the felt recoil.
 
Just bought two tins of 7.62x54R. Not for my noisey maggot, but rather for the Vickers.
So I will be shooting Polish ammo loaded with a Finnish belt loader onto chinese belts in a gun made in Crayford, Kent on an Egyptian contract and fired in Arizona!
 
John Sukey said:
Just bought two tins of 7.62x54R. Not for my noisey maggot, but rather for the Vickers.
So I will be shooting Polish ammo loaded with a Finnish belt loader onto chinese belts in a gun made in Crayford, Kent on an Egyptian contract and fired in Arizona!
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Wow...that's messed up:)
 
Unregistered said:
Lee Enfields are awesome classic rifles. Some are more accurate than others. Best is to get a LongBranch, made here in Canada for WWII. They are the best Lee Enfields, obviously ;)

Ammo costs too much, though, averaging $1 a round, and they are not ideal for reloading. QUOTE]

Not true, with a Lee collet die, you can reload many times and .303 isn't a powder hog, go ye forth and have fun with your Enfield.
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Got to the store with my brand new PAL and both enfields were gone:( Picked up a 10/22 to tide me over:)
 
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