Mint Jungle Carbines in the wrapper?

Threemorewishes

Threemorewishes

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I see minty No4's in the wrap on the EE every now and then and I got to wondering if minty No5's exist in the wrap. I want a minty Jungle Carbine for this years deer season. Any ideas where one could be found.
Thanks
Threemorewishes
 
If it's just for deer hunting, I would suggest NOT using an "unwrapped" milsurp of any kind. Mint examples of most milsurps command top dollar as collectible firearms. Nice "used" or "bubba'ed examples would be more suited to hunting IMHO. I have a feeling your just pulling our chains :rolleyes:
 
"Mint" means unfired, as it came out of the factory. "Minty" is your own definition. Never heard of No. 5's in either condition at any price.
You may want to shoot one before you buy, if you can. The felt recoil and muzzle blast isn't for the timid.
 
glang1,
No chain pulling going on here. I am not a museum. If I buy a gun I enjoy it as I see fit. The history of the device does not die because of me. There are many examples that will stay as display pieces in museums all over the planet. Let those tell the story of what the rifle once was. In my opinion, shooting a deer adds to the history of the weapon. Who knows what the future holds. It may one day be melted down into plowshares or knife blades.

sunray,
I suspect you are right. I have never seen an "in the wrapper" No5 for sale before. The recoil and muzzle blast will not be an issue but thanks for the information.
 
"...thanks for the information..." A buddy's uncle used one, exclusively, for moose. Mind you, his was a real one. Don't know when he bought it. He was a W.W. II RCAF type, so it was likely sometime in the 50's or 60's.
"...display pieces in museums..." Not many are in great condition either.
The only time the felt recoil and MB will matter is when you're sighting in. A slip-on recoil pad will fix it. That silly India rubber pad the rifle came with is like a rock.
Epp's is listing a few No. 5's. 'Good' condition runs $299 with a poor barrel. 'Very good' with an excellent bore is $479. Jump on it fast though.
 
Dad had a Jungle Carbine when he was a kid, said "couldn't hit s--t with it". He was right; I tried as a young buck too, no luck...
Read up on it; apparently they have wandering zero. Point of impact to point of aim changes every few rounds. British army couldn't figure out a cure(so I've heard).
Cool rifle, way collectable, but I'd research it before I plan on using it as a hunting rifle. A gut shot deer will ruin your day, not mention some venision
 
tokguy said:
Dad had a Jungle Carbine when he was a kid, said "couldn't hit s--t with it". He was right; I tried as a young buck too, no luck...
Read up on it; apparently they have wandering zero. Point of impact to point of aim changes every few rounds. British army couldn't figure out a cure(so I've heard).
Cool rifle, way collectable, but I'd research it before I plan on using it as a hunting rifle. A gut shot deer will ruin your day, not mention some venision
Click to expand...

The "wandering zero" was never proven. Some think it was thought up by the Brit command to have an excuse to take it out of service in favor of more modern firearms. Some think it was thought up to bash the No.5.
 
"...when he was a kid..." The felt recoil isn't to be trifled with.
The British Army opted not to adopt the No. 5 because it's a bolt action and the troopies hated it.
 
Pa never heard about the "wandering zero" he thought it was just "shot out". He shot lotsa deer with different guns and he didn't like that Jungle Carbine.
Had a ugly Bubba'd No. 4 he thought was great shooting. No prejudice toward Lee Enfields , just might wanna do a little background check....
 
"...he didn't like that Jungle Carbine..." They do hurt to shoot. Most likely the muzzle blast and noise though. The 'wandering zero' is rumoured to be caused by the lightening cuts made on the receiver. It's another one of those things that were never mentioned prior to there being an Internet.
 
I bought a mint as you can get one in back in 1962 for the princely sum of $18. Win M70s,etc were pretty expensive in comparison,so sporterizing LEs was all the rage in those days.I fitted a Bishop buttstock with monte-carlo comb(and whiteline spacer) and had the late Eddie Mather install a Weaver T0-1 base on it in his shop on Avenue A in Saskatoon.
I shot a lot of game with this rifle over the yrs while hunting across the country incl my biggest Whitetails,Mulies,Moose,and bear.It is still an excellent choice for heavy timber.It has consistently grouped 2.5-3 inches @100 yds with handloads and 3 different scopes and never gave any indication of the so-called wandering zero.I've never been bothered by it's recoil-a non-issue in a hunting situation anyway.
 
I had one with a Sk scope mount. after the initial cut over the eye it settled in to be a great rifle. No wandering zero.
 
I'm no expert, but IMHO wandering zero is a myth.

And I suspect any accuracy issues were more likely to someone developing an involuntary flinch caused by recoil combined with the brutal butt pads on those rifles. :D
 
I know where there's an unfired one (not wrapped though), if someone hasn't snatched it up - comes with a new unsharpened original bayonet too. Unfortunately the folks who have it don't do internet sales. As far as wandering zero is concerned, when those rifles were issued there was literally tons of ammunition in stores that the British Army wanted to get rid of left over from WW2. No better way than sending (National Service) troops out to the range day after day with cases of ammunition and blowing it down range as quickly as they could. My father was a Bren gunner and even though he had other duties, he was sent to the range on a regular basis with a truck load (Army Champ) of ammunition and multiple new spare barrels with instructions to "come back when it's gone."
 
I read somewhere (not sure if it is true) that the rubber butt pad was to protect the wood from damp whan rested on the butt rather than to cushion the recoil. I agree that the wandering zero had more to do with "army politics", or possibly shooters getting beaten up and starting to flinch when firing long practices, rather than any defect of the rifle.

Mosin carbines seem less punishing to shoot, so I think the butt pad is the culprit on the No 5. I have thought about trying to install a full size No 4 stock and try that for comparrison, but I have never got around to trying it.
 
I had one myself a number of years ago. Good little gun for fast handling in the woods.

I found with mine, that the first couple of shots were fairly accurate, but as the barrel heated up with sucessive shots, the groups got wider and wider.

This doesn't seem to be a problem with the #4.

In any event, got rid of the #5. Use a Mauser now; much more accurate.
 
I never felt an increase in recoil on the No5? Maybe a slight muzzle rise becasue of the lighter overall rifle weight.

The wandering zero is bunk. At the time, most of Europes countries were arming with semi auto's. Britian had the No4MkII, No4MkI/I* and the No5MkI. the wandering zero was IMHO made up to get the Gov to move onto a new pruchase. Considering Britian was ending rations in the 1950's, It's no wonder the wait to re arm, no money....
 
This gun is not in the wrapper---but she is pretty decent.

Bought in the early 60s.....I am not sure what mint looks like?
This gun has been fired by my late father and I......but not often.

David


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I had at least 3 No5s all in very good shape with excelent barrels. First 2 shots cold barrel would go into 2'',next 3 shots would make the group open to 5". Same ammo in my NO4, 5 shots in 2". All shooting at 100 yds. benchrest. Loud muzzle blast, didnot wear ear protection when shooting outdoors 30 years ago, always used a slip on recoil pad on the No5, did not need it on the No4. If you are hunting in heavy cover you will probably not get a shot over 100 yds. The NO5 will do fine for you.
 
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