I live in northern Ontario in hunt camp and cottage country. There are lots of firearms for sale, often by new owners of the camp or cottage. They just want rid and the firearms can be bought very cheaply, usually for what I offer. I am honest and give a fair price. Lots of Lee Enfield sporters to be had,
some quite old.
I used to think that every sporter was a potential project for restoration no matter how many modifications had been done. After restoring many, my thoughts on this have changed over time.
The Lee Enfield sporter in its various forms is a classic, it is part of our heritage. So many people that I have chatted with about Lee Enfields tell me that they started out with a cut down 303 when they were learning to shoot and hunt. Like the ubiquitous Cooey 22, 303 sporters were everywhere.
When I looked at a Lee Enfield, I used to look for original and correct parts in the assembly to harvest for my restorations. The gun, if seriously modified, would go on the rack as a project and usually had parts switched out from other sporters until a serviceable and well balanced hunting rifle was the result. These sporter projects are what I cut my teeth on with regards to woodwork, bedding, crowning the barrel, polishing the chamber, fixing headspace, refinishing the metalwork. I could try out my different tools and techniques without the worry of destroying something historical or valuable. Some of my techniques worked well, some not so much, but it all is experience.
This last year I bought a sporter off the EE just by a brief description, no pics. I bought a BSA Shirley No.4 that had been sportered, probably by Parker or other Brit outfit. It had cut back forearm, 22 inch barrel, new front ramp sight, Weaver TO1 scope rail, Weaver rings, 4x Busnell Banner scope. It was a classic. The bore was pristine and the scope took less than 10 shots to dial it in at 75 yards (my hunting preference). I took two white tails with it this fall and was very happy with it.
Then for some reason even unknown to me, I decided that this being such a nice rifle, I should move it along. Sold it on the EE in minutes and is now with probably a very happy new owner.
I have original and restored rifles, I still have some to find, but no longer am I looking at sporters to fill the holes in my collection. When I see a sporter, I see it for what it is, not what it used to be. Not all sporters need to be restored in my opinion.
So I suggest that you take your pressie out and shoot it, see how it works for you. Leave it as it is and perhaps later make some changes more to your taste.
I can recognise an original rifle compared to a rebuild more often than not. Too many rifles out there now commanding top dollar that are actually put together by well meaning hobbiests. A 100% correct rifle home assembled from parts aint the same as an 100% correct untouched rifle, but many don't realise the difference or really care. There is a bit more to restocking than finding repacement wood and just assembling things back together. A $200 sporter rifle with $500 worth of parts assembled does not necessarily mean you have a $700 rifle. But I digress.
I'll shut up now, I'm starting to feel like Yoda.
Lets see a pic of what Santa brung you..
