scoping a pre-SMLE Lee Enfield action

[louthepou]

I know, I know, "WHAT ARE YOU THINKING??"

But, well, let's just begin by showing you the front of the (shortened) barrel:



And the rear sight which was installed on the barrel by way of a huge dovetail isn't subtle either. Anywho, that was not the prettiest Lee Enfield I've seen.

Only thing left to do was either part it out, or... try to turn it into a somewhat useable bush rifle.

The cheapest and simplest way I found to scope a pre-SMLE action (or a SMLE on which the charger "bridge" has been hack-sawed) is to use a weaver side-mount base (#2), with their corresponding detachable side mount rings.





Taking the time to align the base properly on the right side of the receiver, you end up with a scope which sits low on the action, and is aligned with the bore axis. I bore-sighted it, and it should be ready for sighting it at the range as soon as I can make it there.

 

[buffdog]

.
Nice to see an old classic put back to use again. A while ago I needed a donor parts rifle so I bought one on the EE. Turned out that it was a 1929 BSA Commercial rifle, BUT someone had threaded the muzzle of the barrel and installed a FN-FAL flash hider on it. The barrel was in good shape, so it got put into the gun safe as a possible future project for a fun gun or brush gun. So, I had to buy another one, but then again, you can never have too many guns.

 

[Butcherbill]

Nice looking Lou, I like a sported Enfield. Especially when its already beyond putting back to normal. It should make a nice hunting rifle provided it shoots straight.

 

[englishman_ca]

Nicely done Lou! A very professional looking installation with blind holes for the mounting screws. A nice touch!
Most mounts that I see, people drill and tap right through the side wall.

I put together another bitzer deer rifle with take off parts out of the junk drawer. It also has that Weaver side mount, which I like very much. It does get the scope nice and low over the receiver.

It is sighted in to 'minute of pie plate' with my hand loads and is ready for deer season.

 

[louthepou]

Nicely done Lou! A very professional looking installation with blind holes for the mounting screws. A nice touch!
Most mounts that I see, people drill and tap right through the side wall.

I put together another bitzer deer rifle with take off parts out of the junk drawer. It also has that Weaver side mount, which I like very much. It does get the scope nice and low over the receiver.
View attachment 212846
It is sighted in to 'minute of pie plate' with my hand loads and is ready for deer season.

Dang, I wish I would have actually thought about blind holes - they only look that way from the picture angle, but I did indeed drill through. Now that you mention it, I think there may be enough thickness there to try that next time around (doh)

Wish I would have made a job as good as you thought this one was!

nice scope on yours by the way - US-made weaver?