Thinking of getting a Lee-Enfield?

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rustynut1

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Need wise guidance. I have a desire to get a Lee Enfield .303. This topic is a mile wide and deep. Lots of options. I want a shooter, not a collection piece. I'm told #4Mk1 would be a good choice, post war date. A sportier is an option.

There are many new or near new guns out there for reasonable coin so I'm not looking at big investment. Just want a .303 my first rifle was a .303 but gave it away around 1985.

Should I go military look or sporter look?
 
Get whatever style you like, a sporter will be a lot cheaper and can still be a very good shooter, especially if you want to install a scope on it.
 
I've got Mark 3's, 4's and a 5, all good fun and good shooters. Don't think you can go wrong with any except perhaps the 5 which kicks pretty good. None of mine are sporters, personally think it takes away from them but to each his own. Just watch for one with a decent barrel. Many spare parts available as well as stocks.
 
silverfoxdj said:
If you plan on shooting it regularly make sure you source a good supply of ammo..easier if you reload
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Agree with this for sure, .303 can get expensive. I reload and my only challenge, which you won't have if you only have 1 .303, is keeping brass separate since you mostly neck size .303. Even if you don't reload, save your brass as it's usually in demand.
 
Go for it. Many nice old "sporters" out there. I took in and traded a really nice Churchill No.1 this weekend at a gun show. I have had a Churchill since 1965, my first "big" rifle. I recently ought a nice Churchill No.4. Full wood rifles cost a bit more, but have good resale value. Reloading, necksizing is the way to go for these old rifles.
 
Sporter is a whole lot less expensive, and usually tapped/whatever for scopes already. Lighter too, if you have plans on carrying it any amount of time, but full-wood, as-original will hold value better. I might be petty, but I like the elevation-adjustable rear sight, over the two-size peep.

I owned two - A beautiful Faz 4-1 I bought in the US, and an all-original US-Property Savage 3 I bought in Canada. Sold them both to purchase other firearms, but I miss them like they're members of the family.
 
OP, who are you trying to please????

Figure out what you can afford, what YOU like and how long you tend to stay with your interests. Then, purchase what is best for YOU. If you are presently shooting with a group that shoots Lee Enfields or other surplus firearms try them out and see what you like. Many people just can't shoot the different Lee Enfield variants with any success. They are often put off by the significant weight of the rifles, open sights and substantial recoil. If you don't reload, there is very little if any surplus ammo available.
 
I reload. I will have to get the gear to reload this calibre though. I don't shoot with others. My BIL has LEs but I have little to do with him, he dances to his own drummer and I don't need the drama. I just bought two Mausers so thought it would be good to have a Lee Enfield as well. I don't like light weight in a rifle. I have a trusted source a gun smith that has a couple Le Sporters so this will likely where I get the gun. Local dealer has a couple but I haven't had great luck with them and best to avoid the dealer. OK for new guns I guess but it would be a crap shoot to buy something like this from them.
 
I would get one of the ones that Corwin sells, they are not sporterized and are in military configuration
Yes they are more expensive but they will hold their value and they are refurbished rifles from the arsenal so good to go
 
Buy yourself a decent sporter for 2-300 bucks and shoot it. If you don't like it you wont have much difficulty in selling it for what you paid. You might even come out ahead.

But be forewarned. The Lee Enfield rifle is addictive.
I honestly cant give you an accurate count on how many I have had through my hands.
I buy them, clean them and fix em up, play with them, sell them and then repeat the process.
Nothing wrong with a nicely done sporter in my eyes.
I like sporter Lee Enfields and I like military arms.
But I also like classic cars and hot rods.
Antique Harleys and choppers.
Army Jeeps and mudders.

And I honestly can't tell you as to how many I own right now without having to do some serious mental arithmetic.
I have enough and have a storage problem so I'll probably buy just one more and I am done.
 
rustynut1 said:
I reload. I will have to get the gear to reload this calibre though. I don't shoot with others. My BIL has LEs but I have little to do with him, he dances to his own drummer and I don't need the drama. I just bought two Mausers so thought it would be good to have a Lee Enfield as well. I don't like light weight in a rifle. I have a trusted source a gun smith that has a couple Le Sporters so this will likely where I get the gun. Local dealer has a couple but I haven't had great luck with them and best to avoid the dealer. OK for new guns I guess but it would be a crap shoot to buy something like this from them.
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OK, sounds like you've figured out what YOU want and why.

Lots of things to look for when it comes to Lee Enfield variants. Most of them will shoot very well as long as they've been maintained properly and have VG-EXC bores. I have on that is a 1950 Longbranch that will honestly shoot 1 inch groups if the shooter is capable of holding it to the task. It likes the cheap grey box Winchester 174 gr soft points best. It shoots surplus ammo into regular 2-4 inch groups. It will shoot handloads into an inch as well.

Bedding is particularly important. It needs to be set up properly without being slathered in oil and grease. Take down methods are extremely important and different from variant to variant. The safest way to take them down is to take the fore end off before removing the butt bolt. Some models have an extension which goes through the butt socket and into a little cup piece of metal at the back of the fore end, which is supposed to stop it from backing off. IF you take the butt off first, you will spread this small metal piece and split the base of the fore end. This will eliminate any hopes of accuracy until it's been properly repaired and will likely screw up the WAYS at the same time.

The fore ends on all variants has to be "dropped" down. Levering the fore end loose is a great way to screw up accuracy.

Ok, I'm just letting you know what are usually invisible issues with Lee Enfield rifles. There are more, such as missing King Screw Pillars and fore end pressure issues. The list is long and I suggest you pick up Peter Laidler's book on maintenance and repair. An Armorer's Perspective.

All of the sportered rifles I've had that shot well either had or needed pressure pads on the tip of the fore end.

Headspace isn't nearly the bugaboo many cry about here. Those rifles were purposely built with generous tolerances to accept all sorts of variations in rim thicknesses and crud. If you're going to hand load, go to the dollar store and pick up a dollar bag of those multi colored tiny elastic bands. There are a few hundred in them. Slip one over the cartridge and rest it against the rim before loading it into the chamber. This will keep the case head against the bolt face and help to keep cases consistent when fireforming. Then, neck resize only with maybe a couple of thou shoulder set back for easy bolt closure. Personally I don't mind if the bolt is a bit snug when closing.

Lee Enfields are captivating and addicting all at the same time. To bad you are starting out so late.
 
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