I have never used mine for deer or moose yet as my deer area is shotgun only plus I have a 270 an 375 Winchester as well. I bought it 15 years ago for 50 bucks at a gun shop going out of business. But I have shot it and it is just as accurate as my 270.
What makes an Enfield so desirable?
- Thread starter M_User
- Start date
hahaha, all of the above. when i was a young lad of 5 or 6, my uncle who was back from ww2 let me hold his enfield. it was much taller than i was and extremely heavy . my first experience with an enfield which hooked me better and quicker than a pike swallowing a red diamond number 5.
I would say the Lee Enfield played quite a role in the history of Eastern Europe - by extension.
Compare the SMLE to the Gew98 and the No.4 to the K98. Handle them, shoot them, compare the features, the ease of maintenance and adjustment to the soldier...the speed of loading, the mag size, the sights, the weather protection...the list goes on and on. IMHO the Mauser peaked with the M96 and went downhill from there, while the Lee Enfield peaked in 1955-7.
Last edited:
This is an insightful article about why the Lee Enfield is still considered a very desirable action.
Ihttp://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2016/11/18/makes-smle-conducive-mad-minute/
Ihttp://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2016/11/18/makes-smle-conducive-mad-minute/
Brutus
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Yep, I only own one. And that is an original 22 single shot training rifle that is pretty darn accurate as it sits right now.
If I feel the desire to pop a few rounds through a real military rifle, then I can grab one of my two Mausers or the Springfield made M1 rifle.
Alright so it's a little mix of everything. I got one a month ago but I haven't tried it out yet. I knew someone who had a Ruger Hankeye and to me bolt-action rifles are just a turn off. Its akward to cycle the bolt from what I remember.
But if people like the action, I'll have to try out the LE.
For the Reloading question, people are Reloading using surplus mosin rounds to keep the cost cheap supposedly only the primer is corresive, so you get the bullet and powder for cheap, all you need is a new primer.
But if people like the action, I'll have to try out the LE.
For the Reloading question, people are Reloading using surplus mosin rounds to keep the cost cheap supposedly only the primer is corresive, so you get the bullet and powder for cheap, all you need is a new primer.
Let's see:
1) archaic #### on close firing pin
2) came over on the ark ballistics
3) defective two piece stock design
4) springy weak rear locking action
5) obsolete rim ctg design
6) non windage adjustable rear sight
7) impossible to convert to a decent caliber ie 30-06, 270
All the US gun writers 1920-60 gave the above reasons why the Lee Enfield was inferior to the "perfect" rifle the M1903 Springfield.
The above opinions are not those of this contributor.
1) archaic #### on close firing pin
2) came over on the ark ballistics
3) defective two piece stock design
4) springy weak rear locking action
5) obsolete rim ctg design
6) non windage adjustable rear sight
7) impossible to convert to a decent caliber ie 30-06, 270
All the US gun writers 1920-60 gave the above reasons why the Lee Enfield was inferior to the "perfect" rifle the M1903 Springfield.
The above opinions are not those of this contributor.
I think its the nostalgia. I remember when they were given away to friends when you didn't use yours. They were beyond inexpensive in the late 70's and early 80's. I think my family has had 20 of them and none are still around. I wouldn't want one today though.
Eaglelord17
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Sault Ste. Marie
Best part about that grouping is the fact that depending on the model reason number 6 doesn't apply so it isn't even always correct for the firearm.
Let's see:
1) archaic #### on close firing pin
easier to open the bolt
2) came over on the ark ballistics
so did the original 30/03 round
3) defective two piece stock design
says who? it's easier to manufacture
4) springy weak rear locking action
again, says who? the L-E design is just as safe as a copied Mauser
5) obsolete rim ctg design
that's a matter of opinion.
6) non windage adjustable rear sight
depending on the model, true. however, it's a battle rifle, not a target rifle
7) impossible to convert to a decent caliber ie 30-06, 270
tell that to the guys who converted plenty of .303's to .308
All the US gun writers 1920-60 gave the above reasons why the Lee Enfield was inferior to the "perfect" rifle the M1903 Springfield.
they were slightly biased
The above opinions are not those of this contributor.
The Americans were, are, and always will be thinking that "American design is always the best". US gun guys just HATE it when you remind them that their vaunted Springfield '03 was so close a copy of the Mauser 98 action that Mauser sued the US government for patent infringement - and won! Springfield Armory (then gov't owned) paid Mauser royalties on every '03 made until the US entered WW1.
Also with the rear locking action of the Lee Enfield, it's perfectly strong for service cartridges. And blokeontherange channel, who is an engineer noted that when/if a rear locking action were to fail, it would fail rather safely (think a caterpillar walking for a visual). Where as if a front locking mauser were to let go, it would be a lot more catastrophic style of failure.
Lonesome Donkey
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Central Alberta
Nostalgia.
However....
I owned a Lithgow SMLE that was FTR from Ishapore Arsenal in India, back in the late 70s.
With it's new barrel, it was one of the most accurate and fun rifles that I ever owned.
Also, the .303 British is more than adequate for large game up to moose and black bear, and has probably been used to kill more game in Canada than any other cartridge.
Strength-wise, it can't compare to a Mauser action, yet it is strong enough that some were converted to .308.
Speed-wise, it beats a Mauser any day.
So, with a good barrel, it's a fast-handling, accurate, and powerful big-game rifle.
And, ammunition is as easy and inexpensive to reload as any rifle cartridge.
What's not to like?
However....
I owned a Lithgow SMLE that was FTR from Ishapore Arsenal in India, back in the late 70s.
With it's new barrel, it was one of the most accurate and fun rifles that I ever owned.
Also, the .303 British is more than adequate for large game up to moose and black bear, and has probably been used to kill more game in Canada than any other cartridge.
Strength-wise, it can't compare to a Mauser action, yet it is strong enough that some were converted to .308.
Speed-wise, it beats a Mauser any day.
So, with a good barrel, it's a fast-handling, accurate, and powerful big-game rifle.
And, ammunition is as easy and inexpensive to reload as any rifle cartridge.
What's not to like?
Last edited:
It simply comes down to what you enjoy to collect, hold, shoot. Its not about which rifle is the 'best'.
Canada, its young men (and women) and the LE rifle have a long standing history.
When you hold an Enfield and something clicks (no not the cocked bolt) that's enough for me....
Canada, its young men (and women) and the LE rifle have a long standing history.
When you hold an Enfield and something clicks (no not the cocked bolt) that's enough for me....
Because the Lee Enfield remains the best bolt action battle rifle ever conceived by humanity.
Mosins, Mausers, Springfields, Carcano's, Arisaka's (etc) don't even come close.
Having an enfield sitting in your closet rusting is a form of abuse.
You need to get it out in the ice, snow. slush and mud and make it work like it was built for.
Maple Leaf Up
Mosins, Mausers, Springfields, Carcano's, Arisaka's (etc) don't even come close.
Having an enfield sitting in your closet rusting is a form of abuse.
You need to get it out in the ice, snow. slush and mud and make it work like it was built for.
Maple Leaf Up
Last edited:
I wasn't a fan of the LEs when I was younger...all of the ones I saw were butchered sporters...but shiny ones for sale in barrels at the local hardware store for $25. I have a 1916 BSA III sporter...a '43 J.P. Sauer K98 and a '43 Iszvesk Mosin...I now like them all. Still looking for the button that plays the gun's story.
