What makes an Enfield so desirable?

[milsurpo]

Personally I am a big fan of the LE design but it certainly isn't perfect. I have seen references to the effect that the two piece stock was imposed on the Remington-Lee design in order to use up blanks of Martini-Henry butts and forends. The setup is strong but finicky to set up properly (by coincidence I'm patching the draws on a SMLE as I type this- not fun!). And, as mentioned by others, the British couldn't upgrade to a ballistically superior cartridge which they did want to do (remember the P-13?). I think the supreme slickness of the action is what appeals and kept the basic type in service so long. For comparison have a look at a movie like "The Winter War" and watch the actors struggling to cycle their various Mosins rapidly- they often lie the gun down on the bank and pound on the bolt like they're trying to shift a 50 year old MF tractor. I also collect Mosins and the difference in ease of use is real!

milsurpo

 

[LE303]

My 1916 303 sporty and my 1966 2A the action is like butter compared to my Rem 710 clunk master . This design wouldn't have been around this long if it didn't work properly

 

[tokguy]

There are so many rifles of the same era that have individual characteristics that are superior; Springfield 30-06 are much more powerful and accurate, 98's are stronger, 91/30's are...longer...?
But the LE was just a good main battle rifle. An AK 47 for the times, if you will.
Your average Squaddie just isn't Audie Murphy, a Springfield is too much gun for him to utilize correctly anyhow. Might as well give him a good battle rifle with an excellent rate of fire and decent accuracy at 300-500 m.
My 2 cents anyhow

 

[Claven2]

There are so many rifles of the same era that have individual characteristics that are superior

This.

For example, a lot of people like to pan the Mosin Nagant series of rifles - usually because the person is basing it on a shot-out $180 refurb with a ratty bore. But get a nice one, and you have a rifle with an ingeniously designed bearing system that allows for natural 2-point receiver bedding. The bolt can be completely disassembled without tools and the bolt lugs can be swapped out if worn without replacing the whole bolt body. The cartridge interruptor design is far superior to any other vertical magazine fed rifle with rimmed ammunition, to include the Lee Enfield. You can even detail strip the rifle with nothing but the issue screwdriver, which is a cheap piece of stamped steel. The actions will also withstand more pressure than a Lee Enfield action will.

The military rifles of the last century all had redeeming features that only become evident if you use them a bunch as intended.

 

[tokguy]

Mosin's are neat. I'd still be taking the LE over any Bolt action rifle from the WW1 through WW2 era though.
And I don't even own one ( not planning on going to battle any time soon ) so I'm not ' That guy ' just championing my personal fav.
303 Br, I'm a Ross MK3 man personally; but the battle sight 'blows goat's' IMO, flip it up and dial it in...now we are talking

 

[Tinman204]

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

I agree with you except I will say that a good condition Mosin is in my opinion a close second.

 

[Ganderite]

Every red-blooded Canadian kid has (or should have) a Lee Enfield and a Cooey. And should be asking Santa for a Ross.