What to buy: Enfield, Enfield, or Enfield?

happydude

happydude

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I'm hoping to pick up an Enfield in the next couple of months but not sure which one. I'm considering a No.4, No. 1 MkIII, and the AIA No.4, but can't decide. Buying all of the above is not an option.

No. 1
I only own a mosin nagant and an sks for non-rimfire rifles, so I'm used to those type of sights. The huge bayonet is tempting, but associated cost of the bayonet is not. It's got that ww1 charm, but it seems like this will cost me more generally.

No. 4
I've never used peep sights, but I'm not discounting a No. 4 either. Frankly, the sights confuse me. I like the lighter color of stock on a rifle, much like this one: http://psmilitaria.50megs.com/images/ps976b.jpg , which are more availible in a No. 4. Having said that, I have a bad habit of refinishing my gun stocks anyway.

AIA No. 4
I do some of my shooting at 100 yards bust mostly at the 200 yard gong. I tend to shoot a lot when I go and with lighter handloads I could see myself shooting 200 per outing. Thus, brass life is a great concern for me, which makes me lean towards the AIA Enfield. I'll have greater bullet selection and I'm assuming longer brass life. I also have the right size shell holder for RCBS dies for this one so I don't have to change my press or handprimer. But, it's expensive, no charger loading, and I don't know if it'll take a bayonet which is an absolute must have.
 
Any one of the three would be good choices. I'd suggest handling each of them and see which one speaks to you the loudest. Problem with Enfields is, you'll likely end up owning multiple examples, sooner or later.
The 7.62 ammo thing is a valid point.


happydude said:
I'm hoping to pick up an Enfield in the next couple of months but not sure which one. I'm considering a No.4, No. 1 MkIII, and the AIA No.4, but can't decide. Buying all of the above is not an option.

No. 1
I only own a mosin nagant and an sks for non-rimfire rifles, so I'm used to those type of sights. The huge bayonet is tempting, but associated cost of the bayonet is not. It's got that ww1 charm, but it seems like this will cost me more generally.

No. 4
I've never used peep sights, but I'm not discounting a No. 4 either. Frankly, the sights confuse me. I like the lighter color of stock on a rifle, much like this one: http://psmilitaria.50megs.com/images/ps976b.jpg , which are more availible in a No. 4. Having said that, I have a bad habit of refinishing my gun stocks anyway.

AIA No. 4
I do some of my shooting at 100 yards bust mostly at the 200 yard gong. I tend to shoot a lot when I go and with lighter handloads I could see myself shooting 200 per outing. Thus, brass life is a great concern for me, which makes me lean towards the AIA Enfield. I'll have greater bullet selection and I'm assuming longer brass life. I also have the right size shell holder for RCBS dies for this one so I don't have to change my press or handprimer. But, it's expensive, no charger loading, and I don't know if it'll take a bayonet which is an absolute must have.
Click to expand...
 
Some #4's have light wood (Beech on mine). In my opinion the peep sights are an advantage. The #4's are a stronger action with better metallurgy. As for the AIA, do you want an Enfield or a bad copy?
 
bushwhacker said:
Some #4's have light wood (Beech on mine). In my opinion the peep sights are an advantage. The #4's are a stronger action with better metallurgy. As for the AIA, do you want an Enfield or a bad copy?
Click to expand...

Have you actually seen an AIA or is that just your opinion?
 
happydude said:
I'm hoping to pick up an Enfield in the next couple of months but not sure which one. I'm considering a No.4, No. 1 MkIII, and the AIA No.4, but can't decide. Buying all of the above is not an option.
Click to expand...

None of the above are Enfields, with the exeption of the AIA they are all LEE Enfields.

This is an Enfield Pattern 14





Feb08219.jpg
 
I could never hit the boradside of a barn with peepsights, don't ask me why, so no1Mk3 is a no brainer .... or is that X3 ?

Oh and Spencer, that looks like a mighty big gun for wabbit hunting, these ARE wabbit tracks in the snow are they ?
 
happydude said:
AIA No. 4
I do some of my shooting at 100 yards bust mostly at the 200 yard gong. I tend to shoot a lot when I go and with lighter handloads I could see myself shooting 200 per outing. Thus, brass life is a great concern for me, which makes me lean towards the AIA Enfield. I'll have greater bullet selection and I'm assuming longer brass life. I also have the right size shell holder for RCBS dies for this one so I don't have to change my press or handprimer. But, it's expensive, no charger loading, and I don't know if it'll take a bayonet which is an absolute must have.
Click to expand...

If your shooting 200 rounds an outing, then I'd suggest either an AIA No4. or maybe even an Ishapore 2A in 7.62 Nato. Some one who owns either could chime in, but common sense would dictate that if you are shooting that much, 7.62 would be the cheaper option. To each their own, but I would rather buy 200 surplus rounds than reload 200 of them. Saves more time for important things in life... unless you love reloading.

Besides, the Ishy 2A and 2A1 were built from the ground up for 7.62 NATO, and you can pick up a decent one for less than half the price of an AIA.
 
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Well I have a few of each...I prefer the No4Mk1* myself. I find the post too fine on the No1MkIII.

I like the No 4 peep sights and I argue that the rear sight being on the back of the reciever is a longer and better sighting plane rather than the No1 where the rear sight is in front of the reciever on the barell.

Can't go wrong with either really...

And yes the P14 is nice too. And looky - looky - a rear peep sight....

And Rob, I'd bet them's dog or crow tracks.
 
The No.4 is one of the top two winningest rifles in the milsurp matches in Eastern Ontario. The Garand does almost as well. The reason is simple; a rear aperature right close to the shooter's eye. Anything with a leaf rear sight is at an automatic disadvantage. The rifle underneath was developed from the No.1 for a whole list of valid reasons, and the accuracy shows.

The AIA rifle is appealing, but at $1K after taxes and shipping, that is a lot to get my mind around. Especially considering my No.4(T) sniper rifle was only $1600 a few years ago. There is a DCRA 7.62 conversion on sale (not mine) on another gun auction site in the upper Ottawa Valley. Buddy wants $900 (plus taxes and shipping). I'd go for the genuine article, considering they aren't making them anymore.
 
I hadn't really thought about the 2A/2A1's. I've always assumed they were junker quality... good caliber and a good bayonet though. I don't mind reloading, so long as my brass life isn't 2 or 3 reloads. I'm thinking ~125 grain bullets under not a lighter charge, something like pulling 7.62x39 ammo and using the bullets and powder like CanAm was doing. The Pat14's are nice, but I want a Lee Enfield action.
 
..... The No.4, being a later development, Incorporated a lot of improvements. The longer sight radius is and obvious one. They are also inherently more accurate, and easier to "tune bedding" and a simplified system. If speed of repeat shots is important, then personally, I find the Mk111 bolt is both easier and smoother to operate. If you shoot slowly, the Mk111 sights are OK and certainly easy to adjust for distance. But then so is the No.if it's got the ladder type rear sight. ...... Be warned, it's incredibly hard to stop at just one SMLE > Worse than a bowl of peanuts !!! .... David K.
 
<None of the above are Enfields, with the exeption of the AIA they are all LEE Enfields.

This is an Enfield Pattern 14>



Nice looking rifle...boy, that scope is sure mounted high up...kind of hard to get a cheek weld isn't it?
 
I got a .303 No.1 MK III for Christmas and I haven't been able to even shoot it or see it for that matter, since I'm at school! it was a Christmas present to me from my parents they said, "we will buy you a rifle for under 300$ so i said i always wanted a full wood Lee Enfield so i got one for Christmas:D" I love my parents I still had to do the work in finding one but I they are still really cool:rockon: hahaha i got it off of Norseman! that reminds me i haven't gave him a good trader rating i better go do that!
ttyl
Riley
edit: Get a no.1 mk III if you like the ww1 look or a no.1 mk 4 if you like the WW2 look :D
 
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happydude, the AIA will not accept a bayonet, but is a fine rifle just the same. Cantom has a new unfired one for sale at a very good price.
As far as 125 grain bullets go, the majority of them were made for the 7.62x39 Russian and I've never had a lot of sucess with them in rifles chambered for 303British.
In the vast majority of lee enfields, the chambers are cut with deeper throats, which gives a lot of freebore and also a looooooooong jump to the lands, which in turn return can and usually does inhibit consistancy and accuracy. If you're going to get a 303Brit, just neck size the brass and you will extend the brass lfe a lot. As for bullets, anything 150 grn and over will usually shoot pretty good and the 174 grn offerings will shoot even better.
The Ishapore 7.62 rifles are a crap shoot, some shoot very well and others aren't at all acceptable. There are a number of reasons for poor or inconsistant accuracy in these rifles.
The biggest accuracy destroyer is a worn out throat and crown, inpossible to fix without rebarreling.
Next is the most common cause, cosmoline left in the bedding area of the stock and bbl channel.
Next, warped forend, anything from irrepairably twisted to a minor curve, which can be fixed with judicous carveing or sanding or rasping and if you're not worried about the finish, some steam.
Next is the little spring and saddle that puts upward pressure on the bbl and is located in the forearm quite often these will be broken or rusted in place, again fixable.
If you're seriously looking for a good shooter and not a collectible, don't be overly concerned about matching numbers but look more at a late FTR or full refurb No4 Mkll. There are a lot of these rifles out there in VG+ to EXC condition in the $250-$350 range.
The AIA rifles are purpose built for accuracy and strength. That they lack bayonet lugs may not be all that big of thing unless you envision yourself going into reenacting or collecting. I wouldn't give up my AIA for very many reasons if any. It is one of the best shooting milstyle rifles I've shot, especially with a properly mounted scope and of course it also has a ten round mag. They also don't seem to be to fussy about ammunition, they just shoot everything milsurp acceptably and handloads very well.
I don't know where you're located, but usually there are several to choose from at gunshows and if you do peruse for one, be choosey as to shootable characteristics, there are a lot of them out there with questionable barrels as far as wear and pitting go. Again if you handload, headspace isn't a concern if you neck resize only.


bearhunter
 
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