first enfield, what should I do with it? |
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steve-o
Newbie Joined: April 06 2017 Location: Missouri Status: Offline Points: 13 |
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Posted: April 06 2017 at 2:33pm |
Hey everybody, just picked up a No 4 Enfield from the pawn shop down the road from my workplace. Well, they still have it, I put some money down and I'm picking it up in a couple weeks. Anyways, it's not in too bad of shape, but I think the barrel has been cut down (20") and it's sporterized. I have read about doing the 45 acp conversions and found kits from Rhineland and Special Interest Arms. I can't find any ordering info on the Rhineland kits which leads me to believe the page was just left up and they are not available. I emailed them and SIA to see what was available.
I wouldn't mind keeping the gun in 303, but it needs some work. I'd do an original style stock that I'd probably have to fabricate or modify myself, sights, etc. I'm planning on tearing it down and doing some work to it as it's my first "real rifle" and I've kind of lost interest in building my AR for the time being. This would ultimately become my deer/woods gun so I won't be making it too pretty. Let me know any suggestions! Sorry no pics for now until I pick it up. Thanks! |
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Pedro
Senior Member Joined: February 20 2016 Location: Cumbria, UK Status: Offline Points: 192 |
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If it's going to be your deer/woods gun, why try to get an original stock etc.? I'd go down the route of just tidying it up as a sporter, maybe it needs a new stock, don't know, perhaps mount a scope if there isn't one. Just me, though, it's your gun and you should do what turns you on.
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Shamu
Admin Group Logo Designer / Donating Member Joined: April 25 2007 Location: MD, USA. Status: Offline Points: 17566 |
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If the barrel is really cut down you won't be able to return it to original anyway.
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Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force)
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steve-o
Newbie Joined: April 06 2017 Location: Missouri Status: Offline Points: 13 |
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I just like the look of the original style stock I guess. It's killing me waiting to pick it up and start cleaning it haha. The stock on it now isn't in bad shape, just looks like the typical decades old weathered stock. I'm going to shoot it as is first once I do an inspection to make sure it won't blow me up. The 303 would be a good round should I ever make it out West to hunt mule deer or even elk. The 45 idea came from the fact that I sometimes hunt now with a 1911 that I have modified to shoot .45 super. I assume that the barrel and receiver can handle the pressure, since 303 is about 20,000 psi more than 45 super. I'd get better than 10mm ballistics in a handy package. The area I hunt and shoot never has shot opportunities over 100 yards, so it would work fine. Anyways, once I get a hold of it, I'll report back with some more specifics.
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Zed
Special Member Donating Member Joined: May 01 2012 Location: France Status: Offline Points: 5569 |
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If your hunting with it; it would be better to keep it's original .303 calibre.
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It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice!
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SW28fan
Special Member Donating Member Joined: July 02 2007 Location: Texas Status: Offline Points: 2948 |
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Richard from Special Interest Arms is a member of the forum
Congraats on your first enfield.
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Have a Nice Day
If already having a nice day please disregard |
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steve-o
Newbie Joined: April 06 2017 Location: Missouri Status: Offline Points: 13 |
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Awesome, that should help. In the meantime I'm going to mess with it as is. I'm pretty excited about it, thanks!
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Bear43
Special Member Donating Member Joined: August 11 2010 Location: Doland, SD Status: Offline Points: 3059 |
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Keep it in .303, tidy it up a bit, and enjoy it! Please post some pictures when you have the rifle in hand.
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A square 10
Special Member Donating Member Joined: December 12 2006 Location: MN , USA Status: Offline Points: 14414 |
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yes please ,
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steve-o
Newbie Joined: April 06 2017 Location: Missouri Status: Offline Points: 13 |
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OK finally was able to pick this thing up (My wife and I have been preparing for our first born, so I haven't had a whole lot of time haha). Action is smooth and everything appears to be in decent shape for an old rifle. The bore was dirty so I scrubbed and scrubbed, but it still looks a little rough. I will shoot it this weekend to see how it works out. Not too sure about the stock, I like the original style much more than what is on it. If the barrel is ok and not totally shot out, I thought of maybe cutting it down a little more and putting a rear peep sight and different front on. I like woodworking so I might be able to fashion the top portion of the stock that goes over the barrel (sorry I don't know what it's called) and come out with something similar to the no. 5 jungle carbine. That way I could keep it in .303 as I rather like the round. Of course switching it over to .45, .45-70 or maybe .44 magnum since it has been sporterized and modified. Pics are coming, my file size is too big so I will try and figure that out. |
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steve-o
Newbie Joined: April 06 2017 Location: Missouri Status: Offline Points: 13 |
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There we go
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steve-o
Newbie Joined: April 06 2017 Location: Missouri Status: Offline Points: 13 |
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I keep coming up with more questions about this thing. I'll get some better pictures up, but can anyone tell me what it is?! I know it's a silly question, I'm sure it's an Enfield, but that's about all I can tell. There aren't many markings, there is a very faded "No4 mk I" on the receiver, and the serial starts with "BC". I can't find any info on that serial prefix, and not one picture I have found looks anything like that receiver. I got it for really cheap so I'm not that worried, but if I need parts, what am I looking at?
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englishman_ca
Senior Member Joined: September 08 2009 Location: Almaguin Status: Offline Points: 1089 |
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Well steve-o, you kinda answered your own question. It is a Lee Enfield No.4 Mark 1 rifle in 303 British. If I am not mistaken, the serial number is of the series from the Savage factory in USA, so it was manufactured during WWII.
A classic form of sporter made by modifying a military rifle. Cut down, they make great deer guns. With yours it looks like pretty much everything has been modified, including the receiver by the removal of the rear sight mounts. There is a bit of technique in fitting a replacement fore stock, a bit of Enfield magic needed to get it shooting well. If you are a handy guy and study up on it, it is well worth doing properly. Working on an Enfield is not quite the same as working on an AR with drop in parts. All Lee Enfield actions were hand fitted. It is a great platform upon which to build many different types for rifle. Hard hitting and reliable, they get the job done. Just a suggestion as this is your first LE, use your woodworking skills to slim and give that fore stock some shape and style. Assuming that it is the original stock fitted to that action, you will be miles ahead with fitting it up. Put a nice butt stock on it and the gun will have some class. Play with it and learn the quirks of how it handles and shoots before you choose what to do with it. And a caution, Lee Enfields are very addictive. You will need another one.
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. Look to your front, mark your target when it comes! |
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Stanforth
Senior Member Joined: January 08 2017 Location: Oxford England Status: Offline Points: 773 |
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Only 1?
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Life.. a sexually transmitted condition that is invariably fatal.
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steve-o
Newbie Joined: April 06 2017 Location: Missouri Status: Offline Points: 13 |
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Thanks englishman_ca. I had a feeling maybe it was a Savage I was looking at. I'm a little upset they removed the rear sight mounts, but I have some ideas I want to try with maybe a receiver mount peep sight and a modified mosin-nagant front sight. According to my calipers, the barrel right behind the front sight that is on it is a few thousandths off of what the mosin sight needs to mount to. Since the crown is pretty beat up I was going to cut and re-crown right behind the sight. Despite the crown looking the way it does, it actually shoots pretty well. I haven't shot on paper yet, but it was ringing a 10"x10" steel 100 yards away.
I think I am going to leave the stock the way it is, it feels pretty good, is weathered just right and will likely keep looking better with age. I was kind of looking forward to doing a caliber conversion because I was assuming the worst as far as the barrel goes. The thing was so cheap I was sure it would be trashed, but I was pleasantly surprised and would love to keep it in .303. Down the road when I pick up another one, this one will probably turn into a .45-70 or a 44 mag to accompany my revolver. Thanks for the advice, I am definitely loving this gun and can't wait to hit the woods with it this fall! |
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A square 10
Special Member Donating Member Joined: December 12 2006 Location: MN , USA Status: Offline Points: 14414 |
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sporters i am not , but enjoy your rifle and know there are others here that appreciate what you have , they can tell you what you wish to know
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