Sterling 7.62x51 Conversion |
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britrifles
Senior Member Joined: February 03 2018 Location: Atlanta, GA Status: Online Points: 6539 |
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Thanks WilliamS.
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Crater52
Newbie Joined: March 21 2023 Location: France Status: Offline Points: 8 |
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Not really a reply but I had never heard of these conversions before . Are they still available and is/was there one for a SMLE No 1 Mk III?
I have owned a deactivated SMLE for about 25 years and the thought occurred that I might 'reactivate' it by replacing the barrel and receiver. So I am exploring that possibility, but living in France makes sourcing parts difficult. So any advice would be welcome even if it's 'don't do it'. Alternatives would be an Ishapore 7.62 barrel/receiver or even convert the rifle to a .22, but each option relies on my being able to source the parts and get them sent to France. I have recently bought a 1915 SMLE with an aperture sight, but this is my first Lee Enfield (Indeed, it's the first weapon I have owned though I'm not a complete novice , having spent 20 years in the military). So any thoughts, advice or help will be much appreciated. TVM
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Flying Fool
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Goosic
Senior Member Joined: September 12 2017 Location: Phoenix Arizona Status: Offline Points: 8792 |
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Those conversion pieces are a thing of the past. While they do pop up here and there every once in awhile, it is not worth the effort to try to locate them unless you have alot of spare money to throw out due to the high costs of those bits. As for you wanting to "reactivate" your rifle? There is a reason the rifle was "deactivated" in the first place. Do not attempt something as foolhardy as trying to get it to go bang again.
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shiloh
Senior Member Joined: January 08 2019 Location: Ontario, Canada Status: Offline Points: 2369 |
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Your best bet on reactivating if your deactivated smle is full original wood, would be to buy a sported smle, if the barrel hasn`t been cut, and swap out the wood and associated hardware.
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Lead from the front; eliminate all obstacles...
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Crater52
Newbie Joined: March 21 2023 Location: France Status: Offline Points: 8 |
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You may well be right. Personally I think the rifle was deactivated because this was Britain in the 1990s and there was a market for historic weapons but most of us didn't want to go through the nausea of getting a licence just to keep a gun in a locked cabinet. Hence there was a market for 'deacts' of many types.
All of which is apparently irrelevant because it is now France in 2023, and, at the same time as I posted this query, I emailed a French gunsmith about the possibility of replacing the receiver and barrel of my enfield with working parts. The reply I got was - 'REACTIVATION _ INTERDIT!!!!' which, even if I didn't speak French is clear enough. Though I have to say some sort of explanation would have been useful. Anyway my thanks to any and all who replied to my post and I'll look forward to shooting the SMLE I have bought when the ammunition arrives in about 2 weeks time. Oh, did I mention this is France?
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Flying Fool
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Crater52
Newbie Joined: March 21 2023 Location: France Status: Offline Points: 8 |
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Sorry guys, I got me reply buttons mixed up! The reply to Goosic's post appears under Shiloh's and vice versa. Be kind to me, I'm a forum virgin and new to Lee Enfields as well.
So, Shiloh, the idea of buying a sporterized SMLE and swapping the parts over would be good in the USA, Canada and perhaps Oz, but I suspect that here in France it would get me arrested. Anyway, buying even a cut down SMLE would cost as much as the 1915 weapon I have bought, so I'll use the new one and leave the ols one over the fireplace. Many thanks to you all.
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Flying Fool
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Shamu
Admin Group Logo Designer / Donating Member Joined: April 25 2007 Location: MD, USA. Status: Offline Points: 17603 |
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Basically "Reactivation is forbidden". However there is a superior alternative available! India created an actual factory made 7.62mm NATO version of the SMLE! They called it the The Rifle 7.62mm 2A/2A1 (also known as the Ishapore 2A/2A1) I'm not sure how available they are in France but its probably worth checking out. |
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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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Zed
Special Member Donating Member Joined: May 01 2012 Location: France Status: Offline Points: 5585 |
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Crater 52. It's not worth trying to reactivate a deac'. But it's easy to find a Lee Enfield in France. However there are some "dog's out there so be careful. The "Naturabuy" website has quite a few on sale generally; although you need to be careful regarding condition and originality.
Owning a military calibre rifle was more complicated before 2013; when the rules were changed to bring these bolt action rifles in line with civilian hunting rifles. So prior to 2013, many military rifles were transformed to civilian calibres; such as .303 Sporting. This is basically a shortened chamber modification for the original military .303 British. So if searching for an SMLE or No4Mk1; always check it's still chambered for .303 British. If not you may have issues finding ammunition; plus no collector value! Make sure you buy a big enough safe! they tend to multiply! We use our Enfields in the french Service rifle competitions (Tir Armes Reglementaire ) I would add that reactivation is a big problem because of the terror attacks at the Bataclan; which apparently were eastern European deact's rebuilt illegally. so deactivation requirements became stricter obviously.
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It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice!
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Crater52
Newbie Joined: March 21 2023 Location: France Status: Offline Points: 8 |
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Thanks Zed. As I mentioned in other replies I have bought a SMLE (through Naturabuy) which is in excellent condition and which I will be shooting in the near future. My idea about 'reactivating' the deact was that I thought it might be possible to produce a working 2nd rifle more cheaply than buying a complete weapon. It's obviously that is a non-starter and I shall stick to just the one (for now). I have bought a cabinet with room for 5 rifles but I will have to convince my better half that, like my guitar collection, one can never have too many rifles!!
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Flying Fool
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Zed
Special Member Donating Member Joined: May 01 2012 Location: France Status: Offline Points: 5585 |
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Where are you based in France?
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It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice!
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Crater52
Newbie Joined: March 21 2023 Location: France Status: Offline Points: 8 |
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S.W. France in the Dordogne; been here for 29 years now.What about you?
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Flying Fool
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Zed
Special Member Donating Member Joined: May 01 2012 Location: France Status: Offline Points: 5585 |
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We are split between Paris and Eure et Loir.
My wife and I shoot in the TAR competitions in the region Centre.
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It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice!
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