A lee enfield for the mountains
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Category: Enfields
Forum Name: Enfield Gunsmithing
Forum Description: Submit any how-to's or other gunsmithing suggestions here.
URL: http://www.enfield-rifles.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=10341
Printed Date: March 26 2026 at 8:19pm
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Topic: A lee enfield for the mountains
Posted By: 303 Hunter
Subject: A lee enfield for the mountains
Date Posted: February 22 2020 at 10:56am
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An idea I have had for while was to take a lee enfield action and build a sporter that is light enough to carry up a mountain. What I was thinking of doing was to take a No.5 action and put a custom Mcgowen barrel on it and either put an ATI stock on it or a Smoking gun custom stock. I thought about putting a two stage huber conepts trigger if I can find one and a BadAce Tactial no drill scope mount. The barrel was to be 24-inches in length made from stainless steel contoured to douglas #2 and fluted. Would like the total weigh to be about 7.5-8 pounds or lighter. I would like to chamber it in a cartridge that is capable of killing sheep out to 500 yards and elk out to 400 yards. I'm still not sure what cartridge I want to chamber it in. My first choice cartridges are the 303 Epps, the 30-40 krag improved, the 8mm/303 Epps, the 7mm/303 Epps or the 270/303 Epps. My second choice cartridges are the 6.5mm/303 Epps, the 6.5x55R Canadian, the 303 British or the 30-40 krag. I am open to ideas and suggestions. I would like to know if this is a good idea or would I be better off to just buy regular No.5? (A side from it being cheaper). ------------- The Lee Enfield is to the Canadian north what the Winchester repeater was to the American west. Cal Bablitz |
Replies:
Posted By: hoadie
Date Posted: February 22 2020 at 1:44pm
Leave it in .303, put a composite stock on it & yer good to go. Why muck about with perfection?  ------------- Loose wimmen tightened here |
Posted By: Goosic
Date Posted: February 22 2020 at 2:17pm
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The Huber trigger is a waste of money. I have three of them and do not have a single use for them since I figured out how to properly smooth out the trigger pull on a factory original. (I would like to chamber it in a cartridge that is capable of killing sheep out to 500 yards and elk out to 400 yards.) To reach out that far sucessfully I highly recommend using something in .338 Lapua Mag, 300 Win Mag, 300 Wby Mag, 30-416,or the venerable 50 BMG. I currently have a No5Mk1 that I converted to 7.62x51 NATO and it weighs in at a whopping 6.8lbs. I have a brand new Ruger Gunsite Scout rifle chambered in 308 Win that looks eerily like the No5MkI. With the scope and ten round mag fully loaded it weighs 6.5lbs. My current Custom No4 with a fully loaded 5 round mag weighs in at 7.0lbs on the nose. All three rifles mentioned can kill a sheep or elk but you would be very hard pressed to get that accomplished at the 400 to 500 yards you mentioned. A mountain rifle for me is one that I can hold in my outstretched arm comfortably for over a minute and can be carried shouldered all day long without needing to switch shoulders. Any mountainous terrain with any amount of foliage as well and your chances of a well aimed shot being over 100 yards become non existent. My longest kill shot at a running target was 1005 feet and it took three tries to get there while I had course corrections yelled into my ear after each shot was fired. That is a mere 335 yards and the target through the scope looked like someone was purposely shaking a video to make a cheesy horror flick. Any No drill scope mount for the No4MkI receiver will work accordingly. It will be the scope of choice you decide on that will make the whole weapons platform work.
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Posted By: 303 Hunter
Date Posted: February 22 2020 at 5:43pm
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The 400/500 yard range was meant to be maximum distance. And while I do agree that you do need enough power you do hear of guys killing said game at those ranges with cartridges like the 270 win, 280 Ackley and the 30-06. The Epps line of cartridges is chasing hard at the heels of those rounds in their respective calibers. It is good to know that the huber triggers are not worth the money. The weight is including scope. ------------- The Lee Enfield is to the Canadian north what the Winchester repeater was to the American west. Cal Bablitz |
Posted By: 303 Hunter
Date Posted: February 22 2020 at 5:46pm
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Nice rifles buy the way. ------------- The Lee Enfield is to the Canadian north what the Winchester repeater was to the American west. Cal Bablitz |