The Lee Enfield Rifle
The Lee Enfield rifle has been a part of my life since 1978. I first learnt to shoot on the No.8 version (chambered for .22LR rimfire) Three nights a week, I’d shoot a 2+10 card.
In 1980, I’d graduated to the No.4, pictured above. Mostly, I shot this at 200 yrds. Still chambered to .303, we used milsurp ammunition dating from 1954/55. For all of those people that worry how long they should keep their ammo, I can testify that despite rifle and ammunition being 25 years old, they were a consistently accurate combination.
Before long, I was shooting the Imperial Meeting at Bisley (which I suppose must be the spiritual home of competitive target shooting. Courses of fire varied, and the distances varied from 200 – 1200 yrds. During that time, I used a conversion, rechambered to 7.62mm.
Royal Small Arms Factory at Enfield Lock developed a conversion for many surplus No.4 rifles. The conversion included new, heavy barrel, shortened forend and hand guard. This conversion was intended for competitive shooting. The civilian version known as Enfield "Envoy" match rifle, military target rifle was designated as L39A1. Both versions featured adjustable open sights.
During my time with the military, I used among other things the L42A1 version, pictured below. It is basically, an L39, with the addition of telescopic sight mounts on the left hand side of the receiver.
To handle a No.4 in one of its many guises it to touch history. The No.3 version defeated the Kaiser, the No.4 , Hitler. It has been used by all Commonwealth countries & in fact is still being used by one or two of them……………………
Comments
I have two No.4's and two No.5's. One No.4 has a very bad barrel, the other just isn't accurate. One No.5 has WAY excessive headspace (on a #2 bolthead) and the other No.5 SHOOTS! (Halleluja!)
The No.4 was my first bolt-action rifle, and I love the thing.
Posted by: Kevin Baker | November 19, 2003 1:43 AM
Sigh. I am not a gun user, but I am so glad that there are sport shooters out there. I have
yet to go target shooting and I don't have one of those pretties...no sirree.
I am also an American who lives in a state where concealed carrying is allowed. I feel rather safe here.
Posted by: Cricket | November 22, 2003 8:26 AM
I've heard stories from some people at the range I shoot at about just how tough the Enfield really is. Now is the field record of the rifle really that good, or is it just PR?
Posted by: Trackersmurf | November 29, 2003 4:53 AM
I loved my Enfields...
No. 1 Mk 3
No. 4 Mk 1
plus one of those Indian Army versions chambered for 7.62x51 Nato
Posted by: alfredo stroessner | December 1, 2003 3:37 AM
What scope did you put on it? I am partial to the Leupold VariIII 2x8 and the 4x14.
Posted by: George Lee | December 16, 2003 3:32 AM
You forgot to mention it also defeated the argentines at The Falklands!
Posted by: Jack | April 2, 2005 1:37 PM
The Lee Enfield has been part of my life since 1966, when I qualified for the school shooting teams. We fired the No 8 (.22) on the school 25 yard range and the No 4 (Longbranch, .303) on the full-bore range on the outskirts of town.
I still shoot Lee Enfields regularly (as often as possible) in service rifle competition. I have managed to get 15 rounds through a No 5 in 45 seconds with 2 reloads and 2 position changes - and all shots scored.
Not a target rifle (though many have made target rifles out of Lee Enfields). Not a hunting rifle (though many have made hunting rifles out of Lee Enfields). Just the best damn military bolt action ever.
The still-standing world’s record for a manually loaded rifle was set in 1914. Using a magazine-loaded Lee-Enfield rifle, Sergeant Snoxall of the British Army’s School of Musketry shot 38 rounds into a 12-inch bulls-eye set 300 yards away in just one minute.
Posted by: Peter | August 23, 2005 5:08 AM
Family-wise, since our Aunt lived in a small village right next to Enfield which we visited, we have a special fondness for them and the Factory. My brother has one, I should but don't - instead as close as I get is an 1898 Krag with a somewhat similar rimmed cartridge. My Expert shootin' buddy has a very fresh out-of-the-arsenal-wrapper #4 with which he won our club's WWII Bolt Action Rifle match - iron-sights only at 200yds. It's good stuff!
Posted by: -keith in mtn. view | December 12, 2005 5:54 PM
Not to be a nudge and get the purists up in arms, so to speak...but there are companies even making decent replicas.
http://www.tristarsportingarms.com/m10rifles.htm
Posted by: trainer | December 15, 2005 3:57 AM
I have a good friend who has the 7.62x39 M10, and it is a remarkably well engineered piece of kit. I was able to hold this bullet chucker one handed at arms length and fire quite accurately at about 25 metre ranges. Very solid wood, minimal recoil.
I myself use a No. 4 which I have reconditioned. An admirable weapon, I prefer it to the Model 94 that sits next to it.
Posted by: CB | December 19, 2005 12:34 PM
Lee enfields are wonderful rifles. I have one on order, a no5 now and can't wait to get to the range. One point by Jack needs correcting. The British Army used the imperial version of the 7.62x51mm NATO FN FAL, the L1A1 or SLR in the Falklands although the SAS and some Royal Marine Commandos used the AR15 in 5.56 NATO. They also used the L1A1 in the first gulf war as its Repalcement, the bullpup L85 was so unreliable in the sand, and stands to be regarded as a real step backwards.
Posted by: col M | February 21, 2006 1:42 AM
Do any of you know a good parts soures. having hell getting parts for my 1943 MK.4. 9/11/06
Posted by: Edward A Jones | September 11, 2006 7:42 AM
Hi, i recently inherited a lee enfield rifle MK.4. The thing is that its quite dirty and i'd like to take it apart but i dont really know why. You seem to have an extended knowledge of the matter, and this type in specific, could you mail me some instructions on how to disassemble it please?
Regards
Felix
Posted by: felix | August 9, 2007 11:00 PM
Just picked up a SMLE III MK1 today. Well I paid for it, but the NICS check line was busy...I'll pick it up nexzt weekend.
The wife and daughter were at an estrogen-fest (a baby shower) and my daughters squeeze and I went to an old hole-in-the-wall gun shop we had naver been to.
Heaven.
Enfields, Mausers of many flavors, old pistols, rifles and shotguns galore.
Can't wait to get it and check it's history.
Posted by: trainer | October 27, 2007 7:49 PM
Need stripper clips for my Enfield-can anyone help ?? 864-940-6728-South Carolina John K. Benfield, III
Posted by: Jack Benfield | October 26, 2008 9:55 PM
How about 7.62x51 enfield
stripper clips anyone?None of the current marstar info relates the AIA 7.62 Enfield accepts the M14mag.Are there US distributors for the AIA Enfield? ka@gwtc.net
Posted by: mich meyer | November 22, 2008 1:03 AM
How about 7.62x51 enfield
stripper clips anyone?None of the current marstar info relates the AIA 7.62 Enfield accepts the M14mag.Are there US distributors for the AIA Enfield? ka@gwtc.net
Posted by: mich meyer | November 22, 2008 1:03 AM
Howdy, I live in Pennsylvania right now. I have been hunting the net to try and find the best place in the states to acquire a No. 4 Mk1. I am not looking to get one so nice that it is expensive but I intend to shoot it and want it to work well. Anybody have any ideas about the best place to get one in the States here in the spring of '09?
Posted by: Dave Fowler | March 19, 2009 1:57 PM