Experience with Enf No4 Mk2 ??
- Thread starter BrocLuno
- Start date
- Status
madcratebuilder
Member
Golden State Arms used to market a sportered LE called the "Santa Fe Special" almost identical to your rifle. You could get it with a scope or irons.
OP
OP
BrocLuno
Member
That's interesting and cool info because it has a Santa Fe magazine for I suppose 5 rounds. Any more info on that build? Any idea who did the work for Golden State? We'll try to test it with empty brass and live rounds tomorrow at the range 
Found an old auction for a Santa Fe Special - not the same level of workmanship on this one: http://www.auctionarms.com/closed/displayitem.cfm?itemnum=9291545.0
I'd also like to get a real Enfield magazine appropriate to the actual vintage/model in nice shape. Any idea where?
Found an old auction for a Santa Fe Special - not the same level of workmanship on this one: http://www.auctionarms.com/closed/displayitem.cfm?itemnum=9291545.0
I'd also like to get a real Enfield magazine appropriate to the actual vintage/model in nice shape. Any idea where?
351 WINCHESTER
Member
Are you sure the barrel isn't marked Golden State Arms or Santa Fe arms? By the way the magazine was made in Japan.
OP
OP
BrocLuno
Member
The barrel is a smooth as a baby's butt except for three small marking right near the receiver ring. One looks like a stylized "7" and the other two might have been crown marks that were partially buffed away.
There are no makers marks of any kind and no factory serial numbers. The number the local FFL took off the gun came from the left side wrist band. There are enough "B"s here and there to make me sure it was originally a BSA. Other than that I'm looking to you folks for help and guidance.
It has a full barrel and action bedding job in dyed epoxy (brown to match the stock wood). The workmanship is way over that displayed on the 1/2 dozen Santa Fe Specials I was able to look up this morning. This is definitely a one-off custom gun that someone poured money into at one time
Anyone have a spare original Lee-Enfield magazine I could buy from around 1942 ??
There are no makers marks of any kind and no factory serial numbers. The number the local FFL took off the gun came from the left side wrist band. There are enough "B"s here and there to make me sure it was originally a BSA. Other than that I'm looking to you folks for help and guidance.
It has a full barrel and action bedding job in dyed epoxy (brown to match the stock wood). The workmanship is way over that displayed on the 1/2 dozen Santa Fe Specials I was able to look up this morning. This is definitely a one-off custom gun that someone poured money into at one time
Anyone have a spare original Lee-Enfield magazine I could buy from around 1942 ??
OP
OP
BrocLuno
Member
Well, I managed to find two sources for round bottom original 10 round magazines. APEX Gun Parts in Colorado seems to have some, so I ordered one there. And I found a place in Australia selling brand new ones, so I ordered one there too. Now we'll see if they come back with sold out or back-ordered emails?
There's a guy on GB that selling a NOS one, but his reserve must be over $50
SMLE No4 magazines (original) are getting really scarce it seems? Prices are regularly in the $39 and up range for used in who knows what condition? There's an obvious bad rusty one on AuctionArms that will likely go for over $30
There's a guy on GB that selling a NOS one, but his reserve must be over $50
SMLE No4 magazines (original) are getting really scarce it seems? Prices are regularly in the $39 and up range for used in who knows what condition? There's an obvious bad rusty one on AuctionArms that will likely go for over $30
OP
OP
BrocLuno
Member
Range Day !!
Ok, so I took the old girl out the range today to see if she would work, or not? Mostly a function test for feed and action feel. I have not cleaned it except for a bit of lube on the bolt.
Mr & Mrs Skyhorse went too. She was shooting her Enfield with the junior stock. We had a good time and the rifles all performed well.
Just after they left, I looked and I had 5 rounds left in my last box of ammo, so I said what the heck, put up a fresh target at 50 yds and used them up. Had a pretty stiff breeze quartering from R-L. Not bad for the first day with a new (used) rifle
The guy in the picture is Skyhorse shooting my Enfield as discussed in this thread
Ok, so I took the old girl out the range today to see if she would work, or not? Mostly a function test for feed and action feel. I have not cleaned it except for a bit of lube on the bolt.
Mr & Mrs Skyhorse went too. She was shooting her Enfield with the junior stock. We had a good time and the rifles all performed well.
Just after they left, I looked and I had 5 rounds left in my last box of ammo, so I said what the heck, put up a fresh target at 50 yds and used them up. Had a pretty stiff breeze quartering from R-L. Not bad for the first day with a new (used) rifle
The guy in the picture is Skyhorse shooting my Enfield as discussed in this thread
Attachments
OP
OP
BrocLuno
Member
To high at short ranges, but out at 300 m, they are usually pretty close
Of course, that does not count for mine as it has a Williams Peep Sight, which we adjusted for the POI you see. Next time out, it'll be 100 yds and a bit further if the longer ranges are open?
Of course, that does not count for mine as it has a Williams Peep Sight, which we adjusted for the POI you see. Next time out, it'll be 100 yds and a bit further if the longer ranges are open?
Last edited:
OP
OP
BrocLuno
Member
Carl, back in the day when these were current issue weapons, the Military trained their Infantry to "own the first mile". These old bolt guns, just like the Germans, Japanese, US Army, Russians and all had battle sights that started at 300 m and went to a hell of a long way out.
They were not for sniping, although I'm pretty sure the average good shooter with young eyes could hit pretty far out, rather - they were for "volley fire" meaning arcing trajectories and lead raining down from the sky out to a 1/2 mile at least. Made the enemy keep down and immobile.
Ma Duece and chassis mounted system do that now. So the current rifles are designed to work in closer.
If you are shooting WW-II era rifles and want to use the stock sights, you need to change your sight picture. In side of 100 yds, you could aim for the belly button and get a solid hit in the chest cavity. Aim for the sternum, and you have a head/neck shot. In other words sit the enemies center of mass on top of your front sight so you can watch him and the sight and then pick you best time when he is slowest or still. As the yardages get longer, move you front sight up the target. If you are at 300 m, your POI should be just atop the front post.
There should be lots of information on classic military sight pictures and estimating range out there somewhere?
They were not for sniping, although I'm pretty sure the average good shooter with young eyes could hit pretty far out, rather - they were for "volley fire" meaning arcing trajectories and lead raining down from the sky out to a 1/2 mile at least. Made the enemy keep down and immobile.
Ma Duece and chassis mounted system do that now. So the current rifles are designed to work in closer.
If you are shooting WW-II era rifles and want to use the stock sights, you need to change your sight picture. In side of 100 yds, you could aim for the belly button and get a solid hit in the chest cavity. Aim for the sternum, and you have a head/neck shot. In other words sit the enemies center of mass on top of your front sight so you can watch him and the sight and then pick you best time when he is slowest or still. As the yardages get longer, move you front sight up the target. If you are at 300 m, your POI should be just atop the front post.
There should be lots of information on classic military sight pictures and estimating range out there somewhere?
Grat Day Indeed!
What a pleasure it was for the Mrs. and myself to spend the day with Mr. Luno. We learned alot and laughed and just had a great time!
I can say that pictures, do not do justice to his Mk.4. It is a pice of art. The blueing looks like a highly polished colt revolver and the reciever is somehow bronze in color. Both of the colors have great depth. The furniture is a perfect match and without a scratch. The front and aft lumber were hand picked to match in grain and color. This is amazing as I am pretty sure the front is original to the rifle. The williams sight works very well. This is the nicest Enfield sporter I have seen and it appers to have been a smitthy's labor of love.
The trigger pull on his is Mk.4 much better than ours, ours has some creep and a firmer weight, kind of what you would expect, Mr. Luno's was crisp and broke at mabie 3-4 pounds. Just perfect. Perfect ballance also. When dialed in this rifle will be spot on.( It's close now)
At the 50 M it was looking like the late 1940's. We had the Mk.4 Enfields and the U.S. Rifle Cal.30 M1917 getting sighted in. The black rifle group had envious glances at our rifle rack. It was windy, so I made no adjustments other than for the wind. We shot Privi-Partisan ammo in the 303's and it performed perfectly. It looks like good brass so we kept it for reloading.
I noticed my wife's Mk.4 was shooting high at the 50 also, but it was in a nice pattern. With the rear sight not adjustable under 300M,I think next time we will take a little more land and practice making optical adjustments of the view of the sight. Great advice! and a great time!:
What a pleasure it was for the Mrs. and myself to spend the day with Mr. Luno. We learned alot and laughed and just had a great time!
I can say that pictures, do not do justice to his Mk.4. It is a pice of art. The blueing looks like a highly polished colt revolver and the reciever is somehow bronze in color. Both of the colors have great depth. The furniture is a perfect match and without a scratch. The front and aft lumber were hand picked to match in grain and color. This is amazing as I am pretty sure the front is original to the rifle. The williams sight works very well. This is the nicest Enfield sporter I have seen and it appers to have been a smitthy's labor of love.
The trigger pull on his is Mk.4 much better than ours, ours has some creep and a firmer weight, kind of what you would expect, Mr. Luno's was crisp and broke at mabie 3-4 pounds. Just perfect. Perfect ballance also. When dialed in this rifle will be spot on.( It's close now)
At the 50 M it was looking like the late 1940's. We had the Mk.4 Enfields and the U.S. Rifle Cal.30 M1917 getting sighted in. The black rifle group had envious glances at our rifle rack. It was windy, so I made no adjustments other than for the wind. We shot Privi-Partisan ammo in the 303's and it performed perfectly. It looks like good brass so we kept it for reloading.
I noticed my wife's Mk.4 was shooting high at the 50 also, but it was in a nice pattern. With the rear sight not adjustable under 300M,I think next time we will take a little more land and practice making optical adjustments of the view of the sight. Great advice! and a great time!:
OP
OP
BrocLuno
Member
So I had it out again doing a bit of cleaning and searching for more numbers using strong side light - no dice, they have all been buffed away prior to bluing. If you'all know of numbers that might be hiding under the action or barrel, let me know?
Anyway, I thought I'd put her on the scale and find out what the weight was? 7#3oz w/o ammo. Not bad, even by today's standards
Anyway, I thought I'd put her on the scale and find out what the weight was? 7#3oz w/o ammo. Not bad, even by today's standards
- Status
