Thoughts on a British .303 Enfield

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I thank ya all for the nice comments, you guys do end up costing me a lot of money you know. Although I do believe this one was well worth it. Ordered the dies and bullets just a little while ago.
 
I bought one years ago (probably 20 years) that had seen better days but the bore was good and headspace checked good. I pieced together a sporter for my Dad who wanted to go deer hunting again. Had the local (at the time, I've moved several times since) school do the smithing and it looks nice.

As for being accurate or not, my bet is yours will be. It hasn't been rode hard and put away wet, it was made at a time of very good manufacturing for the Enfields and you're going to handload for it. I'll bet you a dollar it comes in under 3 MOA within 300 yards.
 
here are my latest enfields bought, bring them up to 13 rifles and one converted to .410, they were the first milsurps i bought in 1960 for 12.00 and i still love them. eastbank.
 

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I picked up an Enfeild .303 a few years back it is in "Stock" condition, a friend and I took her out shooting,and as I recall it had the kick of an angry mule. I think we shot up one box of 20 rounds and I dont think I have shot it after that. Not a fun plinking gun at all
 
A couple of years ago I got an Enfield No 4 Mk 1 and really got lucky as all numbers ( Serial, Bolt, Magazine, and wood ) match. It's a BSA ( Birmingham Small Arms ) made in 1942.

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I need to take some newer pics of it.
 
Eastbank, Very nice collection of British Enfields, and excellent price too I might add. I can remember going into the old LGS and seeing those in a big old pickle barrel for little or nothing. At the time I thought who would want such an ugly piece of caca, strange how peoples minds change over the years.

CR, the recoil was relatively mild, however I was just shooting 150 grain Sellier & Bellot factory rounds, perhaps the recoil might be a bit more stout once my dies get here and I start reloading the 174 grain bullets that I ordered. The reason I only shot the 20 round box, is I'm going to want to chronograph the other factory rounds to see what kind of velocity, and shooting off a bench accuracy I'll achieve, using my hand loads.
 
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I enjoy the Enfields. Bought two of the in the wrap No.4's just after they came off the boat and the price was 90 bucks each. Wish I had bought more. Both are very nice shooters. Also bought a Lithgow No.1 made in 1941. Bolt and receiver are matching number. The wood is all stamped 42. I think, based on the mfg date being 1941 that this rifle was probably well use and went thru a rebuild as it appeared new in condition and the barrel is very sharp. It cost more that 90 bucks.
 
I guess "kick of an angry mule" is all relative. I consider both of my Enfields, a No5 MK1 and a No4 MK1 to have relatively mild recoil. To me, any of my Mosins and both of my Mausers (Turkish and Yugo M48A) have considerably more perceived recoil. .303 British I consider a medium to mild load, just a bit more oomph than 6.5mm, depending on bullet weight. All of those guys who shoot .300 Win Mag, .338 Lapua and .50 BMG are laughing at both us right now ;-)
 
Went to the local gun show yesterday and picked up a copy of "Do Everything Manual" for the British .303. Also while I was there picked up 40 rounds for my 30-40Krag for $30.00.

Anyway getting back to the nature of the post, I don't believe I'm going to have problem maintaining that rifle now as far as disassembly, and repair as needed, that manual is pretty straight forward.:D
 
Just be sure to carefully follow the steps on dis-/re-assembly. The N°4s can be a bit tricky for first-timers.

Oh ... and if you come across what looks like pieces of varnished fabric bits stuck in the receiver inletting area, leave them alone ... they are armourer "bedding". ;)
 
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This rifle probably came from Northern Ireland. A large number of unfired No. 4 MKIIs were sold still in the original wrappers back in the early '90s. Originally, they were offered for no more than a used No. 1 MKIII -- I wish I had bought two, and kept one in the wrapper.
 
For the original cost you quoted, you got away unscathed. I'm selling my Lee-Enfield No4 MK1 Rifle for considerably more, and although it's older it's also in excellent condition with a 2+ barrel. These are shooters, and deserve to be enjoyed. Mine has been a safe queen for far too long.
 
several years ago a large gun shop had a fire and hundreds of boxs of bullets got wet and damp and some of the bullets became discolored from being wet. and two friends and i bought over 100 boxes at 2.00 a box,in the mix were boxes of .311-312 dia bullets and we are still shooting them in our .303 british-7.62x54R russian-7.7 japanese rifles. we keep the velocity at about 2200-2300 fps. eastbank.
 
If nothing else, you can shoot cast bullets. The Lyman 200 grain 314299 is a great bullet, and can be driven to around 2,000 fps with a gas check -- just about duplicating the original ballistics of the .303.
 
Some Enfields with 2-groove bores do really lousy with modern BT (boat tail) bullets. These bullets have less metal-to-metal contact with the bore. My problem was that almost all modern .303 has BT bullets.:( Kind of ironic.

Mine had a decent bore, but all the BT bullets made nasty 'keyhole' gashes in the target at 50 yrds. No clean hole, only gashes.

Traded that very good-looking Longbranch #4/Mk.1 plus $25 for a worn, dinged #4/Mk. 1 with the 4-groove bore (and all numbers match), which shoots correctly. Luckily the trade was done with a local guy (in '11 or so) at the
Southaven MS gun show, who only judged the guns by their appearance.:)

C.R.: You are sure that the Enfield with the strong recoil was a standard #4, and not a short #5 "Jungle Carbine"? My "Jungles" have a recoil a bit stronger than my Yugo 8mm Mauser.
 
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I have a No 4 MK2. It looked to be unfired when I got it. I bought for exactly that reason, the knowledge that they were not used much. It was mostly a social program after WWII to keep returning veterans busy.
 
Ignition, my rifle definitely has the 4 lands and grooves, and they are nice and sharp, hoping to get my dies and bullets before the weekend. I did get the 174 grain Boat tail bullets from Sierra in the .311 diameter, I've got several different powders that are supposed to work with the .303, and a couple different primers. So here's hoping.
 
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