Lee-Enfield vs. Mauser 98

[rojocorsa]

Last week, we had the "Mosin vs. Mauser" thread. I was thinking we should mix things up a little bit and look at an even older rivalry.

Let's have an SMLE/No.4 vs. 98 thread this time. Do what you pretty much did last time, pick a rifle and explain why.


I'll pick the No.4 Mk.1(*). I love the sights and think they are better for a battle rifle in addition to the longer sight radius it has over the 98k. And who can forget about that wonderful 10round detachable magazine paired up with that simple, yet quick bolt?

It's true that I like Enfields, yes. The Mauser is a fine rifle, I've shot it plenty of times and always enjoy it, but the No.4 (In my case) is better suited to a war-fighting role. I also think that the No.4 balances better than the 98k despite having a similar mass. I would assume that to be because of its layout.

My only grievance with the Enfield is its extractor. Sure, the one that broke on me is 67 yrs old (most likely--or well-used), but I believe the Mauser and the Mosin are better suited in this department.

And sure, the Mauser may be a little more precise, but who cares about that in a battle field? Oh, and the 98k will never look as badass either. I mean, the Enfield actually went places the Mauser didn't--as in acutally owning the world at one point.

I'm just kidding, I like all these guns.

[Cowboy T]

I'd have to say the Mauser for its stronger action. You can safely make hotter loads in one of those than in an Enfield. But I would have no problem going hunting with either.

[harmoniums]

Enfield for me, it's the rifle I've shot the most with.
IT would have to be a no4 variant though, I'm much more accurate with peep sights

[FS00008]

I say neither. Remington 1917 ;-)

[paul0660]

I got rid of my Enfields when the .303 shortage became obvious, but they truly did have the slickest bolt action of all, as well as sights that were cool, if hard to get used to (for me). Mad minutes, using middle finger on the trigger, thumb and forefinger on the bolt, with lubed up strippers, are amazing, and fun.

[Dr.Mauser]

I sorry children I loved my SMLE, but I have to go Mauser. With it strong bolt, I've been more accurate with it (love the sight hood ), a tiny bit lighter to carry, not so hard to take apart and clean, and the bolt isnt complicated. Just me though.

[Beetle Bailey]

Don't forget that when the Enfield and Mauser faced off in South Africa, the Mauser was considered superior. Boers who had a choice picked the Mauser and after the war, the Brits developed the P14, a sort of Enfield-Mauser hybrid. The American version of the P14 is called the M1917

And what's with the "Which one do you prefer?" stuff? There is no requirement to be monogamous with your rifle. I've got a harem. . . errrr. . . safe full of different action types and everyone is happy. The ever-neutral K-31 gets along with the Mauser and the Finn and Russian Mosins share vodka. The Enfields still insist they would have taken care of Adolf without the Garands, but that's just the beer talkin' The AR15's, being princesses, forced the Saiga out, but what are you gonna do when an AR starts to pout?

I say, buy them all!

[hawk81]

The enfield is a better battle rifle, but the mauser is more accurate. That's a tough choice.

[smle-man]

Don't forget that when the Enfield and Mauser faced off in South Africa, the Mauser was considered superior. Boers who had a choice picked the Mauser and after the war, the Brits developed the P14, a sort of Enfield-Mauser hybrid. The American version of the P14 is called the M1917

The Lee Enfield scandal during the 2nd Boer war was as intense as the early M16 scandal during the Vietnam war. It was discovered that the Long Lee Enfield shot several feet to the left of the sight setting at distances beyond 500 yds which coincidentally was the range that much shooting happened. The Boers were armed with a flat shooting 7mm rifle, the Brits with a rifle that no one had a hope of hitting anything at long distance until the sight problem was discovered and corrected. The Brits drew the wrong conclusion from the Boer war: extreme long range shooting was the norm and a hyper velocity round was what was needed. It turned out that the 2nd Boer war was a fluke and rapid fire at ranges under 300 yards was going to be what the British military would face for the next 100 years except along the Northwest frontier where the SMLE worked just fine. The P13 in .276 was an evolutionary dead end for the Brits. When given the chance they kept the SMLE and issued the follow on to the P13 the P14 in .303 to second line troops.

[Gryff]

The enfield is a better battle rifle, but the mauser is more accurate. That's a tough choice.

I thought that the Lee-Enfield was recognized as being the most-accurate battle rifle of WWI/WWII?

[cmaher55]

You know, years ago I decided I needed every battle rifle from WW2 so I went out and bought them all.... I loved my Enfields (no. 1 Aussie and 4 savage ex. T) but I could not get them to group very well. I ended up selling them a few years ago to lighten up the gun safe and reduce calibers. I still have my two K98's. That's the answer for me. Regards

[smle-man]

The attacking German forces were stopped literally dead in their tracks at Mons, 1914 when the 'Old Contemtibles' fired their SMLE's so fast and so accurately that the Germans thought they were facing massed machine guns. The Mauser is a fine rifle but is slow to function and has a limited magazine capacity. Volume of fire is what helps win battles and the Mauser doesn't have it.

[socal-ar15]

I own both and I must say my Enfield is way more accurate then my K98. The range I shoot at only goes out 600 yards but the Enfield hits all the steel targets dead on but my K98 is down and to the left. Just my two cents.

[Rogerbutthead]

Like both rifles, but would pick the Lee Enfield for the double capacity vs the Mauser.

Have a real mismatched High Turret Mauser sniper, but never fired it. My Lee Enfield sniper shoots great with my reloads. So would pick that one too just because of how it shoots for me.

[knucklehead0202]

this argument could go on forever, but the mauser action has, and the enfield hasn't. that's the REAL answer.