School me on Enfields

[gunprofit]

The most accurate mil-surp rifle, hands down, will be the Schmidt-Rubin K31, 7.5 x 55mm. You can still find them around $250 range which is where I see most of the nice condition Enfields. Accuracy of the K31 using the GP11 ammo will be 1" groups at 100 yards, if you do your part.

[gunprofit]

Buy the way, I am not talking without experience. I have owned over 20 different types of Enfields and probably well over 200 different assorted mil-surp rifles.

[eighteenninetytwo]

Well internationally, SMLE's were used for 1000 yard service rifle comps up to the 1970s. So I think they are definitely capable of being accurate. It's all about condition and the fact is the many / most LE's are well used and living examples of history.

[eighteenninetytwo]

Asked my old man who used to shoot service rifle. 10 round 15" groups at 1000 yards with iron sights was apparently reasonable for LE's (both the No.1 Mk3 and No.4 Mk2 ) amongst the service rifle long range types into the 1970's. That is probably where they got a reputation for accuracy.

[smle-man]

The most accurate mil-surp rifle, hands down, will be the Schmidt-Rubin K31, 7.5 x 55mm. You can still find them around $250 range which is where I see most of the nice condition Enfields. Accuracy of the K31 using the GP11 ammo will be 1" groups at 100 yards, if you do your part.

I don't think you'll find a K31 shooting any better than this. 4 rounds at 100 yds with S&B ball. The first low shot was adjusted up for the 4 follow on rounds. This is what a nice condition #4 with quality ammo will do.

[BruinGuy]

The most accurate mil-surp rifle, hands down, will be the Schmidt-Rubin K31, 7.5 x 55mm. You can still find them around $250 range which is where I see most of the nice condition Enfields. Accuracy of the K31 using the GP11 ammo will be 1" groups at 100 yards, if you do your part.

Tell me where I can find nice condition Enfields in the $250 range, please! I've been searching around and even beaters are priced higher.

[mosinnagantm9130]

The most accurate mil-surp rifle, hands down, will be the Schmidt-Rubin K31, 7.5 x 55mm. You can still find them around $250 range which is where I see most of the nice condition Enfields. Accuracy of the K31 using the GP11 ammo will be 1" groups at 100 yards, if you do your part.

When you give a Finnish M/N (especially a M39 or M28/30) or a swedish M96 ammo that's as good as GP11 they are all in the same ballpark with the K31.

A good condition Enfield is also very accurate with good ammo, as seen above

[eighteenninetytwo]

Looking for a good enfield is a long process. I have a gauge for the throat which I use religiously and I've found excellent tight bores on apparent beaters which have been taken from storage to storage and banged about and then surplussed out, and looser bores on rifles which had been well looked after and babied, but also well shot. Best way is to look for an FTR or manufacture date Post WW2 which generally means better treatment / less corrosive ammo and then check every barrel no matter how bad the outside looks.