school me on lee enfields :D

[Exodus343]

Interested in purchasing one
what to look for? and what to watch out for?

it's a SMLE MK4 No 1

reloading tips and recipe?

[smle-man]

Interested in purchasing one
what to look for? and what to watch out for?

it's a SMLE MK4 No 1

reloading tips and recipe?

Condition is everything. Watch out for barrel and chamber pitting, severely eroded throat and or worn muzzle. Watch for bolt head over-rotating past TDC when removed from the rifle. A little bit is ok, more is bad. There are two North American makers (Savage/Stevens and Long Branch Canada), three UK manufacturers ( ROF Fazakerly, BSA Shirley, ROF Maltby), one Indian subcontinent manufacturer (POF, Pakistan). Variants go from the #1MkVI trials rifle 1931 to the L8/39/42 series of the seventies. Matching is best but not critical. Headspace is generous and case life short if you full length resize. I use IMR 4320 but 4895, 4064, 3031 work just fine although 4320 meters nicely. Post war UK or North American production are generally better than wartime UK rifles for accuracy as the wartime UK rifles were assembled using non cured wood and unskilled labor as the service life for the rifles was expected to average a year to 18 months in combat.

This is a good website resource: http://www.enfieldresource.com/

[Exodus343]

Condition is everything. Watch out for barrel and chamber pitting, severely eroded throat and or worn muzzle. Watch for bolt head over-rotating past TDC when removed from the rifle. A little bit is ok, more is bad. There are two North American makers (Savage/Stevens and Long Branch Canada), three UK manufacturers ( ROF Fazakerly, BSA Shirley, ROF Maltby), one Indian subcontinent manufacturer (POF, Pakistan). Variants go from the #1MkVI trials rifle 1931 to the L8/39/42 series of the seventies. Matching is best but not critical. Headspace is generous and case life short if you full length resize. I use IMR 4320 but 4895, 4064, 3031 work just fine although 4320 meters nicely. Post war UK or North American production are generally better than wartime UK rifles for accuracy as the wartime UK rifles were assembled using non cured wood and unskilled labor as the service life for the rifles was expected to average a year to 18 months in combat.

This is a good website resource: http://www.enfieldresource.com/

What is TDC?

[Regula]

Top dead center

[jarhead714]

Try to get one with the flip up ladder sight instead of the rear peep only. You will be hard pressed to find any Lee Enfield around here for less than 400 bucks. Good luck!

[smle-man]

The Mk1 Singer click adjustable rear sights are easy to find. If you find the right #4 for you and it has the Mk2 two position peep sight it is easy to replace it.

[Alan Block]

Did Lithgow produce the #4 MkI I have a #1 mkIII

[Lead Waster]

Wow, 15 years ago the sold at Big5 for $100. The were what mosins are today. Well yesterday actually.

[smle-man]

Did Lithgow produce the #4 MkI I have a #1 mkIII

No, only the #1 series. The #4 was produced in Canada, U.S., UK, Pakistan.

[Exodus343]

Wow, 15 years ago the sold at Big5 for $100. The were what mosins are today. Well yesterday actually.

T.T
the good ol C&R days are slowly ending isn't it....

[mosinnagantm9130]

T.T
the good ol C&R days are slowly ending isn't it....

For milsurps? Yeah. But plenty of commercial C&Rs out there, more every day actually.

[Exodus343]

difference between milsurp and commercial??

[eighteenninetytwo]

Even 5 years agi I got a decent No.4 at big 5 for $ 150. It had come through Turkey but was all matching and had a perfect 2 groove barrel. You need to have bolt matching receiver at a minimum. If you are patient you'll get a good one cheap(ish)

[Emdawg]

This time last year I could have picked up a nice and clean Lee-Enfield for $275 now most guys want $400 or more.

[eighteenninetytwo]

But they're not actually GETTING 400+ unless its in mint condition. They're still there if you wait.