Which Lee Enfield?

[Whizzbang]

I need advice about buying a Lee Enfield. I know enough about them to know that I know very little.

My priorities are:

1. Good shooter (for a battle rifle, anyway): it is for club comps and hopefully the odd historic match at Bisley
2. Not a pricey collectors piece. In fact, I'm on a tight budget since this is my first foray into Lee Enfields: under £500
3. I'd prefer the non-stamped "micrometer" rear sight

I'm thinking a post-war No.4 MkII would fit the bill. There seem to be a few available (also the MkI and the * and other variants) but bore condition seems to be described as "good" by some and others specify a measurement/guage value.

I will reload for it.

Advice about choice of rifle, what to look out for, where to buy, etc. gratefully received.

[bnz41]

PM sent.

[Fedaykin]

A No.4 MKII for under £500 will be a challenge to find, expect to pay over £750 at least and that would be a lucky find (EFD has an un-fired example for £2000). You might find a private seller who doesn't check Gunstar/broker and not aware of the going prices.

My BSA No.4 MKI cost £450 five years ago, I doubt it would now. The supply of No.4 have been dwindling in recent years, there just isn't those to be had and the days of getting them for less than £300 are gone. When I got mine I went to EFD (my closest friend goes to the same rifle club as the owner so gave me an introduction) they had racks of No.4 available. If you go on their website now they have five No.4 available all outside your price range.

To be honest you need to look at them in the flesh and judge on a rifle by rifle basis, don't get too hung up if it has two or five groove rifling they are not target rifles in the end. Making sure they gauge safely is more important these days imho and try find one that doesn't have too much slop in the bolt.

Then again that being said, if I was buying now I wouldn't be looking at a No.4 at all. There are at the moment as far as I can make out more SMLE about at a reasonable price. If you look at the major dealers sites they will often have several SMLE available vs one or two No.4. Don't dismiss the SMLE as a shooter, they have a lighter barrel (unless you have an Australian H barrel) but can shoot well. Also they often have tighter actions, remember unlike the No.4 they are not a mass produced Wartime expedient. Going back to the EFD website whilst they have five No.4 all outside your price range they have twenty SMLE with a few getting into your price range.

If it was me I would budget for between £400-800 with a sweet spot of around the £550-600 mark. If you are dead set on paying less than £500 (it doesn't take long to save up an extra £100 if you think about it) then be careful and don't fall in love with the first one you see unless you can be sure it is a decent rifle.

[Rockhopper]

How old are you?

Might seem a strange question but older shooters struggle with the SMLE as the rear sight is half way down the barrel which some people have problems with.
The P17 is another option worth thinking about.
Bargains are out there though, only two years ago I paid £250 for my No4 Mk2 complete with a scope and mount (that i sold for £150).

[Fedaykin]

For £250 I presume a private seller?

P14 is an option, guy at my club consistently wins the Service rifle comp with his.

[Rockhopper]

Yes it was private, I got a lovely 1918 SMLE from the same guy for £350.

[Fedaykin]

Wow! I suppose a fool and his money are soon parted!

[JS569]

Out of interest who are some key dealers for Enfields? I'm aware of EFD but wondered if there were any other names that were worth checking out.

[Fedaykin]

www.highwoodclassicarms.co.uk
http://www.pukkabundhooks.com/
https://www.cgfirearms.co.uk/

CG site has appeared to go down. To be honest a Gunstar search will show up what most dealers have.

[TomH]

How old are you?

Might seem a strange question but older shooters struggle with the SMLE as the rear sight is half way down the barrel which some people have problems with.

I can relate to that, I shot an 8" high by 2.5" wide group at 100 yards testing Dodgyrog's fine 303 boolits in my Lithgow last week. I seem to have trouble picking up the true height of the rear sight.