I was wondering where is a good place to find a Lee Enfield. I don't usually like surplus bolt actions (shoot lefty) but have always liked the (ugly?) looks of these and think it would be a fun rifle. Also, what about ammo? (Reloading isn't an option right now.) Can I use off the shelf .303 British (like at Bass Pro) or are they like Garandes that need weaker stuff than regular .30-06 at the store? Thanks guys.
Where to buy a Lee Enfield?
- Thread starter EdInk
- Start date
armoredman
New member
Yes, any Enfield in decent shape should be able to handle any factory loaded ammo. I tried to sell my No4Mk1*, couldn't find any takers, decided I'll just keep it, but I have hand loaded for it for some time, easiest and cheapest way to keep shooting, as factory ammo isn't the cheapest.
dreamweaver
New member
there's usual a couple on gunbroker at any given time. if you're wanting a shooter, a sporterized gun will be cheaper than an original. i have a no4mk1*. very accurate and fast for a bolt action.
used to be cheap to shoot with a lot of .303 milsurp around, but that's about dried up now.
prvi makes new commercial ammo with similar ballistics and it's not corrosive like the milsurp was.
lee makes (made) reloading dies for .303. i reload the milsurp cases and privy cases for a lot less than what new factory ammo costs.
used to be cheap to shoot with a lot of .303 milsurp around, but that's about dried up now.
prvi makes new commercial ammo with similar ballistics and it's not corrosive like the milsurp was.
lee makes (made) reloading dies for .303. i reload the milsurp cases and privy cases for a lot less than what new factory ammo costs.
Yeah but there's something "just not right" with sporterized military rifles to me. I will checkout the other place as well. After rechecking ammo
prices it may not be happening after all. $1 or better per round. Still undecided.
Can the old Springfield bolt actions handle modern .30-06 or is it the whole Garande thing all over again? If so, where can I pick up a nice shooter for a fair price? CMP? Gunbroker? Anywhere else?
prices it may not be happening after all. $1 or better per round. Still undecided.
Can the old Springfield bolt actions handle modern .30-06 or is it the whole Garande thing all over again? If so, where can I pick up a nice shooter for a fair price? CMP? Gunbroker? Anywhere else?
A M1 rifle doesnt shoot "watered down" 30-06, its just that as it comes in stock form- its gas port is a fixed size. It was regulated for service ammo that used powder of a specific burn rate/pressure curve. The usual damage from the wrong ammo was a bent op-rod.
The is an adjustable gas plug on the market that allows you to use just about any 30-06 in your M1.
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=777146
Gun Broker, is a great place to find a Enfield.
The is an adjustable gas plug on the market that allows you to use just about any 30-06 in your M1.
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=777146
Gun Broker, is a great place to find a Enfield.
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classic has the #4 mk 1 rifles for $239 and they have the ammo for 288rounds $139
I will usually buy the best condition I can find to collect and find a hack job to sporterize. But I have no problems with sporterizing a rifle to make it usefull to me, or refinishing a mil surp. I made the mistake of selling off my guns once these days i'm not planing to ever sell again so the only value is their value to me. But once again I will usually try to keep one in battle condition and one refinished to what it should have looked like new or close to it
I will usually buy the best condition I can find to collect and find a hack job to sporterize. But I have no problems with sporterizing a rifle to make it usefull to me, or refinishing a mil surp. I made the mistake of selling off my guns once these days i'm not planing to ever sell again so the only value is their value to me. But once again I will usually try to keep one in battle condition and one refinished to what it should have looked like new or close to it
Yes the late model '03A3s can handle modern '06. It doesn't have the gas system the Garand has. Ser. #s below 800,000 are considered LOW number unsafe to shoot. I know some people say they shoot them without problems. Maybe so, but not on a range I'm running. Having said that I don't see the reasoning. CMP sells surplus ammo at pretty good prices, and if you reload, I've found Springfield's are plenty accurate enough with mild loads, in GSM (Vintage Rifle Matches) you never shoot over 200 yards, and its easier to get back on target during rapid fire with the milder loads, PLUS, that steel butt plate will get to you if you shoot very much. But like I said, the gun will take it, its the shooter that's the limiting factor.
I don't know about GunBroker, but CMP presently doesn't have Springfield's now but are suppose to get more sometime in 2011. (I too screwed up and didn't get one when they had them).
When you find some good, orginal Enfields, let me know, I wouldn't mind having one my self.
madcratebuilder
New member
Gunbroker is going to be the best selection of Enfields. Both No1's, No4's and No5's and the dozen or more variations of them.
A new Enfield owner should read up on them so you know what you are buying.
A new Enfield owner should read up on them so you know what you are buying.
Got mine at Classic Arms
I got my Enfield no.4 MK1 at classic arms - most reasonably priced for a shooter not collector. I think if you go with more historical pieces than you have to go on gunbroker but beware of some sellers.
Here is a place thats seems interesting for historical pieces.
http://www.enfield-stuff.com/for_sale/index.htm
I got my Enfield no.4 MK1 at classic arms - most reasonably priced for a shooter not collector. I think if you go with more historical pieces than you have to go on gunbroker but beware of some sellers.
Here is a place thats seems interesting for historical pieces.
http://www.enfield-stuff.com/for_sale/index.htm
madcratebuilder
New member
No CC is needed to buy from GB, only in some circumstances as listed below.
"We charge no recurring membership fees of any kind. Users of free email services like Hotmail or Yahoo or persons whose registration information is flagged as suspicious by our fraud prevention systems may be required to place a credit card on file to pay for identity verification. To prevent fraud and abuse, new users with no feedback must place a credit card on file to use the BuyNow! immediate purchase option."
I have a Gmail email address. Since it's a free email service they require a credit card. Only internet I have is verizon wireless so I don't have an email addy through them. I've emailed them and offered any proof of ID they require but all they can say is a credit card is mandatory because of my email and all I have is a debit card which they won't take. I don't believe in credit cards so I run into this occasionally
stickhauler
New member
I was wondering about that because I have never given a credit card number to Gunbroker nor have I used one in any transaction I've done from there. Why they would require it for a "buy it now" sale with no buyer history makes no sense, the sale is arranged between the seller and buyer using whatever payment type is agreed upon between them on any transaction. All but one of my deals that went through that site were paid by postal money order, the only exception was an agreed upon personal check when my local post office's money order sales system was down when I went to buy one for the purchase.