The UK's Finest Independent Forum for Shooters and Gun Owners. Est 2010.

I had a horrific hangover so I didn't quite manage to leave the house all day... :lol:

The problem is it's mothers day on Sunday, so I might have to leave it until the following weekend now.

Mikaveli wrote:Did you get any rounds through it at the weekend?

Hi Sam,

I own and shoot a lovely 1917 Enfield made No1 Mk3* and love it to bits, it just oozes history!...and 97 years worth of Linseed oil all over your hands on a hot day at the range....all good fun!

One piece of advice I would impart, whatever No1 variant you go for (assuming you buy from a dealer),
make sure it is bore gauged, you might be surprised to know not all dealers do this.

SMLE barrels (and No4) are getting very hard to obtain these days, so make sure it's got a good one.

Also, it's worth carefully checking the area around the charger bridge on the left wall of the reciever for signs of stress cracks, as this seems to be the weak point on SMLE's...probably fine, most are, but take a look.

You just can't beat an SMLE for sheer charisma, it might not be as accurate as it's Mauser foe, but you don't buy an SMLE for that.

at trench ranges it lacks naught for accuracy, and will work, quickly and repeatedly, when caked in mud....

The Germans seem to dominate the service rifles competitions at the Trafalgar meeting. ABout 5 years ago , I checked up so see what they were using. SMLEs to a man!
Fred

I did today! I'm really pleased with it... I ran 5 shots through it, cleaned it and then another 5, cleaned it and then let her rip. The barrel is unissued and so I thought it best to break it in a bit. The front sight needs nudging over to the left a bit, but apart from that she's an absolute beauty.

Mikaveli wrote:Did you get any rounds through it at the weekend?

FredB wrote:The Germans seem to dominate the service rifles competitions at the Trafalgar meeting. ABout 5 years ago , I checked up so see what they were using. SMLEs to a man!
Fred

I've shot the Trafagar the last 3 years (it's a great meeting), and yes No.4s and SMLEs dominate - Though it depends on the course of fire...you can't beat the Smelly for rapid and snaps, due to the wonderful action; but it doesn't hold the same tight groups that my Swedish Mauser does, so I use that for precision.

Dougan wrote:

FredB wrote:The Germans seem to dominate the service rifles competitions at the Trafalgar meeting. ABout 5 years ago , I checked up so see what they were using. SMLEs to a man!
Fred

I've shot the Trafagar the last 3 years (it's a great meeting), and yes No.4s and SMLEs dominate - Though it depends on the course of fire...you can't beat the Smelly for rapid and snaps, due to the wonderful action; but it doesn't hold the same tight groups that my Swedish Mauser does, so I use that for precision.

And the reasons that the Germans dominate is because.....
They do not shoot in the spirit of the original. ( They also feign ignorance of the rules) The majority of their rifles are glass bedded and they have been fitting modern replacement 'tight bore' barrels for years. Lother Walther have been making replacement barrels for No1s No4s and P14s for the last decade and are the barrel of choice for them. I know that one shooter has .303 Krieger barrels fitted to all of his No1s and No4s. I doubt that any of the rifles that the Germans/Dutch/Belgian and Swiss competitors use at the Trafalgar have original barrels. I still give them a run for their money with my all original P14.

perfidious foreigners, huh ?

Zis is not playing zi game of cricket! Vi vill be votching zem...

huntervixen wrote:You just can't beat an SMLE for sheer charisma, it might not be as accurate as it's Mauser foe, but you don't buy an SMLE for that.

That sums up the appeal of the SMLE to me perfectly. Charisma, there is no finer word to describe the SMLE.

I have another .303 heading down this way in the next few days and I am more excited about this latest acquisition than the day three .50BMG's arrived.