What Lee Enfields ?

[Dougan]

If you go for an SMLE (didn't stay speachless for long...though I think Gaz has disturbed me :P ), I can recommend Lithgoes - I have a beauty in fair condition that shoots really well (4" groups at 200 yrds)

I don't know if this is true, as I was told by someone else - But I was told that some pre-WWll SMLEs are made better (and from better materials) than the mass produced No.4s of WWll.

The only SMLEs I'd be wary of are some of the Ishapores (spelling?), as I've seen a few ropey ones...

[Tower75]

True - pre-war SMLEs are generally considered better then war-stock rifle. Stands to reason.

Ishapores, however, are actually better built then SMLEs and No4s, very strong actions. I just find Ishapores boring. No history to 'em. And sticking a 7.62x51mm into an "SMLE" just feels wrong

[Gaz]

SMLEs are nice, but they strike me as rather overcomplicated.

:shock: 'nice'... :G ...'overcomplicated' :shock: *rendered speachless*

Course they are, I'd need a degree in engineering to even think about trying to dismantle a SMLE! :lol:

[Tower75]

Step one: open bolt

Step two: push bolt head past bolt-stop and withdraw whole bolt from rifle

Should we be worried, Gaz? :G

[ovenpaa]

Based on a recent Twitter feed from Gaz we need to be very worried if only about his taste in music. :lol:

[meles meles]

Based on a recent Twitter feed from Gaz we need to be very worried if only about his taste in music. :lol:

I don't know if 'taste' is the correct word there...

[Gaz]

Should we be worried, Gaz? :G

I meant taking it to pieces for maintenance, you chump! :lol:

As for music - what's wrong with some classic early 70s heavy metal?

[Dougan]

Course they are, I'd need a degree in engineering to even think about trying to dismantle a SMLE! :lol:

Dismantling them is the easy bit - you just keep unscrewing things until it falls apart (I'm no engineer either :lol: ) - the trick is getting it to shoot straight again once you've put it back together! The underside screws (especially the one under the front band) need to be at the right tensions; and there was a good thread months ago about how to do this...

That said, the last time mine needed taking apart (to repair the front end wood)...I took it to Fultons

[Tower75]

What's right with 70s rock?

Now, if we're taking 80s power ballads, then yes.

Plus, if you really need it, I've got a pic by pic dismantling guild for most classic-military weapons. I can fling you the one for the SMLE

[Sandgroper]

True - pre-war SMLEs are generally considered better then war-stock rifle. Stands to reason.

Ishapores, however, are actually better built then SMLEs and No4s, very strong actions. I just find Ishapores boring. No history to 'em. And sticking a 7.62x51mm into an "SMLE" just feels wrong

What do you mean by no history to the Ishapores? :G They begun producing lee enfields there in about 1904!

For the Indian Army the 2A and 2A1 was just a natural progression from 303 to 7.62 (and better done than the Australian attempts ). To my mind no different from a 7.62 No 4!