What Lee Enfields ?

[Tower75]

I was thinking of the 7.62x51mm Ishapores.

They're post-war, chambered for a "modern" cartridge.

Don't really know how to explain it, I've shot a few, but I find them cold and machine like, whereas I can't get enough of the beaten-up, war-time SMLEs. They have character. We all have rifles that we cannot warm to.

[Sim G]

We all have rifles that we cannot warm to.

Yep, I had one.......... a Smellie! Couldn't get on with the bloody thing at all!

[pe4king]

We all have rifles that we cannot warm to.

Yep, I had one.......... a Smellie! Couldn't get on with the bloody thing at all!

Wash your mouth out man, :G :G if you cant get on with a Smellie you should make yourself. (ITS THE LAW)

[meles meles]

Hmmm, just how good are those Ishies in 7.62?

[Rearlugs]

Hmmm, just how good are those Ishies in 7.62?

Very good indeed.

Their typical accuracy with RG or similar NATO 144gn ball ranges from 3 moa right down to about 1 1/2 moa - i.e. above the average for a .303 No1.

I've had about 15-20 2A and 2A1s so far. I find that they nearly all can be made to shoot well, but that their behaviour is different from .303 No1s. Obviously the No1 has a complicated bedding system derived for the way the .303 round behaves, and the Ishy's 7.62mm barrel is thus shoehorned into the "wrong" bedding system. (I had one fairly mint 2A that was shooting a 3ft group at 100 yds. I took the nose cap off just to see if the barrel stud spring was there, and replaced it without doing anything else. The next group shrank to about 3". I have no idea what changed in the rifle!)

[meles meles]

Maybe you let the dispersion elf out....

[etprescottuk]

What Lee Enfield?

I would suggest a No1 MkIII or MkIII* they're just about as iconic as a red phone box.

I love mine. They shoulder well, shoot straight, they're built to last... literally, and they're fun. Plus, I love the look of 'em.

I'll throw in an opinion as a far off observer, the No 1 MkIII if you have to start someplace, these rifles just ooze history, you can feel it when you hold it.

[meles meles]

Hmmm, we think an early, say pre-1915, SMLE has to be on the list if only for the cut-off and the self regulating system. Devious , we thinks, and we approve...

[meles meles]

And, of course, we could have it chambered for 7.62x54R so we don't bankrupt the sett buying ammo...

[Gaz]

Methinks we needs a badger cull! Enfield in 54R indeed! wtfwtf