Since their formation in 1947, the Canadian Rangers, Canada's Arctic defense/surveillance militia, have been carrying .303 chambered Lee Enfield rifles. Today, more than 60 years later, each Ranger is still issued with a Lee Enfield No. 4 rifle and each year are provided with 200 rounds of .303 ammunition. Because parts are becoming scare, the Canadian Forces have decided to replace the Rangers' Enfield inventory by 2014 with a rifle chambered in 7.62x51mm. Canada.com reports
Earlier models had been in service with the British army since 1895, according to the Juno Beach Centre, which commemorates the effort made by all Canadians during the Second World War. On its website, the centre noted that during the First World War, Canadian troops threw away their government-issued Ross rifles in favour of Lee-Enfields they picked up on the battlefield.
Thompson said after consulting with the Rangers, it was agreed that the new rifle would be in the 7.62mm/ .308 Winchester calibre, as this was best suited to meet the Rangers' requirements. He noted that ".308 Winchester refers to a specific cartridge that is very similar to the 7.62 x 51 (NATO) cartridge, and is made by several companies."
They were originally issued to the Rangers, along with 200 rounds of ammunition, to ward off incursions into Canadian territory. Today the Rangers are not expected to engage invading armies, but they still carry a rifle for personal protection and survival in the harsh Arctic territory they patrol.
I wonder if there will be any good uns released onto the market?
I read about this on a Canadian forum and they weren't too hopefull of these surplus rifles being released onto the open market. Seems that even though they have a relatively "pro gun" government, the over cautiousness of the administration is still present and the remote possibility that a previously government owned gun is misused.....
In 1978 I was told by my grand dad that the secret to rifle accuracy is, a quality bullet, fired down a quality barrel..... How has that changed?
Guns dont kill people. Dads with pretty Daughters do...!
Shame they're getting rid of their Enfields considering its a tried and tested rifle with a hard hitting round,but i guess they're trying to move with the times and 303 is an old calibre.I hope they're not destroyed because that really would be a crying shame.
Excerpt from a Canadian government document concerning the military's Small Arms Replacement Project II (SARP 2):
13. A company based in Australia, Australian International Arms (AIA), markets a M10 No.4 Mk IV Modern Short Magazine Lee Enfield (SMLE) Rifle in 7.62mm NATO calibre. This rifle is a replica of the Lee Enfield but in appearance only. The cost of this rifle, less ancillaries is approximately $800.00 (Cdn). The CF technical authority for small arms, DSSPM 5, on 24 Jul 08 conducted an initial examination of the AIA rifle because in appearance it closely resembles the current Lee Enfield. The technical authority concluded that the rifle would not meet the Canadian Ranger’s requirement without significant modification and re-engineering because it is cheaply made.
14. The Australian International Arms M10 No 4 Mk IV SMLE Rifle fires a 7.62 x 51mm NATO cartridge and at first glance appears to meet the CF requirement as a replacement for the Canadian Ranger Rifle. The rifle is assembled from parts manufactured from throughout South-East Asia in locations such as as Viet Nam, Thailand (teak stocks) and Indonesia. The barrel is hammer-forged in Australia. The general assessment is that the rifle is accurate and attractively priced, but it was clearly designed for the civilian recreational shooting market and it is not a military product. Many parts of the rifle are cheaply made and would likely fail under testing.
“The standard you walk past is the standard you accept.”
Lets hope they do not go the same way as the ex Italian army No4's a few years ago, they were allegedly all but perfect condition and were sold off and shipped with the bolts separated from the rifles, never to be married again. Shame really.....
/d
Du lytter aldrig til de ord jeg siger. Du ser mig kun for det tøj jeg har paa ...
A friend of mine has one of these Italian No4s purchased a couple of years ago. They were used for drill purposes so had external wear & tear but the receiving RFD advised that it had never been fired. Don't know if the numbers match up though.
It's not the pace of life that concerns me, it's the sudden stop at the end!
:lol: 
