Enfield SMLE.

[Sarg]

Haha @csmiffy Best of the Season to you to !

Well I put that on the Lancaster Lee Speed I picked up on the same trip when I got home, not its full time home, just a test for now.

 

[csmiffy]

Haha @csmiffy Best of the Season to you to !

Well I put that on the Lancaster Lee Speed I picked up on the same trip when I got home, not its full time home, just a test for now.

View attachment 735438

Excellent

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I know this is probably more appropriately directed to our other colonial commonwealth brothers. As the 303 British is not the most popular caliber in the US. But I was wondering if anyone had any great examples of SMLES made into beautiful hunting rifles between or after the wars. So, let's see some custom old war rifles.


(Also, I have an Australian Lithgow SMLE that someone butchered, and I want to make it respectably nice.)

@farmer_john

@No4 SMLE in my 25 cal
90gn Sierra gkhpbt @3,300 fps and less than inch groups.
Below
No 4 SMLE converted to 444 Marlin 265 FTX at over 2,500 fps, cuts Clive leafs at 100 yards
Bob

 

[atrious]

Anyone know when this one was made?

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Anyone know when this one was made?

@atrious
More pictures would help espt of the action around the but socket.
Bob

 

[Sarg]

Can only tell it has a SMLE MKIII rear sight & barrel.

As says @Bob Nelson 35Whelen the Butt socket would tells us more if it is a military action ?

 

[farmer_john]

Has anyone seen an enfield made into a 416 rigby? I saw one made supposadly in the 50s how well would those shoot?

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Has anyone seen an enfield made into a 416 rigby? I saw one made supposadly in the 50s how well would those shoot?

@farmer_john
Depends whether it was made by a good gunsmith or buba the Blacksmith.
My gunsmith made one into a 505 Gibbs that was beautiful and a tack driver.
Bob

 

[farmer_john]

@farmer_john
Depends whether it was made by a good gunsmith or buba the Blacksmith.
My gunsmith made one into a 505 Gibbs that was beautiful and a tack driver.
Bob

I believe it was grifen and howe

 

[Rocked and Loaded]

My "Ghost and the Darkness" rifle. The classic SMLE hunting rifle has to be the Lee Speed. This one was sold by WJ Jeffery, and likely to a young junior officer on his way to Africa or the Raj - or perhaps to a colonist in British East Africa. The second photo is of the underside of the stock where it meets the pistol grip and has always intrigued me. I have always wondered if it didn't find its way into the fighting in East Africa during the First World War.

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View attachment 735138

Is that the original magazine? I was under the impression that lee speeds generally had five round, flush fit, magazines.

It’s a beautiful rifle.

 

[csmiffy]

Has anyone seen an enfield made into a 416 rigby? I saw one made supposadly in the 50s how well would those shoot?

Wouldn't that be the mauser type P14/P17 type enfields, not the side locking lug types?

 

[farmer_john]

Wouldn't that be the mauser type P14/P17 type enfields, not the side locking lug types?

Not sure im not a enfield expert

 

[csmiffy]

Yup. That's the mauser type. Close enough I think enfield had to pay royalties or such to Mauser. A good one can handle pretty much anything.
The side lug types especially the no4/5s can handle things like 45/70 and I there is such a thing as 375x 2 1/2. A 303 blown out to 375.
Meant to be quite handy

 

[Grumpy gumpy]

Yup. That's the mauser type. Close enough I think enfield had to pay royalties or such to Mauser. A good one can handle pretty much anything.
The side lug types especially the no4/5s can handle things like 45/70 and I there is such a thing as 375x 2 1/2. A 303 blown out to 375.
Meant to be quite handy

It was the US who had to pay royalties for the 03’ Springfield
Gumpy

 

[CarsonG]

Yup. That's the mauser type. Close enough I think enfield had to pay royalties or such to Mauser. A good one can handle pretty much anything.
The side lug types especially the no4/5s can handle things like 45/70 and I there is such a thing as 375x 2 1/2. A 303 blown out to 375.
Meant to be quite handy

I have a P14 that was given a new stock and a new barrel and I believe that’s about all it took before it could shoot the .375 HH mag. It’s one of my favorite guns.

 

[Sarg]

Has anyone seen an enfield made into a 416 rigby? I saw one made supposadly in the 50s how well would those shoot?

We’ll never a SMLE - Short Magazine Lee Enfield as in the title of this post.

Many big bore rifles including .416 Rigby have been built on the P14-M17 Enfield action which is a Mauser derivative & used by A Square for Hannibal rifles.

Of course many English (some limited American as well) fine rifles were built on this action by the great company’s when original Mauser Magnum actions became unobtainable.

 

[csmiffy]

I have a P14 that was given a new stock and a new barrel and I believe that’s about all it took before it could shoot the .375 HH mag. It’s one of my favorite guns.

A slightly longer magazine box from a P17 helps.

 

[yumastepside]

The 375 x 2 1/2" Flanged Nitro Express, to give it's full name, is not actually a 303 blown out to 375, it is actually a straight walled case about 1/4" longer than a 303 and about 30% more powerful.
From what information I can find it was developed by Holland and Holland before their 375 H&H Magnum ....Sarg will correct me if I'm wrong

Roger

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Not sure im not a enfield expert
View attachment 739739
View attachment 739740

@farmer_john
Definitely A M17 or P14
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Yup. That's the mauser type. Close enough I think enfield had to pay royalties or such to Mauser. A good one can handle pretty much anything.
The side lug types especially the no4/5s can handle things like 45/70 and I there is such a thing as 375x 2 1/2. A 303 blown out to 375.
Meant to be quite handy

@csmiffy
Sorry to burst you bubble mate but the SMLE came in 3 strengths
The No1 Mk111 the weakest suitable for no more than standard 303 brit pressure

The No4 has been converted to 7.62x51 NATO so is capable of handling higher pressure load

The No5 jungle carbine was a lightened version of the No 4 and NOT capable of handling much more than the No1 and way less than the No4.
The best and strongest of the SMLE is the No4

India made the ishapore version of the No1 Mk111 that's a much beefed up version that will handle the 308. Try this with an old No1 and you will end up with a bent bolt and ruined rifle in real quick order
Bob