LEE ENFIELD LE 1 375-303

[WebleyGreene455]

Webley Green455
Lik you had a No4 SMLE but with a hung trigger. Rebarreled it to 444 Marlin with a 22inch barrel and a 1 in 20 twist
405 Winchester could be another option View attachment 321656
My 444 thumper

Nice. .405 WIN is a neat idea, since I'd like to get a Ross and/or a No1 MKIII for a .303. Reminds me a bit of the .45-70 Remington-Lee I firmly regret missing out on buying last year.

 

[Guy.G]

Similar ballistics to a .375 flanged eh?

Are you still getting ten in the magazine?

I have been working of the the data in the woodliegh manual pictured above for the 375 x 2 1/2 inch, very similar I think.

Yes mate I can close the bolt on 10 in the magazine, it did require a bit of modification to magazine to get this to happen. If I can work it out how to put a video up of the feeding I will.

Nice job on the rifle. Like others interested in the rounds ballistics and performance.

I have only used the 300 gn projectile. I have been able to get the performance I was after which is 2000 fps with a 300 gn projectile.

Woodliegh make a projectile for the 375 x 2 1/2 inch which is a 270 gn rn. This is the other projectile I am keen to try.

From what I can work out, give or take a bit. With a 300 gn at 2000 fps. Zero at 75 metres, 4 inch drop at 150 metres, another 4 inch drop at 200 metres. Thats what I want to set the leaves up at.

 

[Guy.G]

One of the better groups at 100 metres, possibly as good as my eyes can do with out going to a peep sight.

 

[Dr Ray]

Dry nice finish

 

[Dr Ray]

Very nice
Sorry fat thumb on iPhone

 

[norfolk shooter]

That is one SEXY rifle well done nice work

 

[Major Khan]

Ah , the service .303 British calibre Lee Enfield bolt rifles. They bring back so many fine memories . During our Liberation War , we freedom fighters used so many of these . They were dastardly reliable . However , a few had barrels with very badly worn rifling . Bullet used to weigh a 174 grains if l recall correctly , with a spitzer tip . Certainly not sniper's rifles , but very robust and reliable .
I also liked the Soviet military surplus Mosin Nagant bolt rifles which we had , chambered in 7.62 x 54 R . However the Lee Enfield was a little quicker to operate in my experience.

 

[WebleyGreene455]

Ah , the service .303 British calibre Lee Enfield bolt rifles. They bring back so many fine memories . During our Liberation War , we freedom fighters used so many of these . They were dastardly reliable . However , a few had barrels with very badly worn rifling . Bullet used to weigh a 174 grains if l recall correctly , with a spitzer tip . Certainly not sniper's rifles , but very robust and reliable .
I also liked the Soviet military surplus Mosin Nagant bolt rifles which we had , chambered in 7.62 x 54 R . However the Lee Enfield was a little quicker to operate in my experience.

I'd agree that the Lee-Enfield is quicker to operate. I have a sniper-style Mosin-Nagant in my collection as well as a military-configuration and a sporterized L-E No.4, and while the L-E requires a bit more shove to bring the bolt fully forward, the M-N needs a firmer upward push before drawing the bolt back and that (for me at least) makes it a bit slower to operate but they're very close.

 

[Major Khan]

I'd agree that the Lee-Enfield is quicker to operate. I have a sniper-style Mosin-Nagant in my collection as well as a military-configuration and a sporterized L-E No.4, and while the L-E requires a bit more shove to bring the bolt fully forward, the M-N needs a firmer upward push before drawing the bolt back and that (for me at least) makes it a bit slower to operate but they're very close.

Great minds think alike , WebleyGreene455 . The Mosin Nagant bolt rifle was used by my 2nd and 3rd favorite snipers in all of military history
: Simo Hayha and Vasili Zaytsev .

 

[WebleyGreene455]

Great minds think alike , WebleyGreene455 . The Mosin Nagant bolt rifle was used by my 2nd and 3rd favorite snipers in all of military history
: Simo Hayha and Vasili Zaytsev .

I'd be lying if I said I didn't get my Mosin in part because of watching Jude Law as Vasili Zaytsev in Enemy At the Gates. Or if I said that I didn't buy a Soviet-refurbished Kar98k so I could convert it to a lookalike rifle based on Ed Harris' in the same film.

 

[Major Khan]

I'd be lying if I said I didn't get my Mosin in part because of watching Jude Law as Vasili Zaytsev in Enemy At the Gates. Or if I said that I didn't buy a Soviet-refurbished Kar98k so I could convert it to a lookalike rifle based on Ed Harris' in the same film.

Some day , they should make a film of Carlos Hathcock . He was a Vietnam War sniper in the United States Marine Corps . He was a really brave and proficient marks man . He was fortunate enough to survive the war , but a mine ended his sniping career .
He used a .30-06 Springfield calibre Winchester Model 70 and later a .308 Winchester calibre rifle based on the Remington Model 700 . I read his book many times. He ranks as my 1st favorite sniper of all time.

 

[WebleyGreene455]

Some day , they should make a film of Carlos Hathcock . He was a Vietnam War sniper in the United States Marine Corps . He was a really brave and proficient marks man . He was fortunate enough to survive the war , but a mine ended his sniping career .
He used a .30-06 Springfield calibre Winchester Model 70 and later a .308 Winchester calibre rifle based on the Remington Model 700 . I read his book many times. He ranks as my 1st favorite sniper of all time.

I suspected Hathcock would be your favorite. Many people I'm acquainted with hold him in (well-deserved) high regard. One of my assorted planned future projects will be a rifle styled after the one he considered his "ideal rifle" in his autobiography. Pre-64 Win M70, 3-9x Redfield scope, and chambered for .300 H&H instead of .30-06 (he used the H&H for the Wimbledon Cup IIRC and I'm certain he'd have encouraged its use as a military sniper round long before the .300 Win Mag and .338 Lap Mag were adopted).

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Here is the 375-303 with 300gn ,235gn along side the 303

View attachment 321623 View attachment 321618 View attachment 321620

@guy. G.
The 303 looks like it's loaded with a 150 grain Barnes TSX.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Ah , the service .303 British calibre Lee Enfield bolt rifles. They bring back so many fine memories . During our Liberation War , we freedom fighters used so many of these . They were dastardly reliable . However , a few had barrels with very badly worn rifling . Bullet used to weigh a 174 grains if l recall correctly , with a spitzer tip . Certainly not sniper's rifles , but very robust and reliable .
I also liked the Soviet military surplus Mosin Nagant bolt rifles which we had , chambered in 7.62 x 54 R . However the Lee Enfield was a little quicker to operate in my experience.

@ Major Khan
My dear friend if you want a TRUE test of marksmanship with an SMLE No1Mk111 have a look at the record set by Sgt Snoxell. He managed 38 shots on a 24 inch target at 300 yards in one minute. Now that's some feat with a bolt action rifle.
Bob

 

[sestoppelman]

Some day , they should make a film of Carlos Hathcock . He was a Vietnam War sniper in the United States Marine Corps . He was a really brave and proficient marks man . He was fortunate enough to survive the war , but a mine ended his sniping career .
He used a .30-06 Springfield calibre Winchester Model 70 and later a .308 Winchester calibre rifle based on the Remington Model 700 . I read his book many times. He ranks as my 1st favorite sniper of all time.

Here is what he carried on his second tour, Remington M40. I have two, one I made up years ago and this one, the Remington reissue from some years back. Excellent shooting rifles.

 

[yumastepside]

What profile Lothar Walther barrel did you use?

Roger

 

[leslie hetrick]

i have a .375 JDJ that shoots a 225 gr bullet at 2300+ fps and a 260 gr bullet at at 2200+ fps. cases are made out of .444 marlin cases, just a run a 444 marlin case into the 375 sizing die and then load, no extra forming needed. i shot a deer last year with and it was dropped where it was standing.

 

[Jack Stevens]

Nicely done. It sure beats most of the unfortunate .303 hack jobs that are seen in my neck of the woods. The stock work looks exceptional.

Yes, I agree. The stock and metal work are outstanding! Beautiful rifle.

I have no idea what a .375/.303 cartridge looks like. Would it be possible to post up a pic of one?

Also, how many such cartridges does the magazine hold?

Edited to add: Oops, posted this before I saw the pic in Post #11 above.