1942 British Enfield .303
Hello all. Was hoping I could get some input/advise/answers from the vast depths of knowledge on this site. My uncle just told me he will give me his Enfield .303 No. 4 MK3(i think). I have used this rifle to hunt deer a few times and its a decent brush gun. It has "1942 Austrailia" stamped on it. It does not have the full wood stock but rather a "half" stock that only extends about half the way up the barrel. My uncle and I reasoned it must have gone to the Pacific theater if it is that configuration. I have often mused of putting a scope on and maybe getting a new stock. My uncle wanted to keep it as original as possible. My question: Is there a way to maintain a balance betweeen improving it and still keeping it "vintage"? Does anyone know about these models that had the half stock? The iron sites are rock steady and are adjustable with graients out to 2000(meters I presume since it's british). Was this rifle ever capable of accurate shots at half that distance? I like using it for whitetales but that itty bitty front post gets mighty hard to see against them critters at dawn/dusk even with a dab of whiteout on it. To sum up: Is this rifle worth investing money in or should I just mount it above the fireplace?
Thank you all.
Thank you all.
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a 1942 lithgow made in australia is a #1MK3. There were no #1MK3 jungle gun that I have ever heard of. All of them were #4MK1's that were converted, or #5's. The rear sight on these is only graduated to 800M, and is behind the action, not out on the barrel. Someone has sporterized it, that is cut back the stock. You might as well change out the stock and drill it for a scope as it really has no value that you are going to hurt.
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They were the .303 Jungle Carbine. Had one as a kid -
great gun but what a kick! Had a flash surpresser
on the end of the barrel. it wasn't much use as a hunter.
[:D]
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As already stated, Lithgow SAF only ever made No1mk3 rifles.They never retooled to make the other varients such as the no4 mk3 or no5 "Jungle carbine". The no1 mk3 has a fully wooded stock and a "bull nose cap" with the bayonet lug being part of this cap. The real sight is situated just forward of the knox form where on a no4 or no5 it is at the rear of the action above the bolt handle. If the barrel hasnt been cut short then it would be worthwhile looking for a full stock for it and rebuilding it if you want something in original configuration. Here in NewZealand, a cut down sportirized one goes for about $100 (70 usd) and a fully wooded one goes for anything up to $800. Quite often when the stock was cut down the guy would also shave,shape the butt at the wrist too so you might have to look for another one of them too if your going for the fullwood deal. The sight will be in yards as the british have always been imperial or for that matter somethimes WHITWORTH!!!!! Have you ever dealt with whitworth threads??!!!?!?!!?!? A 1/4 inch whitworth is equal to about 5/8 imp or 15ish mm!!! Its crazy!!!lol Anyway as it stands its worth bugger all in that setup so it just depends on what you want to spend and if you want it original.I would personally go original as also, The fully wooded .303 was intended to be just that....Fully wooded!!! That is how it is most accurate with a correct bedding job they were awesome snipper rifles in the "T" configuration and they go for thousands and so often if not always, when the stock is cut down and wedged against the barrel where it is cut(everyone iv seen is like this) it turns into an inaccurate heap of crap really. Just my 2 cents worth anyway.Good luck 0 -
Fuddman- you probably have a mk1 #3. Check around here and the other sites for stocks and forearms/ handguards- they do show up. Before you put a lot of money in it, have a good gunsmith check the headspace- these can be a heartbreaker and money eater if the headspace is off- and have him check barrel wear- I picked up a nice Mk 4, but poor cleaning practices had resulted in an OVAL bore- time to rebarrel. The 2000 yard sight settings are for real- but not for one rifle shooting at one man- that was massed fire against an area type target. I use a 303 to hunt whitetail at 200 yards- MAX. Term is Minute of whitetail accuracy. Run a search for SMLE and compare yours to the photos of rifles for sale. By the way, IF the head[:)]space and bore wear are in spec you CAN find synthetic stocks for these. And YES, they can be scoped. And yes, the SMLE made a good sniper weapon. Its just danged heavy to carry a long ways. Good luck, shoot safe and often.
Friends help you move. REAL friends help you move BODIES!0 -
Sorry- that should have been #1 Mk 3, Senior moment there.[:I]
Friends help you move. REAL friends help you move BODIES!0
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