303 #4

[David R]

I have a chance to buy a what I think is a #4 Lee enfield. No magazine, been bubbized and the barrel was shortened. It has a scope mount on it, no front site. It looks to me like it has only one locking lug. It said #4 Mark something and korph or something on it.

Comments?

I can pick it up real cheap, but I already have a winchester 1917 enfield in '06.

David

[NVcurmudgeon]

David, look on the left side of the buttstock socket. Maker (sometimes initials,) overhaul, date, etc. should be there. "korph"? no clue here, but there are several of us here can have a go at deciphering marks. These are excellent shooting rifles as issued, but I have no experience with sporterized versions. Magazines should not be too hard to find, but might be expensive. they were issued one per rifle. Despite popular opinion, L-E magazines were intended to be easily replaced if damaged, not issued in multiples so the soldier could quickly change them and keep shooting. By the time you got around to changing to a "spare, loaded" magazine, it would probably have unloaded itself!

[Buckshot]

..............They have 2 bolt lugs. One is back a bit on the left side. Mag boxes are available. Should be chambered in .303 unless it was one of those from India and chambered in 308.

Buy it and rebarrel it to 45-70 or 45-90 if you don't like the 303 :-)

................Buckshot

[David R]

I never thought of that, Rimmed cartridge. I am on hold with this one. The guy really needs money, so if he drops his shorts a little more, I will buy it. No need for the 303, I have 308 and a 7.65.

Thanks
David

[Boz330]

45-90 now that shouldn't kick to bad. I always thought that one of those in 40-65 would be a neat combo or maybe a .375 out of a 303 case.

Bob

[Buckshot]

..............Articles in "Rifle" magazine have been done on the conversions of SMLE's to both 444 Marlin and 45-90. It would seem any conversion based on similar cartridges would be do-able. Maybe even the 405 Winchester?

................Buckshot