Your Enfield videos are extremely interesting to me. Years ago I acquired a stack of No1 barreled receivers. These ranged from unissued with no assembly marks to really bad. There was even a "T" marked no4 barreled sniper receiver in the lot. I acquired as many parts as I could to rebuild them into shooting condition. Your videos have taught me a lot. You have showed me I need reference books because there are so many variations!
The L42A1 was still in use in the late 1990's whilst training on the SA80A1, and small number of us who were good shots trained on the L42A1, a lot of infinity regiments had kept 10 to one side for this reason, the current equivalent is the Sharp Shooter AR15 type platform. At the same time the Accuracy International rifle was in general service but I would not receive my training until the end of the 90's The reason I was a good shot, prior to my service as a school boy was in the cadet forces and trained on the No.8 with the same Parker Hale sites homing my marksmanship skills and Cadet GP rifle. Great video, keep up the good work.
I’m getting fond of learning about histories of weapons. And your content, Ian, makes me love it more because of how detailed you are when it comes to these stories. It’s great to learn something new everyday!
As a young Canadian ARMY CADET, I learned to shoot using the .22lr #8 conversions. As an adult, I shot a CANADIAN made 7.62 NATO conversion in competion with the Canadian miltary target association, DCRA. The DCRA 7.62 NATO conversions were usually available with proper 10 rd magazines. Extraction/ejection varied depending on who did the conversion. While 7.62 NATO extractors did pull out the fired case, the original ejection system would not actually throw the case out firmly. There was a Canadian specific conversion which used a spring loaded extractor pin and a modified/slotted bolt head which did eject 7.62 NATO fired cases properly. The main advantage with using these 7.62 conversions in DCRA competition, was that MILITARY ISSUE ammunition was mandated. Canadian military issue 7.62 ammo at that time was erratic for precise powder control, so vertical stringing of groups was an issue. The REAR LUGGED design of the Lee Enfield actually absorbed and mitigated these powder/power discrepancies to the point that the Lee Enfields shot better at long range with milotary issue ammo, than many other more sophisticated designs. BTDT (;-{)
The Canadian army used those same Parker Hale competition sights on on the Parker Hale C3 Sniper rifles. In fact, we would only use the iron sights for the first several times we would go to the range with them, then transition to the scope in later weeks, keeping the iron sights as a backup in operations. We never used the target rings for those sights though. Only used the front post insert and as the post sight was rather thick, we would file them down to a point. Really interesting to see those sights on an early predecessor.
The instruction "Don't lick it" must have been a British Army warning for practically every substance or finished product since 1700.... most recently heard for the Bowman radio paint finish.
I shot the L81A2 in the School's meeting last month, the rifles are decent mauser style actions with a 26" heavy parkerised barrel but the trigger is worse than an airsoft gun's
Thank you Ian! As someone who collects and shoots lee enfield rifles, and really loves them a whole lot, I learned something new today. I had no idea these were ever used in combat.
Thats a modified L39A1; they came from the factory bare of sights and magazine and with a No4 butt fitted. One of my L39s is one digit away from this rifle, and is in the original configuration. There are two different rifles in the c.1250 production run, and they share the same numbering sequence. Most are L39A1s which were for military issue to service units. A couple of hundred are marked "7.62mm CONV" (other markings identical) and these were for sale to the Army Rifle Association, which was technically a civilian club. These latter 7.62mm Convs were sold as complete guns with Parker Hale target sights, a No8 butt (as in this L39) and a 7.62mm magazine numbered to the rifle. Confusingly, there are also some much older rifles marked "7.62mm Conv" which were the various prototypes for the L42, the L8 and the L39. The prototype rifle have random configurations and marking styles, and are distinctly different from the target rifle L39/7.62mm Convs.
Eek! sorry - just noticed this exact version in the video is a .308/7.62 - my version is similar - a civvy target rifle built by Parker Hale but in .303 so the same idea as the specific rifle in the video ... but a couple of decades earlier! My rifle was used by a Scottish ghillie stalker before I got it for £150 and refurbed it. Still shooting sweet. Knocks down reds as well as any fancy 'modern' cartridge. 'I've got a 6.5 grendel blah blah blah' oh piss off.
I've been wanting to put together a No4 Enfield with a heavy sporter barrel. The chambering would be 444 Marlin. It would require only a new barrel as 444 Marlin is basically a 303 case necked up to 429. No need to change the bolt head or extractor, and the stock magazine can be used. Would be able to load slower rounds with 44mag/special bullets. Also be able to use rifle spec bullets to achieve some pretty fast velocities. I think this would make a great deer gun. And the modifications needed are really rather simple. I would love to have an L42A1, but the prices are really up there these days. I think last I checked for the full kit it was around $10K. Probably higher now.
My father's last rifle of choice was a 1918 Mk2 Lithgow Lee-Enfield with a kevlar body and stock and a Tasco scope. It was still in .303 as that was plentifully available at the time and it was the only full-size rifle he didn't trade. He'd had a Mauser and he hated his Chinese SKS and got rid of it as quickly as possible. But, not the Enfield. Same with the Brno .22. A bunch of others came and went, but once he had that, it stayed. My experience is relatively limited, but both shot true for me.
As a collector and connoisseur of historical firearms and their paints I have to disagree with his "advice" as I find it rather exclusive and uncultured.
He would struggle to travel with them internationally. I had a 5.56 cartdrige Keychain (literally just empty brass case with Keychain) and the women at security in a British airport was freaked out... Had to bin it ✈️😂
@@tbrowniscool I did a bunch of hiking in Greenland back in May - as you do - and I ended up with a bunch of empty cartridge cases. I debating bringing them back to the UK but I didn't have any faith they'd get through security. Off the top of my head they were 6.5x55mm, .222, .22, and 30-06. Bizarrely I found the 30-06 by a duck pond, which seems like overkill. The supermarket in Kangerlussuaq had .22 rifles for sale. And an overpriced PS5, perhaps in the hope the air force personnel would buy it.
@@tbrowniscool totally inert so absolutely no problem in hold luggage, I bought a 50bmg through in hand luggage with no issues. But I suppose I was bringing in from countries that understand firearms.
I had one of those foresights on my old school Webley air gun. You got three different inserts. One smaller ring and I dont recall the other one. I just kept that in. I got really comfortable with it. Happy times. Cheers Ian.
As a army cadet I've been involved in the competition shooting for a whole and those sites plague us. The pokiball I'd not fun to use haha. It's used on the cadet scorpion pellet gun and the cadet savage wich is a single shot 22.long target rifle,pretty fun to shoot actually. But the extractors like to disintegrate
Ian, you put the front sight insert back in upside-down! If you look closely at it, it's not symmetrical. When you take it out at 6:44, the aperture is positioned slightly below the lugs on either side of the piece. After you drop it and pick it up again at 6:50, you're now holding it with the aperture above the lugs, and this is the orientation you reinstalled it in the front sight. I don't know if you corrected this mistake afterwards, because you cut the video just as you put it in, but I thought you ought to know just in case!
When I was photographing our Air Cadets for recruitment advertising, I got to fire .22 rifle which looked very similar Also when photographing Royal Marines at Limpston there major training establishment Got to fire L1A1 in full .762 NATO .22 conversions couple of clips for browning Hi power Not fair though would not let my fire Sterling or a mortar Also there fire arms museum is something to die for cannot remember all weapons but couple of FG 42 Welrod Welgun
I have one ☝️ Mines fitted with a No4 type butt stock, that’s relieved with the metal canister for front site rings, has been machined for the L42 magazine. I have the original .303 ‘loading platform’ but have acquired an Enfield L42 mag for competition service rifle shooting. It’s a brilliant open site rifle.
Thanks for the excellent video. I recently was able to lay my hands on a mint condition L39A1 that is turning out to be a great shooter. I'm working on building the right rounds for it that will let the Parker sight which is designed for 7.62x51 work well. In your research do you know what twist rate might be on the barrel of these rifles?
My Target rifle of choice. Shot them for years as part of the Station Shooting Teams at Bisley. With green spot R.G. ammo they are so accurate. PH Sights with the range card up to a 1000 yards were spot on. Most enjoyable and rewarding shooting I think I ever did. Best year was 1976 at Bisley. The weather was hot, the company superb and wondering around the lodges on beer patrol of an evening beyond awesome. Great rifle, great sights and great ammo. Also a breeze to teach with.
I have Parker Hale T4, 308 conversion. Same PH rear sight and foresight tunnel. Also mine has a .303mag still, just acts as a loading platform. Had it 30-odd years.
The other version in the range was the Enforcer, an L42 with a sporter stock for police marksmen.. still think the L42 was the nicest with the No.4 T stock..
@@zoiders Parker Hale produced a No4 conversion marketed as the T4, it had a a stylish fore-end and a monte carlo style but- stock very similar to their sporter. The barrel was identical to their Mauser 7.62 match rifle. I owned both of these rifles.
Thanks for taking me so far back. I was first introduced to this beautiful weapon in 1978 and rapidly grew to love it and the discipline of target shooting. However, our unit got issued with 4 (Green Meanies) L96A1's fitted with target sights and although they were not anything like as good to look at or hold, they were for me at least, more accurate.
Very interesting video, I was completely unaware of this version of the Lee Enfield. On the other hand, I thought that Steyr had been the first brand to leave the helical pattern visible on the barrels. Greetings from Patagonia Argentina.
I have a complete foresight assembly and a set of the inserts, the inserts live in a little blued steel pillbox type thing that can be screwed down to attach it to something, presumably the rifle stock and the top unscrewed to access the elements. One insert is just a perspex disk with a bevelled hole. Looking through it you see nothing except a dark floating ring, it's really rather neat. I was going to fit it to and air rifle but never got around to it. I really wanted the matching Parker Hale rear-sight.
I was a member of the UK NRA. That technically gave me access to Bisley; although I never made it there. This was when I lived in London. I was a member of the Stock Exchange Rifle Club. They have a nice indoor range in the City. I usually started my weekend with a bit of early evening Friday plinking. Well paper targets; but in my head I made the 'dink' noise.
I remember one of the rifles show in the first "Wilderness Family" movie looked like a converted Lee Enfield rifle. It could have been this type, but it might have had a scope on it.
When I was in the school / cadet shooting team back in the late 80's up until the point we got the Parker Hale 7.62mm target rifle I'm fairly sure we used .303" No4 rifles fitted with the same diopter sights. I'm 90% sure it was a full length stock (so non-floating barrel).. it's a shame my memory isn't better so I could be certain about that - but I _am_ sure of the calibre. Would that be a distinct model of its own?
The services generally had a better relationship with AJ Parker rather than Parker-Hale and the vast majority of L39's I've seen sported the AJP 4/47 sight. As regards the target filament holder, virtually all of the foresight tubes on L39's took the 17mm size elements, the brass holder would only accept he smaller older style 15mm size elements. Edna Parker was a very good saleswomen!
@4.35, I was wondering if there were issues with broken extractors. Most of these WWI/WWII Era bolt action rifles were entirely designed to have the cartridge slip up and under the extractor and weren't intended to make the extractor snap over the rim. This would, over time, damage the extractor. With this rifle, that was happening on every cartridge. It makes you wonder if extractors broke and a units armorer replaced it with a .303 extractor that they had on hand? I don't know about England but I know that a lot of good Armorers will 'rat-hole' and hold onto all the various spare parts they can, 'just in case they need it'.. Great Video! Ya'll Take Care and be safe, John
I have one 1970 build serial no in the 700 range, broke the extractor a couple of months ago, works just fine with the 303 extractor. It was a bit fiddly to do if you followed some of the you tube vids, ended up finding my own way to do it! Strangely enough a previous owner filled in the hollow bolt handle but you can still see where it was though.
If you are single loading loose rounds with one of these rifles, then its best to use a 303 extractor. A 303 extractor will last for ever using 7.62mm cases. Ejection may be weak, but that doesn't matter on a TR rifle. If a 7.62mm extractor is fitted together with a 303 magazine, then usual advise is to push the round into the magazine as if it were a 303 round - a 7.62mm round will feed up under the extractor and chamber just fine.
All the target rifles and pistols (service caliber and .22lr) are excellent guns. Some are super uncommon and very expensive but the vast majority are very affordable. Most people think they are sporterized. That's the sweet spot for cherry picking. Even good clones of service target rifles are pretty cool. Thank you Ian.
Forgotten? No, very much remebered and sought after. Note Parker Hale supplied sights for the Mossberg MB 42a .22 training rifle, supplied as Lease Lend, and in service till 1990's with cadet units. sights cost more than the gun.
I had one of these as a member of the Sandhurst Shooting team in 1970/71. It was one of the early production run with the .303 extractor. I think the first batch of barrels were smooth, and may have been German made? The butt pad on your version is not "as issued". It should have a brass or steel butt plate with a trap.
Extraordinary length of service of the Lee-Enfield platform in various roles, from the late 19th. century to the late 20th. (I suppose the same could be said of the Mauser 98.)
Ian, so sorry if you have answered this same question 'ad nauseum' but how the hell did you become 'Gun Jeasus' in the first place? How did you gain such knowledge when it didn't pay? I am such a fan and sometimes even have enough nuas to edit the rest.... God speed respect and Pax always.
A bit out of context: In late years of imperial germany and in early interwar era, in Germany ,Wehrmanngewehre ' existed. This had been singleshot Gewehr 98, but for Schützenrifle cartridge 8,15 x 43 ( 47?).
Oh yes a well used rifle in many of British Tv series during the 60/70/80/maybe 90's.... one comes to mind > CI5 The professionals (1977 - 1983).....They don't make as they use too, raw as it comes only compared to the series Bugs (same script writer/s).
I feel sure that this rifle was used for wild fowling in the Falkland Islands, whilst watching a documentary about the British recovery I saw two servicemen with geese and a rifle I did not recognize until now. Can anyone verify this I will see if I can find the documentary.
Your Enfield videos are extremely interesting to me. Years ago I acquired a stack of No1 barreled receivers. These ranged from unissued with no assembly marks to really bad. There was even a "T" marked no4 barreled sniper receiver in the lot. I acquired as many parts as I could to rebuild them into shooting condition. Your videos have taught me a lot. You have showed me I need reference books because there are so many variations!
Ian skennerton's videos are excellent
Did you get a reference book? Look up the Small Arms Identification Series if not.
The L42A1 was still in use in the late 1990's whilst training on the SA80A1, and small number of us who were good shots trained on the L42A1, a lot of infinity regiments had kept 10 to one side for this reason, the current equivalent is the Sharp Shooter AR15 type platform. At the same time the Accuracy International rifle was in general service but I would not receive my training until the end of the 90's
The reason I was a good shot, prior to my service as a school boy was in the cadet forces and trained on the No.8 with the same Parker Hale sites homing my marksmanship skills and Cadet GP rifle. Great video, keep up the good work.
Slight correction, the LMT L129A1 sharpshooter is based on the AR10
The problem with Suncorite was the solvent, which contained Xylene, Formaldehyde and 1-Butanol, whose fumes can cause eye-damage.
I think I may have gotten a tumor just reading that ingredients list...
@@ForgottenWeapons Good grief. I couldn't say it better myself!
Can you imagine the smell in the finishers’ break room?!
@@meansofproduction4213 No. I cannot.
It was OK in 1960's .
I’m getting fond of learning about histories of weapons. And your content, Ian, makes me love it more because of how detailed you are when it comes to these stories. It’s great to learn something new everyday!
Make sure you check out C&Rsenal if you like firearm history. They only cover WW1, but Othias goes ridiculously in depth, more than an hour per gun.
Cheeky mention of the No.8 .22lr there which was the first rifle I ever used as a 13 year old in the ATC. Happy days.
As a young Canadian ARMY CADET, I learned to shoot using the .22lr #8 conversions. As an adult, I shot a CANADIAN made 7.62 NATO conversion in competion with the Canadian miltary target association, DCRA. The DCRA 7.62 NATO conversions were usually available with proper 10 rd magazines. Extraction/ejection varied depending on who did the conversion. While 7.62 NATO extractors did pull out the fired case, the original ejection system would not actually throw the case out firmly. There was a Canadian specific conversion which used a spring loaded extractor pin and a modified/slotted bolt head which did eject 7.62 NATO fired cases properly.
The main advantage with using these 7.62 conversions in DCRA competition, was that MILITARY ISSUE ammunition was mandated. Canadian military issue 7.62 ammo at that time was erratic for precise powder control, so vertical stringing of groups was an issue. The REAR LUGGED design of the Lee Enfield actually absorbed and mitigated these powder/power discrepancies to the point that the Lee Enfields shot better at long range with milotary issue ammo, than many other more sophisticated designs.
BTDT
(;-{)
I love it when the forging marks are left on a rotary forged barrel.
The Canadian army used those same Parker Hale competition sights on on the Parker Hale C3 Sniper rifles. In fact, we would only use the iron sights for the first several times we would go to the range with them, then transition to the scope in later weeks, keeping the iron sights as a backup in operations. We never used the target rings for those sights though. Only used the front post insert and as the post sight was rather thick, we would file them down to a point. Really interesting to see those sights on an early predecessor.
"Don't go licking the paint chips off the rifle."
Well ya sucked the fun right outta that for me Ian. Thanks man. 😂
Suspect that Ian was thinking of the Marines with that comment
@@jameswalton5134 well now that would be funny 😂
The instruction "Don't lick it" must have been a British Army warning for practically every substance or finished product since 1700.... most recently heard for the Bowman radio paint finish.
I used to use a version of the L42s for competition shooting! Theyre honestly quite nice. Nice to see the OG version!
I shot the L81A2 in the School's meeting last month, the rifles are decent mauser style actions with a 26" heavy parkerised barrel but the trigger is worse than an airsoft gun's
Thank you Ian! As someone who collects and shoots lee enfield rifles, and really loves them a whole lot, I learned something new today. I had no idea these were ever used in combat.
The elements for the front sight are keyed such that they only fit one way. Thanks for the videos on your channel :)
Thats a modified L39A1; they came from the factory bare of sights and magazine and with a No4 butt fitted. One of my L39s is one digit away from this rifle, and is in the original configuration. There are two different rifles in the c.1250 production run, and they share the same numbering sequence. Most are L39A1s which were for military issue to service units. A couple of hundred are marked "7.62mm CONV" (other markings identical) and these were for sale to the Army Rifle Association, which was technically a civilian club. These latter 7.62mm Convs were sold as complete guns with Parker Hale target sights, a No8 butt (as in this L39) and a 7.62mm magazine numbered to the rifle. Confusingly, there are also some much older rifles marked "7.62mm Conv" which were the various prototypes for the L42, the L8 and the L39. The prototype rifle have random configurations and marking styles, and are distinctly different from the target rifle L39/7.62mm Convs.
“Don’t go licking paint chips off it”…well, that’s my Saturday evening ruined.
I've turned one of these into a deer stalking rifle with x4 scope and it's sub moa with 150gn .303 handloads (UK shooter)
That's really cool
Eek! sorry - just noticed this exact version in the video is a .308/7.62 - my version is similar - a civvy target rifle built by Parker Hale but in .303 so the same idea as the specific rifle in the video ... but a couple of decades earlier! My rifle was used by a Scottish ghillie stalker before I got it for £150 and refurbed it. Still shooting sweet. Knocks down reds as well as any fancy 'modern' cartridge. 'I've got a 6.5 grendel blah blah blah' oh piss off.
I've been wanting to put together a No4 Enfield with a heavy sporter barrel.
The chambering would be 444 Marlin.
It would require only a new barrel as 444 Marlin is basically a 303 case necked up to 429. No need to change the bolt head or extractor, and the stock magazine can be used.
Would be able to load slower rounds with 44mag/special bullets. Also be able to use rifle spec bullets to achieve some pretty fast velocities.
I think this would make a great deer gun.
And the modifications needed are really rather simple.
I would love to have an L42A1, but the prices are really up there these days.
I think last I checked for the full kit it was around $10K. Probably higher now.
My father's last rifle of choice was a 1918 Mk2 Lithgow Lee-Enfield with a kevlar body and stock and a Tasco scope. It was still in .303 as that was plentifully available at the time and it was the only full-size rifle he didn't trade. He'd had a Mauser and he hated his Chinese SKS and got rid of it as quickly as possible. But, not the Enfield. Same with the Brno .22. A bunch of others came and went, but once he had that, it stayed. My experience is relatively limited, but both shot true for me.
Been very much wanting an L42A1 since you did that video. Now I definitely want one of these as well.
I remember firing a 22LR version ( or similar ) of this in the Army Cadet Force in the mid-80's - lovely rifle .
“Don’t go licking paint chips off the rifle…”. 😂😂. Well done, Ian!
I have one of them 303s now I'm telling you that's a good rifle . I hunt hogs and deer with mine it is awesome rifle
As a collector and connoisseur of historical firearms and their paints I have to disagree with his "advice" as I find it rather exclusive and uncultured.
Sometimes I wish Ian had a travel case of 1 or 2 of every caliber dummy round/snap cap for demonstration purposes.
He would struggle to travel with them internationally. I had a 5.56 cartdrige Keychain (literally just empty brass case with Keychain) and the women at security in a British airport was freaked out... Had to bin it ✈️😂
@@tbrowniscool what airport was that?, never had an issue with empty brass
@@tbrowniscool I did a bunch of hiking in Greenland back in May - as you do - and I ended up with a bunch of empty cartridge cases. I debating bringing them back to the UK but I didn't have any faith they'd get through security. Off the top of my head they were 6.5x55mm, .222, .22, and 30-06. Bizarrely I found the 30-06 by a duck pond, which seems like overkill. The supermarket in Kangerlussuaq had .22 rifles for sale. And an overpriced PS5, perhaps in the hope the air force personnel would buy it.
@@cardiffpicker1 it's was either Leeds-Bradford or Manchester. Either way I don't think it would be easy to transport a whole collection of snapcaps
@@tbrowniscool totally inert so absolutely no problem in hold luggage, I bought a 50bmg through in hand luggage with no issues.
But I suppose I was bringing in from countries that understand firearms.
I had one of those foresights on my old school Webley air gun. You got three different inserts. One smaller ring and I dont recall the other one. I just kept that in. I got really comfortable with it. Happy times. Cheers Ian.
Always do enjoy your videos, Ian. :)
Everyday I watch your videos. I thoroughly enjoy. Thank for you efforts.
As a army cadet I've been involved in the competition shooting for a whole and those sites plague us. The pokiball I'd not fun to use haha. It's used on the cadet scorpion pellet gun and the cadet savage wich is a single shot 22.long target rifle,pretty fun to shoot actually. But the extractors like to disintegrate
I never thought of licking paint chips off of a gun, but now that you brought it up...
Fortunate enough to shoot one of these in Military rifle competition in 1976. I won both Snap and Plate … 😉
"Don't go licking paint chips off the gun"
Aww, man... There goes my afternoon plans :(
Ian, you put the front sight insert back in upside-down! If you look closely at it, it's not symmetrical. When you take it out at 6:44, the aperture is positioned slightly below the lugs on either side of the piece. After you drop it and pick it up again at 6:50, you're now holding it with the aperture above the lugs, and this is the orientation you reinstalled it in the front sight. I don't know if you corrected this mistake afterwards, because you cut the video just as you put it in, but I thought you ought to know just in case!
When I was photographing our Air Cadets for recruitment advertising, I got to fire .22 rifle which looked very similar
Also when photographing Royal Marines at Limpston there major training establishment
Got to fire L1A1 in full .762 NATO .22 conversions couple of clips for browning Hi power
Not fair though would not let my fire Sterling or a mortar
Also there fire arms museum is something to die for cannot remember all weapons but couple of FG 42 Welrod Welgun
Them lil' Enfield No.8 rifles are so fun and simple to shoot.
Fired those .22 as a cadet as well in NZ.
I have one ☝️
Mines fitted with a No4 type butt stock, that’s relieved with the metal canister for front site rings, has been machined for the L42 magazine. I have the original .303 ‘loading platform’ but have acquired an Enfield L42 mag for competition service rifle shooting. It’s a brilliant open site rifle.
I have one too, except it has the older style stock no half pistol grip style. Mounted Parker hale 5c sights
Thanks for the excellent video. I recently was able to lay my hands on a mint condition L39A1 that is turning out to be a great shooter. I'm working on building the right rounds for it that will let the Parker sight which is designed for 7.62x51 work well. In your research do you know what twist rate might be on the barrel of these rifles?
My Target rifle of choice. Shot them for years as part of the Station Shooting Teams at Bisley. With green spot R.G. ammo they are so accurate. PH Sights with the range card up to a 1000 yards were spot on. Most enjoyable and rewarding shooting I think I ever did. Best year was 1976 at Bisley. The weather was hot, the company superb and wondering around the lodges on beer patrol of an evening beyond awesome. Great rifle, great sights and great ammo. Also a breeze to teach with.
If I were to eat paint chips from a rifle, it would be from something classy like this. Thanks for the warning.
I have Parker Hale T4, 308 conversion. Same PH rear sight and foresight tunnel. Also mine has a .303mag still, just acts as a loading platform.
Had it 30-odd years.
Enfield went on to market this rifle to the civilian market as the "Enfield Envoy" with a 10x 7.62 mag.
The other version in the range was the Enforcer, an L42 with a sporter stock for police marksmen.. still think the L42 was the nicest with the No.4 T stock..
@@zoiders Parker Hale produced a No4 conversion marketed as the T4, it had a a stylish fore-end and a monte carlo style but- stock very similar to their sporter. The barrel was identical to their Mauser 7.62 match rifle. I owned both of these rifles.
Thanks for taking me so far back. I was first introduced to this beautiful weapon in 1978 and rapidly grew to love it and the discipline of target shooting. However, our unit got issued with 4 (Green Meanies) L96A1's fitted with target sights and although they were not anything like as good to look at or hold, they were for me at least, more accurate.
Very interesting video, I was completely unaware of this version of the Lee Enfield. On the other hand, I thought that Steyr had been the first brand to leave the helical pattern visible on the barrels. Greetings from Patagonia Argentina.
That interchangable front sight on a .308 Lee Enfield is awesome. I would love to get a chance to shoot that rifle!
That's an extremely common foresight on any target rifle in the UK and most of Europe. Do you Yanks not do any decent shooting?
Another day, another Enfield. I sure they will keep finding these things for years.
Thank you , Ian .
🐺
Telling viewers not to eat paint chips? Ian knows his audience
I have a complete foresight assembly and a set of the inserts, the inserts live in a little blued steel pillbox type thing that can be screwed down to attach it to something, presumably the rifle stock and the top unscrewed to access the elements. One insert is just a perspex disk with a bevelled hole. Looking through it you see nothing except a dark floating ring, it's really rather neat.
I was going to fit it to and air rifle but never got around to it. I really wanted the matching Parker Hale rear-sight.
I just love marksman and precision rifles so i make time in my day to watch Ian's videos when its about something like this
"Don't go licking paint chips off the gun"? I wish I had known that earlier. Suncorite paint, delicious, but deadly.
Front sights were different diameter rings, and different annulus (thickness). Could also get posts and square rings too.
Very interesting. There are so many models and varients of the family to learn about.
Finally something I have shot, inter services competition at bisley in the 90s
have an India Ishapore No 1 Mk III in .308, they totally redesigned the mag. Would LOVE to try that L39!
Thanks, as always, for informative video.
Great video, thanks Ian 👍👍
I was a member of the UK NRA. That technically gave me access to Bisley; although I never made it there. This was when I lived in London. I was a member of the Stock Exchange Rifle Club. They have a nice indoor range in the City. I usually started my weekend with a bit of early evening Friday plinking. Well paper targets; but in my head I made the 'dink' noise.
Now, is that it's own thing founded in the UK, or is a US off-shoot?
@@JnEricsonx Own thing. Founded in 1859. Which I think makes it older than the US one.
@@KravKernow Ah.
"dont go licking paintchips of the gun" You can not stop me!! :D
Standard full bodied No4's were also converted. Parker Hale 5C sights, and (apparently) free floating barrels.
I want those sights in my life
I remember one of the rifles show in the first "Wilderness Family" movie looked like a converted Lee Enfield rifle. It could have been this type, but it might have had a scope on it.
When I was in the school / cadet shooting team back in the late 80's up until the point we got the Parker Hale 7.62mm target rifle I'm fairly sure we used .303" No4 rifles fitted with the same diopter sights. I'm 90% sure it was a full length stock (so non-floating barrel).. it's a shame my memory isn't better so I could be certain about that - but I _am_ sure of the calibre. Would that be a distinct model of its own?
The services generally had a better relationship with AJ Parker rather than Parker-Hale and the vast majority of L39's I've seen sported the AJP 4/47 sight. As regards the target filament holder, virtually all of the foresight tubes on L39's took the 17mm size elements, the brass holder would only accept he smaller older style 15mm size elements. Edna Parker was a very good saleswomen!
Thank you sir!!
@4.35, I was wondering if there were issues with broken extractors. Most of these WWI/WWII Era bolt action rifles were entirely designed to have the cartridge slip up and under the extractor and weren't intended to make the extractor snap over the rim. This would, over time, damage the extractor. With this rifle, that was happening on every cartridge. It makes you wonder if extractors broke and a units armorer replaced it with a .303 extractor that they had on hand? I don't know about England but I know that a lot of good Armorers will 'rat-hole' and hold onto all the various spare parts they can, 'just in case they need it'.. Great Video!
Ya'll Take Care and be safe, John
I have one 1970 build serial no in the 700 range, broke the extractor a couple of months ago, works just fine with the 303 extractor. It was a bit fiddly to do if you followed some of the you tube vids, ended up finding my own way to do it! Strangely enough a previous owner filled in the hollow bolt handle but you can still see where it was though.
If you are single loading loose rounds with one of these rifles, then its best to use a 303 extractor. A 303 extractor will last for ever using 7.62mm cases. Ejection may be weak, but that doesn't matter on a TR rifle. If a 7.62mm extractor is fitted together with a 303 magazine, then usual advise is to push the round into the magazine as if it were a 303 round - a 7.62mm round will feed up under the extractor and chamber just fine.
Another piece of firearm history to be carefully filed away! Thanks!!
Looks beautiful!
Oh I'd dearly like one of those! I shudder to think of the cost, however.
All the target rifles and pistols (service caliber and .22lr) are excellent guns. Some are super uncommon and very expensive but the vast majority are very affordable. Most people think they are sporterized. That's the sweet spot for cherry picking.
Even good clones of service target rifles are pretty cool. Thank you Ian.
Forgotten? No, very much remebered and sought after. Note Parker Hale supplied sights for the Mossberg MB 42a .22 training rifle, supplied as Lease Lend, and in service till 1990's with cadet units. sights cost more than the gun.
The forestock, barrel profile and globe sights really look like a Swedish CG 63
Ian: oh you thought I was out of Lee Enfield variants? Wrong again bucko.
it's nice to be here early
The spiraling effect from the forging hammer was very interesting! My first thought was 'Damascus?'
I had one of these as a member of the Sandhurst Shooting team in 1970/71. It was one of the early production run with the .303 extractor. I think the first batch of barrels were smooth, and may have been German made?
The butt pad on your version is not "as issued". It should have a brass or steel butt plate with a trap.
Excellent as always!
🙂😎👍
Would be nice for you to make a vid on the MSBS Grot
I filmed one when I visited FB Radom, I just haven't published it yet.
Extraordinary length of service of the Lee-Enfield platform in various roles, from the late 19th. century to the late 20th. (I suppose the same could be said of the Mauser 98.)
2:15 I wonder how many surplus buyers tried firing 7.62x39 through these.
"The gun says 7.62... uh... 39? Yeah, give me a box of that..." 😑
have you ever heard of the danish 22lr from otterup it is well sought in denmark as a competition rifle
2:19 man I didn’t know Unreal Engine made a British target rifle
Boy, another Enfield variant, color me shocked.
And what about the montlahus palm pistol in 22 short, any possibility of a video about this fob gun...?
"Dont go licking paint chips off the gun".. but then what are the marines going to snack on between eating their crayons?
now that is a good looking rifle
Is it me or has Ian’s mustache and goatee gotten more majestic ?
Some tend to like there Suncorite paint chips dipped in Cosmoline.
I have an *Ask Ian* question.
Why are you and Chubby Jason Lee feuding at the beginning of Alpha Howl by Moon Tooth?
I have a set of the Parker Hale front sight inserts, are they worth anything these days?
It really depends what type they are as I think there about 5 different sizes doing the rounds.
Ian, so sorry if you have answered this same question 'ad nauseum' but how the hell did you become 'Gun Jeasus' in the first place? How did you gain such knowledge when it didn't pay?
I am such a fan and sometimes even have enough nuas to edit the rest....
God speed respect and Pax always.
A bit out of context: In late years of imperial germany and in early interwar era, in Germany ,Wehrmanngewehre ' existed. This had been singleshot Gewehr 98, but for Schützenrifle cartridge 8,15 x 43 ( 47?).
That’s got the wrong butt looks like a No8 butt and it’s had a Anschutz rail fitted to the forend.
Any chance of a video on the Enfield Enforcer? I guess it's the last in the Enfield sniper 'line'.
Have a look at RifleChair ,he have many Enfield episodes of many types.
"dont go licking paint chips"
youre not my dad ok
Gotta love the British army. The best special forces in the world have to make do with competition rifles.
Oh yes a well used rifle in many of British Tv series during the 60/70/80/maybe 90's.... one comes to mind > CI5 The professionals (1977 - 1983).....They don't make as they use too, raw as it comes only compared to the series Bugs (same script writer/s).
👍 i had a Indonesia 308 rifle it was a good shooter but that one should be sweet to shoot.
I feel sure that this rifle was used for wild fowling in the Falkland Islands, whilst watching a documentary about the British recovery I saw two servicemen with geese and a rifle I did not recognize until now. Can anyone verify this I will see if I can find the documentary.
you should NEVER lick your gun.. lol
Mine was UE 69 A 270.
They called this the T4, nice rifle had one myself.
What a cool video.
When you doesn't have budget for proper scope so you made an overlong front sight
Reminds me of the air rifles I had as a kid they had that same front sight
Just catering to a specific competition style (Palma). Any features for practical usage were an afterthought.
Back then, scopes were not allowed in the majority of UK target rifle competitions.
I have one of those in 7.65x53
Phew,I was just about to lick some paint chips till gun Jesus said not too lol
Can anyone point me to info on the Sterling Arms .308 conversion? I can never find any info. Mine is in poor shape but a good wall hanger.
See ua-cam.com/video/dFA3SGO2AU0/v-deo.html Bloke-on-the-range is obviously a major enthusiast for those rifles.