British Enfield Rifles - NRA - 2004

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Copyright ©1990

National Rifle Association of America

11250 Waples Mill RoadFairfax, Virginia 22030-9400

Eleventh Printing, September 2004

The Cover:

Lee-Enfield rifles from the collection of the

National Firearms Museum, Fairfax, Virginia

Uniforms and accoutrements

from National Capital Historical Sales, Springfield, Virginia

Design by Michael R. Bloom

Photograph by John R. Lamson

CAUTION: The material contained herein is reprinted from past issues ofthe AMERICAN RIFLEMAN magazine, a copyrighted publication of the

National Rifle Association of America (NRA). Therefore, while technically

sound and historically relevant, it may have been updated by research more

recent than the original date of publication. All technical data in this

publication, especially for handloading, reflect the limited experience of

individuals using specific tools, products, equipment and components under

specific conditions and circumstances not necessarily reported in this

publication, and over which the NRA has no control. The data have not

otherwise been tested or verified by the NRA. The NRA, its agents, officersand employees accept no responsibility for the results obtained by persons

using such data and disclaim all liability for any consequential injuries or

damages.



1

Enfield - -

Britain's Springfield - -

And Its Rifles Its products have served well in wars over the globe, including ours, in 1861-65

By E. G. B. REYNOLDS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

For 14 years, Major E. G. B. Reynolds was a Technical Officer on the Inspectorate of Armaments Headquarters Staff, and dealt

chiefly with the inspection and development of rifles and other small arms.

Major Reynolds was closely connected with the inspection and development of the No. 4 Lee-Enfield rifle since first it went into

production in 1941.He was a member of 10 British Dewar Trophy teams and was the first person to fire 400 x 400 in this match.

British laborers planting numerous walnut trees in 1800 and musketry in the American Civil War were an ocean and more than a

half century apart. Yet a relationship exists. It is part of a firearms kinship which has extended, in one way or another, through a series

of wars into the present time.

The trees set out in quantity around Enfield Lock, a canal lock in the Lea waterway in Middlesex, were a source of gunstocks for

more than 500,000 muzzle loading Enfield rifled muskets bought by both the Union and the Confederacy. This arm was, in fact, more

used by infantry of both sides than any other except the M1861-63 Springfield.

The muzzleloaders were mass-produced in part with imported Yankee machinery. In World War I, private industry in the United

States manufactured Pattern 14 bolt-action Enfield’s in caliber .303 and then changed, after America's entry, to producing them in .30-

'06 as the U. S. Rifle, Model 1917 — still popularly called the Enfield. Large quantities of surplus British Enfield’s of World Wars I

and II are doing duty in the United States, Canada and elsewhere today as sporting arms, usually somewhat modified. So it is verymuch in order to take a look at the origin and development of this rifle.

First arms works

The first British Government arms works at Enfield Lock, a location affording both water transportation and water power from thelock fall, was established in 1804 largely to assemble Brown Bess flintlock muskets, the principal arm of British infantry for over 100

years. Parts, excepting stocks, were manufactured privately in London and Birmingham "by men working by hand in wretched cellars

and attics," as one ordnance report put it. Standardization and what is modernly called quality control were largely lacking.

Meanwhile efforts were being made to find a better infantry arm for the British Army. The choice lay between smoothbore with

reasonably fast loading but little accuracy beyond 100 yds., and rifled weapons that were more accurate but slower to load. The first

serious rival to the smoothbore Brown Bess was the Baker flintlock rifle. In 1823, Enfield received an order for 5,000 and the rifle

continued in service, with modifications, for nearly 40 years. By 1839, Enfield was converting 30,000 flintlock muskets to the percussion system.

George Lovell, a storekeeper in 1823, played a prominent part in the conversion program and was promoted in 1840 to the post of

Government Inspector of Small Arms. Largely due to Lovell, the Brunswick rifle, first rifled arm to go into full production, had its

early back-action lock replaced with an improved bar-action lock in 1841. A fire gutted the rifle workshops in the Tower of London

that same year, so much work was transferred to Enfield. Lovell designed the first British percussion musket, which went into

production at Enfield in 1842. In 1852 the first British Minie rifles, outwardly resembling the Percussion Musket, 1842, were

manufactured at Enfield.

New rifle adopted

In 1852 Lord Hardinge, then Master-General of Ordnance, invited the leading gunsmiths to enter into competition with the object

of finding the best possible weapon for the British Army. A special committee, assembled at Enfield to survey the numerous weaponssubmitted, wisely chose the best features of the various weapons, including a smaller bore, and 2 experimental rifle-muskets were

made at the Royal Enfield Manufactory. After numerous trials, the new rifle was adopted and officially introduced as the Rifle,

Musket, Pattern 1853. It was more commonly referred to as The Enfield 3-groove Rifle, and the initial contract for 20,000 was placed

with the Enfield factory. The improved Pritchett bullet for this rifle was adopted 2 years later.The Enfield rifle, the first rifled arm to bear the factory's name, quadrupled the effective fire of the English regiments in which it

replaced the Minie rifle in the Crimean War. It was generally agreed that it was superior to almost all rifles in the Continental armies.

When it went into production the Enfield factory, largely due to the efforts of Lovell, expanded in stature. New workshops and a new

rolling plant and other machinery were installed, and the factory reached an annual capacity for 50,000 muskets and 5000 swords.



2

Assembly of cal. .753 Brown Bess smoothbore flintlock muskets was first important task carried out at Enfield establishment. Brown Bess musket was standard Britishinfantry arm for more than 100 years.

Baker rifle was capable of making groups 1½ ft. wide by 2½ ft. deep at 100 yds. It was most accurate British military arm at time of its introduction.

An early type of back-action Brunswick rifle made at Enfield. Named after Duke of Brunswick, this rifle was first made with 11-groove rifling, later changed to 2-

groove for use with belted spherical ball. A standard rifle for 40 years, Brunswick rifle was difficult to load when bore became fouled.

Cal. .753 Percussion Musket of 1842 was designed by George Lovell, Government Inspector of Small Arms.

The Minie Rifled Musket introduced in 1851 was first British Service rifle to be sighted up to 1000 yds. More accurate than its predecessors, this cal. .702 rifle was

used in Kaffir and Crimean Wars.

In 1855, a number of Enfield rifles were made with shorter barrels and long sword bayonets, and were issued to the 60th Rifles

(King's Royal Rifle Corps) and the Rifle Brigade. Carbines on the same principle were made at Enfield and issued to the Artillery and

Cavalry. Three years later another shortened version was made for the Royal Navy to replace the Pattern 1842 Sea-Service muskets. Asimilar arm was made for Sergeants of Infantry. It was more accurate than the long rifle and, as sergeants were thought to have less

time than the lower ranks for actual firing, it was considered imperative that they have the most accurate weapons.

Although improvements had been effected, there was still dissatisfaction in Government circles regarding the supply of small arms to

the British Forces, and the weapons generally were considered inferior to those made in America. Even at Enfield the system was bad.

Some of the work was done under contract, and tools were often the property of workmen. The situation improved and, by 1860, the

first Enfield rifle was in full production. In 1861 it was proudly acclaimed in the House of Commons that 90,707 rifles had b een madein the factory that year. Largely due to the visit of a British Commission to the U. S. Government Armories at Harpers Ferry and

Springfield, the Enfield factory was modernized by American machinery.

For some years the British Army had pressed for a breech-loading rifle and, in 1867, it was decided to convert existing stocks of

the 1853 muzzle-loading Enfield by a method submitted by an American, Jacob Snider. The work of conversion, and eventually the

manufacture of new Sniders fitted with steel barrels (earlier Enfield weapons had wrought-iron barrels), was carried out at Enfield.

The rifle was called the Enfield Snider and, with the Boxer cartridge, the rifle's accuracy improved.

British Breech-Loading Service Rifles Made Or Designed At The Enfield Royal Small Arms Factory 1871-1944

Model Designation & Year of Adoption Caliber Action System

(Magazine Capacity)

Weight

(lbs.-ozs.)

Over-all

Length(inches)

Barrel

Length(inches)

Rifling Form &

Twist Rate

Sighting

Martini-Henry (1871) .45 Pivoting-block

(single-shot)

9 49.5 33.2 Henry 7-groove

Right, 1 turn in 22"

Rear: 100-1450 yds.

Lee-Metford (1888) .303 Lee bolt-action

(8 rounds)

9-8 49.5 30.2 Metford 7-groove

Left, 1 turn in 10"

Rear: 300-1900 yds.

Dial: 1800-3500 yds.Lee-Enfield (1895) .303 Lee bolt-action

(10 rounds)

9-4 49.5 30.2 Enfield 5-groove

Left, 1 turn in 10"

Rear: 200-1800 yds.

Dial: 1600-2800 yds.

Short Magazine Lee-Enfield (1902) .303 Lee bolt-action(10 rounds)

8-2½ 44.5 25.18 Enfield 5-grooveLeft, 1 turn in 10"

Rear: 200-2000 yds.Dial: 1600-2800 yds.

Pattern 1914 Enfield (1916) .303 Mauser-type bolt-action

(5 rounds)

8-11 46.3 26 Enfield 5-groove

Left, 1 turn in 10"

Rear: 400-1900 yds.

Dial: 1600-2800 yds. No. 4 Rifle (1939) .303 Lee bolt-action

(10 rounds)

9-1 44.5 25.18 Enfield 5-groove

Left, 1 turn in 10"

Rear: 200-1300 yds.

No. 5 Rifle (1944) .303 Lee bolt-action(10 rounds)

7-2½ 39.5 18.75 Enfield 5-grooveLeft, 1 turn in 10"

Rear: 200-800 yds.



3

British Army Muzzle-Loading Arms Made At Or Associated With The Enfield Royal Small Arms

Factory

Name &

Approximate Year of

Introduction

Caliber

(inches)

Weight

lbs.-ozs.

Over-All

Length

(inches)

Barrel

Length

(inches)

Number

Grooves

Rifling

Twist

Rate

Sighted

to

(yds.)

Bullet

Diameter

(inches)1

Bullet

Weigh

(grs.) 1

Powder

Charge

(grs.) 1Brown Bess

(About 1790)

.753 10-2 55 39 Smoothbore — 200 .683 480 164

Baker Rifle(1800)

.628 9-7 45½ 302 7 ¼ turnin 30"

200 .625 350 110

Brunswick Rifle

(1836)

.704 11 — 5½ 46 30 2 1 turn

in 30"

300 .696 557 68

Percussion Musket

(1842)

.753 9-14 54¾ 39 Smoothbore — 150 .683 480 123

British Version Minie Rifle

(1851)

.702 9-13 55 39 4 1 turn

n 78"

1000 690 680 68

Enfield Rifle(1853)

.577 8-14½ 54 1/8 39 3 1 turnin 78"

900 .568 530 68

Short Enfield Rifle

(1858)

.577 8-11¾ 48¾ 333 5 1 turn

in 48"

1200 .568 530 68

(1) These figures are approximations.

(2) Some Baker rifles with 20" barrels were made for British Cavalry.(3) The Short Enfield Rifle of 1855 had 29" barrel.

The Enfield Snider was intended as a stop-gap pending development of a new breech-loading arm. In 1869 a special War Office

committee appointed 3 years earlier recommended a development of the Peabody breech-mechanism entered by Friederich von

Martini of Switzerland. The barrel was designed by Alexander Henry of Edinburgh. The new arm was called the Martini -Henry, and200 were made at Enfield and issued for troop trials. In introducing this cal. .45 rifle, the committee had achieved a reduction in bore

at that time believed impossible for this class of military arm. Much of the development work was carried out at Enfield and numerous

modifications were effected before the rifle and a new bottleneck cartridge were adopted. In 1871 they were officially introduced forthe British Army and the Royal Navy. Later, about 70,000 Martini rifles embodying Met-ford rifling were made at Enfield. They were

called Enfield-Martini's, but were never officially adopted; they were eventually fitted with Henry barrels at Enfield and became the

Mark IV pattern Martini-Henry.

(Top) Rifle, Musket, Pattern 1853. Snider hinged-breech action used in converting Pattern 1853 for breech-loading. Lower arm is Snider carbine issued to cavalry andartillery units. Introduced in 1867, Snider conversion was a stop-gap development. Conversion and manufacture of cal. .577 Snider arms were carried out at Enfield.

Shortened version of Model 1853 Enfield rifle designated Sergeant's Fusil, Model 1856. It proved more accurate than long rifle.

Experimental Service Pattern cal. .45 Whitworth rifle made at Enfield. Hexagonal-bore Whitworth, popular for target shooting, was not issued generally for Service

use.



4

Principal difference between Martini-Henry rifle (upper) and Enfield-Martini (center) was in form of rifling. Enfield-Martini rifle had longer action lever to improveextraction power. In 1895 many of these cal. .45 rifles were fitted with cal. .303 barrels and redesignated Martini-Enfield. Martini-Henry carbine (bottom) was issued to

cavalry and artillery units.

Lee-Metford Mark I cal. .303 rifle (upper) adopted in 1888, with Lee-Enfield rifle (lower) adopted in 1895. The introduction of cordite smokeless powder led toadoption of deeper Enfield rifling form in 1895.

For a number of years the British Royal Navy had pressed for a magazine rifle, and much experimental and design work was

carried out at Enfield before the Lee-action magazine rifle was approved for manufacture in 1888. This weapon, embodying the

shallow Metford form of rifling, which had shown a great advance in accuracy in competition shooting at Wimbledon, was a further

considerable reduction in caliber. It was destined to remain in the British Regular Army for nearly 70 years. Introduced as the

Magazine Rifle, Mark I, in 1889, and changed to the Lee-Metford 2 years later, it became the Lee-Enfield in 1895, after a change ofrifling.

The Enfield rifling form was designed and developed at Enfield to ensure a longer barrel accuracy life by rendering greaterresistance to the destructive erosion of cordite than did the shallow Metford grooving. It was therefore the rifling that brought back the

name of Enfield into the rifle's designation.

A few years earlier, an important change in procedure had taken place at Enfield. The inspection of small arms was divorced f rom

production and became the prerogative of a separate body known as the Small Arms Inspection Department. It was established at

Enfield under the control of the Master-General of Ordnance, and was supervised largely by military officers under a Chief Inspector

of Small Arms. It eventually became responsible for technical trials, sealing of patterns to guide manufacture, inspection of trooparms, and other duties. Enfield was also the training ground for Service armorers.

At the beginning of the 20th century, Enfield was working to capacity making weapons for the British forces in South Africa. The

Lee-Enfield rifle, and Lee-Enfield carbines for the Cavalry and Artillery were in full production. An error in the sighting arrangement

of the Lee-Enfield necessitated a modification to the rear sight leaf of thousands of rifles, many being hurriedly returned from South

Africa for the purpose. Another serious fault which had to be dealt with was the unequal bearing of receiver and bolt. The sightingtrouble caused the establishment of an accuracy shooting test for every rifle, on much the same lines as prevails today.

Lee-Enfield cal. .303 carbine was shortened version of Lee-Enfield rifle. After 1902, this and other carbines gradually disappeared from the British Services.

Short Magazine Lee-Enfield (SMLE) cal. .303 rifle adopted in 1902 was later redesignated No. 1 Rifle. Probably the most famous rifle ever produced at Enfield, it was

lighter and shorter version of the long Lee-Enfield rifle. It embodied charger loading, better sights, and other improvements.

Short Magazine Lee-Enfield No. 1 Mark V cal. .303 rifle was experimental arm developed at Enfield after World War I. The first Lee-Enfield rifle designed with

aperture rear sight, it was superseded in development stage by SMLE No. 1 Mark VI rifle.



5

LEE-ENFIELD HISTORYIntroduction or Adoption Date Designation Some Features of New Pattern

Dec. 22, 1888 Magazine Rifle, Mark I

Aug. 8, 1891 Lee-Metford Magazine Rifle, Mark I Same rifle, renamed.

Jan. 19, 1892 Lee-Metford Magazine Rifle, Mark I* Safety catch omitted. Altered sighting, magazine, handguard, mainspring.

Jan. 30, 1892 Lee-Metford Magazine Rifle, Mark II New 10-round magazine. Lighter barrel. Weight reduced to 9 lbs., 4 ozs.

Apr. 22, 1895 Lee-Metford Magazine Rifle, Mark II* New pattern safety catch fitted to cocking piece.

July 1, 1907 Charger-loading Lee-Metford MagazineRifle

Converted to charger-loading.

Nov. 11, 1895 Lee-Enfield Magazine Rifle, Mark I Same as Lee-Metford, Mark II* but fitted with Enfield barrel.

May 11, 1899 Lee-Enfield Magazine Rifle, Mark I* Cleaning rod, and provision for rod in fore-end omitted.

July 1, 1907 Charger-loading Lee-Enfield Magazine

Rifle, Mark I*

Converted from Lee-Enfield’s and Lee-Metfords.

Dec. 23, 1902 Short Magazine Lee-Enfield Rifle,Mark I

A new rifle.

Jan. 16, 1903 Short Magazine Lee-Enfield Rifle,

Converted Mark II

Converted to Mark I pattern from Lee-Enfield’s and Lee-Metfords.

July 2,1906 Short Magazine Lee-Enfield Rifle,

Mark I*

Deeper magazine case, etc. Weight of rifle 8 lbs., 7 ozs.

July 2, 1906 Short Magazine Lee-Enfield Rifle,

Converted Mark II*

Deeper magazine than converted Mark II. Pull-through accommodated in

butt.

Jan. 26, 1907 Short Magazine Lee-Enfield Rifle,Mark III

Bridge charger guide fitted to body. Weight of rifle 8 lbs., 10½ ozs.

Sept. 1,1907 Short Magazine Lee-Enfield Rifle,

Converted Mark IV

Converted to Mark III pattern from Lee-Enfield’s and Lee-Metfords.

Jan. 4, 1908 Short Magazine Lee-Enfield Rifle,Mark I**

Sighting altered for Mark VII cartridge. Converted from Mark I for Royal Navy.


Mark II**

New sighting, etc. Converted from converted Mark II rifles.


Mark II***

New sighting, etc. Converted from converted Mark II* rifles.

Apr. 22, 1914 Short Magazine Lee-Enfield Rifle,Mark I***

Sighting altered for Mark VII cartridge. Converted from Mark I* rifles forRoyal Navy.


Mark III*

Long-range sights, cut-off omitted.

1922/23 (Not adopted) Short Magazine Lee-Enfield Rifle,Mark V

Aperture backsight. One-piece handguard, etc.

1930/31 (Not adopted) Short Magazine Lee-Enfield Rifle,

Mark VI

Heavier barrel. Two-piece handguard. Similar to later No. 4 Rifle.

Nov. 15, 1939 No. 4 Rifle, Mark I Development of No. 1 Rifle, Mark VI, but with strengthened body.

Nov. 15, 1939 (Adopted 1939. Officially

introduced Nov. 11, 1946.)

No. 4 Rifle, Mark I* Alternative method of manufacture to Mark I. Differs in body ribway, bolt-

head catch, and bridge piece.

Feb. 12, 1942 No. 4 Rifle, Mark I(T) Mark I or Mark I* fitted with Telescope No. 32 for snipers.

Mar. 31, 1949 No. 4 Rifle, Mark II Trigger pivoted on body, and not hung on trigger guard.

Mar. 31, 1949 No. 4 Rifle Mark I/2 Mark I converted to Mark II pattern.

Mar. 31, 1949 No. 4 Rifle Mark I/3 Mark I* converted to Mark II pattern.

Mar. 31, 1949 No. 4 Rifle, Mark l/2(T) Mark I (T) with trigger pivoted on body.

Sept. 12, 1944 No. 5 Rifle, Mark I A lightened No. 4 Rifle. A Mark II pattern was made but not produced.

There never was a Mark I*.

1946/47 No. 7 Rifle Similar to No. 4 Rifle, but fitted with cal. .22 barrel. Issued to R.A.F.

Sept. 7, 1950 No. 8 Rifle Cal. .22 rifle. For Military Forces

Sept. 7, 1950 No. 9 Rifle No. 4 Rifle fitted with cal. .22 tubed barrels. Issued to Royal Navy.

Experience in the South African campaign led to the development and ultimate adoption in 1902 of the Short Magazine Lee-Enfield (SMLE), now known as the No. 1 Rifle. Shorter than its predecessors, it was designed for use in all branches of the British

Army and eventually superseded the many types of carbines in use.

In 1910 a new rifle, modeled largely on the M1903 Springfield, was developed at Enfield, where 1000 were made for troop trials.

Its development was delayed by ammunition troubles. By 1914 these were largely overcome and. but for the outbreak of war, it would

probably have gone into full production. It was designed for a cal. .276 rimless cartridge but, during the war, it was produced in largenumbers in the United States in cal. .303 British. It was known as the Pattern 1914 Enfield Rifle, but is now known as the No. 3 Rifle.

When war broke out, the Enfield factory was faced with difficult production problems. Fortunately it was engaged on a high

output before the war, and machinery and workshops were in excellent order and ready for the immediate expansion which took place.

Between August 1914 and November 1918 over 2 million SMLE rifles were made and many other weapons were repaired or

modified.

Experiments continue

Immediately after the war a much smaller production satisfied requirements, but a good deal of experimental work was carried out

in the factory. This included development of 2 more versions of the SMLE, the Mark V and the Mark VI. Both were produced in

considerable numbers for troop trials, but never went into full production.

On the outbreak of World War II, the last of the Lee-Enfield rifles, the No. 4 (a development of the Mark VI), was divorced from

the Enfield factory and made elsewhere. Capacity was taken up by the manufacture and repair of the Bren light machine gun, the cal..38 revolver, the Sten machine carbine, and numerous other weapons. Over 200,000 Bren guns and nearly 300,000 revolvers were

produced at Enfield during the war period.

Enfield no longer produces a weapon which carries its name, and its activities are now largely concerned with the production of

the cal. 7.62 mm. self-loading rifle. The Royal Small Arms Factory is still a busy place, but not so closely connected with the British

Army as it was in the days when its traveling examiners paid regular visits to units to examine and repair their arms. It still has many

links with the British Forces.



6

Short Magazine Lee-Enfield No. 1 Mark VI cal. .303 experimental rifle was never adopted, but both prototype and troop trial versions were made at Enfield. Troop trial

rifles featured a checkered fore-end. Prototypes (shown) did not and, except for the magazine cutoff and marking disc on the buttstock, are nearly indistinguishable

from later No. 4 rifles.

Rifle No. 4 Mark I was both designed and

developed at the Royal Small Arms Factory,

Enfield, but was mass produced at otherfactories in Great Britain, Canada and the

United States. It was adopted in November

1939, and was chambered for the cal. .303British Service cartridge.

Rifle No. 5 (Jungle Carbine) was also

designed and developed at the Royal Small

Arms Factory, Enfield. A lightened version ofthe No. 4 rifle with a shorter barrel, it was

fitted with a flash hider, the only Lee-Enfieldrifle with this accessory.

No. 8 Infantry Model (upper), cal. .22 rimfire

training rifle was developed at Enfield and

introduced in 1950. Its success led to the production and use of the Enfield "Envoy"

(lower), a full bore rifle in 7.62 mm NATO.

Pistol, Revolver No. 2 was in full production at Enfield during World War II.

This cal. .38 revolver superseded the cal. .455 Pistol, Revolver in British service.

Czech-designed BREN (Brno-Enfield) cal .303 light machine gun went into production at Enfield in 1937. After World War II many were converted at Enfield to fire

the 7.62 mm NATO cartridge. Czech-designed BESA machine guns were also made at Enfield for the British Army.



7

THE PATTERN 1914

Cal. .276 1913 experimental cartridge (r.) with cal. .303 British cartridge for which Pattern 1914 Enfield Service rifle was adapted.

ENFIELD RIFLE

Adopted by the British Army, this weapon became known for its accuracy but its service use

was limited


he Pattern 1914 Enfield Rifle, familiarly known as the P. 14, and in British Service nomenclature as the No. 3 Rifle, enjoys the

distinction of being the only rifle with Mauser-type action ever adopted by the British Army. Its actual service, though partly of adistinctive nature, was very limited for so excellent a weapon.

When the Short Magazine Lee-Enfield (SMLE) rifle was approved for the British Services in 1902, it met with instant opposition,

mostly on the grounds of inaccuracy. Although it proved itself a first -class Service weapon, opposition persisted and a few years after

its adoption the Government Design Department at the Royal Small Arms Factory at Enfield was considering design of a rifle ballistically more efficient.

In August 1910, the British War Office decided that a new rifle was needed. The requirement was put to the Small Arms

Committee, a body of experts including representatives of manufacture, inspection, and users of small arms and ammunition. On Sept.

2, the following points were agreed on:

1. The rifle to be for Cavalry and Infantry.

2. Length and weight as near as possible to the SMLE.

3. A one-piece stock.

4. A trapped buttplate as on SMLE.

5. The nosecap to be lighter, providing sufficient support for the bayonet was assured.

6. Handguard to be full length of barrel.

7. If possible, barrel to weigh 2 lbs. 14 ozs.

8. Recoil about the same as SMLE.9. Detachable magazine to hold 10 rounds.

10. Charger-loading and no cut-off.

11. Action to be of Mauser type.

12. To fire rimless cartridges.

13. Trigger to be directly connected to body of rifle.

14. Safety-catch to operate in both fired and cocked positions.

15. Striker to be controlled by cocking piece.

16. Aperture back sight, and dial sight for distances beyond 1600 yds.

It was decided to make up an experimental rifle embodying as many of the recommendations as possible, and the development

work was carried out at Enfield. Meanwhile, a new cartridge in cal. .276 was being developed at Woolwich Arsenal.

T



8It was intended to stock the new rifle on

the lines of the U. S. M1903 Springfield, and

it was eventually decided to alter a

Springfield to comply, as far as possible, with

the Committee's requirements. A number ofexperimental rifles was prepared subsequently

for trials at Enfield and the Small Arms

School at Hythe, Kent. At the same time other

patterns were put forward for trial, including 2

from the Birmingham Small Arms Company,

one of which had an inclined bolt, but theywere not recommended. As a result of the

trials at Enfield and Hythe, it was decided to

manufacture 1000 of the Enfield pattern for

troop trials. A big problem had still to be

solved — excessive metallic fouling of the

barrel. Its seriousness can be judged from a

Small Arms Committee minute dated May 10,

1912, which read:

"The Committee desire to point out that no

cartridge has yet been produced for the .276-

in. rifle which does not give such metallicfouling as to quite preclude its being tried by the troops in the 1,000 rifles about to be manufactured, and the Committee see little

prospect of arriving at a satisfactory solution of the problem by the time when a decision as to the cartridge will be required if the trialof 1,000 rifles by the troops is to be carried out next year."

The Committee's opinion was that the main cause of the fouling was the high pressure, combined with the high temperature of the

Cordite M.D.T. propellant charge. Certain modifications to the cartridge were put forward.

Ammunition trials

Various ammunition trials were carried out at Woolwich and Hythe and, although some improvement was made ballistically and

in the reduction of metallic fouling, the cartridge provided for the troop trials was still not entirely satisfactory in performance.

The case was rimless. Over-all cartridge length was 3.230". The 165-gr. pointed bullet had a lead-antimony core and was jacketed

with mild steel plated with cupro-nickel. The 49.3-gr. charge of Cordite M.D.T. gave a muzzle velocity of 2785 f.p.s. (feet persecond).

The trial rifle, which featured a one-piece stock and integral 5-round box magazine, weighed 8 lbs. 11 ozs. , and had an over-all

length of 46.3". The action was of Mauser type with dual front locking lugs engaging locking recesses within the receiver rin g. The

26" cal. .276 barrel weighed 2 lbs. 15 ozs., and was rifled with left twist at the rate of one turn in 10". Groove depth was .005". Barrel

lands and grooves were .0853" wide.

The aperture-type folding leaf rear sight was adjustable for elevation only. The leaf was graduated from 400 to 1900 yds. Themovable slide containing the .10" aperture locked into detents on the right side of the leaf. A fixed .10" aperture battle sight for ranges

up to 600 yds., was exposed when the leaf was turned down. A dial sight was fitted to the left side of the rifle for long-range 'barrage'

firing.

The 1000 troop-trial rifles were made at the Royal Small Arms Factory and, early in 1913, were issued to British troops in the

Aldershot, Southern, Northern, and Irish Commands, in South Africa and Egypt, and to the Small Arms School (then called the

School of Musketry) at Hythe. In June the trial was suspended in the Aldershot Command when it was found that the ammunition hada great heating effect on the rifle, and dangerous pressures developed if a round was left in a heated chamber for only a short time.

The program was amended so that rifles were allowed to cool after not more than 15 rounds had been fired.

Besides the heating effects, the reports from the Commands contained several small adverse criticisms, but generally speaking the

rifle performed well and was popular with the troops. One complaint is of particular interest in view of subsequent events. It was that

there was a tendency to pick up sand in the muzzle when loading on sandy soil.

In World War II, when the rifle (then the P. 14) was for a time in general use in several units of the British Army, there were many

instances of split barrels due to obstructions being picked up in the protruding muzzle during training. Investigation of many damaged

rifles showed a high sulphur and phosphorus content in the steel as causing a tendency to split when a round was fired with any slight

obstruction in the bore. The highest percentage of split barrels was of Eddystone manufacture.

The troop trials were followed by an investigation of the reports by the Small Arms Committee and, at the beginning of 1914, six

rifles were manufactured at Enfield to an improved design. Most of the troubles were easily dealt with, but the complaint of excessiveflash had no easy solution. This was reported to be visible at night for a mile, and an accompanying loud report was also considered

serious. Barrel wear was another serious problem; accuracy was often bad after only 1000 rounds and was seldom retained after 3000.

War ends experimentation

Experiments with new barrel steels and new propellant charges were being carried out when the start of World War I put an end to

most of them. Plans for the new rifle replacing the SMLE were dropped. Arming the rapidly increasing fighting forces presented a problem with which British armament manufacturing resources could not cope, and Britain turned to the United States. U. S.

manufacturers agreed to produce the new British rifle, with certain modifications, in cal. .303 British, and large orders were placed

with the Winchester, Remington, and Eddystone firms.

Cal. .276 experimental rifle issued for troop trial in 1913 and identified by diagonal grooves on sides

of stock fore-end. A total of 1000 rifles was made.



9On June 21, 1916, the new rifle was

officially introduced in the British Service as

the Pattern 1914 Enfield Rifle. It was fitted

with the Pattern 1913 Sword Bayonet Mark I

and was issued to Home Service units inGreat Britain. The superior accuracy of the P.

14 to the SMLE as issued to the Services was

soon established, and it was decided to equip

a number of these rifles with Aldis offset and

Pattern 1918 telescope sights and issue them

to snipers in the various theaters of war. Ahigh standard of accuracy was obtained with

this equipment, and they would have been of

inestimable value had they been available in

the earlier years of the war. After the war,

they were issued on the scale of 8 to a

battalion of infantry.

In 1935, the P.14 entered a new phase of

its history. In the United Kingdom and British

Dominions, the SMLE had achieved a bad

reputation in target-shooting circles for

instability of accuracy. Packing, regulating,and the use of small metal parts in restocking

had proved palliatives, but not cures, and the War Office decision to release a number of P.14's for target shooting was greatlywelcomed by the National Rifle Association (of Great Britain) and its members. The P. 14 which was sold to marksmen for only £3,

immediately became popular and for a time gained almost universal praise. Unfortunately, many were stocked with poorly seasoned

wood and, after a period of shooting and weathering, the fore-ends warped, some beyond rectification.

Proper stocking method

Doubts regarding the consistent accuracy

of the rifle were expressed at the 1936 Bisley

Meeting, and an investigation was carried out

by the Chief Inspector of Small Arms atEnfield. The troubles were not all due to

faulty woodwork and it was found that many

of the complaints arose from rifles which had

been adjusted in a manner contrary to the

accepted Service method of stocking. This

provides that the action should be so beddedthat the following parts bear on the stock:

(a) The rear face of the recoil lug.

(b) The underside of the receiver at the front

and rear ends. (c) The barrel reinforce.

(d) The barrel at the muzzle end should bearlightly against stock when receiver and

reinforce bearings have been correctly

adjusted.

The important part of correct stocking of the P. 14 is the bedding of the action. Alternative methods of stocking are permitted for

target shooting. The barrel may be completely free at the muzzle, the clearance being kept to a minimum. A bearing may also be

obtained about 6" forward of the receiver by building up the fore-end at this point by a light metal shim or wood insert glued in

position. With this method the barrel, forward of the bearing, should be clear of the woodwork.

World War II had been in progress several months before there was any real interest in the possibility of snipers being again

required. In May 1940, a Sniping Wing of the Small Arms School was formed at Bisley, largely on the initiative of Maj. Gen. Sir

Alan Hunter, then Secretary of the National Rifle Association (of Great Britain). Sniping was almost a lost art and its restorationcentered around the P. 14, the only sniping rifle then in the British Army. The P. 14 continued in this role until 1942, when it was

superseded by the No. 4 Rifle, Mark I (T). The P. 14 rifle, without a telescope, remained in the hands of Home Defence forces

throughout the war.

It is sad to record that so fine a rifle as the P. 14 should have received such unfortunate treatment as was accorded this accurate

weapon after the war. Many thousands were dumped in Ordnance Depots throughout the United Kingdom, and so carelessly were

many of them stored that they rapidly deteriorated into scrap. Eventually a few were sold to rifle clubs but most were broken up and,

in official jargon, 'brought to produce'. Thus the P. 14 went the way of many wartime stores in the urge to destroy and clean up,

regardless, which always seems to follow in the wake of a war.

There are still some marksmen who regard the P. 14 as the most accurate British full-bore rifle, though the number seen on Bisley

ranges is now comparatively small largely due to the difficulty of obtaining replacements for shot out barrels. Whether those that have

survived will ever be converted to take the 7.62 mm. NATO cartridge when the target-shooting changeover from cal. .303 British

takes place is a matter for conjecture. If it is eventually converted, the P. 14, though limited in numbers, could again beco me a seriouscontender for major British and Commonwealth target-shooting honors.

Close-up of Pattern 1918 telescope sight on Pattern 1914 rifle.

Pattern 1914 Enfield Service rifle fitted with Aldis offset telescope sight. This sight has a lower

silhouette than Pattern 1918 sight. Lateral adjustment is embodied in the mounting.



10

By THOMAS E. WESSEL

Lee-Enfield Rifle No. 1, Mark IIIParts Legend 14. Safety spring 27. Magazine catch 40. Buttplate 52. Ejector screw

15. Safety spring screw 28. Retaining 41. Buttplate 53. Striker screw

1. Barrel 16. Back trigger guard spring screw trap spring 54. Cocking piece

2. Foresight blade screw 29. Sear spring 42. Buttplate trap 55. Breechbolt

3. Inner band 17. Stock bolt plate 30. Sear spring screw 56. Mainspring

4. Inner band screw 18. Swivel screw (3) 31. Trigger pin 43. Outer band 57. Striker

5. Backsight assembly 19. Butt swivel bracket 32. Trigger 44. Fore-end stud spring 58. Breechbolt head

6. Backsight protector 20. Swivel bracket 33. Front trigger 45. Fore-end stud 59. Extractor screw7. Backsight protector screw screw (2) guard screw 46. Back nose cap screw 60. Extractor

21. Sling swivel (2) 34. Trigger guard 47. Piling swivel 61. Extractor spring8. Fore-end collar 22. Stock bolt washer 35. Magazine 48. Nose cap 62. Cutoff

9. Protector nut 23. Stock bolt 36. Front trigger guard 49. Nose cap nut 63. Cutoff screw

10. Action body 24. Stock bolt wad screw bushing 50. Front nose 64. Buttstock

11. Safety catch (leather) 37. Buttplate trap cap screw 65. Fore-end

12. Locking bolt 25. Magazine catch pin 38. Buttplate trap pin 51. Inner band 66. Rear handguard

13. Safety catch washer 26. Retaining spring 39. Buttplate screw (2) screw spring 67. Front handguard

he cal. .303 British Short Magazine Lee-

Enfield Rifle, Mark III was approved for

the British Service on Jan. 26, 1907. It was an

evolutionary development of the ShortMagazine Lee-Enfield Rifle, Mark I, which

was adopted on Dec. 23, 1902.

The Mark III version is dimensionally

similar to the earlier Mark I but is heavier. It

weighs 8 lbs. l0½ ozs., as against 8 lbs. 2½ ozs.

for the Mark I. (The weights given do not

include the bayonet.)

The Mark III is fitted with a magazine

cutoff so that contents of the 10-shot

detachable box magazine could be held in

reserve while the rifle was used as a single-

loader. The receiver or body is fitted with a

bridge-type charger guide with slots sloped tothe front so that the empty charger is

automatically ejected from the charger guide as

the bolt is closed.

The U-notch rear sight is fully adjustablefor windage and elevation. The front sight is of

square-blade Patridge-type. An additional dial

sight arrangement is provided for long-range

firing. This is a carry-over from the Mark I.

There were many changes made in

establishing specifications for the Mark IIIrifle, and those interested in a detailed history

of this and other British Lee-Enfield Service

rifles are referred to the book entitled The Lee-Enfield Rifle by Maj. E. G. B. Reynolds.

In May 1926, British Service rifles were

redesignated by number, and the ShortMagazine Lee-Enfield Rifle, Mark III became

the Rifle No. 1, Mark III.

T



11

No. 4 Rifle Disassembly

1 Commence disassembly by first removing

magazine (35) and then rotating breechbolt (55)

counterclockwise and withdrawing rearward as far asit will go. Disengage breechbolt head (58) from

retaining spring (26) by rotating it as shown. It will

disengage with an audible click. Withdraw bolt fromaction body (10)

2 Disassemble breechbolt by removing striker screw

(53), and then unscrewing breechbolt head from the

other end of the breechbolt

3 To remove striker (57), it is necessary to have an

Enfield bolt stripping wrench or improvise one as

shown using a ⅜8" O.D. brass tube approximately 6"long. File 2 opposing keys or notches in one end of

tube and affix wooden ball on other end to serve as

handle. Drill through handle and tube with ⅛" drilland insert pin to prevent slippage. Insert tool into

front end of breechbolt until notches engage

corresponding notches in striker collar. Unscrewstriker from cocking piece (54) maintaining steady

inward pressure to prevent mainspring (56) from

expelling striker when it becomes fully unscrewedfrom cocking piece

4 Remove back and front trigger guard screws (16

and 33, right and left arrows respectively). Lift awaytrigger guard (34). Remove back and front nose cap

screws (46 and 50 respectively) and pull nose cap

(48) forward off rifle. Remove inner band screw (4),

and swivel screw (18) from outer band (43). Openand lift away outer band. Front handguard (67), fore-

end (65), and rear handguard (66) may now beremoved in that order

5 Remove retaining spring screw (28, left arrow) and

lift away retaining spring (26), sear (30), and searspring (29). Drift out magazine catch pin (25, right

arrow), remove magazine catch (27)

6 Should removal of buttstock (64) become

necessary, open buttplate trap (37) and with a pieceof bent wire fish out leather stock bolt wad (24).

Insert long, square shanked screwdriver and engage

slot in stock bolt (23). While applying downward

pressure, place an appropriately sized open-endwrench against screwdriver shank and turn out stock

bolt. A small quantity of penetrating oil may aid thisoperation as the bolts are often rusted in. Reassemble

rifle in reverse ■

I want to remove the extractor spring from my British .303, No. 4 rifle so that I can clean inside the extractor slot on the bolt head. How is this spring removed from the rifle?

Answer: Make sure that the rifle is unloaded, and remove the bolt. Them clamp the bolt in a padded vise and insert a drift punch of less than0.04" diameter into the small hole in the sideward projection of the bolt head. Press the punch inward against the extractor spring and push the spring

forward, out of the bolt head using a screwdriver. Hold a finger over the extractor slot while doing this to prevent loss of the spring. In reassembly,simply push the spring into the extractor slot until the small projection on the spring engages in its seat in the bolt head.

These instructions also apply to the No. 1, rifle. — L.O.

Punch is inserted through the hole (a) in the bolt head. Extractor spring (b) is of V type.

LEE-ENFIELD BOLT TAKEDOWN

Shooters examining the British .303 Lee-Enfield rifle soon find the bolt head can be unscrewed byhand from the bolt body, but remaining disassembly is not so easy.

The Lee-Enfield firing pin is screwed into the cocking piece and is removed from the front. With

the bolt head off, look into the front of the bolt and note the 2 notches on opposite sides of the firing pin shoulder, about 1" back from the point. These provide means for grasping the firing pin with thenecessary tool, which is not hard to make. The picture shows the bolt of the No. 1 rifle, and that of the

No. 4 rifle is practically identical.To disassemble, turn the cocking piece to the lower of the 2 notches in the bolt (this takes almost

all compression off the firing pin spring). Remove the firing pin locking screw in the rear face of thecocking piece. Turn out the firing pin from the front, with the tool shown. — E.H.H.



12Removing the firing pin from a .303 Lee-Enfield rifle bolt ordinarily requires aspecial tool. To remove pin with common tools, unscrew bolt head and remove

lock screw (1) in cocking piece. Then pull cocking piece (2) back and turn it toright to lock it back. Hold cocking piece in wrench or vise, and unscrew firing pin with self-clamping pliers grasped at (3). In reassembling, push firing pinrearward against mainspring with ⅜" dowel which has hole drilled in end to

clear firing pin tip. — W. Edward Hay

For the necessary reinforcement of rear ends of Lee-Enfield sporter fore-ends I

form a staple of ⅛" spring wire as shown and drive it into place. Inlet ⅛" toaccommodate head of staple. — Thomas E. Sisson

Lee-Speed Rifle A British army rifle in my collection is marked Lee-Speed. The Speed marking seems appropriate for the Lee since it can be operated faster than

most bolt-action rifles. However, I lack proof that the marking has reference to fast operation, and would appreciate information on the subject.Answer: The word "speed" is appropriate in connection with the Lee rifle, but has reference to a co-developer of the arm rather than rapidity of

operation. Mr. Joseph Speed was the Assistant Manager (later, the manager) of the Royal Small Arms Factory at Enfield Lock in the 1880s, anddeveloped the magazine cutoff, two-piece stock, and several other mechanical features of British Lee rifles. The Lee-Speed marking appeared on

some early long Lee rifles, and especially on specimens intended for the commercial market. — L.O.

Mk IV SMLE Rifle In what way was the Mk IV British SMLE improved over the Mk III? The only differences 1 can see in these rifles are that the Mk IV has no

marking disc on the stock, and its buttplate tang is longer than that of the Mk III.Answer: The Mk IV is not an improved SMLE, but simply an early long Lee rifle converted to conform to the pattern of the Mk III. Since it is a

converted arm and the model following the Mk III, it is called Converted, Mk IV.The long buttplate tang and lack of a marking disc are characteristic of the long Lee rifles from which Mk IVs were converted. The buttplate tang

was used for organizational markings and served the same purpose as a marking disc. — L.O.

Double F Marked SMLE I have a British Short Magazine Lee-Enfield rifle (SMLE) which is dated 1918 and was, according to its previousowner, issued in England after the Dunkirk evacuation. The buttstock is a replacement, and the original and stilllegible serial number has been struck through with a new number stamped above it. With the new number, onbarrel and receiver ring, is a capital F superimposed on another capital F and enclosed in a circle.

After considerable research, I can find no reference to the double-F-in-a-circle marking. Can you tell me its

significance?Answer: When the Republic of Ireland organized its army in 1923, much of its equipment, including SMLE

rifles, was obtained from England. When the rifles were received, the Irish placed their own identification mark onthem and crossed out the original serial numbers, replacing them with new numbers.

The mark of "FF" within a circle is the Republic of Ireland Army property mark. "F.F." signifies "Fianna Fail.""Fianna" is the name of an ancient military organization forming what then corresponded to the standing army ofthe country; "Fail" means "destiny." One of the ancient names of Ireland was "Innisfail" (The Isles of Destiny) and "Fianna Fail" thus signifies the

"Fianna (or army) of Destiny," or it may be rendered as "The Fianna (or army) of Ireland."

The above information was obtained from the Republic of Ireland Army.As the British Army lost much equipment at Dunkirk, rifles were obtained anywhere they could be found, and they probably got a lot of the older

dated rifles from the Irish Army. — C.H.Y., Jr.

Compensation I have read that the .303 Lee-Enfield rifle is 'compensated', which improves the accuracy of the rifle at long range. What is this compensation?Answer: British long-range target shooters noticed many years ago that the .303 Mark III SMLE rifle and .303 Mark VII ammunition gave less

vertical dispersion on 900-yd. and 1000-yd. targets than would be expected from the velocity variation of the ammunition. This was explained as due

to the rifle delivering shots of above-normal muzzle velocity at a lower angle of departure than shots of low muzzle velocity (there is always someshot-to-shot variation in velocity). This unintentional 'compensation' in design of the rifle and its mating to the ammunition thus resultedadvantageously in long-range shooting.

This matter received a great deal of discussion among British Commonwealth shooters, and on adoption of the .303 No. 4 rifle, the Lee-Enfield

which was standard during World War II, the subject was brought up again. Several experiments were made to establish the existence and actualamount of compensation, but they were not carried to a conclusive result. Information on compensation in the Mark III rifle was given in the BritishTextbook of Small Arms 1929, now out of print; and for the No. 4 rifle in the book The Lee-Enfield Rifle by Maj. E. G. B. Reynolds.

Now it appears that such an effect may exist to some degree in many rifles. Shoulder rifles of usual configuration suffer bending by the stressesof discharge, and seldom deliver their bullets in the nearly invariable direction given by heavy test barrels in sliding mounts. Test of a large sampleof U. S. M14 rifles showed that they gave this effect consistently and in a direction to improve their long-range vertical dispersion. On the otherhand, if many models and types of rifles were investigated it might be found that some give it an unfavorable direction — that is, high-velocity rounds

might be delivered at a higher angle of elevation than low-velocity rounds, with resulting very unfavorable effect on the shooting accuracy. Since no

such broad investigation of the matter ever has been made, the proportion of favorable and unfavorable situations which exist is not known.The mechanism of this compensating (or mutually reinforcing) action of jump and drop is explained in detail in the article "Dispersion And

Range" in the September 1962 issue of The American Rifleman. There are no further authoritative available references known.

It might appear attractive to design a target rifle intentionally to provide variation. There has been no thorough attempt to do so for any non-military weapon. It would be a considerable undertaking, and even if successful the desired action could be counted on only with exactly that designand construction of rifle and ammunition. — E.H.H.



13

.303 Rifle No. 5, Mk I — or "jungle carbine."

303 Jungle CarbineCan you identify the following military rifle? Its markings are: England 1/47

No. 5 Mk I (F) .303" 2.22" 18.5 tons Serial Number beginning with "Z" Some cartridges with it are .303 British.Answer: This is the Rifle No. 5, Mk I, a modified form of the Rifle No. 4 which was the British infantry rifle of World War II. The markings

indicate the caliber, the length of the cartridge case, and the service pressure in long tons per square inch as measured by the British base crushermethod. Ammunition was the standard .303 Ball Cartridge, Mk VII.

The No. 5 had the same action as the No. 4, the final form of the Lee-Enfield, but the No. 5 was a shortened and lightened model intended for

jungle use. The barrel was shortened to 18.75" and equipped with a bayonet stud and short conical flash hider, the fore-end was shortened and thefront handguard removed, and the butt was equipped with a small recoil pad. The piece was commonly called the jungle carbine. It is reported tohave been popular with the troops in that role despite a rather heavy recoil. By the end of 1944, 50,000 had been accepted for service. It was declaredobsolete in July 1947. Thus only a limited number were produced and the rifle is comparatively scarce.

One reason for its obsoletion was a troublesome defect, a "wandering zero" which made it difficult to keep the rifle correctly sighted. Much workwas done in an effort to eliminate this problem but eventually it was concluded that the defect was an inherent one. — C.R.S.

Cord-Wrapped SMLEWhile stationed in England during World War II, I saw some British SMLE rifles with cord-wrapped forearms. There was wrapping around

forearm and handguard just behind the nosecap and also between the lower band and the receiver. Only a few of the many SMLE rifles I observedwere so wrapped, and I wonder why it was done.

Answer: Wrapping of SMLE forearms with whipcord or copper wire was done to reinforce rifles for grenade launching. The practice wasinstituted in World War I as a means of using rifles that were badly worn and generally not repairable short of rebuilding. The original intent was thatstandard-issue rifles would be used for grenade launching in the field, and "strengthened" rifles would be used for training only, and not fired withBall cartridges except in emergency. Rifles in this training category are marked "E.Y." on the barrel reinforce and on the stock.

In Australian and Indian practice, rifles intended for front line service were routinely adapted for grenade launching by wrapping the fore-endswith wire or cord, and these rifles saw much use during World War II. Indian rifles, particularly, may be found with an additional reinforcement, a

wood screw transverse through the fore-end just ahead of the front trigger guard screw.Some U.S. M1917 rifles in British use and Pattern 14 Enfield rifles were similarly wrapped, but with copper or galvanized steel wire instead of

whipcord. Pistol grips as well as fore-ends of these latter Enfield rifles were wrapped, and steel reinforcement plates connected into the top and bottom of the pistol grip. — L.O.

Mark V SMLE

In what way does the British Mk V Short Magazine Lee-Enfield differ from earlier models of the SMLE?This rifle is mentioned in the 1929 edition of the British

Army's Textbook of Small Arms , but a detaileddescription, and illustrations, are lacking.

Answer: The Mk V (officially the Rifle, Short,

Magazine, Lee-Enfield Mark V) differs from preceding

models of the SMLE in that it has an aperture rear sight and a reinforcing band at the rear of the nosecap. The sight is located at the rear of thereceiver in similar fashion to that of the British Pattern 14 (No. 3) and U.S. Model 1917 Enfield rifles. The idea for the reinforcing band wasapparently taken from the Norwegian Model 1912 Krag carbine, and this component facilitates recognition of the arm. The 1929 British Textbook of

Small Arms describes this rifle as having a one-piece handguard, but the handguard of a specimen available for examination is of the two-piece

type.Development of the Mk V was prompted by battle experience of World War I, and a relatively small number were produced in the 1920s for test

purposes. It was superseded by the Mk VI SMLE, a limited-production model which was the direct forerunner of the Rifle No. 4, a principal shoulderarm of British forces during World War II. Due to the small number produced, the Mk V is one of the rarest of the SMLE rifles, and a choice

collector's item. — L.O.

LEE-ENFIELD CARBINE

Name: Lee-Enfield Carbine Model: Mark I Manufacturer: British Government Armory at Enfield Caliber & Cartridge: .303 British

Barrel Length: 20¾"

Overall Length: 39-5/16" Weight (Empty): 7 lbs. 7 ozs. Finish: Blued

Magazine: 7-shot, removable box

Stock: 3-piece plain wood Rifling: Enfield type, 5-groove, left-hand, 1 turn in 10". Bore Diameter: .303"

Groove Diameter: .316" Sights: Fixed blade front with wing guards. V notch rear, adjustable elevation to 2,000 yds. with leather cover protector .

Marking: Left-hand side of butt socket: Crown over V R ENFIELD 1896 L. E. C. I Remarks: This Lee-Enfield carbine was officially adopted by the British War Office in 1896, replacing the Lee-Metford carbine of1894. The gun is similar to the Lee-Metford Mark II* Rifle and Lee-Enfield Mark I and Mark I* Rifles except for a shorter barrel,

wood handguard, winged front sight, and the omission of the long-range rear sight.This carbine was issued especially for the use of cavalry units and was gradually replaced in the British Service after Dec. 23,

1902, the date marking the official approval of the Short Magazine Lee-Enfield Mark I Rifle. The latter weapon was a design for useof both cavalry and infantry. — H. P. White Laboratory.



14

THE NO. 4 RIFLE MARK 1 (T)Development and modifications of a British Service arm for snipers

By MAJ. E. G. B. REYNOLDS

mmediately following World War I, the British War Office Small Arms Committee spent much time and thought on the question of

a new rifle. There were differences of opinion as to whether the proposed new arm should have automatic loading, bolt-action withforward locking, or whether the Lee action should be retained.

It was decided that there should be no reduction in caliber, as seemed likely before the war, and that an aperture rear sight would

be used. It was also agreed that the standard of accuracy should be at least as good as that of the Pattern 14 rifle.

Largely on the grounds of economy, efforts were devoted to designing a pattern to which the existing Service rifle, the Short

Magazine Lee-Enfield, could be modified.

Manufacturing difficulties in times of emergency had to be considered and it was eventually decided to design a new rifle on theS.M.L.E. pattern which would lend itself to mass production and would embody the new requirements.

The ultimate result was the rifle known as the No. 1 Mark VI (Fig. 1). The best features, based on wartime experiences, of the No.

1 (S.M.L.E.) rifle were retained. Improvements included a stiffer, heavier barrel to give a high standard of accuracy suitable for

sniping, a smaller and lighter nose-cap, and an exposed muzzle on which a bayonet could be fitted. An aperture rear sight embodying

a fixed or battle sight for ranges up to 400 yds. was fitted. Receiver and bolt-head were made more compact and of cleaner design, to

save weight and reduce the liability to catch clothing and equipment. Other small modifications were embodied, and a number of

weapons were thoroughly tested by the Small Arms School at Hythe. Further modifications arose from these trials and, by 1926, sixfinalized No. 1 Mark VI rifles were ready for further testing. These were first shot for accuracy at the Small Arms Inspection

Department, Enfield Lock, and a disturbing feature emerged.

Shot low with bayonet

With bayonet fitted, the mean point of impact on the target came down by about 9 minutes, or about 18" at 200 yds. Service trials

confirmed this result. The rifles also showed a tendency to string out their groups in the vertical plane, while keeping an extremely

good lateral angle. The trouble was traced to the receiver of the rifle. This was strengthened, and accuracy immediately improved.

Many methods of stocking-up were tried out and the one adopted (Fig. 2) was as follows:

The fore-end fitted firmly at the rear, between the sear lugs and face of the receiver butt socket.

1 The No. 1 Mark VI rifle, developed following World War I. was never adopted for service, though the later No. 4 Mark I is nearly identical in appearance, except for

the magazine cutoff. Prototype Mark VI rifles had plain fore-ends; t roop trial rifles featured a cross-hatched grasping surface on the fore-end, forward of the receiver.

2 Conventional method of stocking the No. 4 rifle. Good bearings between the metal parts and fore-end are essential at (A) muzzle; (B) receiver reinforce; (C) receiver

seating; and (D) the "draws" between sear and socket face. It is extremely important that the collar (shown below fore-end) is of correct length. If too long, the bearing

at (C) will be too light. If the collar is too short, the wood work will be crushed when the trigger guard screw is tightened, and this will affect the reinforce and muzzle

bearings. The trigger guard screw must be kept tight.

I



15It seated on the receiver surfaces around the front trigger guard screw-hole and extended rearward along the narrow ledges on each

side of the magazine opening for not less than 1½". The resistance of the receiver to the fore-end was equal on each side of the trigger

guard screw. There was a clearance between barrel socket of receiver and stock fore-end on each side.

There was a firm bearing on the barrel reinforce, extending the full length of the reinforce and about one-third of its radius in

width. The bearing was in the center of the radial clearance of the fore-end, and the sides of the barrel were entirely clear of the wood.The barrel rested on the raised seating at muzzle end of the fore-end. The bearing extended the full length of this seating, with the

barrel positioned centrally. The clearance on each side was not less than .02", and the lift required to raise the barrel from its seating

was between 3 and 5 lbs. If the lift was below 3 lbs., the bearing at the reinforce was lowered slightly and the collar on the front

trigger guard screw was shortened if necessary. If the lift was above 5 lbs., the bearing of the receiver seating was lowered, and the

collar shortened the desired amount.

Barrel free of fore-end

It was necessary for the barrel to be entirely free from influence of the fore -end except at the points specified, and the clearance

was about .05". The hand-guards were also clear of the barrel by the same amount, except at the muzzle end, where the clearance

could be less providing the barrel was free.

In 1926, a new system of nomenclature was introduced in the British Service and the rifle became known as the No. 4 Mark I. Fiveyears later 1000 rifles were manufactured at Enfield for troop trials. The following year more rifles were made and issued to units for

trial. Reports were favorable and on Nov. 15, 1939, official approval for manufacture was announced.

The No. 4 Mark I rifle was chambered for the cal. .303 Bri tish cartridge. It weighed 8 lbs. 13 ozs. without bayonet and its over-all

length was 44½". The 25.2" barrel was rifled with 5 grooves with left twist of one turn in 10". Rifles of this pattern were made later

with 2 and 6 groove barrels also. Stocks were made initially of walnut, but beech, birch, and maple (in Canada) were used in later

production.

Whereas rifle manufacture had previously been practically confined to the Royal Small Arms Factory at Enfield, and the B.S.A.Company at Birmingham, the outbreak of World War II found capacity at Enfield stretched to its limit in making Bren guns, cal. .38

revolvers, and other machine guns and accoutrements. New ordnance factories were built at Shirley (Birmingham), under the control

of the B.S.A. Company, and at Maltby (Yorkshire) and Fazackerley (Lancashire). A number of the more senior employees from the

Enfield staff were diverted to the new factories, but most of the workers, especially at Maltby and Fazackerley, were completely

unskilled and included a large percentage of women. Throughout the war most of the accuracy testing was done by women. It was notsurprising that some of the early production did not bear comparison with prewar rifles of Enfield manufacture.

Meanwhile, arrangements were made in Canada and the U. S. for manufacture of the No. 4 rifle. Eventually nearly a million were

made at Long Branch, near Toronto, and over a million by the Savage Arms Corp. in the U. S. The rifle was made to an alternative

design of receiver and was designated the No. 4 rifle, Mark 1*. It differed from United Kingdom production in several respects.

A slot was cut in the receiver ribway, through which the bolt-head was released for disassembly. Machining for the bolt-headcatch was omitted. The bolt-head catch, and the spring and plate, were omitted. A new pattern bridge-piece was incorporated in the

receiver to permit removal of the bolt. The magazine catch screw was replaced by a pin, and the sear pin was increased in length.

Some rifles made in the United States were fitted with 6-groove barrels.

On the outbreak of war the Pattern 14 Mark 1 (T) was the only sniping arm in the British Army, and the so -called "Phoney War"

created an impression that sniping was no longer a requirement. As the war progressed, ideas changed and the need for new British

sniping equipment became a very real one. Plans were made to equip No. 4 rifles for this purpose.

3 Methods of adjusting the No. 32 Telescope

sight. Marks 1 and 2. The range (elevation)

drum is inscribed with numerals 0 – 10,representing yards in hundreds, i.e., zero to

1000 yards. The deflection drum is inscribed

16, 12, 8, 4, 0, 4, 8, 12, 16. These drums are

inscribed at (A). The "0" is the zero mark, and

the numerals on either side represent minutes

of angle. For sight setting, a small arrowhead is

inscribed on the drum mountings at (B).

When an adjustment is made to the drums,

the clamping ring (C) is loosened by turning it

in a counter-clockwise direction, at the same

time the central pin (D) and the drum must beheld firmly and not allowed to move. When the

clamping ring is loosened, the drum can be

moved until the required figure is exactly

opposite the arrowhead on the drum mounting.

The pin (D) must be firmly held while the

drum is moved. Pin and drum must be firmly

held when the clamping ring is tightened again.

Mark 3. The range and deflection figures are inscribed on metal bands which fit around the drums at (A). Adjustments are made

by merely inserting the point of a bullet in a small recess in the band and moving it to the required setting: at the same time holding

the milled edge of the drum to prevent the drum from moving.



16Prior to the war a telescopic sight had been developed for use on the Bren gun. This plan was discarded and, in March 1940, i t was

decided to use the sight, designated the No. 32, Mark 1, on the new sniper rifle. Compared with modern telescope sights, it was a

rather cumbersome instrument. This is understandable considering the purpose for which it was designed. The sight was graduated

from 0 to 1000 yds., and embodied vertical and lateral adjustment. (See Fig. 3.) It was adjustable for elevation in increment s of 50

yds., achieved by turning the range drum in the required direction. In the drum was a clicker device, each click recording a movementof 2 minutes of angle. Lateral adjustment was effected by means of the deflection drum, which also embodied a 2 -minute clicker

device. The drums had milled edges for easy adjustment. The range drum was turned in a clockwise direction to raise the elevation.

Errors to the right were corrected by turning the deflection drum clockwise. The magnification was 3X, and the field of view 9

degrees.

As it embodied easy lateral adjustment, the sight was an improvement on the Pattern 1918 used on the Pattern 14 rifle, but the

clicker plate was too widely spaced; finer adjustments than 2 minutes of angle were necessary for a sniper. The method of zeroing thesight was also unsatisfactory. It was too complicated, and required a special tool. Three operations had to be carried out at the same

time and the adjustment required 2 men to perform it.

Introduced in early 1942

The No. 4 rifle Mark 1 (T) (in Fig. 4) was introduced as the new sniping equipment for the British Service on Feb. 12, 1942. Thefirst rifles to be equipped were a number of pre-war Enfield manufacture, and the conversion was carried out at the Royal Small Arms

Factory, where the rifles were carefully stocked-up and shot for accuracy.

The conversion consisted of fitting 2 steel pads to the left of the receiver, and fitting a bracket for the telescope to the pads. The

job required skill.

Perfect fitting of bracket to pads was necessary to insure correct positioning of the telescope every time it was fitted to the rifle.

This did give a certain amount of trouble in the Service, and eventually a procedure was laid down whereby, in fitting the bracket

(with telescope) to the rifle, the final tightening to the maximum amount possible was always on the rear clamping screw.The rifle, with telescope fitted, was finally submitted to an accuracy test in which 7 out of 7 shots had to be within a 5" circle at

200 yds. When weather permitted, the rifles were also tested at 400 yds., when 6 out of 7 shots had to go inside a 10" circle. It was

seldom necessary for equipment to be returned to the factory for adjustment. Each rifle was zeroed with the telescope, and also with

the Mark 1 backsight, with which all sniper rifles were equipped.

Prewar stock exhausted

The supply of pre-war rifles was soon exhausted and, as the first consignment of American manufacture which arrived at the

Central Ordnance Depot at Weedon appeared to be of a higher standard than early United Kingdom production, a number were

selected and sent to Enfield for conversion. These had 6-groove barrels, and all needed careful re-stocking. Meanwhile, B.S.A. at

Shirley had overcome most of their teething troubles and were turning out an excellent rifle; and it was decided that only ri fles from

this factory should be earmarked for sniper conversion. With resources at Enfield taxed to the limit, the work of conversion wastransferred to Holland & Holland, the old established London firm of gunsmiths. From Sept. 22, 1942, until the end of the war , this

firm dealt with nearly 25,000 equipments and maintained a very high standard of conversion. The brackets were made by private

manufacturers, with final machining operations carried out by Holland & Holland.

The first issue of the new British sniping equipment was made in December 1941 to No. 3 Commando. Within the next 2 months

over 150 equipments were dispatched to units, mostly in the Far Eastern theater of war. A number of them, owing to enemy action,never reached their destinations.

An improved sight, the No. 32, Mark 2, was introduced on Apr. 23, 1943, in which the clicker plate was graduated in intervals of 1

minute of angle. The magnification was the same as the Mark 1 but the field of view was slightly less, i.e., 8 degrees 20 minutes. The

new clicker plate enabled finer adjustments in sighting to be made, but the old zeroing adjustment problem remained.

The answer to the zeroing problem was soon forthcoming, and took the form of thin metal bands, known as 'slipping skins', around

the range and deflection drums. A new sight embodying this feature was introduced as the Mark 3 on Oct. 7, 1944. It was similar in

other respects to the Mark 2, except that the field of view was increased to 8 degrees 30 minutes. The new sight was later made

watertight and the lenses were coated to give them greater light-gathering power.

Equipment became popular

The equipment now became very popular with British snipers and it was undoubtedly one of the most efficient in use in any army.

At Enfield, comparative trials were carried out from time to time with captured enemy sniper rifles, and in every instance the No. 4

(T) proved the more accurate. In September 1945, two M1C American sniping rifles were tried out in comparative trials and, although

recording a good standard of accuracy, were inferior to that of the British equipments. In maintenance of M.P.I, (mean point of

impact), ease of aim, and manipulation of sight, the No. 4 (T) rifle also showed to advantage in comparison with the M1C.

A trial was carried out by the Small Arms Inspection Dept. at Enfield in 1945 with the object of determining, if possible, the effect

of the telescope on the angle of jump of the rifle. Twenty-six equipments which had passed their normal acceptance tests were takenat random from run-of-work and were fired at 200 yds. with, and without, telescopes. Without telescopes, the mean angle of jump was

plus 8.95 minutes, and varied from plus 4.5 minutes to 12.5 minutes. With telescopes assembled the jump varied from minus 2

minutes to plus 4.75 minutes, the mean figure for the 26 rifles being plus 2.27 minutes. The telescope seemed to have a steadyingeffect, the rifles giving a mean decrease in jump of just over 6½ minutes. Whether the telescope improved the accuracy of the rifle

was not established as no further trials took place but, throughout the war, the sniper equipment invariably passed its accuracy test

well within the required acceptance limits.



17

4 The No. 4 rifle Mark I (T).

5 Center-bearing method of stocking the No. 4 rifle. An even bearing should be obtained at (A), between the center and rear lightening cuts. The bearing should extend

for about 1½", and its center should be about 5" forward of the front end of the receiver seating (E). The bearing is obtained by building up the fore-end at this point bya wood insert glued in position. From the center bearing forward (F), the barrel must be entirely free of the fore-end. A clearance of at least .10" should be maintained.

The bearings at (B), (C), and (D) are the same as in Fig. 2.

In 1952, a new method of stocking-up the No. 4 rifle emanated from India, and was suggested as a possible alternative for the

sniper equipment. It was easy to achieve and had been found particularly effective in maintenance of zero over a long period. Itembodied a new bearing between barrel and fore-end at a point about 5" forward of the reinforce. The normal receiver and reinforce

bearings were maintained but the muzzle bearing was dispensed with. The step on the muzzle end of the fore-end was floated out and

there was no contact between barrel and woodwork forward of the new bearing. The new bearing, later to become known as the center

bearing, was obtained by a metal shim. The shim had retaining points which were pressed into the fore-end between the 2 lightening

cuts. This, and several other forms of stocking-up, were tested in comparative trials at Enfield, but none showed any improvement on

the normal sniper method. It was found difficult to retain the necessary bearing on the metal shim. Barrel vibrations drove t he shim

retaining points deeper into the wood, thus reducing the height of the shim and the rigidity and pressure of the bearing. Further

experiments were carried out with a wood bearing in place of the metal shim and, although results were satisfactory, there was no

definite improvement over the normal stocking-up.

Although the center-bearing method was never adopted for the sniper rifle, it has since been approved by the British National Rifle

Association as an alternative method of stocking-up the No. 4 rifle used by its members in competitive target shooting. (See Fig. 5.) It

has steadily grown in favor and is probably the most popular form of stocking-up used now by Bisley marksmen. With either form ofstocking-up, the No. 4 rifle, given good ammunition, is capable of consistent grouping inside 2 minutes of angle at any range from

200 to 1000 yds. Ample proof of this is regularly provided at the Bisley National Prize Meetings. Even better accuracy may be

forthcoming when the conversion to the 7.62 mm. NATO round is finally established.

Surplus "Enfield" Warning

The following notice came to us from the United Kingdom Liaison Office, Armament Research, Development and Engineering

Center, Picatinny Arsenal, N.J.

"1. In July 1987 a UK MOD ban was placed on the firing of ball rounds from .303 (cal.) No. 4 rifles in UK service as a result oftwo explosions which occurred in the chamber area of the weapons and resulted in burst barrels.

"2. UK MOD investigations found that the barrel explosions were as a result of severe 'craze cracking' of the two barrels whichwere of indeterminate age and life.

"3. UK MOD have initiated a study into why some barrels suffer craze cracking and others do not , but results of this are not

expected to be complete for some time, and even then might not be conclusive.

"4. Because, in peace-time, .303 No. 4 rifles are only used in Cadet units, it has been decided that it is not cost-effective to carry

out detailed examinations of all barrels, particularly as the cadets are being issued with the new L98A1 Cadet GP Rifle. The firing ban

will therefore remain in force.

"5. Users of the No. 4 rifle worldwide, whether civilian or military, are strongly advised to have the weapons closely examined for

signs of craze cracking and condemned accordingly. Thereafter, it is recommended that any barrels which have passed such inspection

should be examined regularly for such signs and condemned if necessary."





19

No. 4 RiflesWhile attending the 1964 Canadian National Matches, I noted that some No. 4 bolt-

action rifles have 2 wood plugs in each side of the fore-end. These plugs are light-color

wood, and are in that part of the fore-end which covers the sides of the action. What is

their purpose?

Why do some of these rifles have bayonet lugs on the barrels while others do not have

them?

Answer: In some No. 4 rifles, there is a slight lateral clearance between the receiver and

fore-end. Where such clearance is present, it is possible for the receiver to shift sufficiently

to upset the bedding. The plugs are dowels cemented into the fore-end, and they contact

the receiver sides to prevent lateral shifting. They were installed by Canadian armorers inmany No. 4 rifles used in the 1964 Canadian National Matches. The idea for the plugs is

that of W.O.1 H. L. Keech, a vete ran armorer of the Canadian Army.

No. 4 rifles without bayonet lugs are cal. 7.62 mm. NATO. They were rebarreled to this

caliber by Canadian Arsenals, Ltd. No. 4 rifles with bayonet lugs are cal. .303. The lugs

thus serve as a means of identifying caliber in Canadian rifles.

The barrels in cal. 7.62 mm. NATO have 4 grooves with right twist. — L.O.

Magazine Defect I am using military surplus .303 Mk VII Cartridges in my British No. 4 Lee-Enfield. However, this ammunition does not seem to feed reliably

through the magazine, often jamming with the bullet nose against the back of the barrel. Is this the correct ammunition? If so what is the problem

and how do I fix it? Would round-nose bullets work?

Answer: The ammunition you are using is of the correct type for the No. 4 rifle. The problem is likely that the forward lips of the magazine aredamaged or bent. Such a thing can happen if a magazine is dropped or otherwise mishandled. Begin by comparing the lips on your magazine with

those on a magazine that feeds properly. If the lips on the defective magazine appear bent too far downward, bend them up, slightly, using a pair of

pliers. Do this carefully, as only a small amount of bending is necessary. Check often to see if the magazine feeds properly. When it does, clean upany burrs or nicks using stones or a small file. No. 4 rifles were designed to feed pointed bullets such as were loaded in Mk VII ammunition. Round-nose bullets should feed equally well, however, provided the magazine is in good condition. — L.O.

Lee-Enfield Sight What is the purpose of the roller on the open rear sight of the British No. 1, Mk III rifle?

Answer: The grooved roller, properly called the backsight, fine adjustment worm wheel , enabledthe shooter to make elevation adjustments in increments smaller than those inscribed on the elevation

leaf (25-yd. increments on the left side, 100-yd. on the right).Fitted in the right side of the elevation slide, the fine adjustment worm wheel engages screw

thread notches on the right of the elevation leaf. The periphery of the wheel is divided into 10

longitudinal segments, or notches. Turning it one notch gives a 5-yd. adjustment for elevation. In this

fashion turning the worm through five notches adjusts elevation by 25 yds., or one graduation on theleft side of the leaf. Likewise, a complete turn gives a 50-yd, adjustment. The wheel can be turnedwith the thumbnail.

By pressing in the slide catch on the left side of the elevation slide, the fine adjustment is released

and the slide may be moved along the leaf with the thumb. This is done for large changes inelevation. — L.O.

Modified No. 4 RifleThe marking "No. 4 Mk. I*" on the left receiver wall of my British .303 No. 4 rifle has been lined

through and above it has been marked "No. 4 Mk. I/3." Does the changed marking mean that this

rifle was modified and. if so, what is the modification?

Answer: Considerable trouble was experienced with No. 4 rifles in keeping the trigger pullweight constant. The trigger was pivoted on the trigger guard, and swelling and contraction of thefore-end acted on the guard. This, in turn, changed the relative position of the trigger and sear, andcaused a the weight of pull to vary.

The difficulty was overcome by a trigger modification introduced in 1949. A bracket was brazedto the receiver forward of the butt socket and the trigger was pivoted to this bracket instead of thetrigger guard. A new trigger guard was fitted, and a new fore-end with a transverse reinforcing

screw at the rear replaced the earlier fore-end.

No. 4 rifles with the above modification were redesignated No. 4 Mk. I/2. The modified No. 4Mk. I* rifle became the No. 4 Mk. I/3, and the No. 4 Mk. I(T) with telescopic sight became the No. 4Mk. I/2(T). No. 4 rifles made following the introduction of this change have the trigger bracketintegral with the receiver, and are designated No. 4 Mk. II — L.O.

British Long Range Sight I just bought a .303 British Enfield Rifle and would like to know what the arm peep is for on the

forearm and receiver. There happens to be two of them.Answer: Those two pivoted arms on the left side of your British military rifle are long range

musketry sights. They are found on Lee-Enfield rifles up to and including the No. 1, Mk III, and onthe .303 caliber. Pattern 14 rifles that were made in this country by Remington, Winchester and

Eddystone.

The plugs (arrows) prevent the receiver from

shifting laterally.

The backsight fine adjustment worm wheel

(arrow) is on the right side of the elevation

slide.

No. 4 Mk. I/3 rifle (at top) has the trigger pivoted to bracket on receiver. No. 4 Mk. I*

rifle (below) has the trigger pivoted to the

trigger guard.



20At the time these sights were designed and put on the rifle they were intended to permit a platoon of infantrymen to place massed rifle fire on

objectives that were too far away for individually aimed shots. This function has since been taken over by crew-served weapons such as machine

guns, and long range musketry sights are obsolete. The English sights consist of an aperture on the left rear end of the receiver, close to the shooter'seye, and a foresight pivoted on a metallic plate abouthalf way forward on the left side of the stock. Bothsights fold down when not in use. When it is desired

to use the long range sights the rear arm containingthe aperture is folded up into a standing position andthe foresight is rotated until the pointer indicates the

desired range shown by graduations on the plate to

which it is pivoted. These graduations run from

1600 to 2800 yds on some models and from 1600 to2600 yds. on other models

If such long ranges were attempted with an

ordinary rear sight the sight would be high and theeye would be so far above the receiver that the buttstock would be down off the shoulder. Theadvantage of the British long range sights is that line

of sight is lowered so as to avoid craning the neck or

bringing the butt below the shoulder at longerranges.

As indicated in the accompanying illustration, the rear aperture remains at a fixed height and changes in elevation are made by moving the front

sight. — J.S.H.



21

LEE-ENFIELD No. 4 RIFLEBy EDWARD J. HOFFSCHMIDT

Parts Legend1. Striker screw 27. Sear hinge pin

2. Cocking piece 28. Magazine catch

3. Breechbolt (stripped) 29. Sear spring

4. Mainspring 30. Sear

5. Striker 31. Body, No. 4 Mk. I (receiver)

6. Breechbolt head 32. Trigger

7. Extractor 33. Trigger pin

8. Extractor screw 34. Trigger guard9. Extractor spring 35. Magazine

10. Bolt (assembled) 36. Front guard screw

11. Locking bolt screw 37. Guard screw lock washer12. Locking bolt spring 38. Fore-end

13. Locking bolt 39. Handguard, front

14. Safety catch 40. Swivel band

15. Rear guard screw 41. Swivel band screw

16. Magazine catch screw 42. Sling swivel

17. Ejector screw 43. Upper band screw18. Mk. Ill rear sight 44. Upper band

19. Spacer 45. Handguard, rear

20. Rear sight hinge pin 46. Foresight protector screw

21. Sight detent plunger 47. Foresight protector (Mk. II)22. Detent spring 48. Stock bolt

23. Hinge pin lock pin 49. Stock bolt lock washer24. Bolt release stop 50. Buttplate

25. Bolt release 51. Buttplate screw (2)

26. Bolt release spring 52. Lower band

ew weapons in history can match thelong and illustrious story of the

British bolt-action Lee-Enfield rifles.

The original Lee-Metford rifle,

adopted in 1888, was based on the design

of an American gun designer named

James Paris Lee. The Lee-Metford went

through a bewildering maze of marks and

models until it emerged in World War I asthe SMLE Mk. III*.

Nomenclature changed

As a result of service in World War I

the shortcomings of the Mk. III* were

recognized and, in the 1920's, the SMLE

Mk. VI was designed to replace it. The

British changed their system of rifle

nomenclature and the SMLE Mk. VI

became known as Rifle No. 4 Mk. I.

The Rifle No. 4 Mk. I features an

aperture rear sight, a heavier barrel, asimplified stock, and an improved bolt-

retaining system. As World War II

progressed, the Rifle No. 4 Mk. I wasfurther simplified by eliminating the

separate bolt release. The simplified gun

is known as the Rifle No. 4 Mk. I*.

Since England's small arms production

was greatly strained by wartime demands,

the Stevens Arms Co., division of Savage

Arms Corp., Chicopee Falls, Mass.,

manufactured the No. 4 rifle under the

Lend Lease Act. These rifles are the ones

that are found with the marking "U. S. property".

Variety of finishes

Like other military rifles, the No. 4

rifle will be found in a variety of finishes,

ranging from the usually finely made

Canadian Long Branch Arsenal guns tothe cruder Lee-Enfield’s turned out in

England right after Dunkirk. A modified

No. 4 rifle, shortened and lightened for

jungle fighting, was designated Rifle No.

5 Mk. I. It has exactly the samemechanism as the No. 4 but is far handier.

The Rifle No. 4 Mk. I (T), designed for

sniping, was fitted with a cheekpiece and

the No. 32 telescope sight.

F



22In an effort to improve the trigger arrangement, the Rifles No. 4 Mk. I/2 and Mk. I/3 had the trigger pivoted to the body (receiver)

instead of to the trigger guard.

From a military point of view the Lee design was superior to many of its bolt-action contemporaries. It has a 10-shot magazine and

a 20% shorter bolt stroke than the Mauser or Mannlicher, plus about 20% less bolt rotation. These features, combined with a smoothly

working bolt, make the Lee-Enfield excellent for rapid-fire. From another point of view, the Lee-Enfield has a few drawbacks. First,the rear locking arrangement is not quite so favorable for accuracy as the front locking type. Second, the 2-piece stock adversely

affects accuracy. Last but not least the .303 British cartridge is rimmed, making feeding critical although it simplifies the headspace

problem. These shortcomings, whether real or imaginary, cannot detract from the Lee-Enfield's enviable reputation for reliability and

rapidity of fire.

1 There are 2 types of bolt release in No. 4 rifles. To

operate the type in the No. 4 Mk. I rifle, the rear sight

(18) is lifted first and then the bolt release (25) is

depressed. Pull the bolt all the way back and releasethe bolt release. Rotate breechbolt head (6) up in linewith rib on bolt and pull it free of gun

2 The bolt release in the No. 4 Mk. I* rifle is far

simpler and eliminates 3 parts. Simply open the bolt

and ease it back until breechbolt head rides out of its

guide groove into the milled-away portion ½" backfrom the end of the receiver ring. Rotate the breechbolt head upward and pull the bolt free of the

gun. Flip up the rear sight if necessary

3 To remove striker (5), unscrew breechbolt head and

striker screw (1) in cocking piece (2). Unscrew

striker with a simple tool made for the purpose as

shown (do not attempt to remove striker with pliers).This tool engages in the notches on striker shoulder.Striker can only be removed from front of bolt

4 The locking bolt (13) has a multiple thread to move

the safety catch (14) in and out of engagement. Tooperate properly, the pieces must line up when

tightened together as shown in insert. To align the

pieces, be sure flat on safety catch is roughly parallelto flat on locking bolt pin before engaging threads

5 To remove buttstock, clamp rifle in padded vise,

open trap in buttplate (50), remove felt wad, andunscrew stock bolt (48) with long screwdriver

6 To remove magazine follower and spring, push rear

of follower down far enough for the front end to cleartab-like projections on the magazine, then ease out

follower and spring ■

U.S.-Made No. 4 Rifles I have a cal. .303 No. 4 British Service rifle which is marked "U. S. Property" on the left side of

the receiver. It also has the following marks "S No. 4 Mk I*". I have been told that this gun was madeby Savage Arms Corp. Is there any truth in this?

Answer: Yes, you have been correctly informed. During World War II, Savage Arms Corp.turned out about a million and a quarter cal. .303 No. 4 rifles. The first 200,000 were made on a

direct order for the British, and were not U. S. property. The remaining million or more were made

on orders from our government, and furnished on lease-lend. These have the markings described byyou, as well as the flaming bomb ordnance inspection stamp.

The earlier guns produced had the original Enfield ladder-type adjustable rear sight, and the

Enfield-type bolt release at the back of the bolthead raceway.Sometime during the production of the guns for the U. S. account, the ladder-type rear sight was abandoned in favor of a 2-height tip-over peep

sight. About the middle of that contract, one of the Savage engineers suggested simplifying the bolt release by doing away with the bolt locking slideat the rear of the bolthead raceway and. instead, cutting a clearance about ½" behind the front receiver ring. If the bolthead was stopped at this point,

it could be rotated upward and the bolt removed from the rifle. — J.S.H.

Six-Groove No. 4 Rifle I recently saw a .303, No. 4 Mk I* rifle with a six-groove barrel. It had right-hand twist rifling. This rifle is marked "Long Branch 1950". Where

was it made? Is this rifle more accurate than No. 4 rifles which have two- or five-groove barrels?Answer: The rifle is Canadian, and was made in 1950 at the Long Branch Arsenal.

According to veteran armorer, WO1 H.L. Keech of the Canadian Army, there was a number of six-groove rifles made at Long Branch in the

1950s. Bren light machine gun barrels with six grooves were produced at the same time as the No. 4 rifles, and using the same type of rifling helpedstandardize manufacture. The six-groove rifle barrel is designated "C Mk. 4".

Many Canadian target shooters believe that the six-groove barrels are slightly more accurate than five-groove or two-groove.A number of .303 No. 4 rifles with six-groove barrels was produced in the U.S. during World War II by Stevens Arms Div., of Savage Arms

Corp. These rifles were made for Lend-Lease, and are marked "U.S. Property". — L.O.

Marking on U. S.-made No. 4 rifle



23

TARGET ACCURACY WITH THE NO. 4 RIFLEBy E. G. B. REYNOLDS

he British Short Magazine Lee-Enfield

(SMLE), or No. 1 Rifle, possesses areputation for serviceability but not for target

accuracy. During World War II, the No. 4 Rifle,

its successor, soon established itself in both

respects; its greater accuracy being due to a

heavier barrel, stronger receiver, and better sights.

It became popular after the war, when Bisleygunsmiths learned how to adjust it properly.

Correctly bedded, a No. 4 Rifle is capable

of consistent grouping inside 2 minutes of

angle at ranges from 200 to 1000 yds., and is

far less likely to lose its zero than its predecessor. At 200 to 500 yds., where wind

is less of a problem, large numbers of

possible scores are regularly recorded at the

Bisley National Matches. The bullseye at

most ranges subtends slightly less than 2½minutes of angle.

To attain a high standard of consistent

accuracy, the No. 4 Rifle must be bedded to

one of 2 methods (called muzzle-bearing and

center-bearing) found to give the best results.

Fig. 1 shows the common points at which the

No. 4 Rifle is bedded for the 2 methods:1. At (a) between the sear lugs and

receiver butt socket.

2. At (b) on receiver around front trigger-

guard screw hole and along narrow ledge on

sides of magazine opening, extending for not less than 1½" in rear of

trigger-guard screw hole. Bearing should be even throughout, andfore-end should be clear on either side of barrel socket, i.e.,

immediately in rear of reinforce.

3. At (c), extending the full length of the reinforce, approximately

one-third its width, and in the center. (Depth of trigger-guard screw

collar should be such that guard is tightened against face of collarand also stock. It is better to dispense with collar than to have one

that is too long.)

In addition to these bearings, the muzzle-bearing method has a

bearing at (d) which extends the full length of the raised seating.

With the barrel centered in the seating, maintain a clearance of not

less than .02" between the barrel and either side of fore-end. A lift of3 to 5 lbs. is required to raise barrel from seating. The barrel must

otherwise be free from influence of the fore-end. If lift is less than 3 lbs.,lower reinforce bearing (c) and shorten trigger-guard screw collar if

necessary. If lift is more than 5 lbs., lower receiver bearing (b) and shorten trigger-guard screw collar.

The center-bearing method, favored by Bisley marksmen, is easier to achieve. It requires a bearing at (e) between center and rear

lightening cuts in fore-end, approximately 5" forward of receiver. Build up fore-end at this point with either l½" metal shim or woodinsert glued in position. Plastic wood may be used. From this bearing forward, maintain a clearance of about .1" between barrel and

fore-end.

Also necessary for accurate shooting is a clean, definite pull-off, devoid of creep or drag. It should not be heavier than 5½ lbs. nor

lighter than 5 lbs. If less than 5 lbs. it is liable to release completely on the first pressure. Fig. 2 shows the relative positions of trigger

(a), sear (b), and bent (c) on the first and second pressures. To reduce pull-off weight, increase, with an oilstone, the angle made withthe vertical by the face of the bent. Reduce the angle to increase pull-off weight. If the sear is drawn off the bent by the first pressure,

reduce the height of the lower nib (d) with oilstone or emery cloth until sear assumes correct position as shown at (c). Take care to

maintain its shape. If the first pressure is too short, reduce the height of the upper nib (e).

T

Fig. 1: Stock of No. 4 Rifle, showing points at which it is bedded.

Fig. 2: Positions of trigger (a), sear (b), and bent (c).

Fig. 3: Loosened band screw can cause front handguard (arrow) to

work forward and foul front sight protector.



24

Match quality rear sight

A match-quality micrometer aperture rear sight giving at least ½-minute click adjustments for elevation and windage, and an

undercut blade front sight of about .06" to .08" width — the wider blade for older eyes — are necessary for target shooting. British-made

target rear sights are graduated in S.R.(b), or Service Rifle Class B, minutes of angle which are not true minutes. An S.R.(b) minutegives a movement on the target of 1.2" per 100 yds. of range whereas a true minute gives a movement of 1.047". The difference is

small, but is significant at long ranges. For instance, a 10-minute allowance at 1000 yds. for a crosswind blowing at about 8 miles per

hour, would move the M.P.I, (mean point of impact) about 8¾ ft.; a rear sight graduated in S.R.(b) minutes would move the M.P.I. 10

ft.

The following are a few suggestions which should help maintain accuracy:1. Test screws regularly for tightness, especially the front trigger guard screw which provides the main anchorage of receiver to

barrel.

2. Keep upper and lower band screws tight. If these become loose as shown in Fig. 3, the front handguard (arrow) may gradually

work forward and foul the front sight protector. This easily overlooked condition will cause displacement of zero. Groups will spread

but will follow no definite pattern.

3. A loose buttstock may cause the shots to spread laterally.4. A loose cocking piece will cause an irregular pull-off.

5. The effect of firing with wet cartridges or with a wet chamber is considerable, and is much the same as firing with oiled

cartridges. When a wet cartridge is fired, the expanding case does not grip the inner walls of the chamber and the backward thrust on

the bolt head is increased. This excessive pressure on the receiver upsets barrel vibrations to the extent that the angle of jump

increases about 3 to 5 minutes and possibly more. This is due to the rear-locking Lee-Enfield action. ■

BSA-Enfield Rifle I have been corresponding with a hunter who wants

to sell his BSA-Enfield sporting rifle. He claims that thisrifle is chambered for the 7.9 mm Mauser cartridge, but I have never heard of an Enfield in this caliber. Do youthink he is correct?

Answer: The hunter is correct. The BSA firm in

England produced Enfield sporting rifles in Cal. 7.9 mmMauser between the World Wars. These were made byusing modified Pattern 14 Enfield (not Lee-Enfield) military rifle actions and stocks, and fitting them with new barrels. The 24.5" barrels were

equipped with sporting-type, open sights.The reason for chambering this rifle to fire the 7.9 mm (8x57) Mauser cartridge was that this round was universally popular and obtainable in

most parts of the world. Some British hunters were particularly fond of this cartridge, and used it extensively in Africa on medium-sized game. Asecond reason for the 7.9 mm Mauser chambering was that use of the .303 British cartridges in India for sporting purposes was prohibited.

Another chambering for this rifle was 9.5 mm (9.5x57) Mannlicher-Schoenauer. This round, also known by the British as the .375 Rimless Nitro-Express, was popular in Africa for big game hunting.

BSA sporting rifles with Pattern 14 actions were also offered in two high-performance proprietary calibers: .26 Belted Rimless Nitro-Express(BSA), and .33 Belted Rimless Nitro-Express (BSA). Rifles chambered for these proprietary cartridges features a new sporting stock and an aperture

sight on the receiver bridge. A folding-leaf type open rear sight on the barrel was also provided. — L.O.

Lee-Enfield .22 Rifle I have a British Lee-Enfield rifle adapted to the .22 Long Rifle cartridge. This rifle has the .303 magazine, but with the follower and spring

missing. The left side of the magazine is marked ".22", and one of the markings on the receiver is "IV*". Is this rifle a single-shot or a repeater? Is ita service model? Please identify it.

Answer: You have the British No. 2, Mk IV* rifle (earlier designation .22-in. R.F. Short Rifle Mark IV) which was used by the British Service

for recruit training and low-cost target practice. It was a conversion from the cal. .303-in. SMLE (Short Magazine Lee-Enfield) Mk III and Mk III*rifles, the conversion consisting of rebarreling to .22, fitting a bolt head with an offset striker, replacing the firing pin with a shorter one, andremoving the spring and follower from the .303 magazine. The magazine box is a receptacle for fired cartridge cases, which fall into it from the face

of the bolt head as the bolt is moved rearward. No ejector is provided. The rifle is a single-shot and cannot be readily changed to a repeater because

of the bolt head design and lack of an ejector.According to the excellent book, The Lee-Enfield Rifle, by British Major E.G.B. Reynolds, this rifle was adopted by the British Service in 1921

and was used for many years. In 1950, the British Service adopted the Cal. .22, Rifle No. 8, Mk I, for training purposes, and during the past severalyears, many No. 2, Mk IV* rifles were sold at low cost in the U.S.

While the No. 2, Mk IV* is not a valuable collector's item, it is interesting and suitable for informal target shooting. — L.O.

Lee-Enfield Stocks My British .303 Lee-Enfield rifle has a buttstock which is too short for me. Is a longer stock for this rifle available, or would you suggest that I fit

a thick recoil pad to obtain the proper length?Answer: Buttstocks for Lee-Enfield rifles were made in four lengths, and evidently you have one of the shorter ones. Length of pull (distance

from the center of the buttplate to the center of the trigger) is about 13.25" with the standard-length Lee-Enfield buttstock. Buttstocks ½" shorter and

½" longer than standard are available. These are marked "S" and "L" respectively, on top of the buttstock just forward of the buttplate. There is also aBantam-length Lee-Enfield buttstock for soldiers of extremely small stature. Bantam length buttstocks are marked "B", and are one full inch shorterthan standard. Lee-Enfield buttstocks of varying lengths may be available from surplus arms dealers who sell spare parts. You could also fit a thickrecoil pad, as you mention, or purchase a sporting buttstock from Reinhart Fajen or E.C. Bishop & Sons, both located in Warsaw, Mo.

The service buttstock can be easily removed by using a long screwdriver to turn out the stock bolt. The stockbolt is accessible after opening the

trap in the buttplate and removing the fiber wad on top of the stock bolt. The stock bolt of the Lee-Enfield No. 1 rifle is square at the front andengages a keeper plate in the fore-end. It is therefore necessary to remove the fore-end before the stock bolt can be turned. This is not necessary withthe No. 4 rifle.

If a recoil pad is fitted, use screws instead of adhesive to fasten the pad to the stock so that the pad can be removed if tightening the stock bolt

should become necessary. — L.O.

BSA-Enfield rifle in cal. 7.9 mm Mauser. Illustration from a 1935 Parker-Hale catalog.



25

A Target Rifle For The British Army

L39A1 satisfies both the ammunition and accuracy requirement


ince target shooting became an approved sport in the British Army in 1969, there has been a considerable Service interest in

competitive shooting.

The British Service arm, the 7.62 mm. Self-loading Rifle, being unsuitable for serious competitive shooting under British NationalRifle Association rules, there arose a requirement in the armed forces for an accurate target rifle firing 7.62 mm. NATO ammunition.

This requirement has now been satisfied by the introduction of the L39A1, which is a conversion from the .303" No. 4 Rifle, Marks ½

and 2, to 7.62 mm. These forms of the No. 4 were chosen for conversion because they have the trigger mounted on the body (receiver)

and not on the trigger-guard, as in earlier Marks of this rifle. Due largely to woodwork influence, the trigger-guard mounting does not

ensure a consistent pull-off.

The conversion consists of fitting a heavy 7.62 mm. barrel manufactured by the Enfield Royal Small Arms Factory, modifying th e body and extractor to accommodate the 7.62 mm. cartridge, and restyling the woodwork. Fitted with commercial pattern match sights

to suit target shooting requirements, this new member of the Enfield family of rifles is capable of a high standard of accuracy and can

hold its own against the much more expensive purpose-built target rifles now in use in British target shooting. Already a pool of 200

rifles is available for issue free on loan to units from Ordnance store.

The barrel, which protrudes from the stock fore-end for 15 inches, is not machined in the conventional way, the rifling being

formed by cold swaging over a suitable former. The bore is not lapped after manufacture, but the appearance is identical to a

machined barrel.The fore-end is the No. 4 Rifle fore-end shortened to within about half an inch of the lower band. The butt is the same as that of

the No. 4 Rifle, except that a recess is machined under the knuckle to hold spare foresight elements in a suitable container. The

handguard is a modified form of that on the No. 8 .22 Rifle.

Magazines which function with the 7.62 mm. cartridge are available, but as only single loading is permitted under British National

Rifle Association rules, the original .303 magazines are retained in these target rifles and permit only single round loading.The principal requirements in stocking up are that the fore-end should seat firmly in the following places:

1. On the body (receiver) at its rear end, between the sear lugs and the face of the butt socket.

2. On the body at its front end around the front trigger-guard screw. The seating should extend uniformly rearward on each side

of the magazine opening.

3. The full length of the barrel reinforce. The bearing should be central, and the sides of the fore-end clear of the barrel. Aminimum clearance of 0.045 inch should be maintained around the barrel at the front end of the fore-end and handguard.

From the reinforce forward, the barrel should be clear of the woodwork.

There are four sizes of bolt-heads available, marked 0, 1, 2, and 3 (the longest), for ensuring correct headspace.

Specifications, L39A1 Rifle

Caliber ......................................... 7.62 mm. NATOLength (with normal butt) ........... 46.5 inches

Weight ......................................... 9.75 lbs.

Length of barrel. .......................... 27.5 inches

Number of rifling grooves ........... 4

Depth of grooves ......................... 0.004 inch

Width of grooves ......................... 0.170-0.175 inchTwist of rifling ............................ Right hand, one turn in 12 inches

The new L39A1 thus fills in a simplified way the same role as the new Enfield Envoy (see "BNRA Picks New Enfield For Palma",

The American Rifleman, Apr., 1970, p. 8). The Envoy, also produced by the Enfield Royal Small Arms Factory, differs in being fitted

with a 7.62 mm. magazine for full 7.62 mm. operation, a special buttstock dimensioned according to current preferences for match

shooting, and match sights already installed. The Envoy was used by the three teams (British, Canadian, and U. S.) in last year's

Palma Match, fired at Bisley with excellent scores. ■

7.62 mm. L39A1 rifle adopted for target shooting by the British Army.

L39A1 rifle is converted from .303 No. 4 Mks. ½ and 2, by rebarreling for 7.62 mm. NATO, shortening fore-end and handguard, and installing commercial match-typesights.

S



26

.303 BRITISH

The .303 British cartridge was adopted by Great Britain in 1888. In the countries of the former British Empire, the .303 British

cartridge achieved popularity comparable to that of the .30-06 in the United States. Originally loaded with a compressed blackpowdercharge and a 215-grain jacketed round-nose bullet, the cartridge was converted in 1892 to a smokeless load using the famous British

cordite propellant. The round-nose 215-grain bullet was replaced by a 174-grain pointed bullet in the general-purpose military roundabout 1914, and this load continued in use until the cartridge became obsolete with the adoption of the 7.62mm NATO cartridge by

British forces in the 1960's. A great variety of special-purpose military loads was also used, including one containing a pointed

boattail bullet and single-base smokeless powder similar to the Du Pont I MR types. This cartridge, called the Mark VIIIZ, was

intended especially for machine guns, in which the boattail bullet provided improved long-range effectiveness, and the single-base

powder produced less erosion than did the British cordite in the machinegun barrels.

The working chamber pressure of the .303 British cartridge is about 45,000 c.u.p., in equivalent U.S. units, and it therefore

produces more energy than the contemporary .30-40 Krag which is limited to about 40,000 c.u.p. Jacketed bullets for the .303 British

should be of .311 to .312 of an inch in diameter.

The maximum product average chamber pressure for the .303 British cartridge, as loaded for sporting use by U.S. manufacturers,should not exceed 48,200 c.u.p.

Max. Case Length: 2.222" Trim-To Length: 2.212" Max. Overall Length: 3.075" Primer Size: Large Rifle Bullet Dia.: 311"

RIFLE LOADS FOR THE .303 BRITISH

LOAD

NUMBER

BULLET POWDER VELOCITY

FPS

PRESSURE

CUP

CASE

BRAND

PRIMER CARTRIDGE

OAL

BARREL

LENGTH

SOURCE

WEIGHT BRAND SHAPE TYPE WEIGHT BRAND TYPE BRAND TYPE

1 100 SPR RNN SP 44.0 IMR 3031 2933 CIL CCI 200 25 SPR

2 150 SPR PTD SP 31.0 HER RE7 2400 41,200 WIN WIN WLR 2.935 24 HER

3 150 HDY SPP SP 44.0 IMR 3031 2787 44,900 REM WIN WLR 2.840 26 NRA

4 150 HDY SPP SP 41.8 HOD BLC2 2600 REM FED 210 3.035 25½ HDY

5 150 45.5 ACC 2230 2620 REM CCI 200 24 ACC

6 150 SRA PTD SP 48.5 IMR 4320 2808 43,830 REM WIN WLR 2.945 26 NRA

7 150 HDY SPP SP 45.6 HOD H380 2600 REM FED 210 3.035 25½ HDY

8 150 SPR PTD SP 45.0 HER RE12 2700 42,900 WIN WIN WLR 2.935 24 HER

9 150 HDY SPP SP 50.0 WIN 760 2600 REM FED 210 3.035 25½ HDY

10 150 SPR PTD SP 50.0 IMR 4350 2584 CIL CCI 200 25 SPR

11 174 HDY RNN SP 43.1 HOD H380 2400 REM FED 210 2.975 25½ HDY

12 174 HDY RNN SP 47.2 WIN 760 2400 REM FED 210 2.975 25½ HDY

13 174 HDY RNN SP 46.5 IMR 4350 2400 REM FED 210 2.975 25½ HDY

14 180 SPR RNN SP 30.0 HER RE7 2050 39,600 WIN WIN WLR 2.940 24 HER

15 180 SRA PTD SH 42.0 IMR 3031 2533 44,220 REM WIN WLR 3.075 26 NRA

16 180 40.0 ACC 2230 2300 REM CCI 200 24 ACC

17 180 SPR RNN SP 40.0 HER RE12 2340 42,600 WIN WIN WLR 2.940 24 HER

18 180 SPR RNN SP 47.0 IMR 4831 2421 CIL CCI 200 25 SPR

19 180 46.0 ACC 3100 2350 REM CCI 200 24 ACC

Abbreviations: ACC - Accurate Arms Co.; CIL - Canadian Industries, Ltd.; HDY - Hornady Manufacturing Co.; HER - Hercules Inc.;

HOD - Hodgdon Powder Co.; IMR - IMR Powder Co.; PTD - Pointed; RNN - Round nose; SP - Soft point; SPP - Spire Point; SPR -

Speer; SRA - Sierra Bullets

Documents

British Enfield Rifles - NRA - 2004