Hi, Guys:
I'm not a first class Lee-Enfield collector, but I know some. I asked one old boy about that overstamp on mine. It was like asking an old peacher about the Lord's Prayer. More about it later.
Some quotes from "The Lee-Enfield Rifle" by Major E.G.B.
Reynolds follow. "On 12th February, 1942, the No. 4 Rifle, Mark I (T) was introduced as the new sniping equipment for the British Service, the rifle being fitted with the new No. 32 Mark I telescope sight." "The rifle, with telescope fitted, was then submitted to its accuracy test, which was to place seven out of seven shots into a 5-in. circle at a range of 200 yards. When possible, rifles were also tested at 400 yards, when six out of seven had to go into a 10-in. circle. Every rifle was also correctly zeroed with both telescope and Mark I backsight, with which they were fitted for use in case of emergency." "From 22nd September, 1942, the work of conversion was carried out by Messers. Holland & Holland, the well-known London gunsmiths." "To facilitate indentification, and to avoid incorrect assembly, each rifle was marked with the number of its telescope; this being stamped on the flat portion of the butt behind the cocking- piece. Eventually wooden cheek-pieces were fitted to the butts as further aids to the sniper."
Looks like you've got a winner. It's too bad the scope's missing. I'd bet a box of Marshall's bullets that it's worth more than the rifle.
Get a neck-sizing die, a box of Sierra 180 gr. # 2310 bullets and work up to 43 grains of 4320. Even money it shoots to the sights. Those accuracy test were done with wartime production ammo. Sierras shot in the best of the best should cut groups to under a minute of angle, particulary if the legendary Major Fulton worked it over.
Watch for a drastic change in elevation when you're working up loads. The action isn't rigid and some powders will move the group 6" at 100 yds with a 2 grain change and others won't. It all depends on your rifle as to what it likes. If you can't get Sierras to group, try some 165 gr. Nosler Partitions. Yes, they're .308 and no, I'm not kidding.
As for factory loads, I've had good luck with 150 gr. Federals.
Headspace was adjusted by fitting different sized bolt heads. Your #1 is the second shortest. My #3 is .641" long, bolt face to shoulder. The Lee-Enfield's chambers are grossly oversized so you could stuff in dirty ammo on the battlefield. Everybody gets a longer bolt head to tighten headspace and #3 heads are scarcer than hen teeth.
The half-cock position locks the bolt, the trigger AND the left side safety. If you take the safety off for cleaning, be certain you've got the inside piece correctly threaded back onto the lever. It's mite tricky.
Got to go now. I'll fill in the blanks later.
Bye
Jack
(Edited by Jack Monteith at 11:53 am on Mar. 11, 2001)
