I've had SMLE's and MLE/MLMs for years.
Reloading for any of them is no different than any other bolt rifle, even if they have some excessive headspace.
The first firing fireforms the case, then just neck size after that. No need to F/L size for each loading unless you like to do that for some reason.
...Or you are loading for several different rifles and don't segregate the rounds.
Stripped clips I have good luck with. I use the ones that my stash of Greek HXP 303 came on. They work fine. I'm not picky about how I stack them and they seem to load OK. Others seem to have problems with their clips and rifles. There are a few different changes done to the clips themselves over the years of production. Some people say the polish the inside of the rails of the clips,ect. I guess if they didn't work, I just wouldn't use 'em. It's not that big of a deal to me.
I'm down to one nice original Mk1* SMLE Commercial BSA,,This is the sliding charger head circa 1904 rifle,,not the version of the #4 rifle of WW2.
Also a Charger Loading Lee Enfield (CLLE),,another BSA commercially marked rifle. Sometimes called a Territorial Rifle.
Has the 1907 and forward solid charger bridge of the SMLE on an earlier Magazine,Lee Enfield Rifle. Metford style safety (half cock striker safe only)
A very accurate rifle. Both this and the above have the volley sites & cut-off.
Three decent Lee-Speed sporters along with a couple restoration project Mk1* SMLEs like the first one above about do it now.
One L/E I regret having to sell was a Lee Metford, original condition w/early straight line feed 8rd magazine.
But sometimes you just need the $$ for other things.
There were lots of others. Never was in to the #4 rifles for what ever reason, though I did have a #4 sniper outfit.
The #1 rifles were still fairly cheap in the 90's yet.I can still remember buying them from AIM and others for under $50.
Not anymore,,they have really gone up in price and dried up at the shows.
Even the Ishapor marked rifles are feeling love now, when a few years ago they went overlooked as the bottom of the barrel so to speak of the SMLEs. Some of the pre-Independance built rifles are very nice quality.
Their decision to use that heavy reinforcement wood screw through the side of the forend of new mfg'r and any FTR rifles didn't make for many 'Ishy' fans though.
Reloading for any of them is no different than any other bolt rifle, even if they have some excessive headspace.
The first firing fireforms the case, then just neck size after that. No need to F/L size for each loading unless you like to do that for some reason.
...Or you are loading for several different rifles and don't segregate the rounds.
Stripped clips I have good luck with. I use the ones that my stash of Greek HXP 303 came on. They work fine. I'm not picky about how I stack them and they seem to load OK. Others seem to have problems with their clips and rifles. There are a few different changes done to the clips themselves over the years of production. Some people say the polish the inside of the rails of the clips,ect. I guess if they didn't work, I just wouldn't use 'em. It's not that big of a deal to me.
I'm down to one nice original Mk1* SMLE Commercial BSA,,This is the sliding charger head circa 1904 rifle,,not the version of the #4 rifle of WW2.
Also a Charger Loading Lee Enfield (CLLE),,another BSA commercially marked rifle. Sometimes called a Territorial Rifle.
Has the 1907 and forward solid charger bridge of the SMLE on an earlier Magazine,Lee Enfield Rifle. Metford style safety (half cock striker safe only)
A very accurate rifle. Both this and the above have the volley sites & cut-off.
Three decent Lee-Speed sporters along with a couple restoration project Mk1* SMLEs like the first one above about do it now.
One L/E I regret having to sell was a Lee Metford, original condition w/early straight line feed 8rd magazine.
But sometimes you just need the $$ for other things.
There were lots of others. Never was in to the #4 rifles for what ever reason, though I did have a #4 sniper outfit.
The #1 rifles were still fairly cheap in the 90's yet.I can still remember buying them from AIM and others for under $50.
Not anymore,,they have really gone up in price and dried up at the shows.
Even the Ishapor marked rifles are feeling love now, when a few years ago they went overlooked as the bottom of the barrel so to speak of the SMLEs. Some of the pre-Independance built rifles are very nice quality.
Their decision to use that heavy reinforcement wood screw through the side of the forend of new mfg'r and any FTR rifles didn't make for many 'Ishy' fans though.
