British .303 question...

Even if it wasn't cleaned right, the bore may not be "ruined". Just make sure to clean it good from here on out. I am sure it will still shoot safely, just not minute of angle stuff.
 
Hello
I want to thank every one of you who responded to this thread.
You guys are terrific.
Why did I spend the first 18 years of my life trying NOT to be like my Dad, and then I have spent the last 18 years trying to be EXACTLY like him? That is a completely different thread. I love the man with all my heart.
Here is what I got off the gun today (from the pics, it is a #4 Enfield):
On the barrel its says: NP 303 2-22 18.5 tons
WLM 260
F51 (towards end of barrel)
Sight says :FCR318
Under the safety: 1942 MO120 (there is an "8" over the 1942)
Imprinted on wooden stock it says: OR13 9 53/M0120
The magazine reads: M0120
In what looks to be white shoe polish on the stock, it says: F.T.R.
On one of the bullets, it reads K51/7
Thanks again to all you guys.
The only way I'll let it go is for a mint CS45.
I'll try to post pics tomorrow.
 
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Plunky-

The FTR is significant. It means that the rifle was at some point returned to depot for a Factory Thorough Repair.

Now, lift the bolt handle and read what's there. That's what I need. It should tell the mark and the maker. There may be a crown and letters telling who was on the throne then, like G.R. for George Rex (King George VI, father of the present Monarch, Queen Elizabeth II.) Maybe George Regina. I forget which. Probably the latter, as the current Royal Cipher is E II R for Elizabeth Regina.

T-Star
 
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Check your PM's. I answered you, and gave a link to Gunboards, which is where you need to be for this sort of info. The Lee-Enfield forum there.

Best,

T-Star
 
Let's start with the easiest part first, the cartridge headstamp.
K = Kynoch (Ammunition Factory Located in Birmingham, England)
51 = Year of Manufacture
7 = Mark 7 (ie, the Brits had "Marks" of their cartridges too!)

The Mk 7 round uses cordite as its fuel, a 174 grain Spire Point flat bottomed bullet, and unless I had positive proof to the contrary, I would assume a corrosive primer, even as late as 1951.

"On the barrel its says: NP 303 2-22 18.5 tons"
NP means it was proofed with "nitro" (ie, smokeless) powder
The rest of that line is a description of the .303 cartridge
.303 = nominal diameter in inches
2.22 (also seen: 2.222) length of the case in inches
18.5 tons = proof pressure

"8 over 1942" sure sounds like the month / year of manufacture.

I believe the "MO120" (on the butt socket and repeated on the magazine and stock) is the serial number, but it seems too short to be a s/n. I'll have to dig through the books...
 
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All the original markings on a #4 should appear on the left side of the receiver,either on the socket or the receiver flat. Only the very early & few #4 trials rifles from the 1930's will have the Royal Cypher(crown) marking IIRC.

The ammo I think is Kynoch (K) mfg in 1951. The '7' is for MkVII loading which is the standard bullet weight (174gr) for the 303 cartridge from just before WW1. The earliest SMLEs made were targeted for the heavier MkVI round and most all had their sights recalibrated for the MkVII round while still in service.

NP 303 2-22 18.5 tons is a post WW2 commercial English proof.
Nitro Proof, caliber 303, cartridge length 2.22", chamber proof pressure 18.5 tons (often followed by a 'per sq. in.' symbol).
Commercial proofing was needed to allow the gun to be sold on the civilian market.

I'd hazzard a guess at a 1942 mfg with an FTR of 9/53,,though I can't make out any original mfg code of the rifle from the info given.
I'm better with the No1 rifles....

You gotta get a sling for it now.
 
And THAT boys and girls, is but another example of what makes this place great!
(I knew the pix of Ms. Rigg would inspire Jack!)
 
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I can't believe Willy hasn't chimmed in on this thread yet.
If anyone knows about shooting the Enfields it's Willy.
He impressed me by shooting a gallon paint can at 25 yards with the Enfield.
His first shot took the can off the post and flung it up the hill behind the post it was sitting on.
That didn't impress me.
What impressed me was that he proceded to hit the bouncing can 9 more times without letting it come to rest!
The stories about the speed of the Enfield are very believable after seeing one run by someone who knows how.
 
I'm nowhere near that level with one Jeb!
But I figure for someone to be able to get that good with one, the weapon had to be designed well enough to allow it to happen! Fine rifles!
 
Here's an Enfield 'Mad Minute' fireing sequence. Shooter has a bit of a tough time getting going but once he does, he cranks out rounds quickly.
Object is to put as many aimed shots on the target as possible in one minute.
There're other videos around the web of shooters fireing faster in some cases, but they're just dumping them down range most of the time,,not trying to hit a target.
IIRC the scoring in a match for this # of rounds fired against # of hits scored, all inside of a minute.

Bolt handle is operated with the thumb and index finger assisted with the palm of the hand on the opening lift and never released from your grasp. The trigger is pulled with the middle finger as the bolt is closed.

I can get a few rounds off OK but then usually stumble a bit (OK, alot!).. and then my real downfall is reloading with the chargers. Didn't know I had so many thumbs. It's fun anyway! Those rifles sure run smooooth.

YouTube - LERA - Mad Minute - SMLE 100 Year Anniversary
 
Jack Flash said:
I remember as a teenager being "inspired" every week by that lovely lady on the Avengers. (That's the family friendly way of saying it!)
Click to expand...



She's older now, and sometimes hosts a BBC show, like the mystery mini-series that PBS used to present. She has the female equivalent of a knighthood, so is now known as Dame Diana.

I liked her on the Avengers, too, which also also starred Honor Blackman before she was ***** Galore in a Bond movie, "Goldfinger." But she never "inspired" me as much as Dame Diana did. Honor was too brassy, sort of butch.

The most recent actress in that self-sufficient vein who's "inspired" me is Australian Rachel Blakely, who has had some adventurous roles, not limited to playing the dangerous Marguerite Krux on, "The Lost World."

T-Star
 
Spotteddog said:
I'll have to check into who she is (Rachel Blakely)?
This is another one who caught a bit of the Rigg's essence. From a short lived cable show 10 years ago. She's since gone bottled blonde?

Andrea Parker POSTER 20X29 A1222 - eBay (item 320440974571 end time Nov-02-09 16:10:53 PST)
(hit enlarge picture)

And Jack, she's most of the reason I wear glasses!
Click to expand...


Heck, Andrea Parker looks a lot like Rachel Blakely! Rachel has an earthiness that most lack. Like Brazilian supermodel Ana Beatriz Barros, she does things with her eyes that ought to be R-rated!

In a series made in Australia called, "Tales of the South Seas", she used those eyes on co-star Will Snow (they were later together in The Lost World) in a way that practically screamed, "TAKE ME, NOW!" She was playing a girl imprisoned by the French in Tahiti for a murder that she didn't commit, and wanted Will's character to help her escape on his ship, the Rattler. Yeah, he saved her...That couple has enormous onscreen chemistry. Many think that they're married. But they're just good friends. Will is married, and Rachel lives with the guy (Sean Rigby) who was the special effects chief on the two series mentioned. They have two kids.

I'll start a Rachel topic. Will include videos of her co-stars on the Lost World, too. They were also hotties. The American one has her own site, which I'll link in the new topic.

T-Star
 
Thanks to everyone for posting those SMLE shooting sequences!
Even 65 years later, I wouldn't want to be on the receiving end of one?
She stays in my top 3 choices for a SHTF gun!
 
Thank you, thank you, thank you...
You guys are a righteous bunch.
The barrel looks to be a bit rusted.
Should I get some Hoppe's #9 Solvent on it or what do you think?
I should never have shot it in 1992.
Also, the sight is missing (the part that has the two circles on it at the front of the barrel? YOu can see it in the rapid fire videos).
Do you think I can get a repalcement for it?
 
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