Range report, The old girl can shoot

[Terry G]

I gave an abbreviated report on my SMLE No.4 purchase and finally got around to doing a shoot and have some remarks to share if your interested. As I stated before, I was surprised at how good the bore looked on a rifle that had definitely been around. One thing I did not mention was my bore cleaning method. Most C&R guns come covered in cosmoline. I mean everywhere. (A notable exception are the Mosin-Nagants, a heavy machine oil, no cosmoline) ANyway, the bores are often coated with dried cosmoline that will take patches by the yard and brushes galore to clean. I was pushing probably my dozenth patch through the .303 bore when I remembered "Boiling Out". An old method of cleaning corrosive powder residue out of rifle barrels. You simply take a funnel, insert it in the breech (chamber) end of a firearm and pour about a quart of boiling water down it. Corrosive salts are gone and it does the job on dried up cosmoline. My No. 4 gushed up a brown stream for about a pint then it was clear water. An inspection of the bore showed all dark spots gone, and clean sharp rifling in it's place. I dried the bore and oiled it. After my vacation I cleaned the bore again and then went to my range and fired off fifty rounds of .303 FMJ. I had bought the ammunition at a gun show previously and I'm not sure who made it. It came in a bandolier of fifty rounds on five round clips. The case head was marked HXP 73. I wish I had bought a thousand rounds of it. As you can see, after I got use to the trigger and sights, the 64 year old "POS" could still put them there. Admittedley, it was only 100 yards, but still. I had two failures to feed, from the rimmed last cartridge getting behind the rim ahead of it. Something to watch for when using the regulation clips. Good gun, I'm happy with it.

[krept]

wow that's actually really good with the irons.

[gripper]

Gotta love those old Brits....Tery,you ever get to use the L39 Match rifle,or the l42 series???Years ago Navy Arms had some...I wish to God I had grabbed few when I could have.

[Terry G]

Gotta love those old Brits....Tery,you ever get to use the L39 Match rifle,or the l42 series???Years ago Navy Arms had some...I wish to God I had grabbed few when I could have.No, I haven't Gripper. My experience with the SMLE's is with the two MKIII's I bought and the No.4. Truth be told, I like the old MKIII's the best. Something about that look.... I like the Webley's, too. Again, something about it.

[neolithic hunter]

now you know why it took the brits so long to replace the old girls. i have yet to see a decent mkIII or mk IV that wouldn't do it's job rather handley. good shoot for an old warhorse of a gun. :cool:

[Coyote]

Glad you got a shooter Terry. They are my favorite deer rifles...

[RIKA]

Great shooting with a fine rifle. Don't you just wish the old girl could talk?

RIKA

[gripper]

Much as I like them,I still think its nuts that the Brits initially made the No.4 MK1's with the trigger pinned to the STOCK....they didn't rectify that glitch until the MK2's came out. Better barrel and sights;but trench conditions had to have had an effect;binding triggers when the wood warped.

[Garand]

Thats some good shooting for the old girl. No doubt you'd hit the "bobbin & weavin" crowd at 100 yds!! :):):)

[copycat]

I to use the boiling water down the bore method does a good job on initial clean up. Don't you just love the way an enfield bolt cycles ( My son likes my no. 4 better than any of my other rifles). If you really want that bore to shine try an electronic bore cleaner, thought my rifles where clean untill I hooked them to one. Looks like you got a good shooter. Does it have the flip up 300/600 rear sight?

[brass hammer]

great thread ! i've notrhing [a little 'commie-speak'] to add/state!,,, except

,,that two-piece bolt-face,,,was always pretty 'cheesy' as compared
to AMERICAN .30 CALIBERS! :nyah:

[Gunners762]

I purchased an Enfield No.4 Mk. I South African and I just love it. I was never a big Enfield guy until I bought my U.S. Property Marked savage. Then I had to have another one. I plan on buying the No.III as soon as I find one that meets my standards. I did not like it at first because of the cocking on close.Then you get used to it after a few rounds. I was used to my 19o3 Rock Island & Remington o3A3.. Krag 30-40 wich are smooth as butter. The enfield action has a different feel .The two that I have shoot great. For years I listened to all the old timers tell me they were underpowered junk. When I bought my US Marked Savage, i bought it becuase it was ( US MARKED) and never planned on shooting it. When I did take it out I enjoyed shooting and bought my second rifle (South African) wich Ill never part with. But I look forward to o any future Enfield rifles purchases . Someday I might be on this forum asking for advice. Happy Shooting gents and or ? ladies ?......