This is why I love to watch You Tube. People like Riflechair take the time and energy to make these highly informative videos. Great job man. Kingston, Canada.
Great video!! As I'm a proud new owner of a 1942 Maltby Lee Enfield No 4 Mk 1 that I just bought from auction here in Ontario. The wood has been sporterized, much to my dismay. However it did come with the front and rear handguards and the bands, oil bottle and pull through, Mk 2 300/600 sight on the gun and it came with a Fazakerley Mk 1 sight as well and the barrel is original and has not been cut. I hope to find a full forend and return her to its beautiful WW2 form. Also from that auction I bought a 1947 Marlin A1C .22LR that shoots like a dream!!! Thanks for all the great info!!
I own a sporterized SMLE and it the stock has been painted black and the top wood is removed. It's unfortunate, but it's my hunting beater rifle, i love it and has never failed me in the field, but I know it's worth nothing and that's what I got it for. Nothing. Someone gave it to me because it was basically junked.
excellent - my Husband has a 1955 build No4 Mark 2 , and my son has a No1-111 Lithgow 1944 build rifle , they both swear by them as accurate and hard hitting
I just bought my first Lee Enfield. No.5 MK I "Jungle Rifle". My WWII collection so far includes the M1 Garand, K98 Mauser, M99 Mosin Nagant, Type 99 Arisaka, and the M1 Carbine. I love my M1 Garand the most more for personal reasons than functional reasons. I think each of these rifles have characteristics that make them great. Which is why they were prominently carried by their respective countries during the war. I am just learning the Enfield. And I really love it so far! Currently looking for a No. 4 MK I for the collection. While I like my collectible rifles to be historically accurate, I see no purpose in owning a rifle you cannot shoot. So all of my rifles, while lovingly cared for, are absolutely shooters! Thanks for the great video on the Enfield! Been sopping up all I can to learn about them lately!
Thank you, I enjoyed watching. In the 1970's, I was in the Air Training Corps in the UK, now the Royal Air Force Cadets, we trained on No.8's and went on to 303's , brought back memories.
good shooting very informative I live in Australia I have used various enfields since I was 12 years old now 58 still have the first one 1901 model progressed to no 4 an 5 the more you use one it becomes like your third appendage thank you
I picked up a nice commercial sporter N4 MK1/2 with vernier sights. Beautiful rifle to add to the few enfields I have. Similar to my dads old deer rifle, brings back memories. Thanks riflechair, still learning about enfields.
hello R/C it Hunter Hatt here. Im really enjoying your videos.I watched this one before and i realize how much i dont know about my rifles and shooting,but it is such a good learning experience for me. I love these enfields,and with your knowledge it is giving me that edge that i need to be a better shooter.Its nice to see another B.C.man sharing the knowledge.CHEERS
Hell of a group off the elbows mate on that first target ... very nice shooting - you also seem to have had a left to right cross wind at 19.44 to contend with so no shame there - Great vid!
Great video. I have seen some great Bubba's and yours is nice too. Your last 30 Seconds is spot on. USE YOUR MIDDLE FINGER FOLKS!!! I tested a buddies and he was clueless why I used my middle finger, you showed why perfectly. Purest love them 100% original, hunters wanna strip weight and enjoy the accuracy. As long as they aren't left never to be shot again, I say great rifles no matter. Learn how a push to charge bolt works with these masterpieces. Thanks for sharing yours.
Just kinda stumbled on your channel while I was Looking for a rear sight installation video for Lee-Enfield. I Just picked up a #4 Mk1 in full battle dress minus the rear sight and front barrel band. for 245.00 shipped to my door. I restore old battle rifles preserving the authenticity of each piece I manage to acquire. It's turned from an old retired guys hobby into a complete obsession. This is my first Enfield and I gleamed a lot from your video. I live in Alabama in a very rural area so I'll be using my rifle on wild hogs. I'd like to see more Enfield stuff if I may make a request. I've already ordered some books. If I remember right you all sent the Southern Government lots of Enfield Rifled Muskets during the struggle. I have one in my collection. This started out as a comment on how much I enjoyed this video and I'll just end it with that. You got yourself a new subscriber my friend. Have a fine day.
+Father Grey Thank you sir. Much appreciated... I've always wanted to hunt wild hog myself. We don't have them up here. We need more bacon - always more bacon...
Hi Chair and fellow subscribers. I discovered many tips to improve the shooters performance in a British military manual published in ‘42. I’m now really enjoying my Nk4Mk1 FTR Parker Hale Deluxe. Regards, Charles
Great vid thx. I do have a tip for you for the run and gun challenge. If you are reloading with two stripper clips, you do not have to remove the second one. It has a built in spring, just slam the bolt closed. I've never seen anyone do this, but it works...
R/C I really enjoyed your vid. As an avid shooter myself I would offer this critique of your prone position for better results. Your left hand needs to be up against the forward sling attachment not at the mag. You are not near as stable from that position. Shorten the sling so that you have to force the butt of the rifle into your shoulder. I thought you shot very well considering you appeared not to be very stable and missing your Rx glasses. You have such an easy, laid back way in your vid and you come across very positive. We all appreciate that. Thanks.
Max Hill - You are correct sir. You have a trained eye. Thanks for the heads up. Never noticed it until you brought this to my attention. 'Shoot to Kill' illustrates the left hand is at mid-forestock. My entire upper torso is situated too high. Well done and thanks for the constructive criticism.
Good stuff. This basic sight-in is something with which many shooters are unfamiliar in these optical/electronic days. The good old aperture sight is great for just about all normal hunting ranges, and is light, rugged and reliable. It works as well as it always has for over a century; I am often puzzled as to why more people do not use them. It used to be common to see a Lyman or PH sight on a hunting rifle......
my first hunting rifle was a sporterized Lee Enfield that my grandfather bought in 1967 at the Army and Navy store in New Westminister when they where still a surplus store. About 30 years ago I gave it to my youngest brother as his first hunting rifle (I am 9 years older) He still owns it and carries it occasionally
Thanks for taking the time to make this video, I have my fathers old Lee Enfield and it's the rifle i learned how to shoot on once I graduated from a .22 of course. Either way I enjoyed your video and found it very informative. I also wanted to say I appreciate your side notes and stories.. Cheers,
Just got back from the range. I tried you're method again with good results. I had found a fellow able to sell me a bag of eleven front sights of various sizes for $1.00 a piece. He was at the Calgary gun show last weekend. I started with what was on the rifle when I bought it, which was the +.030. A while back I had mentioned I was shooting high, so needed a taller sight. The only two in the bag taller were a +.075 and a +.120. I installed the +.075 and at 25 yards { our range is measured in yards } and a close estimate on windage, I shot dead centre of the little black rectangle. I then shot at 100 yards and was where I should be. Didn't get to try out at two hundred yards yet, but next time out I'll try some more and play around a bit if necessary with Mk.1 sight adjustment. Thanks again for very helpful video. P.S. spell checker thinks I spelled centre wrong.
Thanks for the detail. I got a neat story my farmer friend gave me a Enfield from 1944 mark iv . Anyway my dad , his dad were friends after Toms dad passed away Tom simply stored the gun . It has been hidden in a wall since 1974 and he thinks it's my dads gun or maybe the other older neighbor who also was in WWII. This thing took me quite awhile to clean but it sure is in nice shape. Thanks to dad I also got the training manual from the RCAF dated 1945, a 186 pages of glorious reading, it covers everything about this rifle. Thanks for the video
Great video! Thanks for the all the tips and tricks to help me get my No. 4 Mk. 1* running the way it should be! Have to admit there is some kind of charm to these rifles, I love mine sporting full military wood.
Both my Grandfather & Father were Armourers at the Royal Small Arms Factory in Enfield U.K. Somewhere, I have blue boxes of folded Armourer plans & notes for a whole series of Enfield Rifles (up to 1945)..including the Bren. They show the whole plans & breakdown of each rifle /fine measurements etc: When I was a child throughout the 50's/60's you could daily hear the guns being tested from the range at the back of Ordnance Road, Enfield. At times it sounded like a massive firefight was forever taking place less than a mile away. Sadly, the original Enfield Factory has been converted into housing projects.
Just picked myself up this week a No4 MK2 UF 55 I am one year older than this one! Learned to shoot back in the day in the CCF with one of these and have always loved them. When we changed to the FN SLR 7.62 I would always prefer my Enfield' Thank you for putting together this video! :-)
Great shooting, and great info. A very relaxing informative piece. I too can make 20 rounds of .303British last a good part of an afternoon lol. There's something about that walk down, that helps you get focused. With the spotting scope I seem to rush a little more maybe. The Garand sight is highly praised as the "best" sight put on a battle rifle. I'd say the Mk1 is hands down. The Worlds first Ghost ring sight for running or low light and the small aperture and narrow front a deadly combo.
I just traded the exact same rifle yesterday (year and all, but sporterized without top furniture) with a friend of mine on a Mossberg 183K-A .410 (beauty shape for a 55 +/- year old shot gun) but still have my 1927 LE Lithgow Ausie issue S,M,L,E MK III, very different sites, but still very accurate! I use it hunting and had Steve Holbourne (gun smith) tap the receiver for mounting a scope. some may say that was a "no no" but it suits me needs. VERY informative vid, will done! good shooting :)
GREAT JOB Riflechair. VERY informative, helpful. Problem is if a person gets an Enfield that had its furniture & metal drastically modified a person may as well fix it up to be 'pretty' from their own point of view. - still have a reliable and a solid old shooter.. I got mine *( three actually)* long ago for cheap but they were all sporterized. It's no longer a piece of history or a 'collectable. IF someone has all the wood that might fit mine there is still the problem of the modified/shortened muzzel & messed up front site. No bayonet mounts etc. So --it is what it is, a great white tail hunting rifle and range shooter.
Thanks very much for this video. My 1950 No4 MkII with a shorter front sight installed to get the point of aim correct is easily capable of putting hits into a 10 inch plate at 200 yards.
Thanks very much for this video. I have several Lee Enfields though I am still new to them. You have saved me fro either getting out my file, ormusing Kentucky windage for elevation. I have now subscribed and look forward to learning more about these fine rifles from you.
"Did I really miss? I never miss." great delivery. Really enjoyed this even though six years old. I'm going to see what else you have out there RC. Ever watch Bloke on the Range - quirky English/Swiss vs Canadian quirk.
25 yards is a good start for any rifle......plenty of ballistic calculators out there...zeroed my thermal today at 30 YDS......2" HIGH at 100 yds minor adj and its bang on ...
This was the video that got me to subscribe to your channel. Thanks very much for it. I have two sporters and four in their original configuration. Despite comments below to the contrary, the two sporters shoot as well as the tuned military ones. One of mine even has the barrel free floated and shoots under 1.5 inches at 100 yards with MK8Z ammo from PPU. It shoots under 2 inches with MK7 spec ammo from Remington. It's a ShtLE made in 1918. So much for full wood contact, eh? They can all be made to shoot well. My Parker Hale sporter is a Long Branch No4 Mk 1 and is probably my favorite. Not as accurate as the free floated one, but handier. It's funny. People who would brag about having a nice sporterized Mauser or '03 Springfield look down on an SMLE with the same treatment. I'm glad. Keeps the price cheap so I can buy more. Thanks for your channel. Keep 'em coming. Living in the desert, I get a kick out of watching you shoot in a safety helmet in the rain. My kind of guy.
With a scope & rested, every round (using consistent ammo) would be within the 2nd ring. My Elmer taught me: "To Test the rifle, Rest the rifle. Without a rest, you only test your chest." Thanks for the info.
Hi Rifle Chair, this is the second time i've watched this video, very interesting, I have a No4 MK2 made in fasakerly in 12-54, im also shooting on metric ranges in Germany, I zeroed my enfield at 100 meters I changed out my front sight many times untill i got it right and now have a 060 for sight fitted, my rear sight has a fine sight for windige fitted which was fitted to enfields at end of there production life....1955! for competion shooting, I reload my own ammunition with FMJ 174grain with 38.5 grains of N140 which gives me around 2460fps average +or - 40fps, just enjoy it.
In the UK I'm very unlikely to ever own a firearm. Weather or not that's a good thing is for another day. However as an avid historian and geek I have a keen interest in weapons, especially 20th century examples. This was an interesting clip and being British the Lee Enfield is a name that most folk will have heard of.
Hi Shane. All of these ft sights are interchangeable between the No4, No1 and P14 / M17 enfields. Same formula applies to all of the above although there may be variances with the M17 enfield.
Great video. You shoot the rifle almost like it's an extension of yourself - there definitely seems to be a high level of familiarity with this particular system and that makes the video really interesting to watch.
Thanks very much. The 200m grouping wasn't affected by wind although there were times when things got a bit breezy. I just can't see the target worth a dam without my glasses. I usually run a six inch 10-round grouping when I can remember where my glasses are....
You are very welcome Barry. I hope it gives you as many years of enjoyment as my enfields have given me. I really love these rifles from so many different angles now. The more I know the more I am impressed.
I find that sometimes the walk down to the target helps you to digest, reflect and consider what just happened. Sometimes making sight adjustments from a spotting scope hurry you into making changes. It always comes down to time and personal reflection. At least it does for me.
Sure, i'll take that challenge and shoot my Winchester 1914 in .303 against your Lee anytime. By the way, it's nice to see someone who knows how to shoot the mad minute correctly with the middle finger pulling the trigger.
you did not specify what the rear sight was set at when first firing at 25 yards. I assume it is at 2 for 200 yards. It would be great if you could provide a transcript of this with visual aids. That would be the start of a publishable article.
Comment on loading the Lee Enfield magazines: they are meant to be loaded with the 5 round charger clips. The 5 round charger clips are best arranged with an "over-under" method. There is plenty of documentation out there on this. Loading with each round in front of the other may work if done individually into the magazine but will not work with the charger clips. For Lee Enfield shooters, try shooting with your thumb and index finger continuously on the bolt and squeezing the trigger with your middle or ring finger and sights always on target (that's how you can achieve the incredible rate of fire the rifle is known for). Great video! Does anyone know where we can get a front site adjustment tool or what the proper name for it is? I can't find one, even on eBay.
You are talking as your arsehole guides you, stripper clips are not necessary in reloading the Enfield which I’ve been shooting for years now. Stripper clips were solely designed for military use for fast reloading when necessary.
If you can find one with a arsenal fitted heavy barrel (sniper rifles generally were fitted with them) and you bed the rifle properly the mark 111 and no"4 are very good 1000 yard guns.
Yes I would LOVE to get my hands on a Lithgow SMLE with the heavy target barrel. Some very old hands swore the No4 was OK out to 600 yards but past that it was time to bring out the tuned SMLE No1Mk3 rifles.
Love the Lee Enfield- I got a NO 4 Mk 2 and a NO 4 mk 1/2. Also got a No 4 mk? that was converted to a NO 5 ( I want to say by GIBBS Rifles). Bought them when Surplus 303 was cheep. Now...not so much.
Rifle chair bro you lucky lucky lucky guy!!! To be able to acquire such a beautiful lee enfield. And you say just like I do..”I never miss”😂good on ya mate
No you are not the only one. I would have loved to hear what was being said but even using headphones with the sound full up, I could not legibly understand the audio. It was not worth my time to continue.
Nutnfancy is brilliant for modern guns, but I think not so great for historical firearms. As of July 2016 still no videos of the Lee Enfield. He says he doesn't want to add another calibre to feed, which is fine. He did a video of "the best bolt gun of both world wars". That would also be fine, except that he's only shot the Mosin, the Mauser and the Springfield, so it was a bit rich to be making claims about the "best rifle" having never shot half the major power's weapons including the MAS 36, the Lee Enfield and the Arisaka and none of the minor power's ones.
I have my great grandfathers ww1 Canadian lee Enfield. After the war he came home and had it sporterized and it was passed down through the generations. Really wish it wasn't sporterized because the military versions are way cooler.
A true wealth of insight re this model. You have answered questions I never knew should be asked. Thanks much! But I do have a couple of questions based upon my inheritance of a No 4 Mk 1*; Longbranch 1949; No 3 “pinch ladder” type rear sight: 1. With reference to your comments about why the No 1 rear vernier type sight is to be much preferred, would it be fair to think that if one’s interest was strictly hunting, and assuming one were able to sight the rifle in on an imperial range (I am also Canadian [Surrey]), and a particularly suitable hunting round was employed, that the No 3 sight could be as accurate and functional as the No 1 ...... or should the hunter also just go home? 2. My rifle seems to bear the marks of sporterization in that it lacks any top barrel shroud at all. Other than that and the difference in our rear sights, my gun looks exactly like yours ( my barrel has not been reduced and re-crowned). The metal on my piece also appears to indicate that it has seen very little use??? Anyway, given all of this I have long wondered if for purely aesthetic reasons it would be an act of sacrilege or a worthwhile enterprise to restock the rifle in something other than its particularly crude and unappealing native stock. This thought resurfaced big time when I saw the stock on the Enforcer that you displayed in another video......so you’re to blame if I am deemed to have committed sacrilege for even posing the question......which is; do you think the rifle I have described herein is worth the investment? It is a given that I would have to first determine if the thing shoots well enough, which I have not yet done. Thank you. I find great value in your presentations. Well done!
1.The rear Singer style ladder with dial elevation / peep built for the No4 rifle is better because I can reset my sights to a changing distance without needing to avert my eyes from the space around me. Tactically its better because I can monitor the space around me while also counting slicks and keeping track of my zero. 2. Congratulations to you! If you take care of that rifle it will take care of you. I hope you spend the time to study and familiarize yourself with your enfield.
You warm the barrel before you start shooting your zero rounds. After trying you did an annual range course starting at 1000yards. Shooting at once hundred intervals, ending with a run and shoot at 25 yards. That was normally really inaccurate.
Nice work Canada, I like that shortened fore end. No doubt about it, the Lee Enfield No.4 is fast, seriously rugged, accurate and ultra reliable. Try keeping hold of that bolt handle with the thumb and index finger when rapid firing with the middle finger running the trigger... You watching Nut'nancy?
At minute 14:45 you say that each 0.015" difference in height of the front sight will yield 1/2" difference at 25m. Seeing that your first group is 3/4" low from the center of the rectangle, why do you swap out your front pin for one 3 sizes smaller? Wouldn't that raise the group by an 1-1/2" or double what is needed in this case? Maybe I misunderstood something, please elaborate.
Thanks for the vid - very informative. I recently acquired a (#4 MK2 UF55 A) in very nice condition with matching numbers but the numbers aren't stamped, they are perfectly engraved as if by a machine not by hand. Is this normal for that period?
Engraved on the receiver, bolt and magazine - yup that is quite normal for the No4Mk2. The forestock is stamped though. Sounds like you picked yourself a nice Irish Contract!
Hi rifle chair. I know why you're the only one at the range😂 it's because you live so far up North. Your only neighbours are the grizzlies and moose. You lucky guy. Beautiful British Columbia👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
Hi Donald. I have to agree. Why spend $650 on a Marlin 336 if you can buy a minty sporter enfield for $150? Don't get me wrong I still love marlins.... Especially the 1895 in 45-70. Anyhow I digress... I'd sure be interested in hearing more about your 219 zipper. I'd love to see .22-303 or 6mm-303 ackley improved wildcat. I even have Stephen Regwell's load data. I could use a predator platform for this winter (too many coyotes and wolves right now in the north).....
i have a few questions. first is every shooters eyes diferent and sight adjustment will varry depending on the shooter or will a standerd fit fit all? next is i find shooting three ronds the rifel get relly hot and the acruacy starts to risa alot with each shot after unless the rifel is cool. how do you keep consistancy with raped firing full mags? and last question is whare did you learn to shoot? i was a cadet with 72 seaforth and a ci for two years.
I have a question. Do you ever use the Aperture with the ladder down? I know Americas 1917 Enfield have an aperture that pops up when you lay the ladder down. I always thought that I would zero it with the front sight for maximum Point Blank Range and then use the ladder when I want to go further? Tell me what you think and how it is designed to work?
