Hello! My first restoration project was an heirloom SMLE, and it was a lot of fun. However, some things must be looked over on your rifle. SMLEs are capable of 2-1MOA when properly stocked up. First, the muzzle MUST be pressing against the top of the hole in the nose cap, if it is not the barrel centering spring near the muzzle must be replaced. Second, a tight fitting stock is not necessarily a bad thing, that is how target shooters preferred their rifles, you must check it is tight for the right reasons. The forend must be making good, equal contact in the draws, if it is not the wood must be re fitted. Target shooters preferred contact between the forend and butt socket, mil spec rifles did not have contact, neither is "correct". Thirdly, ensure the barrel is being held down against the forend by the inner band. If it is not (you can slide paper under the barrel) then this can be remedied by adding thin washers to the spring & screw. Note: it must not be too tight, you do not want to be crushing any wood. Rifle looks good! Only thing I would do is give the Indian stock a good cleaning, and apply some RAW linseed oil, maybe bring out a bit of the original grain. Good job! Any sporterized Military rifle that has not been cut down deserves to be restored!
@@ReadinessReviews For the most part, swapping forends is OK, but they were hand fitted to each individual rifle so problems can arise from time to time. The SMLE has a very complicated bedding system designed to make a thin whippy barrel shoot straight. There is a lot of great information in the "Lee Enfield Knowledge Library" on milsurps.com.
I saved a sporter earlier this year. It looks rough but the bore is bright and it shoots very straight. I've been doing restorations like this for a few years now. Saved a fair share of rifles by doing this. If done right, you can save money and even make money.
Looking at the value of these old guns today, you should do a good job at restoration. The wood is the first thing everyone sees. Unless you can get nice used wood, you are better off with new production. I just bought a No. 1 Mk III full set from Prestigious up in Alberta for a bit under $400 shipped. It is cut for both the long-range site and the Butt medallion. The quality of these are amazing.
I also restored a No1 mkIII* and feel immensely satisfied for having done it. Had a new, old barrel put in, and now working to get it zeroed. Groups are excellent, but shooting high and right. I cleaned up the forend stock and bought a large butt stock to get a better cheek weld. They are great rifles! Glad u got it sorted out. Was anxiously waiting for part 2!
@@ReadinessReviews luck to you on the find. I'm using Lithuania GGG M80 Nato Ball i got 3 years ago in 2A1 and my BM-59. Ammo is some of the best . Was cheap 3 ago.
Good job young man. Us old guys are seldom impressed with young guys. You earned this old Marines respect. Just for the record I purchased two hand selected No 1 MkIII’s back in the late 80’s for $75 each at a local department store. They are both still tack drivers.
Top Job, these are the rifles of the commonwealth, have incredible history and even the path to being ‘sporterised’ is significant, I have salvaged one and am into a restoration, it’s a great project and inexpensive, cheers
I’d like to do one myself, I picked up a no1 mk3 that was restored from a sporter by a gun smith, it’s in overall very good condition with a beautiful bore, it’s a bit of a Frankenstein but I love it.
I found a 1916 Lithgow enfield in amazing shape for 300 bucks then i had to sell it to keep the lights on. it stil haunts me to this day thing was so accurate too
Great restoration I've got four or five myself and one ishapore 308 caliber that i made into a custom back packing rifle in jungle carbine configuration but has an FN pistol grip mounted directly to the trigger guard since it was heavy enough to weld the mount to the grip. You can take off the butt stock and still have the grip mount firmly to the trigger guard.
I imagine the reason you experienced difficulties stocking up the rifle is that each forestock was *hand fitted* to its respective receiver. Yes, that's right: The Brits mass-produced a rifle that required hand fitting. I suspect you were crushing the draws some. When you disassemble the rifle, give that area a good inspection.
The SMLE REQUIRES a force fit on the stock for accuracy. The barrel tip should be pushed down with 2lb of force when stocked. Sporterised SMLE’s are inaccurate because of this omission.
I have been eagerly awaiting part 2. I was on the fence, but I think I like that you left the drill markings on your rifle. Going to make for some double takes at the range.
Great job . I’m Australian and own one original Lithgow 44 matching and have just purchased an Enfield 1916 sporterised. Your video has helped me greatly. Thankyou. Ps - they’re sighted in yards . All the best. 🙏
That was wonderful to see an old lady regain her youthful beauty! I think I would have gone a step further and sanded down the lower wood to remove the DP stripes but I can understand you keeping the old DP's history alive as well. Sporterising an SMLE should be a criminal offence (preferably a capital one!) Well done you!
The reason I didn't remove the markings is that there is a chance that I find another forestock at some point and I'd be able to put the DP rifle back the way it should be as well. Thanks for watching man! I love these old rifles.
@@ReadinessReviews That's very good thinking! The thing that makes me want to cry though is that after the old Enfield factory was shut down (whenever that was) the owners employed a night watchman to guard the premises. He was only given a small wooden hut to operate from and to keep him warm in the winter they gave him a brazier to use outside his hut. The supplied fuel to burn in the brazier were crates of un-issued SMLE wooden forestocks and butts! May they burn in Hell forever!!
Thank you for this video. I’m doing the same thing you was doing with your rifle. I just bought DP stock and when I seen your part one I got super scared! This video helped me out big time!
My III^ from Royal Tiger's stock was separtated at the socket so I went down to Ace and bought a brass machine screw, not and two washers drilled the area where you had problems the glass bedded the area? I agree their far more expensive today!
@@ReadinessReviews Yes I was happy with it, it has great rifling, I may order another one, I got one of the Yugo 98ks from them and it too is in great shape. Over all I got 3 rifles from RTI and I'm very happy with them...
Great job on the restoration! I had thought about getting one of those DP guns and converting it to .22 with the kits that are out there. I think others have mentioned this, but the accuracy is probably off due to how the barrel is not bedded quite right with the replacement stock.
I like to get it to move and run a little oil down screw driver , let it sit and then tighten a hair and keep repeating loosing , oiling ,tighten a hair .
I bought my 1941 BSA Number 1 mark lll* in 2019 for the equivalent of 170 USD. It was in good condition, but lacked the safety catch and I wanted to replace the non-windage adjustable rear sight with an adjustable one. I pirated the parts of a disabled nr 1 mark lll, and now have a decent rifle (plus a few spares) for the total price of about 230 USD. I particularly like the number one because my ageing far-sighted eyes like the rear sight that is mounted forward towards the centre of the rifle a lot better.
Shame those DP rifles are 400 CAD + Tax up here! 150 USD is a great price. Got a full length barreled action SMLE waiting for a deal on a DP. Gonna have to pull the front + rear sights from the DP. But should be a pretty decent project.
It may have taken you a year but like you said you been really busy. What was your hours into the rifle? It was a fantastic job and has that specials feeling when you put your touch on it. Awesome Job!
It was probably 10-12 man hours when it was all said and done. Most of that was cleaning time because the one rifle was packed in grease. I was so glad to finally get this one finished.
Good vid, but if you're gun isnt shooting right its because the bedding isnt sey at all. It looks like youre missing the center band and its spring as well as the barrel cap spring
Nice perseverance! I’d definitely be tempted to improve on the finish of the Indian stock. Steaming out the dents and taking it back closer to its original finish. You may be able to deal with the high shooting by looking at the front sight. A replacement may be able to raise it enough for you to zero it at your required length. Well done though.
I just have to remember to take a low hold and it does just fine. Changing the front sight would do the trick though. The stock could use some extra work it I wanted it to look really nice. I may mess with it again in the future. Thanks so much for checking it out!!
If you want to sell the cut down stock I'll buy it, I have one I picked up from a gun shop cheap someone had cut the barrel down on and would be a great match with that cut down stock. I collect Enfield rifles so could not pass up this one since I have the ammo already. Great video keep up the good work 👍🏻
Has anyone checked into the full stock set they sell on Sarco inc.? the reviews are pretty cruddy but there are only 4 reviews on there. it may be a cleaner looking option for those who do not want to use the drill purpose wood.
Years ago I bought a a sporterized Remington 1903a3, I bought a “C” stock and the necessary hardware (most of it was reproduction). It took a bunch of work, the stock didn’t fir quite right but it ended up looking beautiful! Would I do it again? Probably not, just don’t have the time like I used to. But I am glad I did this project.
I might have paid too much, but I just picked up a sporterized 1918 BSA no1 mk3 with a good bore for $400. I hope I'm not in over my head. My biggest concern in getting it back it's original configuration is the brass cross pin there above the trigger since I'm using a new set of unfinished wood. Any tips from the crowd are greatly appreciated.
@@ReadinessReviews Nope. No pin. After some research I found a gentlemen who used some brass threaded rod you can get at the hardware store. I didn't know previously, but the pin acts as a magnum crossbolt for added durability.
@@ReadinessReviews I have been trying to restore my ishapore lee enfield for 2 years now unable to find a screwdriver long enough. Its hard when you live in rural rural Georgia when the closest harbor freight is in griffin 😂 appreciate it
how did you get an Indian rifle in the USA? Is this captured rifle from the Indian army . Many Indians also have USA-made 'M1 Garand' , captured from the Pakistan army .
So, I’ve been doing this project along with you, but I found out I don’t have a screwdriver big enough for the stock bolt. I have long enough, but not beefy enough. What size screwdriver are you using there? I’m gonna have to buy one. Edit: oh, I see it is a 3/8x16. My bad, thank you.
I got it done last weekend. Everything went ok. My butt stock bolt was rust welded into place, but with some minor torque it came loose. I’ve never seen a rifle so dirty as that Isophore. It was a Herculean task to clean, but I got it done. Your videos were a great help. Thank you.