Posted on 11/04/2009 2:08:16 PM PST by HuntsvilleTxVeteran
Anybody have info on 1916 MK111 Enfield rifle in good condition.
(Excerpt) Read more at swicoauctions.com ...
Good rugged rifle. If you want to reload, however, the rear locking bolt is hard on brass, a couple of reloads is all the case will stand.
It was a great bolt action but had a striking similarity to the Mauser which was superior I believe.
Yeah, when the Indians initially made the the SMLE’s chambered in 7.62 NATO, then didn’t change the original sites for the .303 SMLE.
Then describe the similarities of the Mauser K98 and the US M1903 Springfield.
I believe you will find that one of these is not like the others ...
;'}
I have owned several of the various models of the Enfield. A fine rifle tho I would personally rather have a Mauser or a Springfield.
They are not quite as well finished as the Mausers and not quite as accurate but still accurate and generally well made.
The British sniper versions are real gems from what I have read and heard but also hard to find.
Once you learn the trick of working the bolt, you can fire almost as fast as a semi-auto. The Brits had something called the "mad minute" where they put as many rounds in a 100 yard target as possible in 60 secs. A trained infantryman could really put the lead out.
A Brit made Gunny Ermey look slow and clumsy with an '03 Springfield . . . of course the gunny got him back with the Garand, but it just goes to show how fast the rifle will shoot.
Ballistically it's about the same as a .30-40 Krag, a little less powerful than a .308.
One thing you want to do if you're going to shoot it is run it by a gunsmith and check the headspace. Since the lugs lock at the rear that measurement is critical, and if somebody's replaced the bolt along the way they can be dangerous.
It's reasonably accurate but not minute of angle. Scope is original, old and dim. It's still fun to shoot.
Of course the cock-on-lock feature means it's that much faster!
You can see the stripper clip in use in the first minute or so.
Mad Minute. Got a fairly good rate of fire going there, but not like the Old Contemptibles.
A sweet-shooting rifle and easy to handle. It's also a cinch to reload.
Oh, and they both have triggers.
Neck size die is a cheap investment, only downside is you have to keep your brass separated if you have more than one rifle.
They're both sweet shooters and the bolt is as slick as anything I've ever fired.
L
Very fast and smooth bolt action rifle. It should be able to shoot 3 inch groups at 100 yds right off the shelf. It cocks on closing and is able to maintain the sight picture better than the Mauser that cocks on opening. The 303 cartridge is powerful enough for most North American game and there are many different loads available for the reloader. The avg. price for a VG cond. Enfield is $200-$300. I got mine 10 years ago for $75 at a department store. It’s not politically correct, but I prefer it to the 98 Mauser and the M1 Springfield.
I have actually never even fired one of the sniper versions. I am surprised the scope is dim as I have read that the Ross made ones are considered even a bit better than the German Zeiss and the Zeiss is great.
I suspect that Holland & Holland assembled the outfit but did not manufacture the basic rifle.
I did have one Enfield which jammed regularly. The fix was simple, I just ordered another magazine. They are really easy to change out.
I know the British made them work OK but the combination of rimmed cartridge and ten rounds just can’t be as inherently reliable as the Mauser system.
Good vids...
I was neck sizing in a simple Lee Loader, 36 grains of IMR 3031 behind a 150 gr PSP, still getting seperations.
In my experience they're wicked good shooters.
Did you check your headspace? I use 40 gr of IMR 4895 behind a 150 gr Speer soft point, no problems. I have plenty of brass, but some of them I’ve reloaded 3-4 times. I occasionally get a cracked neck, but no head separations in my reloads . . . I HAVE gotten some head cracks on first firing of some old Greek surplus ammo . . . it’s from around the time of the Cyprus conflict so it’s probably just old and tired. Boxer primed though.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.