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what to do with bubba'd lee enfield?

Skidshot505

Private
Full Member
Minuteman
Jul 23, 2010
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Colorado
So i was at the local pawn shop and found a 1943 rof lee enfield for 80 dollars it was bubba'd but the action and back part of the stock were still original. the barrel was cut down and the forestock mostly trimed. I bought it for 80 bucks and some old surplus rounds and took it out for a shoot. I expected it not to be very accurate but minute of barn does not do this thing justice. You couldn't shoot the shit if you were drowning in an outhouse with that thing. I was thinking about building it into a fairly accurate scoped rifle since its already been ravaged and was wondering if anyone else has gone this route. Kind ofof like the mosin nagant builds ive seen. The accuracy issues seem to bee from the poorly cut barrel, headspacing and the action are perfect though. Also any enfield pictures are welcome too. Thanks.
 
Re: what to do with bubba'd lee enfield?

If the accuracy is horrible with irons, I wouldn't waste time or money putting a scope on it until I could improve that. If you can't, you still have your money's worth in Enfield parts.
 
Re: what to do with bubba'd lee enfield?

Perfect man cave accessory

lampgun.jpg


Cheers,

Sirhr
 
Re: what to do with bubba'd lee enfield?

The mosin the mauser, and the enfield are all classics and enjoyable to own, a little piece of history. Keep at the pawn shops and find a remington 700 that bubba has had his way with for your optics rifle. Bubba is your friend!
 
Re: what to do with bubba'd lee enfield?

If you just have a loose bore, your rifle will be a perfect candidate for some cast boolits. If you are not casting already. Get a lee setup, some wheel weights, 200 gr gas checked over some trailboss, bet you can get that accuracy to at least pie plate at 100Y. Plus will be a hoot to shoot.

Dont cast, you can find some online

http://montanabulletworks.com/303_British_Rifle.html
 
Re: what to do with bubba'd lee enfield?

I would slug the bore and see what you are dealing with. If its over .312 then the above post is correct, get some cast bullets and you will be good. Also make sure Bubba did not mess up the crown when he hacksawed the barrel.
 
Re: what to do with bubba'd lee enfield?

Thanks for the replies guys. I went over the barrel with a fine tooth comb so to speak, and was astonished to find that the barrel actually has a slight bend to it near the muzzle and a lopsided crown job that as far as i can tell was done with a dremmel. Its very slight but just noticeable. I guess until i can find some more bubba guns to make a franken gun its just ganna be a mancave ornament. Does anyone know if its posible to rethread a modern barrel to the enfield and what the best caliber would be? I really love the lee enfields, kinda bummed i cant shoot it, but should be a nice project.
 
Re: what to do with bubba'd lee enfield?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Skidshot505</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
Does anyone know if its posible to rethread a modern barrel to the enfield and what the best caliber would be? I really love the lee enfields, kinda bummed i cant shoot it, but should be a nice project.</div></div>

Of course it's possible... but is an $80 Enfield worth it? It costs the same to fit a barrel to a junker Enfield (or more) than it does to fit a good barrel to the best custom actions...

And the .303 case and feed are going to limit caliber choices. Your best bet is to write it off and use the $$ would have spent just buying the barrel blank to buy a superlative Enfield to shoot. Use this for decor.

That said, if you did want to do something unusual (and it will be expensive) turn it into an African 'working' rifle as used by guides and professional hunters all through the last century. There are several old British Empire 'big bore' cartridges made based on the .303. The .416 Rigby comes to mind. The Enfield action is plenty strong and most of those cartridges are low pressure and were originally cordite. Put on a short sporter barrel, have a nice, plain, rugged oil-finished walnut stock fitted (Fajen sells them 99 percent inletted). Then find an old used leather sling to put on and presto, Africa professional hunter/guide rifle. If you can put on multi-leaf folding express sights, even better! And those are readily available.

Won't be cheap, but at least you won't be trying to make an Enfield into something it never was -- an American-type sniper or sporting rifle.

http://www.africanhuntinggazette.com/ind...1&Itemid=25

And if you do it right, you could end up with a valuable rifle:

http://www.gunsinternational.com/African...p;start_row=251

Read some Peter Hathaway Capstick, Robert Ruark and W.D.M. Bell for inspiration... Or just because they are some of the most amazing books ever written....

Cheers,

Sirhr
 
Re: what to do with bubba'd lee enfield?

Not to hijack this thread...but Greg... been trying to contact you via PM, not sure you are getting or reading the out-reach. When you get a chance, pls respond....

OK...back to our regularly scheduled programming
smile.gif
....
 
Re: what to do with bubba'd lee enfield?

Have you tried numrich arms to see if they have replacement barrels?

ETA: Just checked the website, they have several lee enfield barrels and a slew of parts.

I say make it a project.
 
Re: what to do with bubba'd lee enfield?

How's the rifling in the rest of the barrel? If it's still fairly good maybe you could just cut the barrel back a bit more to remove the bend and recrown it.
 
Re: what to do with bubba'd lee enfield?

What length in barrel does the bend start? Enfields can make great field guns and a matching rec/bolt can be darn near glass smooth and fast.
 
Re: what to do with bubba'd lee enfield?

Agree with SirhrMechanic:

I Did a SMLE "scout" from the same bubba'd rifle.

Numrich guns parts was great and had all you needed--it was a lot of fun.

BMT