Lee Enfields other than .303

[dromia]

On the 22 trainer conversion front there is also the No2.

There are also a plethora of conversions to miniature rifles around the Long Lee Action.

Regarding the No8 I wouldn't really call it sporterised, it is the only Enfield 22 trainer that was made as such with a new design bolt, forend and barrel rather than a conversion.

BSA Sporters on the No1 and Long Lee actions were also available in different calibres, away from my references at present so can't list them all but I do remember having one once in .315" which to all intents and purposes was 8x50R.

[450 Martini]

Up until a few years ago on the reenacting scene it was quite common to see .303 SMLE and No4 rifles bored on to .410 with the magazine blocked off and welded onto the trigger guard. This was to allow reenactors to own an Enfield on section 2.
Unfortunately the owners of these rifles used standard .303 blank that would chamber and fire but the cartridge case would almost disintegrate on firing, sending brass shards down the barrel.

Nowadays these conversions have mostly been banned by most groups on safety grounds.

[Dave 101]

I have a BSA & Co Long Lee .22 lr trainer this was built as a .22 not a conversion .



I was thinking the other day about my No. 4 TR 7.62 x 51 with the worn out chamber if it was possible to convert to 300 Blackout , it would need a chamber insert and a change of bolt face possibly as the rifle is only single shot no problems with magazine to worry about . Dream on .

Dave

[saddler]

Have a nice No.4 in 410.
Gradually changing it back to a look a like "rifle" as the front wood has been sporterised.
Will also fit an empty chopped magazine body so that externally the gun looks like a standard No.4

Longer term I may put it back on S.1, either as a 45ACP conversion or kept as .410

[DW58]

Indian Lee Enfields made in .410 Ball, i.e. .303 necked to .410 and loaded with a lead ball for police use.

[25Pdr]

Got a SMLE in 410.

Use it occasionally with reloaded 444 Marlin cases.

[saddler]

Indian Lee Enfields made in .410 Ball, i.e. .303 necked to .410 and loaded with a lead ball for police use.

Necked? Expanded surely??

I use converted 303 brass with mine...fire-formed back into a straight walled case (as they'd have been at one time already, prior to the taper/shoulder/neck stages of drawing)

[DW58]

Indian Lee Enfields made in .410 Ball, i.e. .303 necked to .410 and loaded with a lead ball for police use.

Necked? Expanded surely??

Yes, Necked-up. tongueout

[TRX]

Ishapore still makes brand-new Enfields in 8x50R.

IWI (?) in Australia makes some in 7.62x39.

Navy Arms/Gibbs Rifle Company in the USA converted many Enfields to .45-70 and sold them as new rifles.

BSA and others offered a selection of calibers in commercial SMLEs about a hundred years ago.

Someone offered Enfields in .243 Winchester back in the 1960s. The .243 is basically a necked-down .308, so probably the only difference was the barrel.

I've read that 7x57 Mauser was once a popular conversion in Canada.

Caliber conversions are fairly common in Australia, 6-.303, 6.5-.303, and .338-.303 perhaps the most popular.

[spikedueller]

I have a Remington Lee in .43" Spanish, one of the 500 that were purchased by New Zealand in 1887 (hence the N^Z 87 on the breech). The history of these is covered in Eugene Myszkowski's "The Remington Lee", but in short 500 were purchased a few blew up in trails so some were returned, some scrapped and some "sporterised" and sold to the public, mine is one of the latter and has seen a hard life. It has cracked right through at the wrist, a common fault of the design, it's no wonder that the Lee Enfield has a 2 part stock with a the wrist forming part of the receiver.

One challenge to all Enfield guru's is how to remove the bolt as it's a lot more fiddly than you might think, you'll need a coin or screwdriver to assist you and be ready to catch the pieces!

One big advantage to the calibre is of course this is a section 58 in the UK, I have seen a few for sale in .45-70 in the USA but you'll abviously need a section 1 spot for those and lots of export /import paperwork, mine came through the post from the USA with just the usual vat to pay.