Sporterized No 4 Enfields

[EVOC ONE]

Hello all.  Thought I might post a picture of a couple Enfields I sporterized. Both happen to be 1944 B.S.A versions, although they were obtained many years apart. 

The top model began as a barreled action that was included in a purchased of my uncles gun collection by my father when my uncle passed away in 1967.  Someone had began a sporter project by milling off the rear sight mount and the stripper bridge.  My father gave it to me around 1980 when I was briefly bitten by the sporter bug.  At the time I worked part-time at a gun shop and began collecting accessories to complete the project.  I obtained a Fajen Walnut stock and a Weaver TO mount along with some other accessories.  I lost interest in the project and packed it away until about 2002.  At that time I obtained the remaining missing hardware, finished inletting the stock, then applied the finish using Tru-Oil.  Because the stripper bridge was removed, I fabricated a mount for the Weaver base using 3/4 inch angle iron then had a local gunsmith mount the new bracket as well as the scope mount.  The metal was stripped of the old finish and it was re-blued with Oxpho Blue.  The scope is a Bushnell Sportsman 3X9X40. 

I picked up the blond model from a gun show around 2004 while looking for another Enfield project.  It turned out the be an exellent candidate for such a project because I was reluctant to tear into a nice numbers matching, original condition, complete rifle.  The blond model was numbers matching, but the wood was mismatched and the last inch or so of the barrel was bent.  I was able to pick the rifle up for a song.  Having completed the first one with a custom stock, I decided to do this one with the original wood.  I found another Weaver TO mount and had the same gunsmith mount it (this rifle still had the stripper bridge).  The scope is an old Weaver K-4 that still holds a zero.  The barrel was shorted to 22" and recrowned.   The metal finish is Brownells Aluma-Hyde II in matte black.  The wood was relieved of all dents and scratches and refinished with Tung Oil.

I'm kinda getting the itch to do another one, but have yet to decide on the finshed look.

Thanks for looking.

EVOC ONE

http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o77/EVOCONE/PICT0034.jpg

[jack19512]

Good looking rifles.   

[Siskiyou]

Nice work!  How do they shot.  Do you reload them?

[rockbilly]

Great job, I have also done many of them over the years.  The NRA use to publish a book, "Sportrizing the .303 Enfield."  It offered some good tips, and gave plans for cutting the magazine and frabricating a floor plate to cover the bottom of the trigger guard.  The only draw back, it is top load and unload only, but it makes a slick looking gun. 

Keep up the good work.

[EVOC ONE]

Siskiyou: The brown model isn't grouping as well as it should.  2"-3" at 100 yards is the best I've done to date.  It needs to be re-crowned. The blonde version does very well, with consistant 1"- 1 1/2" at 100 yards.  I am set up to reload, but have not done so. Until this fall, I had been fortunate in finding PMP 180 SP ammo at Dunham's for $7-$8 per box.  Thats what I've been shooting.  I still have about 10 boxes left, but with the recent increase in ammo prices, I'll be pulling the dies back out. 

rockbilly:  I did not know about the NRA book, but I do have a copy of the Williams Sight Company manual that provided sportizing info on various Mil -Surp's.  My father obtained it back in the Sixties when he sporterized his No 1 Mk 3.  The NRA book sound interesting.  I knew of five shot magazines, but not the floor plate conversion.  I'll bet that does look slick. 

What I like most about both of these rifles is the lack of recoil. Both recoil like a 20 ga. shotgun with field loads.  I attribute the lack of recoil to their weight.  Its great to have .308/.30-06 class power in a comfortable shooting package.

I appreciate the kind comments, guys

EVOC ONE