Australian Enfields in 7.62x39mm and 7.62x51mm

[schuetzen]

Australian Enfields in 7.62x39mm and 7.62x51mm, including at least one model focused for the US market:

http://www.australianinternationalarms.com.au/product.htm

It looks like the are working to find dealers in the US.

[Mikey]

Oh boy, I can't wait for some of them to cross the pond.  I sure hope they find dealers soon..

[S.S.]

I am sure they will be way over priced.

[Troyboy]

Price is a relative thing. They will not be inexpensive of that I am sure. First they buy the gun then they restify it  then export then market. This all adds dollars. They sure are nice though.

[mauserand9mm]

Considering that they are an Australian product they are a bit expensive even over here. I didn't realise that they were cranking up again. Not long ago they stopped producing the 7.62x39 version which was a pity because there is still so much cheap ammo floating around.

I've fired one in 7.62x51 and it did MOA on my first (and only, so far) session with it. They are very solid (ie heavy) and well made. Now Ruger have introduced a 10 shot bolt gun with a rear aperature sight and its about 2/3rds the price, but is only available in 7.62x51 - would like to see how these shoot.

[woodchukhntr]

I saw one used in 7.62 x 39 at the local Gander Mtn. a few years ago.  I was impressed and would have bought it if it was reasonably priced.  I haven't seen one since.

[1911crazy]

These look purdy and if there priced right i'd like to have a short one.

What about a chamber adapter in a 303 britt??  A used britt can be had between $250 to $325 in at least good condition.  The bore is the correct size for the 7,62x39 bullet?   we need to do some bolt work i think but i'm not sure.

[JustaShooter]

I saw one used in 7.62 x 39 at the local Gander Mtn. a few years ago.  I was impressed and would have bought it if it was reasonably priced. 

"Gander Mountain" and "reasonably priced" generally don't come together when talking about firearms, at least not in my experience.

Just a Shooter

[Rex in OTZ]

The mag modification and extracter mod and the setting back the barrel, the .303Brit case taper and sholder are almost a perfict match for the 7.62x39mm ComBlok which uses a .311 bullet.
the free bore is too much for a insert (124gr bullets) so the barrels are set back and this adds cost
the Enfield Mk4 barrels are contoured too much and dont work well for re-barreling

I read on Gunboards forums there was a Austrailian than mentioned that a few the shooting clubs there had converted Enfields and Italian Carcano's to fire the 7.62x39mm

.311 bullets work pretty good in the folowing barrels
The .303Brit
The 7.62x54R Russian
The 7.62x39mm ComBlok
7.7 Jap
7.65x53 Argentine

[1911crazy]

My very first imported sks was only $59 and the dealer got a deal with each gun he got a free 1440rd case of ammo too with each gun purchase.  Most dealers were selling the sks for $59 and the 1440rd case of ammo for $59 too.  With some of the imported guns i wonder how many middlemen there are to mark it up before it gets to us.  What is imported as a great deal by the time it gets to us the final stop we could be paying way more than the first cost. Its a matter of how bad we want it too.

When i had the firewood business i setup a dealers price with all my wholesalers for loggin and supplies.  I found everything to be 100% markup.  If any item lists for $12 it cost me just $6 to purchase it.  When stuff went on sale the prices were even better.  I purchased chainsaw bars for as little as $5 and under sometimes.  Seeing this with all my wholesalers i figure that all businesses are setup in this fashion too.

[Curtis]

Seeing this with all my wholesalers i figure that all businesses are setup in this fashion too.

Some goods (jewelry for instance) enjoy a 1000% markup.

Curtis

[mannyrock]

  Most retail sales of goods are set up with a 200% markup.   This lets you pay for 100% of the cost of the good you sell, plus an extra 100% to pay overhead costs, plus a final 100% as profit.  Businesses with only a 100% markup either have zero overhead expenses (selling off the back of your truck), or they have very slim profit margins.

[mannyrock]

   These are very interesting Enfields, but I have a question.  I have always heard that the Enfields have springy bolts, which grow headspace rapidly, even in the .303 Brit configuration.  For this reason, troops in the field were provided with a bolt head replacement kit, with different sizes of heads, to use when headspace grew too large.

    Since the 7.62 Nato, and especially the .308 Winchester, are much higher pressure rounds than the .303, isn't it the case that these new Enfields in 7.62 Nato are going to quickly grow too much headspace very quickly, and become dangerous in short order???

    Hopefully this would not happen with the 7.62 Russian rounds.

     All thoughs and comments appreciated.

Mannyrock

[mauserand9mm]

Well it's certainly an issue that's been floating around, but I thought it was more to do with the fact that the locking lug is at the rear of the bolt, therefore more metal to "spring" (between the cartridge case and locking surface). All metal will compress (not much though) under pressure and the rear locking action was supposed to result in shorter case life for reloads due to more stretching of the case taking place.

The springing of the steel is well within the design capacity of the steel and shouldn't cause the bolt to fail any time soon. I think there is more likelihood of wearing of the locking surfaces due to dirt and repeated operation, especially with the exposed locking surfaces of the 303, and I think this may be the reason the longer bolt heads are available.

I wouldn't expect the new Enfields would suffer to the same extent since they won't be used in battle situations (crawling through mud etc), unless some country decides to use them as a weapon for their army. I believe the police in some part of India still use the old 303 LEs.

[Stan in SC]

These rifles were the subject of quite a bit of speculation several years ago.The final consensus of all of the gleaned information was that the rifles were actually made in Viet Nam and the importer was an Australian.Being made in Viet Nam is not conducive to getting a US State Department OK to import them to the USA.This has been the hold up although many of them have been rumored to have come into Canada and made their way to the US.
Also there were field tests which showed lots of mechanical problems with the rifles such as feeding problems and extraction problems.
Do a little research of them before you make up your mind.

Stan in SC