my 303 brit

[countryrebel8174]

i just got a lee enfield no. 4 mk 1/3 it was made in canada and it was ftr'd. the stock is in great condition as is the bluing and barrel. i dont really like the stock style of this gun, i perfer the sporter style stocks. i was just wondering if it would gain value if i replaced the wood stock with a synthetic stock and added a harris bi pod and a scope. i took it too a gun show and nobody would even talk to me about prices for it. im figuring its because there are so many of them available that no one wants one. its a nice shooting weapon, just ugly in my opinion. anybody else have the same rifle....if so what do you like about it and what do you dislike.


country rebel

[Mikey]

There is really nothing to dislike about the SMLEs; they are rugged, reliable and accurate.  They are the fastest military bolt action ever made.  The 303 British cartrdige has taken most everything on the North American continent.  

I do not doubt that you received little interest at the gun show.  There are lots of these rifles around and some are so inexpensive it isn't worth much to a dealer's time to deal with them.

As for the stocks - yep, you can go with a synthetic - makes them look good, but you may have to glassbed the action for best accuracy.  Any good scope will do for the #4s - you can purchase the aftermarket 'no-gunsmithing' mounts that work very well and don't give you any problems.  Forget the bipod - it will just add weight and if it attaches to the barrel it will have an impact on your accuracy.  If you have free-floated the barrel and attached a bipod to the forestock and it bears on the barrel it will affect your accuracy.  

I would stock it and scope it and shoot it and have fun.  For more fun see if you can find a 7.62x23mm/303 adapter from MCA Sports in Anchorage and shoot inexpensive surplus as well.  HTH.  Mikey.

[Shorty]

Cabelas has stock sets, $60 and scope mounts, $35.  That should double the cost of your rifle but add almost NO value to it! :roll:

[R.W.Dale]

Generally anything you do to a military rifle beyond cleaning it DETRACTS from the value. But if you just want a sporter enfield then by all means go ahead.

 Here is a pic of mu No4