Help with selecting a scope for Ishapore Enfield 2A1 in 7.62x51

[tasum]

Hi there

Great site and my first proper post

I have an Ishapore Enfield 2A1 manufactured 1965 in 7.62x51.

It came with a scope mount and I'm looking for a scope. I'd love one of the No.32 repros, but I'm happy to start with a modern scope.

Can anyone advise me on the best sort of scope to get? I appreciate that the size will be dictated by the height of the mounts, but I'm assuimg they're all similar and that members on here may have already researched the options. I did a search, but couldn't see any posts elating to newer scopes.

Can any one tell me what they're using? I was looking at a simmons whitetail, the type with the small objective lens and the bigger eyepice, but being a skinflint, I was put off by the price.

Has anyone found a decent and reasonably priced scope to use on their enfield?

Thanks for looking and for any advice you can give.

Here's a pic of my rifle and mount.

Information

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[bigduke6]

Tasum, before the scope see how it shoots.

[Ridolpho]

tasum: as per BigDuke, give it a good test but use a sandbag so you're testing the rifle and not yourself. If the gun still has uncut barrel and full wood you can have some fun trying to accurize it with the help of a neat book put out by a forum member that's widely available (am at work right now and can't remember the full title). As to scope, in North America there are piles of 50's/ 60's vintage Weaver 1inch tube models available that look right on a gun of this style and vintage. I recently bought a mint K3 for $100 (Can). I'll be watching for your accuracy results as I have an identical rifle (sans scope) that I haven't had a chance to get to the range.

Ridolpho

[tasum]

Thank you BigDuke & Ridolpho

good points. She shoots well without a scope. However, I'm still getting used to open sights with a short sight radius, short barrel and 7.62 ammo!!

here's a picture of the whole rifle.



Thanks for the K3 tip, I'll keep my eye out, but they don't come up too often over here.

Any advice on a newer type scope at all?

[Ridolpho]

tasum: Oh my! That's different. Try a search using "tanker carbine". Most likely didn't come from Ishapore like that. Sounds like a few of them were put out by a company called "Gibbs". After staring at it for a while I kind of like it.

Ridolpho

[Steve H. in N.Y.]

If that was my rifle I think I'd be looking for a smaller fixed or variable power scope with a magnification of no more than 5x or so. My experience with optical equipment has been that you generally get what you pay for. Avoid Chinese stuff.

[tasum]

Thanks Ridolpho, it was love at first sight, lol.

I was looking for a 7.62 military rifle and hadn't come across many affordable straight pull variants which we are restricted to in the UK; no semi's (except 22lr)

then I came across this on a forum and fell in love. It's got the Indian connection, is 7.62 and was made the same year I was

I think it is a Gibbs mod.

I took the view that it was already a chooped up piece of kit, so I couldn't really do too much to reduce its intrinsic value neither would I be destroying a piece of history if I decided to make more changes.

she shoots better than the proper jungle carbines; no lightening grooves, but she came with the scope mount and the cheek piece, so I thought I'd see if I could zero her in with a scope whilst I learnt how to shoot properly with irons. I may even look into getting a better rear sight. Any recommendations?

Steve, thank yo ofr your comment, that was just what I was looking for, a recommendation for the mag. I should really have made my first post a lot clearer, but well done for working it out

I'll start having a look around. Can anyone recommend a specific scope? If not I'll keep looking for something with a small objective and about 5x mag.

Thanks again. I'll post a vid of her being shot when I get out with the camera, rifle and the wife.

[RobD]

Check the exact diameter of the scope rings, so you can get a scope which fits.
You can usually see a big selection of used telescopic sights at pretty low prices at any of the fairs at Bisley, or indeed at any militaria fair. Avoid those which seem made for .22 or air guns as they may not cope with the recoil.
Also, there are usually a whole bunch in the Holt's sales - the next 2 are late June and early July and the catalogues are online. (Hint for bidding on Holt's: these days in the Sealed Bid sale, the lower estimate is usually pretty close to the reserve, I've found. So the "make a silly offer" policy - which used to work in the old days - doesn't seem to work for me any longer).

[Ridolpho]

tasum: A Parker Hale or similar vernier peep would just about double the sight base on your rifle given where they attach and probably make for a lot better shooting. I have a couple which I move from rifle to rifle as they require no alteration. Unfortunately these sights now seem to be a collecting target and prices can get ridiculous but keep an eye out.

Ridolpho

[jimmieZ]

I've got a really nice Weaver K3 (older El Paso made) scope that looks fairly similar to the British No. 32 scopes. It's a 3x scope and I have one on a replica No.4 MKI (T) and they work very well. I've had this Weaver for sale on another board - with no takers. The No. 32 scopes were only around 3.5x magnification, or so I've been told.

Jim