LEE Enfield ????

[Couriuos]

Just stumbled on this site doing research on a rifle. Could spend hours reading and not find the answer so will do it the old fashioned way and just ask for help. Looking at a Lee Enfield, positive of that. Pulled the scope mount off and it's stamped U.S. PROPERTY. It's NOT .303, my MIC reads .280 at the muzzle. It's marked 5 No 4 MK I, a proof mark that resembles *. Short stock. I found data on a .276 LEE Enfield. Am I possibly holding one?

Information

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[vintage hunter]

You have a No.4 Mk.1* made by Savage, at least the receiver was any way. The ''5'' you see is the Savage square S logo. It was originally chambered in 303 but some were later re-barreled to 7.62mm Nato and various wildcat calibers based on the .303 case in Australia and New Zealand. If you're getting an accurate measurement of .280 at the muzzle you may have a .303/.280 or a 7mm/08 but you'll need to do a chamber cast to find out which. The 303 wildcats aren't very common in the U.S. Post some clear photos of the rifle and any markings and it will be easier to determine just what you have.

[Bruce_in_Oz]

Could be an "ex-pat" .270-.303 from Sportco / Lithgow. That particular variant was not wildly popular here in Oz; .25-.303 and "straight" .303 were MUCH more common, but thousands of rifles were converted to .303 wildcats shooting bullets from .224" to .358" diameter.

Groove diameter on a .270 wildcat, when new, should have been .277-.278". A bit of wear and there's your .280". A "true" 7mm should run out to .284" plus a bit of wear.

It could also be one of the excellent Canadian Epps sporter variants in a similar calibre, especially being built on a Savage No4 action.

[Al Diehl]

You will need to slug the barrel to determine the diameter. Sticking a mic in the end will give the bore diameter and not the groove diameter which is what you need to know. Also, as stated above, if you are not sure take it to a gunsmith and have the chamber cast. My gut tells me that you have a .303 British caliber rifle.
Also, if it is a wildcat based directly on a .303 case with a smaller neck/ bullet diameter than a .303 dummy cartridge should not fit if you tried to chamber it in the rifle.

If you find out for sure, please let us know.

Al