first LE? investigate further or keep looking?

Henry, it looks like a typical well set up Range Rifle.
A lot of British rifles were sent to OZ post WW1 as reperation, they were good tight rifles and if this one was deemed good enough to be mated to a Motty barrel, then I'd assume that it was a good shooter.
Spec 1 and 2 are only applicable to SSAA and AIHPA disciplines, if you shoot NRAA then it's good to go.
The enlarged nosecap was for a rubber nose, refit the insert if it is missing, these modded rifles can still hold MOA, I'd buy it in a flash(if I didn't already have so many) Don't let the purists put you off.......it's good value.

As HenryR did not state what discipline he was going to shoot I thought it prudent to give him the guff on them in relation to the Specs I shoot under its fine if he shoots NRAA it is just a bit hard to enter a Spec-1 comp with a Spec - 2 rifle it was an information only blurb, as I have only shot SSAA & AIIHPA I cannot comment on the rulings and courses of fire that NRAA have. I have seen persons get disgruntled when they want to shoot only to find that the class they have cannot compete because there is no class for it we invented a class so all can shoot and win a trophy or a selection that way everybody is happy and gets to try and beat the elements.

cinders, the club is a SSAA club. i think there are only 3 regular shooters in service rifle, with a few others occasionally dusting off their military rifles. a fair proportion of the club shooting bench rest. there is a fair number of western or a growing number of field rifle from what i have been told.

i have talked to the guy who looks after the service rifle here and he wasn't too fussed about the exact spec of the rifle. aka barrel profile, bedding etc, as they shoot for fun rather than serious competition. we didn't talk about aperture sights as i didn't think i'd have a rifle with them.

Like Muffet said and I concur if the rifle is real good and if it has a Motty barrel then it should be a good grab and like you said the owner is not too fussed on time for the sale, you may have noticed the distinct lack of Remington 303 brass at least there is none were I am, the 174 SMK Seirras perform well and there is plenty of load data out there for them I use AR 2209 as AR 2208 is a bit sharp, but beware as The Enfield line grow on you....dont they fella's

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Originally Posted by henry r

cinders, the club is a SSAA club. i think there are only 3 regular shooters in service rifle, with a few others occasionally dusting off their military rifles. a fair proportion of the club shooting bench rest. there is a fair number of western or a growing number of field rifle from what i have been told.

i have talked to the guy who looks after the service rifle here and he wasn't too fussed about the exact spec of the rifle. aka barrel profile, bedding etc, as they shoot for fun rather than serious competition. we didn't talk about aperture sights as i didn't think i'd have a rifle with them.

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If they're not worried about bedding and heavy profile barrels, they're not likely to be worried about aperture sights. In my experience, at club level people generally don't mind what you're shooting as long as it's an old military rifle of some description. Unless you're completely pwning everyone, of course. :p

For what it's worth, heavy-barrelled target and club .303 rifles were pressed into service during WWII - they needed everything they could get. I believe most of them were used for reserve and Home Guard-type duties.

i guess i will investigate the rifle further then :D . i wouldn't hold your breath for updates with pics and range reports as it might take a while.

the few times i tried aperture sights in my youth i never got the hang of them so stock sights would be on the cards.

being pressed into ww2 service might explain why it has a ^ in a D stamp (english?) as well as a australian D^D stamp on it.

as far as brass, i bought a bag of bretram cases and have collected a few 60's and 70's boxer cases plus some mk7 berden primed cases.

my intention is to shoot either PPU or mk7 for a while before learning to reload, so there should be some more cases there.

i have already considered that lee enfields can breed in a gun safe, so am looking at getting an older 10 gun safe from a friend and using the older 5 gun single compartment safe i have for ammunition, cleaning gear + the associated military bits that have accumulated already.

Don't overdo it on the Safe size, these damn things get to partying pretty well, I often think it degenerates into an orgy.(would explain the rapid propagation.)

Muffets correct henry r if you get one it starts the whale song sorta stuff calling to all its mates from all over and before you know it you have a throng of them trying to get into your safes, now all I have to worry about is keeping the ones I have quiet..........

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Originally Posted by muffett.2008

Don't overdo it on the Safe size, these damn things get to partying pretty well, I often think it degenerates into an orgy.(would explain the rapid propagation.)

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Amen to that! I stored a few Lee Enfields in the same safe as a couple of Gew. 88 Commission rifles and a few months later out popped a Huzagol M35.

Ridolpho