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I just bought a UF 55 A, which appears to be unfired. I only discovered this fact when I got it home. Now the idea of soiling my pristine rifle has me conflicted! It seems somehow wrong to be the one that marks up this beauty. On the other hand, I would know everything about this rifle from its very first shot.
I want a shooter, but should I just go and buy a used milsurp??? HELP!
It was made to be shot.
I agree with Baal. If you want to shoot it go ahead. The first round will only cost around $150 to shoot. The next couple of hundred a lot less until you have a $450-$500 rifle.
If it wasn't still in its wrapping, how do you know it is unfired? If it were mine, I would probably shoot it. I have two that you can't tell have been fired. I don't use the originanl bolts or magazines. Not to hide anything but to keep them looking pristine. They shoot very well with ammunition they like and thankfully neither of them are foulers. Unless you know your stuff, it would be tough for anyone to tell either of them were fired. That's why I am always skeptical when I see a rifle that is claimed to be unfired. Unless they are wrapped, there just aren't any guarantees. Shoot it and have fun with it. If it were a commercial sporter, you wouldn't have a qualm about shooting it. Mind you with a commercial sporter, you lose a $100 off the sticker price and tax anyway, as soon as you purchase it.
The reason I use a different bolt in the rifles is that the cocking piece has been modified to reduce creep and the firing pin spring has a spiral cut off to reduce trigger pull. Not something I would suggest for a field rifel but it is safe enough for my purposes and I don't use them in milsurp shoot competitions. Makes for a very smooth and crisp let off.
Just shoot it. Not shooting would be like having a Corvette and never driving it. You bought it to shoot it, so go ahead. I do not believe in safe Queens and even shoot my 1887 made 1886 Winchester. Thats what they were made for....SO SHOOT IT ALREADY....Have a nice Day......
If it's WRAPPED and unfired, then you KNOW it's unfired. The thing to remember about the still-in-wrap rifles is that there are 2 million FIRED rifles out there, but only a few thousand genuinely UNfired rifles.
If I had a new, wrapped unfired rifle or even a new unregistered Chevvy Corvette in my garage, that's the way they'd stay. If I wanted to fire the rifle or drive the car, I''d go and get an old clunker to shoot and an old driveable dog to drive
If you dont fire it the next guy who gets it probably will because the fired ones are just that little bit more worn out and the stories on how good they were will be coming into question.:D If unwrapped how do you know it is unfired. They were proofed fired before wrapping. If you dont want to fire it sell it and buy a shooter. I would shoot it because i could knowing i could never wear it out in service shoots.:thup:
It's a rifle. it was ment to be shot. As for the Corvette. It's only a Chevrolet who cares :rolleyes::madsmile:
I have one shortly on the way from the US, again supposed to be unfired, but I trust the source and his knowledge (thanks Brian) I had the offer of a wrapped one, but it would have to been unwrapped on arrival downunder and it is better to go to a collector.
I with Baal, shoot the girl.
Myles
I must be in the minority on this one, if it is truly unfired, I would leave it that way. I have one in the wrap and two unwrapped by the previous owners, but never fired. It comes down to this, if you are a shooter, shoot it and if you are a collector, leave it alone and go buy a shooter.
On second thought, I agree with the majority, you need to take her out and shoot her as soon as you can. That will mean one less unfired rifle in the world! :madsmile:
I reckon don't shoot it.
Buy another no 4 in pretty good nick and get your jollies with that one.
Safe the unfired one for looking at. I know it was made to be shot etc etc etc But you'll feel guilty afterwards. It become just another No 4 once you've shot it.
It's not a new pristine 55 MGA.................who cares....Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter Laidler
LOL
Heh! Heh! Thank God I will never have the problem of a decision like that! My Enfields all go BANG with great regularity and no associated guilt. Owning Enfields should bring pleasure not pressure.......................................... .
I unwrapped my new never issued Faz, cleaned it and found that it had been test fired before it was greased and wrapped. It is/was my understanding that an Armorer test fires “all” of them before they are wrapped.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mkmadron
There's no such animal. It must at the very least have been test fired, before being wrapped!
So just think of your firing it as a continuation of the test!
And if you didn't want to fire it - you could have bought a wall-hanger:)
:wave:
Well, they've all been fired. Doesn't the proof firing at the factory count? If they're still wrapped, it's probably best left that way. If it's been unwrapped then break it in on the range, take good care of it and I doubt it'll lose any substantial value. I reckon time will tell.
They were proof fired then the sights were set with a 'telescope layer' then 5 rounds were fired to test for function and accuracy. It's at this point that those that gave the tighter groups (that's the accuracy part of the test) were sifted and TR marked.
So while they've all been fired, it comes down to 'new-in-wrap but test fired' or 'looks-pretty-new-but I-can't-tell-how-many-rounds-have-been-down-it'
Then, in light of this recent information, the term "unfired" becomes somewhat redundant???
After a two year wait for my licence for a No.4 Mk.2 I could not wait to go and try it out. The old Lady is still in as new condition. Well this last Sunday she accompanied me to a High Power Rifle shoot.
Believe me of all my Lee Enfield rifles this lady is next to my Eddystone P14 the most accurate. Off the thirty rounds fired five shots missed the black centre.
My advice is; take the old Lady out to the range and enjoy it. Life is too short to keep a good rifle locked up.
Unfired or not, if it's pristine keep it that way and don't shoot it. Admire it, fondle it and buy one or six more to shoot and have fun with.
I have a Long Branch that came with a transit case and bayonet and the person I bought it from owned it forever and I do believe it was only test fired. It is absolutely as perfect as it can be and I wouldn't ever consider firing it.
How often do you get a chance to own a Long Branch that perfect? I have about 25 other Lee Enfields that overall I would fire (well most of them) but not the Long Branch.
Maybe I am crazy but it was cleaned, oiled and put in the safe to be shown and handled by my closest friends.
careful enfield303t next they wil be asking you to count your friends.