Bubba's Accuracy?

I often thought that one aught to own at least one 'sporterized' / 'Bubba'd' example if you have 8-10-a dozen military examples. Ultimately conversion to a 'nice hunting rifle' is part of the story in the 50's and 60's.

Having said that, I find it hard to find a reasonable priced example. Every one selling online or at shows feels the sporterization 'improves' and makes the weapon more valuable.

So, if you take a SMLE or a No.4 (... I ain't advocating this, I'm just askin !! ...:yikes:)
... and you just remove the upper wood and you install ( a previously chopped ) hand guard (that you got from Bubba at a show ... :D) No cutting of metal mind you. Or drop it in one of the ATI synthetic sets.

...How's it gonna shoot. I don't recall ever reading comments from someone shooting a sporterized Enfield.

Any one have a comment? Thus admitting possession now or in the past.

I've had my share of them in .303 and .30 cal and others, they all shot respectably. Yes, they're over priced now. Typical of the vast majority of the shooting community, buy low sell high. Or, try to.

:rofl: Mate I have a 1916 Enfiled No 1 Mk 3* that I converted to a sporter, why because it was absolutely shagged, timber stuffed, barrel looked like it was a smooth bore but mechanically very good.
So I made a laminated stock for it, drilled and tapped the receiver for a scope base, had a South African Jansa 20 inch barrel fitted then had all parts blued. I know it's not fair as it's fitted with a Leopold scope but it is my current Deer rifle and
it is as accurate as anything new coming out with plastic fantastic stocks. I reload for it and keep the pressure to a chrony speed of 2400 using 46 Gn of W760 powder, Winchester cases, CCI BR2 primers and 135 Gn Taipan hollow point projectiles.

Shoots Minute of Deer every time, would love to shoot it in my Military Rifle Competitions but doesn't abide by the rules although I could probably enter it in the 500 yard improved or highly modified class but they wouldn't stand a chance :rofl:

Dick

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...mhsvsthv-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...vkf9zydr-1.jpg

Thanks guys.

Aussie48, nice looking rifle! But ... you cheated with a new barrel!! :lol:

It was either that or convert it to a cap and ball :rofl:

Dick

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Aussie48

It was either that or convert it to a cap and ball :rofl:

Dick

---

Ha Ha :D

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Aussie48

and 135 Gn Taipan hollow point projectiles.

---

Do not waste them as Malcolm will not be making anymore for the 303 as he reckons he needs $XXXK up front to get the materials, TAIPANS are an awesome projie and shoot really well pity he has not been able to do some more of his 170gn .312" FBHP
Here is a pic of the last unopened packet I have and will not be using them........

Yes Cinders it's a crying shame, with the amount of Military Rifle Club members Australia wide, would be worth his time to make one last run of the 170 Gn. Would be nice to be able to go to him with an order for a thousand or more per member Australia wide I'm sure he could be enticed with up front hard cash to do a run. I was lucky enough to score his last 500 of the 135 HP's, they are still unopened as I had 100 in store at the time.

Dick

In the U.S. Sporterized Enfields are very common, showing up on GunBroker.com regularly. Some are in excellent condition, usually FTR'd and then converted by Parker Hale. They command a paltry $200-250 USD, but are often touting the best hardware.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by lngstrt

Any one have a comment? Thus admitting possession now or in the past.

---

I have several. They are not what I would call expensive here, $50 to $150 at most.

Most shoot like the ones with all the wood, but need bedding.

The one exception I have looks to have been a professional job, shortened barrel, blued and beautiful walnut wood. It’s exceptionally accurate.

Then there’s this one….

Attachment 63863

The sight radius is so short I can’t tell how accurate it might be. I can’t reliably get it on the paper at 150 yards.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Aussie48

I know it's not fair as it's fitted with a Leopold scope but it is my current Deer rifle and

---

But it IS fair. It's exactly what he's asking for...

Scope's OK! I was more interested in what might be the common sporterized 'model'. You buy a surplus #4 or SMLE out of a barrel at the local hardware store for $10-20 (in 1956?), go home and cut back the wood ...... maybe have your favorite 'smith mount a scope ....

Cheap! Nothing fancy.

My second rifle when I was 16 was a sporterized Lithgow Mk III* 1916 dated. It had been sporterized simply by cutting the wood down; everything else was original. The metal was in great shape, and it shot very very well with the over the counter Imperial .303 we could get back then. At that time (mid-80's) the full wood MkIII and III* rifles were literally as scarce as hen's teeth in Canada. That was before Marstar brought in a large shipment of the Australian ones from stores somewhere, and before CAI brought in the ones from India, so sporterized ones were the only ones you could get without paying a fortune. I traded that one off fairly early on, as it was "just a sporter" and I target shoot. When I did go out hunting with friends, I usually took a Ross 1905 R as it was nice and light and handy. I frequently wish I had hung onto it........

Ed

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by lngstrt

common sporterized 'model'. You buy a surplus #4 or SMLE out of a barrel at the local hardware store for $10-20 (in 1956?), go home and cut back the wood ...... maybe have your favorite 'smith mount a scope ....

---

Here is a "common sporterized model" that was done by Parker Hale (the foresight is a dead giveaway) with a Bushnell 3-9x32 scope.
British Lee Enfield No4 MK I, 303, Item S-33 : Bolt Action Rifles at GunBroker.com

It was probably an FTR (Factory Thorough Repair) and sporterized by professionals (not a Bubba hack job). This gun will probably sell in the $200 range.
*****************
Post Script: The gun sold for $130 USD.

There's a nice PH rifle listed locally here in Phoenix:

"Based off of the No.4MkI Enfield, with a Mauser 98 action, chambered in the .308 round, and made by Parker-Hale, this is the Parker Hale Safari. Modifications include milled receiver, fully adjustable trigger, 25 inch military contoured barrel with a 1in10" twist and a 45 degree beveled crown at the muzzle, topped with a BSA 3-9x50 Red Dot scope on a Parker-Hale scope mount assembly. Furniture is VG, bluing is 90-95%, rifling is excellent. Has a detachable ten round capacity magazine. Bolt rotation is a very quick 58 degrees, making for quick follow up shots, if needed.
This is a very low, four digit serial numbered weapon and groupings from this weapon at one hundred yards will be under, 0.750" in the hands of a good operator. You will not find an Enfield rifle as nice as this, that shoots this great for the money, guaranteed."

The accompanying photo is barely good enough to make out the tail end of a #4 cocking piece. I want to e-mail the seller and ask what makes it a Mauser action. What little I could find , the 'Safari' is on a Mauser action and the #4 based one carried a different name.
$850!!
Parker Hale 'Safari' .308 - Phoenix guns for sale: firearms, handguns, rifles - backpage.com

I have a sporterized LE done by Parker Hale, have never fired it but it is well done, great checkering and finish. I remember years ago when I worked in retail in SK selling the identical gun for around 60.00 and we sold quite a few. They were relatively cheap and accurate. Wish I had a dollar for every animal taken with a "modified" .303.

if it were topped by some nice Pecar glass, it would be worth it for the scope and mag alone.

I haven't found all of my old PH brochures and such, but I don't recall them ever offering such a beast.

Lots of similar products in .303, but NOT "7.62".

Speaking of Parker Hale, A mate just scored a bunch of "old" target rifle barrels for what he cheerfully described as "peanuts". Amongst the usual Omark tubes was one marked "Parker Hale". It has the correct thread for a '98 action, is 30" long, and looks very nice inside and out. VERY meaty profile, complete with "step" at the muzzle to accommodate the usual "tunnel" foresight assembly.

Looks like it may soon be doing some "congress" with a spare FN action and a large piece of walnut.

I guess it's a matter of being in the right place at the right time.

My guess is that it was wound out of a PH1200 or similar after a couple of "bad days" at the range, or because the owner was convinced that only "stainless" barrels were worth owning.

Oh, and a Happy 4th of July to all our US cousins!!

If you look at the picture in the link ...

Parker Hale 'Safari' .308 - Phoenix guns for sale: firearms, handguns, rifles - backpage.com

it definitely has a L39/L42 magazine profile. I'm still wondering about the 'with a Mauser 98 action ...' part of the description. :madsmile: