.22 Cal SMLE, surprise me!

[Peter Laidler]

The NSN make-up is quite strict and the nationality designator, such as 99 or 13 or 21 or 12 etc indicates Country of origin. This would indicate that the origin of the Canadian barrel and box is Canada.

However, errors have occurred, especially with nations that possessed 7.62 and .303 Brens....., who would put their own originator country by the part.

The L12 sub cal kit boxes were VERY hard to acquire and never available as a spare part. As I mentioned earlier,in the UK, the only way one would be available was when the barrel bulged into and stayed in the rifle.

Good thread and loads of useful info is coming out here. Maybe it should be put into the FAL forum.

Talking of which, there is a .22" Imbel FAL, based on the FN but manufactured as a .22" rifle. Do any of the internal parts or magazines interchange with the L12 sub-calibre kit?

[HARC-MCRRS]

If it is only the insert that you are looking for, and you already have the .303 magazine shell with the plate rivetted in to take the insert, then the little 5 round magazine was taken from the standard BSA Sportsman .22RF rifle and modified, by dint of re-profiling the side-plates with a small cut-out each side, and inverting the release latch so that it was at the top of the magazine instead of the bottom. This simple alteration provided BSA, who manufactured the British No.7 rifle, with an economical answer to the supply of just 2,500 mag-inserts for the R.A.F. contract. The reversal of the latch permitted insertion and removal from above, rather than below as in the sporter.
The only problem is that you may have to purchase a complete BSA Sportsman to get the magazine; but a well-used example is comparatively cheap when you consider the intrinsic value of a complete and operative No.7 rifle. If you are lucky, you may find one of these magazines in a trader's box of bits at an arms fair.

Sadly, yes, the original special outer .303 magazine shells are hen's teeth, and, if you can find one, may command as much money as an entire Lee-Enfield No.4 rifle.

To see more of the rifle and magazine just type "Lee-Enfield Rifle No.7" into Google. When you eventually get to the bottom of the page you will find detail of the insert.

Hope that helps.

[Alan de Enfield]

A No7 (BSA) .22 magazine insert alongside a standard BSA 'Sportsman 5' .22 magazine.

[Brian Dick]

Bob, I know exactly what you're saying about the .22 trainers turning heads at the range. My favorite is the Brit. No.7Mk.1 which looks exactly like a full bore No.4 and has a five shot magazine. Rapid fire with one of those really gets the heads turning. They're all so heavy that you can't help but shoot well too, even with cheap ammo. Brian

[Brian Dick]

I've got a spare bolt assembly and barrel insert in new condition. Anyone got a spare magazine case? I have spare inserts. I also have a complete boxed unit for the FAL purchased at a show several years ago and one for the L1A1/C1A1, purchased in Canada. Both are used but not abused and great fun to shoot.

[Peter Laidler]

There's a fantastic opportunity for anyone on that side of the pond that owns an L1A1. I don't remember the last time I ever saw a sub calibre kit offered for sale - even a kit less the magazines!