1965 7.62 LeeEnfield, should I buy it?

[gsimmons]

RJW's enfieldresource.com has pictures of most of the target sights that were available.

[Peter Laidler]

To be really honest and truthfull, I don't think that the 7.62mm SMLE is accurate enough to warrant spending more that £1 on a P-H type aperture backsight. It's a bit like putting a telescopic sight onto a rifle. It'll give you a better sight picture but it won't make an inaccurate rifle accurate. Just my 2c's worth

[Brian Dick]

They shoot fine with the service sights when they're in spec. I just fitted a long bolt head to one that was out of spec and shot a ragged hole at 25 yards on a 1" paster to check zero. I had to make a deflection adjustment on the front sight blade. Then I proceeded to whack my 2' Salute popper at 120 yards a half dozen times for good measure. Plenty sufficient for what it is. I was using 1969 Radway Green L2A2 ball ammo.

[BahamaLure]

Thank you all again for some more great info, I had a chance yesterday to shoot the rifle for the first time, just to see what would happen. Conditions were less than ideal, temps in the low 30's and wind gusting into the high 30's. It was cold enough for the bolt to have trouble sliding home too.

The only rounds the shop had that would fit were Winchester .308 and I found it impossible to cycle them using the magazine, the bullet tips would catch on the lip at the front of the magazine preventing them from loading into the barrel. The rifle fired and ejected them fine when shot singly. The obvious fix is to file down the lip at the front of the magazine. Finding longer rounds is not going to be practical so is there any reason not to take a file to it? Here's the pictures.



the offending lip-




Length of round-


I did not even try to shoot a group with the wind so bad, but still feel I want to do at least something to improve the sights.

What about parts to attach a sling for shooting in the prone position?

[Brian Dick]

You won't find a replacement easily when you destroy it by filing it. It just needs adjusting keeping in mind that feeding and ejection on these particular rifles was never great to start with.

[BahamaLure]

So just bend it little by little until it allows the round to slide up and into the breach?

[Brian Dick]

Smooth jaw pliers and dummy rounds are your friend. Bear in mind that part of the problem may be the rear feed lips too not just the front ones. Make sure the magazine snaps tight into the mag well. I've seen some that were so sloppy there wasn't anything you could do short of welding up the rib on the back and starting over again. I've said before that i always considered these rifles to be "Barney Fife" issue. Appropriate since you have Mayberry, NC as your address. "Here's your rifle Sahib. Here's your bullet. Put it in your pocket!"

[BahamaLure]

Yes I get that this is no collector's piece and little more than something to learn on and play with, I am not too bothered about that. I'm sure Barney would have used it without complaint! (I really am in Mt Airy, NC the town Mayberry was modeled after)

My goal is little more than making it all work ok and shooting something that resembles a group at 100yds. After that I might try for a deer should the opportunity ever arise.

[Brian Dick]

It'll work for you.

[Ridolpho]

BahamaLure: I seem to remember episodes where Deputy Fife was issued a revolver but NO AMMO. Do get yourself some dummy rounds to use as you adjust the lips on the magazine- very handy. If you can't find any down there, Collectors Source in Canada usually has some and they will ship pieces like that to the USA. I think you're getting good advice about the quality of these later Indian rifles- I have one that's in about as close to new condition as you will find but it's still got a wierd look and feel to it. You may still want to try a peep sight even if you're not looking for target-rifle accuracy as they are a pleasure to shoot with. I have both Parker Hale and Central sights on No.1's and nice thing is they don't require permanent modifications. Good luck with the rifle and hopefully it will get you hooked on SMLE's.

Ridolpho