Want to build myself an Enfield Sniper

[grant580]

Hi fellow collectors. I am fairly new to the sight, but have been reading it often for the last few years. Because of the high price of an Enfield no 4 mk 1 T rifle and scope, I thought maybe I can build one from scratch? I do have woodworking and metal working skills and machinery so figure that's an advantage already.
I was wondering if anyone out there may be able to give me some advice on how to get started on a project like this?
For example, what would be a good rifle to start with? I watch all the forums for "sportorized Enfields" and thought I could start with one of those? I do have some extra stocks and handgaurds already.
Another question is what kind of scope can I put on it that looks kinda like the No 32?, anyone know if these no 32 scopes were ever reproduced? Already have a line on a repro scope mount. Can anyone help me? Thanks, looking forward to your input guys.

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[tbonesmith]

Look at the set of articles by Peter Laidler, in the Lee Enfield Knowledge Library Collectors Forum ,(up the top in Bold) "Index of Peter Laidler's on-line series of articles......."

There are 4 parts on building a usable No4 sniper rifle. Should be a good start

[Badger]

As tbonesmith said:

Articles by Peter Laidler ...

Making Up a Useable No.4 Sniper - Part 1

Making Up a Useable No.4 Sniper - Part 2

Making Up a Useable No.4 Sniper - Part 3

Making Up a Useable No.4 Sniper - Part 4

Regards,
Badger

[bigduke6]

grant850,

As the other members say, Look at Peters articles regarding scope and bracket and they will save a lot of tears and (Foul language).

As for the rifle, Please dont start drilling and tapping a nice example No4 Mk1, when There are plenty of sporterised ones out there which have had all manner of drills, taps, hammers and files etc put to them.

As you say a sporterised one, would be a good starting point and Before anything and the most important part, make sure its shoots OK, (cant remember the selection critera for the originals but someone on here will help on that one)

Question is how far do you want to go? if you want a nice repro No4(T) then repro pads can be purchased from Gunparts corp, bracket from sarco ( or for a very good quality bracket you will need to contact Roger Payne a member on this forum)
The most expensive part is the scope ( No 32 ) if you dont intend on the No 32, then i would not bother with the pads and bracket.
I would go for a scope mount like the Armalon one, an all steel construction fits were the original rear sight would be, and uses the charger bridge as a anchor point, (these type are on ebay for around $60, i bought one the other week).
Other option would be to find a sporter which has got the Parker hale mounts fitted, again one replaces the rear sight but retains the spring and plunger the forward one will be screwed to the receiver.

My own opinion if your going for the full repro No4(T) then dont stop at the last hurdle and put any old scope on, look for a No32 scope even in the future and you have a change of heart you can sell the scope and probably make a good profit.

[limpetmine]

Following on what Bigduke has said, you may want to run a total on the cost of the parts and pieces you will have to buy to get this project going. If you are in the USA, numerous scopeless "T"'s have been hammered off the auction block for well under a thousand dollars. I saw a nice one a few weeks ago for about 750.00. Just a thought.

[Alan de Enfield]

Unless you go and buy a No 32 scope ($1500+) then your clone will never look like an 'Enfield Sniper', but there is another variant which is fairly simple to clone, this is the UK Police Enfield Sniper (called the Enforcer) and you can make up a clone which is virtually undetectable from the real thing except that your action will not say "Enforcer".

here is one I made earlier :
1st Pic is my clone and the 2nd pic is the 'proper' Enforcer I bought.

[madcratebuilder]

The major problem is the No32 scope. Nothing I know of comes really close. The pads and mount are fairly easy to duplicate. A Weaver K2.5 sorta comes close to the No32, but not close enough to justify the cost of the pads and mount, might as well use a S&K clamp on mount. I'll post a photo of my K2.5 on a No4.

[bigduke6]

grant850

just a follow on from the other members, and as stated, its the The No32 scope that will make or break the project.

Regarding the options and advice from, tbonesmith, Badger, Alan, limpetmine, madcratebuilder and myself,
plenty to choose from, and the link for the mount i recently purchased from ebay:

ALL STEEL scope mount 4 Lee Enfield 303 No 4 MK 1 2 & 5 on eBay (end time 19-Apr-10 21:08:16 BST)

Few pics below to show it mounted on an action to give you an idea only thing i would say may require some material to be removed on the anchor piece for a correct fit to the charger bridge it also sits to the right of the centre.
You can see the action has been drilled and tapped to take a rail, (the reason for the polished area was solder) this is the type of action i would look for as you have the best of both worlds, fit a mount like the one below, or make a rail and use existing holes, or for the full repro drilling and tapping this wouldnt be a problem, as apposed to drilling a nice unmolested action.

1) If you want the target in your face go for a new scope and a mount like the one below.

2) For a nice repro start looking for a No32 scope, (you wont regret it) and as limpetmine pointed out scopeless No4 (T) rifles come and go on auctions for a reosonable price (i,m thinking of moving to the USA).

[madcratebuilder]

Here's the 'old' SK mount with the Weaver K2.5

It's not bad from a distance but not good up close.

[grant580]

Thank you so much for the replies fellows!! I will be absorbing myself in Laidler's articles for a while till I can make a decision on all this. There are lots of sprotorized Enfields out there at the guns shows and will be paying more attention to them from now on.
grant580