No.4 Lee Enfield cheek rest

[lawrence_n]

I love the Lee Enfields for many reasons. It was the first rifle I ever owned, I nailed my first deer with one, and they're a dream to maintain. Not long ago I picked up a nice "Sussex" modified British No.4 as a back up for my .308 Ruger. I fabricated a scope mount, put on a nice piece of glass, and ran into the same problem that so others have in that there's no decent cheek weld. Having spent most of my adult life as a carpenter/cabinet maker, I picked up some walnut from work and a got a spare butt from a vendor. I chopped the end flat, mounted a recoil pad, and routed out the top of the butt down to the flats. I cut a piece of walnut to suit the channel I'd routed, bored it out to accept 2 sliding 3/4" dowels, fitted it to the stock, and capped it with a piece of walnut half round. I sanded the whole thing smooth, gave it a coat of oil finish, and here's the result. It may not be the prettiest thing you've ever seen, but the cheek weld is perfect and puts my eye exactly where I need it to acquire my target without my head bobbing back and forth trying to get the correct placement. Since I can't remove the bolt with it in place, there are two 5/16" grub screws on the right side that engage the dowels to lock them in position and loosen to remove the cheek piece entirely. Any opinions or feedback are welcome.

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[jmoore]

It may not be the prettiest thing you've ever seen, but the cheek weld is perfect and puts my eye exactly where I need it to acquire my target

For a working rifle, function over form, unless you are trying to sell it.

I might be inclined to round the edges.

Since it was modified (beyond a reasonably restorable level, one hopes!) previous to your aquiring it, the main question would be- How does it shoot?

[lawrence_n]

Thanks for the comments jmoore. As I'd mentioned, it was a commercially modified sporter when I bought it. I will do a round off on some of the edges, and tweak the thing a little by next hunting season but it will do me well for this upcoming hunt. How does it shoot? WELL!!!! I've loaded 150 Hornady Interlocks over 44 grains of Hodgden "Varget" and at 100 yds. I'm putting 5 shots into a 3/4" hole. I'm a happy camper. Nothing is more distressing to me than the thought of a wounded animal. Myself and my buds do a fair amount of shooting and I'm proud to say that over all the years I've never needed a second shot.