Charnwood Ordnance 308 conversion

[bros]

Need your thoughts on the quality of these conversions........was charnwood a gov't manufacturer? I know of one for sale in very good condition for about$1000, also anybody have any expierence with the accuracy of these converted enfields, thanks.

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[Thunderbox]

Charnwood is/was a private firearms dealer who happened to acquire a very large stock of Enfield parts.

The 7.62mm/.308 No4s are simply "parts" rifles made up out of No4 parts and Sterling barrels. They are competently made, and generally attractive rifles - some have plum rebluing.

Shooting and accuracy-wise, the rifles are extremely variable. This is not so much to do with the assembly of the rifle, but rather that 7.62mm No4 barrels often do not work well in standard military (front bearing) bedding on any rifle. Owners often have to try shimming the barrel, or converting the rifle to centre-bedding in order to et reliable grouping. These barrels can also be sensitive to different brands/loads of ammunition as well.

Top to bottom:

a) Full Sterling conversion (including new ejector);

b) Charnwood (military bedded);

c) DCRA-type conversion of Long Branch (centre-bedded; Belgian barrel. Extremely accurate..);

[Peter Laidler]

I was under the impression that the Charnwood made-up rifles used Belgian(?) barrels and not Sterling barrels. Certainly some appear to have been breeched up and THEN had the foresight block bands (and sometimes the bayonet lugs) machined in situ afterwards.

Accuracy and Charnwood No4 made-ups aren't words that sit easily together no matter what you really do, as stated quite rightly by t/box. But if you want some good fun shooting with cheap 7.62mm ball ammo then they are a great way to go. I taught my son to shoot and get used to big calibres using one using plentiful stocks of date/time expired RG ammo.

From a collectors point of view - of which I am definately not - I really don't know where they fit/sit, being neither fish nor fowl

[breakeyp]

I was told that Charnwood rifles have CO in the serial number. Is this true and for all models? Is there any other way to determine if a rifle is Charnwood?

[Thunderbox]

I was told that Charnwood rifles have CO in the serial number. Is this true and for all models? Is there any other way to determine if a rifle is Charnwood?

Most of them have scrubbed receivers, remarked with a Charnwood serial number CO-xxxx-xx or similar. Wide variety of finishes, although some have a blue-purple bluing. Complete mix of components - all factories and variations. All types of wood. Apart from the CO- serial number, there is no distinguishing mark other than the rifles are complete "bitsas". Sterlings and the odd Belgian conversion at least seem to be mostly from one original rifle.

[villiers]

Charnwood LE No 5 on a No 4 action. Easy to identify as is stamped `Charnwood´+ SN. The chamber was `sticky´ when new and had to be re-reamed. Was told by the gunsmith that they had used a Bren barrel. Barrel fully floating, trigger converted by me with parts supplied by Peter. Much appreciated and very grateful. Has `new´ extractor. Doesn´t need an ejector. Shoots a dream (even with a hot barrel). Definitely a keeper.

Attachment 45308Attachment 45309

[superbee]

In Canada,most of the the CO 7.62's were imported by "collectors source" in the early 1990's.
Best guess,Less than 20 in the country.I have only seen 4 in the last 20 years.
About 250 were built.
It terms of numbers a very rare enfield variation.
I would have bought it,but already have one!

[Lance]

I picked up mine back in the late '90's. They do come up from time to time, mine has most of the receiver marks scrubbed but it appears from the partials that it started out as a late '41 to '42 BSA. I have never shot mine as I got purely as a collector's piece, the closest I will come to obtaining a L8.

[Roger Payne]

Most people have probably twigged it already, but the '90' in Lance's serial number is the year of conversion, followed by the unique number of the rifle.

ATB

[bigduke6]

c) DCRA-type conversion of Long Branch (centre-bedded; Belgian barrel. Extremely accurate..);

Anyone have any more info regarding the centre bedding for the Belgian 7.62mm barrels, is the fore-end and hand guards compressing the barrel or the barrel just in contact with centre of the fore-end ?