Prices in General

[CINDERS]

Am I missing something here or has it gone a bit silly for these MkIII's apart from them not making them anymore, though the 1915 & 19 would be ones for the collection I guess.

From usedguns.com.au "Rebel Gun Works" selling them they have known to be a pricey shop.

Calibre/Item: 303
Make: Lithgow (Butt matches action and dated 1915)
Model: SMLE No.1 Mk.111
Action: Bolt repeater
Condition: Very Good
Price:$1950
Advertised:27/03/2018

Calibre/Item: 303
Make: Lithgow (1919)
Model: SMLE No.1 Mk.111
Action: Bolt repeater
Condition: Very Good
Price:$1790
Advertised:27/03/2018

Calibre/Item: 303
Make: Lithgow (1941)
Model: No 1 Mk.111
Action: Bolt repeater
Condition: Very Good
Price:$1450
Advertised:27/03/2018
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Then something like this turns up within the realms of reality;
Calibre/Item: 303
Make: Lithgow
Model: MK III*
Action: Bolt repeater
Serial No: A53000
Condition: Good
Price:$500
Advertised:27/03/2018
Licence number:
Phone:
Comment: Lithgow SMLE MK III* Manufactured 1919. Usual condition for a rifle being 99 years old. Has matching bolt. Heavy barrel, strong rifling, bit of shadowing.

All of these might have to go on the Lithgow serial list as at least we know where they are somewhere in Aus.

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[ufo8mydog]

They have been trying to sell those over priced bitzers for a long time.

[enfield303t]

On rare occasion I have browsed a AU gun sales site and always wondered why so expensive?? Prices are NUTS.

[Bindi2]

On rare occasion I have browsed a AU gun sales site and always wondered why so expensive?? Prices are NUTS.

When the majority of our SMLEs got sent over to USA there are now more collectors than rifles, so guess what happens to the price. Supply and demand at work.

[GeeRam]

One of our .303 specialist dealers here in UK has a nice 1915 Lithgow SMLE listed here (#1053) up for £995 which is currently about AU$1800.

http://www.thedevizesgunsmith.co.uk/...ce-and-sniper/

But then, Lee-Enfield prices here in the UK have been nuts for a few years now.

[Ovidio]

Such a rifle would go for anything between 800 and 1200 € here. In good conditions.

[RobD]

I have observed that during recent years in the UK, a Lee Enfield SMLE or No 4 has generally fetched within the price bracket of 500-1000 rounds of commercially available .303 ammo.

For example, Prvi Partizan .303 ammo of the MkVII type now goes for £86.70 per 100 rounds.

Now, I go through a hell of a lot of ammo, esp. with an electronic target - so the purchase price of the rifle is not, for me, the biggest determinant of how expensive the historical shooting hobby is getting.

Rob

[CINDERS]

Reloading cuts your costs to about a 1/2 of throwing factory at the targets besides with reloading you can tailor the load for the rifle, I shoot 3 on a regular basis 2 x No.4's & 1 x MKIII with the 4th a No.4 "T" getting limited rounds after some considerable range time have a load that works well in all of them.

Hypothetically to load an initial round if you have all the gear scales/dies etc equates roughly to this if I have it incorrect then the mathematicians here may show a different figure so here goes;

What it is costing you at todays exchange rate here in Aus as of 28/03/2018 exchange rate $87.60 GBP/100 rounds to Au $ = $158.90 or roughly $1.60/round in one of our weekend comps we can go through 160 rounds thats not including a blast up or a mad minute. (1.60 x 160 = $256.00 in ammo alone) you can get say from the Bullet Factory 420 FBHP .311" / 174gn for $210.54/Au or .50128 cents per projectile.

Primers Fed Gold Match $95.00 - 1000 = .095 cents each
S&B 303/100 cases = $90 or .90 each
4 kilo 2209 powder $400.00 = 7000 x 8.81lbs = 61,671 grains div 40000/61,671= 0.648 of a cent per grain multiply it by the charge weight I use = .648 x 46 = 29.83 cents per round so lets add that up;
Projie = .50 cents
Primer = .095 cent
Case = .90 cents
Powd = .29 cents
Tot = $1.70 for the first initial loading of a cartridge now lets subtract the cost of the 303 S&B case from the mix = $1.70 - .90 = .80 cents per loaded round with getting anywhere between 10-12 reloads from my cases 50 x 12 = 600 rounds.

600 rounds at your costs = $960/Au

Reloading way = 50 x 1.70 = $85/Au (Initial component set up)
Then = 550 x .80 = $440/Au
Total for 600 rounds = $525 saving you $435

[nijalninja]

Yeah Cinders I do not see why such rifles cost so much compared to other rifles for sale around the country even on that same site. Even other dealers ask half the price for what seems to be the same quality rifle. I have browsed their collection personally (Though some time ago with even more limited knowledge than what I have now) and apart from some few that stood out, the rest seemed either average or had their stories inflated (THIS IS MY OWN LIMITED EXPERIENCE). However, I have also bought a few things through them and lost out every time through my own lazy examination and hopefullness. IN FACT my Cinders, the very No4 which you have been helping me diagnose came from them as a $1200+ rifle, where other NO4's around the country online seem to go for $900 or so in the same condition (Or better considering the sad state of accuracy of mine).

So yeah even though I really hate to put a black mark on anyone's reputation I really really would rather not do business with those guys again. I know I should have been more observant, but they knew what they were selling, and they must know their prices are outrageous. Just takes someone fresh to take one of these things. I also feel confused about their precise pricing, but I mean they bought them and can hang onto them as long as they want, but to anyone who deals with them: Look carefully at what you are getting.

[CINDERS]

Sorry you got stung bloke sometimes you should walk away I had the same with a deal for a rifle from a friend end story was it ended up being not as good as he said it was needing repairs and it cost a friendship which was another blow if it was not for the fact it was a Sniper T it would have gone back, its fixed now but was an extra cost I did not need as he did not miss me in that area.