My Favorite Shooter, Enfield No1 MkIII

[etprescottuk]

Here is my old No 1 Mk III Enfield, like I said in the thread title one of my favorite rifles to shoot. This is a BSA manufactured in 1917, bolt matches. The rifle just feels good to shoulder and works good also, decent bore for as old as it is. One of those rifles you can just feel history when holding, I'm happy to be it's caretaker for the next several decades. Research shows this Enfield was used by Australia from the large D stamped on the receiver, so who really knows where it's been and what it could tell us

[Steve]

Lovley looking rifle.Got a real soft spot for SMLE's and yours is a sweet looking rifle.

[ovenpaa]

Wow, lovely looking SMLE, I also have a soft spot for them, this one looks to not have the magazine cut off so a MkIII* maybe? As you say, we are but custodians of such rifles, merely holding them for the next person. What load do you shoot with it and to what distance?

This was mine from 1916

[Watcher]

This is mine; a Lithgow from 1941.

[jjvc]

I'm partial to the SMLE myself, heres mine which i must have had for about 14 years now.

Joe

[etprescottuk]

Manufacture, model and production date for MKIII Enfield

Wow, lovely looking SMLE, I also have a soft spot for them, this one looks to not have the magazine cut off so a MkIII* maybe? As you say, we are but custodians of such rifles, merely holding them for the next person. What load do you shoot with it and to what distance?

This was mine from 1916

I'm impressed with those SMLE rifles posted. You have a good eye for the SMLE, yes there is no magazine cutoff. Ovenpaa the 1916 is in Beautiful condition generally we do not run across rifles in that good of shape. You were asking what I shoot and at what distance. I'm somewhat embarrassed to say usually it is whatever surplus is available on the market. I found some bandoleers several years ago, I believe it may be Packi very reasonable, dirty stuff but it all goes bang. If shooting commercial Sellier@Bellot has the most reasonable commercial ammunition available, though all ammunition has seen huge price increases the last several years, may be time to set up my late fathers reloading bench.
What ranges, when target shooting we tend to be somewhat informal with my group, we set up orange painted sporting clays on the side of a hill or old pumice quarry, as well as some cans and bust up the clays and put holes in the cans. When finished we get out the scoped .22's and finish off the pieces of clay pigeon. Our target shooting is done on public land as this is still permissible in many places in the Western U.S. Therefore though there is an abundance of ranges I do not visit often. Distance, well at about 300-500 hundred feet? Find yourself in Arizona, drop me an e-mail I'll let you see some saguaro's and do some informal target shooting and plinking.
Watcher, nice Lithgow in the pic, interesting note on my SMLE* it was suppose to be a Lithgow ordered form a batch of Lithgow rifles a WWI BSA SMLE* showed up though I could not complain.

[Tower75]

Awesome looking rifle there. Love the SMLE. My favourite rifle in my collection in an SMLE. Post WWI MkIII - the cut-off is back, but the volley sights are gone

[ovenpaa]

Shooting clays and tins with milsurp at a couple of hundred yards with an SMLE in Arizona is about as close as I could imagine a perfect day could be. It is also the proper way to get out and enjoy such a rifle. Very nice indeed

I have had so much fun shooting at clays, plastic bottles and cans in the past, especially if there are two or three of you all trying to hit the same thing with similar rifles.

Arizona eh? I keep getting offers to call in to people in the USofA, I will have to call over some day.

[huntervixen]

Hi all,

The favorite rifle in my Enfield collection to shoot is my 1917, Enfield made No1 Mk111* It has NZ issue markings plus the obligatory rack number

It still has its 1916 made barrel and original woodwork, it's in correct WW1 fit right down to the Cole brothers ltd, 1916 made leather sling and correct wide piling swivel....not that i'm a perfectionist or anything!

Cheers all and merry christmas,

John.

[dave_303]

John correct me if I am wrong, but isn't that Severnside range? Do you shoot with Hereford Breechloaders?