[terricksa]

First post and hope to make many more as I am getting back into hunting and shooting after many years.
I inherited this but don't know much about it other than it had some .308 shells next to it but not even sure that is correct either. I can look for markings later but could really see anything i could make out. I only have the pic at this poinit. Any help is appreciated. Would it be worth cleaning up and shooting?

 

[Dirtypacman]

Looks like an Enfield in .303 to me but I have been known to be wrong. I would wait for others to chime in.

 

[Throckmorton]

some of the old enfields have been re-chambered to accept .308 cartridges,but do NOT try to fire them without verifying it.check the barrel to see if the caliber is stamped on there,or on the receiver/bolt area.

 

[aa1911]

It's an Enfield all right... sporterized looks like.. best figure out if it's orginal 303 or if someone rechambered to 308.

like said, do not fire those in it (or try to) until you know 100% what caliber it is.

 

[Diamondback]

There are a number of things you can do to confirm what this rifle will chamber. It has the appearance of a .303 Brit especially with the magazine that is currently installed. The Brits that were rechambered have, if I remember correctly a flat bottom on the magazine.
The best thing to do is take it to a reputable gunsmith or gun store and ask them to check the chambering for you.
You might also try tto chamber a .303 round. If it has indeed been rechambered you will NOT be able to chamber a .303.
THe magazine is shaped that way because the .303 is a rimmed cartridge, while the .308 is a rimless. You might also check to see if the bolt will hold a
.308 cartridge. Out of the rifle of course.
It is a good looking rifle regardless of the caliber and the fact that the stock has been sporterized.
Good luck and safe shooting.

 

[Jim K]

It is/was a British Rifle No. 4, originally in .303 British. It is not possible to "rechamber" .303 British to .308 Winchester; at a minimum a new barrel would be needed and that No. 4 still has the original barrel. (Just because someone had a rifle and some cartridges does NOT mean the cartridges are right for the rifle - have it checked out.)

The rifle has been "sporterized" and has zero collector value or interest. It is worth maybe $150-200 as a hunting rifle. .303 British is suitable for any game on the North American continent.

Jim

 

[terricksa]

Awesome, some great info. I will def have it checked out. I looked at the barrel and it looks like .303 is stamped in it.
I will still def have it checked out before I take it to the range. Def plan to get it all cleaned up and use for target and hunting.

 

[jjmitchell60]

It is most likely an Ishapore 2A produced in India and chambered in 7.62NATO. So that will explain the 308 ammo and yes they make good truck guns or brush guns bing they will shoot 308 Winchester. Look on it and see if it has a 196? date on it. Here is a link to help you. I have one an dit is used as a truck gun. The ony thing that throws off the idea it is an Ishapore is teh mag, they have a square boxed style mag BUT a 303 mag will fit in it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ishapore_2A1_rifle

 

[Jim K]

Those Ishapore rifles were basically Rifle No. 1 Mk. III's; that rifle is clearly a No. 4 based on the receiver configuration, the magazine, and the bayonet lugs on the barrel. Some No.4 rifles were converted in the U.K. to 7.62 NATO for match shooting but they got new barrels (for obvious reasons of bore size) and the new barrels didn't have bayonet lugs.

I will repeat - just because someone had a rifle and also had cartridges doesn't mean the cartridges fit the rifle. I think most of us have more than one caliber of gun and more than one kind of ammunition, and we don't necessarily keep everything matched up.

Jim

 

[terricksa]

I was able to make out a .303 on the barrel.

ALso found near the safety 1946 England, so I def think it is the No 4.

Plan to take it to a local armory just to get it a once over before i give it a good cleaning and oiling and take it to the range.

Thanks again for all the great input.

 

[jjmitchell60]

Jim is right. I looked at my Ishapore after I posted and saw the differences. Just goes to show that we hoard ammo that we do not have guns for for some odd reason. I am guilty of it, have many calibers that have no gun for them!

IF you decide to put it back to military config., stocks are readily available for it.

 

[terricksa]

I think i am going to put on a new synthetic ATI stock and foregrip and use it as my hunting rifle

Looking at something this.

http://www.amazon.com/ATI-Enfield-Monte-Carlo-Stock/dp/B000HOV7BA/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=3JCSBZFPL7A7U&coliid=IP2V64AFBM23W

 

[1952Sniper]

I think i am going to put on a new synthetic ATI stock and foregrip and use it as my hunting rifle

Looking at something this.

http://www.amazon.com/ATI-Enfield-Monte-Carlo-Stock/dp/B000HOV7BA/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=3JCSBZFPL7A7U&coliid=IP2V64AFBM23W

I was in the same position as you are. I was given a poorly sporterized Enfield and decided to try to save it by doing more custom work, since restoring it was not possible. That ATI Monte Carlo stock isn't ideal, but there aren't a lot of options for aftermarket Enfield stocks. So it's what I went with too, but it required a lot of fitting.

I also did a crown job on the barrel, a deep cleaning of the bore using the electronic bore cleaning method, installed a Huber custom adjustable trigger, mounted a new scope with illuminated reticle, and then did a parkerizing/Duracoat job on the whole thing (two-tone, tan and black), as well as building a custom padded cheek piece for the stock. It may not be to everyone's tastes, but it at least shows that you can take an old hack-job and make it into a real custom piece.

Some before and after shots are below. This is the stock you're looking at (though this one has been Duracoated).

 

[terricksa]

That looks awesome. Can you supply a little more info on the scope and mount. That is exactly what I am looking to do, maybe without the duracoat but now that i see it i may do that as well eventually.