Lee-Enfield Mark I .303 British

Lee-Enfield Mark I .303 British

I got an opportunity to delve into my friend's collection of old "rustbuckets" and talked him into bringing two specimens over to my 100-yd range on the farm.  We started by dragging out my two Lee-Enfields and comparing.  His is a Mark I, mine are a Mark II and a Mark III and it was a real thrill to look at them all three sitting on the dining room table before we got to work.

First, a good brass brush dipped in solvent, through the bore.  Then a good spraying of Rem oil to loosten up the moving parts and clean up the bolt and firing mechanism.  We then wiped her down and put a patch through the bore and took her out back to the range, all set up for 100-yds complete with telescope.  He did not care to shoot it but was more interested in sighting in his other rifle, so I put a three shot group out there.  I managed to keep it within 7.1" and the ring score for the three shots was 20 points.  It recoiled like a mule and we felt this to be an adequate result for a shakedown shooting.  I tried another 3-shot group at the end of our session, and managed to put two only 2-inches low and 2 inches to the left AND 6 inches high and 2 inches to the left.  The third shot did not hit the paper. I don't know if I flinched or what, but it is most likely that it was the shooter and not the gun. 

I am not sure as to whether he is interested in sandbagging this gun and trying to shoot tighter groups in the future, but that certainly would be the next stage.  I have two of my own to do, so we will see what the future brings.  So many guns and so  little time.

It was really fun shooting this piece of history and I only wish it was part of my armory so that I would have all three.