Colmurph

[ArtySgt]

My wife bought me a military rifle while I was in the hospital as a surprise, and guess what ? I'm surprised.... Thought you could identify it for me. British enfield, cal 308. Markings on the lower band at trigger guard. RIFLE 62mm2A1 Next line below: R.F.I.
1967 all the parts seem to have matching numbers. It has a box 10 round magazine. Nothing on the breech of the rifle where most other military rifles are marked. Markings on the rear sight are; ICR 1559 and again R.F.I.
What do I have ? Safe to shoot ?

[Keith_Hixson]

It all depends on your aim.


Keith


P.S. Sorry I just couldn't resist.

[ArtySgt]

OK, you got me. Good one.

[colmurph]

Sounds to me that you have a Short Model Lee Enfield bolt action rifle that's been converted from .303 to the NATO round. It should be safe to shoot as the Enfield has a pretty strong action and the .303 is not all that different from the .308 as far as chamber pressures go. Only difference, basically is that the .303 is a rimmed cartrige and the .308 is rimless.

[Keith_Hixson]

My Research on the Internet indicates that the 2A1 was a special version of the The Standard Enfield manufacture in India in the 1960's so the British Army could have a 7.62 NATO shoulder arm.

They should have just bought M-14 from US. Which would have been a better choice of infantry weapon. But they wanted their own weapon built their own way.

They were chambered from the factory as a 7.62 NATO. I agree, it should be safe to shoot unless its been abused.

Sporterize it for a good deer and elk gun. Or keep it as a collectors piece. Will work either way.

Keith

[ArtySgt]

Keith, thanks for the info, won't sporterize a military weapon, but for my needs it is good just as it is.

[Keith_Hixson]

As a kid I got a Springfield 1903A3 and spent a couple hundred bucks sporterizing it. Could have gotten a Winchester, Savage, or Remington and stuck a scope on it much cheaper than going through all the sporterizing. However I do have an adjustable trigger on it which I can take down to a half pound pull. I keep the setting at a little over a pound. Makes for much more accurate shooting. Wish I had a complete military 1903 Springfield. Wouldn't do it again.

Keith

[colmurph]

"Sporterizing" has driven the value of non-sporterized military rifles through the roof! I have an "Original as Issued" condition U.S. Springfield Krag/Jorgensen in .30-40 cal. It's now worth around $1,300.00 because so many of them were soprterized in the 20's and 30's when they could be had from Bannermans at around $5.00 a pop. In the 40's according to some old timer's I know, you could get an 1861 or 1863 Springfield Civil War Musket at Bannermans for around $7.50. (Today one in good condition is around $2,500.00)

[Tamaroa]

In 1964 I purchased an oval US belt plate with arrow hooks on the back from Dixie Gunworks for $4.00. The same buckle is going for between $250 to $275 in good condition now. Prices are getting crazy all around.

Bill