Price check/info on .303 Enfield

[Mr. 16 gauge]

Got out of work a little early today, and stopped by a local gun shop to pick up some case cleaner. They didn't have what I was looking for, but they did have a .303 SMLE on the rack. The stock appears in pristine condition (refinished?), and I don't know what 'type' it was, other than I know it wasn't the 'jungle carbine' issued to the Aussies in WWII. Stock was full length and that's about all I know.
Price tag was $195......don't know if this is a fair price or not.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Also, as far as the .303 round goes: Is surplus ammo still available? I've heard that case life is shortened on full length resizing....any truth to that?

Finally, what should I look for on this rifle as far as "red flags" go?

Thanks in advance.............

[Gil Martin]

Condition and where the rifle was made mean everything. Sounds like you are looking at a No. 1 Mark III from WWI and WWII. Check the bore, look for matching numbers on the bolt and receiver and overall condition. The price does not sound too bad and is about what a decent Enfield sells for today.

Surplus ammo availability varies and I have no seen any advertised for quite some time. Federal, Winchester and Remington sell brass so reloading may be the way to go,. The British Enfields tend to stretch cases and it is best to lightly full length resize or neck size the brass. My Enfields shoot well with 159 grain spitzers and IMR4895.

If the rifle was made in England, Canada, New Zealand or Australia and I liked it and it passed my examination i would make an offer. If it was made in India then I would pass on it. Hope this helps. All the best...
Gil

[Adam Helmer]

Mr. 16 gauge,

Since Gil bought his FIRST .303 in 1958, the lad has a keen head for figuring what is what. If the SMLE you saw was stocked to the muzzle, it was probably a Mark III, which became a No.1 Mk III when the Brits renumbered their rifles in the 1920s. If there is about 3 inches of barrel protruding beyond the forend, then you may have a No.4 Mk1 rifle developed in the 1930s by the Brits, which soldiered on beyond Korea.

Look at the numbers on the bolt and receiver: If they match, that is ok. Look at the bore: If it shines with strong rifling, ok. If it looks like the tailpipe of my truck, pass on it. Reloading the .303 British merely requires attention to detail. Back Off the resizing die so you get a slight "Crunch Fit" when chambering the round after resizing. I keep a note card in my .303 die box for various Rifle preferences. Some .303s need -one fourth backing off on the resizing die. Some rifles prefer -one half turn. One lovely old MkIII demands -1.5 turns Back OFF of the resizing die to prevent case separations on the 3rd or 4th reloading. The .303 headspaces on the RIM, so whatever the chamber prefers for backing off on the sizing die merely indicates WWII RUSH manufacturing preferences.

Adam