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The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
Which boltie action milsurp?
- Thread starter BruiseLeee
- Start date
The #4 still has the rear locking lugs. It is strong enough for the .308
I'm a little surprised a version of this rifle turned out to have exceptional accuracy and was used for target competition.
I guess by 'strong enough', is the Enfield's design for the pressures of the 308 will not last as long as a Mauser type action. Rear locking lugs invite headspace problems.
But for the 303, it is marvelous.
And accurate.
And fast
And very heavy!
munk
I'm a little surprised a version of this rifle turned out to have exceptional accuracy and was used for target competition.
I guess by 'strong enough', is the Enfield's design for the pressures of the 308 will not last as long as a Mauser type action. Rear locking lugs invite headspace problems.
But for the 303, it is marvelous.
And accurate.
And fast
And very heavy!
munk
- Joined
- Jul 30, 2004
- Messages
- 3,833
The Ishapore 2A's (7.62x51 NATO) were really selling well. See the "Pat on the back" thread in THR; lots of folks are redoing them. Gotta say I like the feeling and balance of the Mk.1 No.4* better, though.
The hard part about recommending any one of these rifles is that they all are good enough. Nationalistic pride comes through when it's practically a tie.
That being said, here's the simple reason I don't have any American milsurps: $.
Yup, we like ours best.
Mosin- under $100
K31- $130
Mausers- $100-300
SMLE- $150-ish (I got one for $69 )
M-1 Carbine- like $500
Garand- $650 at gun show
03- ? not sure but around $500.
Mike
The hard part about recommending any one of these rifles is that they all are good enough. Nationalistic pride comes through when it's practically a tie.
That being said, here's the simple reason I don't have any American milsurps: $.Yup, we like ours best.
Mosin- under $100
K31- $130
Mausers- $100-300
SMLE- $150-ish (I got one for $69
)M-1 Carbine- like $500
Garand- $650 at gun show
03- ? not sure but around $500.
Mike
- Joined
- Jul 10, 2003
- Messages
- 1,601
Enfields:
I have a SMLE No1 mk 3 Ok rifle, very heavy feeling, and not as accurate as my No4 mk1. Plus I can't get the safety to stay on.
I have lusted after a P-14 but was never able to find one.
Generally I prefer the mauser design and use an Isreali capture piece converted to a scout rifle for the majority of my hunting needs.
I have not generally had good luck using military rifles with issue sights for hunting, I find that either they are too coarse, or else I am too unskilled to use properly.
I have a SMLE No1 mk 3 Ok rifle, very heavy feeling, and not as accurate as my No4 mk1. Plus I can't get the safety to stay on.
I have lusted after a P-14 but was never able to find one.
Generally I prefer the mauser design and use an Isreali capture piece converted to a scout rifle for the majority of my hunting needs.
I have not generally had good luck using military rifles with issue sights for hunting, I find that either they are too coarse, or else I am too unskilled to use properly.
- Joined
- Jun 2, 2006
- Messages
- 994
"These No.4 Mark 2 rifles are actually some of the finest No.4s to be found, as they were manufactured to a high degree of fit and finish which was denied the wartime versions. I have encountered No.4 Mark 2 rifles dating from the mid - 1950s, remarkable when you consider the American semi-auto Garand pre-dated this by twenty years. The No.4 .303 was finally ousted by the 7.62mm Nato S.L.R. rifle in British service, and an era stretching from 1888 seemed to have ended."
Great link, Spectre. Thanks:thumbup:
Great link, Spectre. Thanks:thumbup:
-$800
- Joined
- Jul 17, 2005
- Messages
- 2,940
If anyone hasn't read the page, you should read John's link of Alvin York. What a great diary of a soldier in France during WW1.
http://acacia.pair.com/Acacia.Vignettes/The.Diary.of.Alvin.York.html#October 8th 1918
I was right out in the open and the machine guns [there were over thirty of them in continuous action] were spitting fire and cutting up all around me something awful. But they didn't seem to be able to hit me. All the time the Germans were shouting orders. You never heard such a racket in all of your life. Of course, all of this only took a few minutes. As soon as I was able I stood up and begun to shoot off-hand, which is my favorite position. I was still sharpshooting with that-there old army rifle. I used up several clips. The barrel was getting hot and my rifle ammunition was running low, or was where it was hard for me to get at it quickly. But I had to keep on shooting jes the same.
In the middle of the fight a German officer and five men done jumped out of a trench and charged me with fixed bayonets. They had about twenty-five yards to come and they were coming right smart. I only had about half a clip left in my rifle; but I had my pistol ready. I done flipped it out fast and teched them off, too.
I teched off the sixth man first; then the fifth; then the fourth; then the third; and so on. That's the way we shoot wild turkeys at home. You see we don't want the front ones to know that we're getting the back ones, and then they keep on coming until we get them all. Of course, I hadn't time to think of that. I guess I jes naturally did it. I knowed, too, that if the front ones wavered, or if I stopped them the rear ones would drop down and pump a volley into me and get me.
Then I returned to the rifle, and kept right on after those machine guns. I knowed now that if I done kept my head and didn't run out of ammunition I had them. So I done hollered to them to come down and give up. I didn't want to kill any more'n I had to. I would tech a couple of them off and holler again. But I guess they couldn't understand my language, or else they couldn't hear me in the awful racket that was going on all around. Over twenty Germans were killed by this time.
The next morning Captain Danforth sent me back with some stretcher bearers to see if there were any of our American boys that we had missed. But they were all dead. And there were a lot of German dead. We counted twenty-eight, which is just the number of shots I fired. And there were thirty-five machine guns and a whole mess of equipment and small arms.
What a great hours read. Thanks John for the link.
http://acacia.pair.com/Acacia.Vignettes/The.Diary.of.Alvin.York.html#October 8th 1918
I was right out in the open and the machine guns [there were over thirty of them in continuous action] were spitting fire and cutting up all around me something awful. But they didn't seem to be able to hit me. All the time the Germans were shouting orders. You never heard such a racket in all of your life. Of course, all of this only took a few minutes. As soon as I was able I stood up and begun to shoot off-hand, which is my favorite position. I was still sharpshooting with that-there old army rifle. I used up several clips. The barrel was getting hot and my rifle ammunition was running low, or was where it was hard for me to get at it quickly. But I had to keep on shooting jes the same.
In the middle of the fight a German officer and five men done jumped out of a trench and charged me with fixed bayonets. They had about twenty-five yards to come and they were coming right smart. I only had about half a clip left in my rifle; but I had my pistol ready. I done flipped it out fast and teched them off, too.
I teched off the sixth man first; then the fifth; then the fourth; then the third; and so on. That's the way we shoot wild turkeys at home. You see we don't want the front ones to know that we're getting the back ones, and then they keep on coming until we get them all. Of course, I hadn't time to think of that. I guess I jes naturally did it. I knowed, too, that if the front ones wavered, or if I stopped them the rear ones would drop down and pump a volley into me and get me.
Then I returned to the rifle, and kept right on after those machine guns. I knowed now that if I done kept my head and didn't run out of ammunition I had them. So I done hollered to them to come down and give up. I didn't want to kill any more'n I had to. I would tech a couple of them off and holler again. But I guess they couldn't understand my language, or else they couldn't hear me in the awful racket that was going on all around. Over twenty Germans were killed by this time.
The next morning Captain Danforth sent me back with some stretcher bearers to see if there were any of our American boys that we had missed. But they were all dead. And there were a lot of German dead. We counted twenty-eight, which is just the number of shots I fired. And there were thirty-five machine guns and a whole mess of equipment and small arms.
What a great hours read. Thanks John for the link.
- Joined
- Nov 3, 1998
- Messages
- 4,331
Glad y'all enjoyed the links. 
(edit) Here's a more in-depth article from DCM. Rack grade are selling from them for 350$ + shipping...
(edit) Here's a more in-depth article from DCM. Rack grade are selling from them for 350$ + shipping...
- Joined
- Jul 30, 2004
- Messages
- 3,833
The Enfield link was a good 'un...
John, I had about given up on finding a good/affordable Garand, M-1 Carb. or '03. I'll widen the radar a little.
Heard CMP was out of 03's (must check); wanted a 03A3, IIRC. The Garand situation isn't good either. I'm afraid a lot of shooters DRIVE there and pick them over- carefully. I hate/won't get a blind ordered rifle. C&R's are so cheap I can afford to be picky. (No, I'm not interested in 3 M-44's for $125.) Still, a CMP Garand for $450 can be resold for $600 when you outgrow it- they say. Can't imagine parting with a piece of WWII Americana like that, personally.
Will look. York's actual rifle he used that day, by the way, was lost/turned back in. He didn't get to keep it, according to his son.
So some '03 owner out there has an actual, tangible piece of American history in his hands. Imagine.
Mike
John, I had about given up on finding a good/affordable Garand, M-1 Carb. or '03. I'll widen the radar a little.
Heard CMP was out of 03's (must check); wanted a 03A3, IIRC. The Garand situation isn't good either. I'm afraid a lot of shooters DRIVE there and pick them over- carefully. I hate/won't get a blind ordered rifle. C&R's are so cheap I can afford to be picky. (No, I'm not interested in 3 M-44's for $125.) Still, a CMP Garand for $450 can be resold for $600 when you outgrow it- they say. Can't imagine parting with a piece of WWII Americana like that, personally.
Will look. York's actual rifle he used that day, by the way, was lost/turned back in. He didn't get to keep it, according to his son.
So some '03 owner out there has an actual, tangible piece of American history in his hands. Imagine.
Mike
He didnt' like the sights on the 03
The Garands at CMP have been picked over long ago for rare collectables. If they're getting further selected, it's for good wood, matching parts, etc.
I've thought of getting one from them for many years, and missed the boat.
munk
The Garands at CMP have been picked over long ago for rare collectables. If they're getting further selected, it's for good wood, matching parts, etc.
I've thought of getting one from them for many years, and missed the boat.
munk
- Joined
- Sep 7, 2001
- Messages
- 5,946
Thanks for good info and links.
I'll have to read em' when no one's looking. (at work) Or maybe I should start drinking. 
I'll have to read em' when no one's looking. (at work)
Or maybe I should start drinking.