Where can I find a nice sporter rifle in .303 British built on a Lee-Enfield action ? I read the article on the .303 in a recent issue of African Hunter, and now am looking for a sporter .303. Thanks for any help.

The Lee enfield can be sprterized quite easily. Aftermarket synthetic and wood stocks are available for a reletive low price and there is a no gunsmith scope mount available also. I did one of these about 10 years ago. I don't remeber the manufacturer of the specific parts though.

I have one of the sporterized SMLE .303's, nothing fancy but quite utile. I like the rifle. The only problem I have is reloading for the old smelleys wasn't an option, and they were made to function in mud, sand, grit, you name it. It's rare I get three reloads from a case before it splits in half, really frustrating. Headspace always checks out okay, but still the brass doesn't last. Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal

Cal I find it interesting that you are only getting 3 reloads from your rifle I load for a heap of different rifles (lee enfields) and have never struck that problem are you full length resizing your cases all the time? I keep my cases seperate for individual rifles and only neck size till they get a bit hard to chamber than full length resize i've got cases that have done 10-15 with no problems the loads are not flat out but not that mild either the only brass I had a problem with was S&B that lasted for 1-2 loads before seperating no matter what load or how it was sized don't use it anymore
with your headspace I have noticed a lot off difference between brands off case the rim thickness varies a lot maybe if your rifle is a little on the open side it would benefit from brass with a thicker rim? my gunsmith who has set 100's of Lee Enfields up for big bore target shooting has always told me to have headspce of +.002" if the rim thickness is .064" he will give the rifle .066" he does want to know what brass i am using if you have some different cases laying around check the difference of the rims it is incredible how much they vary
I have to say they are a great rifle

Hello Frank,

The only country that still builds factory rifles on the Enfield action is India and you'll be able to see pictures of the bastardised .315 IOF (an 8mm J bore bullet in a .303 Enfield case) at http://www.ofbindia.com/civil_sector/sporting_arms.htm

Now that caliber bans have been thrown out by the Indian Supreme Court, we just may see sporterised Smellys in .303 again!

Good hunting!