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New 7.62x51 SMLE
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You guys may have seen these before but I just found this website.
http://www.marstar.ca/gf-AIA/M10-N4.shtm


It says they are chambered in 7.62x51, could you shoot commericial .308 Win in these rifles? I heard that .308 has higher pressures
 
Posts: 54 | Registered: 13 July 2006Reply With Quote
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I at one time had an Enfield similar to these that had a sporter stock put on it. It was made in India and marked 7.62Nato, although I don't remember the manufacturer. I shot factory loaded 308Win in it without any problems whatsoever. I will argue about the pressure of military ammo, some of it is loaded so high pressure the brass is sometimes rendered unusable for reloading.


Dennis
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Posts: 1191 | Location: Ft. Morgan, CO | Registered: 15 April 2005Reply With Quote
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These are new production SMLE's made somewhere in Asia for AIA. I've never heard anything about them other than they're a little costly.

You might CC this post to the Australian hunting forum as our good friends down under get a lot of usage out of Lee-Enfields.


Jason

"Chance favors the prepared mind."
 
Posts: 1449 | Location: Dallas, Texas | Registered: 24 February 2004Reply With Quote
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I have a L39A1 Lee Enfield Target rifle in 308 Winchester. I am quite certain this was a converted No4 Mark II. And even though it has all the proof marks, I find that loads much greater than 2400 fps with a 168 gr Sierra create difficult bolt lift. I generally load that bullet to 2550 to 2600 fps in my front locking target rifles, and even those velocities are much less than the maximum velocities you see in loading manuals. Which are about 2700 fps.

So, I think a Lee Enfield is a springy action. The locking lugs are at the rear of the bolt, the whole action is under tension and the bolt is under compression, and I don't think it can handle loads as hot as a front locker.

And my other Lee Enfield in 308, is an Ishapore No 1 Mk III made in 308. It and the L39 do not feed 308 all that reliably. Maybe there is not enough taper in a 308, I don't know. I do not recall any difficult bolt lift problems with the Ishapore, but that does not mean it did not have any. It just has been so long since I shot the thing.

My recommendation, don't buy a Lee Enfield in 308. Buy a Lee Enfield in 303 Brit. Or buy something else in 308. If you can get one of those K31 Swiss rifles, get that. They are positively the best worksmanship in a surplus bolt service rifle I have ever owned. Accurate too, for a service rifle.
 
Posts: 1233 | Registered: 10 October 2005Reply With Quote
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I emailed Marstar about this. They said that the chamber is the long 7.62x51 and the rifle is proofed to .308 pressures dictated by SAMMI. So any .308/7.62 ammo is safe to use.
 
Posts: 54 | Registered: 13 July 2006Reply With Quote
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