LEE ENFIELD LE 1 375-303

[Guy.G]

Here is a couple of pictures of an old lee enfield that I have given a bit of restoration.

 

[Guy.G]

Here is a couple of pictures of an old lee enfield that I have given a bit of restoration.

 

[DmacD]

Nicely done. It sure beats most of the unfortunate .303 hack jobs that are seen in my neck of the woods. The stock work looks exceptional.

 

[enysse]

Wow, absolutely stunning! I take my hat off to you, it’s beautiful!

 

[Witold Krzyżanowski]

Beautiful rifle. Congrats.

 

[nztimb]

Ready for another 100 years of service in the hunting fields

 

[sestoppelman]

That is very nicely done and interesting caliber. Like to hear some about the round.

 

[yumastepside]

That is one of the nicest "smellies" I've seen. I am currently building a similar rifle in .375 x 2 1/2 FNE on an LSA No. l Mklll action.
I see no reason the old Enfields cannot look as good as any sporting rifle, and your version proves this.
An excellent example!

Roger

A couple of questions......what length is the barrel, and what did you use for the crossbolt in front of the butt socket?

 

[Guy.G]

Ready for another 100 years of service in the hunting fields

Yes mate I hope it will be still in use after I am gone. Thanks for your input at the start of this project, that could be a year or more ago.

That is very nicely done and interesting caliber. Like to hear some about the round.

It is the 303 british necked up to 375 cal. A very similar powder capacity to the 375 x 2 1/2 inch flanged nitro express, but the nitro excress has a longer shell yet a very similar over all cartridge length.

 

[Guy.G]

That is one of the nicest "smellies" I've seen. I am currently building a similar rifle in .375 x 2 1/2 FNE on an LSA No. l Mklll action.
I see no reason the old Enfields cannot look as good as any sporting rifle, and your version proves this.
An excellent example!

Roger

A couple of questions......what length is the barrel, and what did you use for the crossbolt in front of the butt socket?

The barrel is a 24 inch loather walter. The cross bolt is a talley, not as traditional as the brass pin, but I like the look of these. I was going to put a front one in as well, it would be a tight fit but it could be done. I think it would look very impressive. I would never do it to a lee speed, but this is just my take on how my grandfathers LE 1 should look.

 

[Guy.G]

Here is the 375-303 with 300gn ,235gn along side the 303

 

[Forrest Halley]

Similar ballistics to a .375 flanged eh?

Are you still getting ten in the magazine?

 

[WAB]

Wow, that’s a very interesting rifle. Well done!

 

[AZDAVE]

Nice job on the rifle. Like others interested in the rounds ballistics and performance.

 

[WebleyGreene455]

Handsome rifle. I got a cheap N0.4 MkI sporter a while back that I want to do something similar with, or at least give it nicer wood and a scope. Changing the calibre seems to be pretty limited in options, yeah?

 

[nztimb]

That is one of the nicest "smellies" I've seen.

Roger

This is not a SMLE Rodger, It is a Magazine Lee Enfield Mk1

Genealogy

303 Magazine rifle 1888
Magazine Lee Metford Mk1 1892
Magazine Lee Metford Mk2 1892

Magazine Lee Enfield Mk1 1895 (Rodgers 1896 rifle is this model)

Short Magazine Lee Enfield (SMLE) 1903

There are other varients among the MLE (CLLE with charger bridges being added to the MLE) but the se are the main demarcations in the genre.
Lee Skennertons Small Arms Identification series is a great resource and needed for the enthusiast. Available for Martinis as well as the SMLE's and other British military equipment

 

[nztimb]

The cross bolt is a talley, not as traditional as the brass pin, but I like the look of these.

As mentioned in recent post on my stocks builds I do a hidden cross bolt with a length of threaded rod

 

[ActionBob]

Beautiful rifle, fascinating cartridge

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Handsome rifle. I got a cheap N0.4 MkI sporter a while back that I want to do something similar with, or at least give it nicer wood and a scope. Changing the calibre seems to be pretty limited in options, yeah?

Webley Green455
Lik you had a No4 SMLE but with a hung trigger. Rebarreled it to 444 Marlin with a 22inch barrel and a 1 in 20 twist
405 Winchester could be another option

My 444 thumper

 

[yumastepside]

Sorry Garry, it was only a generalisation, I tend to call all the Enfields "smellies".....except the P14!

Roger