the many years that rifle mechanisms have interested me, I’ve read and heard much praise and criticism of the Lee-Enfield action and rifle, with devotees and critics equally vehement. While I don’t want to enter into this debate, I will make some comments.
Although the Lee turnbolt-action system was of advanced design when James Paris Lee patented it in 1879, and when a modified version of it was adopted by Great Britain in 1888, it must be conceded that it was, along with the rimmed 303 British cartridge, outmoded by the Mauser system actions developed from 1893 to 1898. Regardless of this, the British, having made the choice, probably spent more time and money in experimenting and testing the Lee-Enfield rifle than any other country did. The fact that the Lee-Enfield rifle performed so well during its long military history proves without a doubt that the action is sound. Manufacturing specifications were quite rigid. The steel used in it was always the best available for the purpose. The various parts were properly machined, finished and heat-treated. Unlike the early Model 1903 Springfield actions, there was never any doubt about the quality of the steel and heat-treatment used in making the Lee-Enfield action. Generally, however, it is not material or manufacture that is criticized, but the design.
The two-piece stock design is often criticized, yet I think no other military bolt-action rifle has a stronger buttstock attachment to the receiver. It is, perhaps, stronger than the Japanese Arisaka Type 99 rifle. The separate Lee- Enfield forend, though, has always given trouble. I believe, however, that if the butt socket had been designed with a front recess, so the rear of the forend could have been fitted inside it, and the barrel had been made a bit shorter and heavier from the start, bedding problems would have largely eliminated.
The protruding sheet-metal magazine is also criticized. The British did not develop the Lee-Enfield for anything except military use, and I believe its magazine system is one of the best for military use. The magazine box was made rather light, but it was quickly detachable, and if it was damaged another one could be quickly inserted. For some military uses, it probably was more convenient to carry extra loaded magazines than loose ammunition or ammunition in clips. Even though the magazine was detachable, for most military use it was left in place and loaded from the top through the action, either with clips or by pressing single cartridges into it. The large capacity was certainly desirable, and the fact that the magazine protruded below the bottom of the stock was of no disadvantage for military use since the point of balance of these rifles is forward of the magazine.
General Specifications
Type . . . . . . . . . . . .Turnbolt repeater.
Receiver . . . . . . . .One-piece machined steel forging with slotted main bridge. The forward part of the main bridge is built over to form a narrow bridge for the clip-charger guide.
Bolt . . . . . . . . . . . .Two-piece, with separate non-rotating bolt head. Dual-opposed locking lugs on the rear of the bolt.
Ignition . . . . . . . . . .One-piece firing pin powered by a coil mainspring. Cocks on closing bolt.
Magazine . . . . . . . .Detachable, staggered-column, ten-round box.
Trigger . . . . . . . . . .Non-adjustable double-stage military-type pull.
Safety . . . . . . . . . .Lever type at left rear of receiver, locks striker and bolt when swung back. Striker can also be placed in “half-cock” or “safe” position manually; see text.
Extractor . . . . . . . .Non-rotating hook type positioned in bolt head; separate spring.
Magazine cutoff . . .Cutoff provided on No. 1 Mark III, none on No. 4 or 5.
Bolt-stop . . . . . . . .No separate bolt-stop; extractor housing on bolt head acts as bolt-stop. See text.
Ejector . . . . . . . . . .Stud screw threaded into left receiver wall.
Stock fastening . . .Buttstock attached to receiver by a through-bolt.
All Lee-Enfield bolts have separate bolt heads, the bolt head threading into the bolt body. Shown here is a No. 4 bolt head, unscrewed from the bolt body.
The Lee-Enfield action has more than ample strength for the 303 British cartridge. The two rear locking lugs are not only more than adequate to secure the bolt in the receiver, but keep the necessary bolt travel to a minimum. The threaded-in detachable bolt head is a good feature; it provided a good bolt-stop and a very convenient means to control headspace, as was done in the No. 4 rifles. The safety and trigger mechanisms are rugged and reliable. The extractor is good, but I believe it would have been a better design with a coil spring rather than a flat one, since the extractor spring is about the only part subject to breakage. There was no need for the half-cock feature. Nevertheless, Reynolds (op cit.) says that demands from field units brought the half-cock feature back; that its lack was considered dangerous. The action cocks on closing the bolt and is not liked by many shooters, but it’s really not a drawback once a person gets used to its proper operation. This goes for the double-stage trigger pull as well.
The 303 British Cartridge
Like the Lee-Enfield rifles, the 303 British cartridge proved an excellent military round. The original military loading was with a 215-grain bullet. The standard 303 British ball loading from 1910 used a 174-grain pointed full-jacketed bullet at a muzzle velocity of 2440 fps.
The No. 4 (left) and No. 1 Mark III (right) Lee-Enfield bolt heads.
Not long after its adoption in 1888, the 303 cartridge became a very popular sporting round. It was used throughout the British Empire on all kinds of game—tigers in India, small antelope to elephants in Africa, crocodiles to water buffalo in Australia, and deer to moose in Canada. Much of this shooting was done with the regular unmodified Lee-Enfield military rifle, but many double-barreled rifles chambered for it were the choice of more affluent sportsmen. Winchester chambered their Model 95 lever-action rifle for the 303 British cartridge, making the rifle popular in Canada.
Lee-Enfield firing pin removal tool.
British Lee-Enfield bolt showing: (A) bolt head; (B) extractor; (C) bolt head lug which houses the extractor and extractor spring; (D) bolt guide rib/locking lug; (E) cocking piece; (F) left locking lug and (G) gas vent hole in the bolt head.
For the most part, the only 303 British sporting loads available for many years were the 215-grain softpoint for use on thin-skinned animals and the 215-grain full-metal-cased bulleted load for thick-skinned game. American, Canadian, European, African and Australian shooters can readily purchase 303-caliber British sporting ammunition. The two most common loads will be with the 150-grain and the 180-grain bullets.
