#1 Mk III Lee-Enfield

.303 British

This started out as trade-in at the gunstore that I worked at part-time. The owner didn't really want it at all. The wood was ratty, it had big shiny bolts sticking out of the sides of the stock, and some other unexplained holes drilled into the wood. The rear bridge had an aborted drill/tap job, though the front bridge was untouched. He asked us if we would give him thirty dollars for it. The boss wouldn't, but I did.

It is a B.S.A 1918 model. The bore was dark, but no pitting and good strong rifling remained. I removed the mangled wood and put it into a new Fiberforce synthetic stock. I considered chopping the barrel off 6 inches shorter, because for some reason the previous owner had sliced an 1/8 slice from the bottom side of the front of the barrel for clearance for one of those bolts running through the stock. But after firing it, I was happy to leave it alone.  I had the smithy drill & tap for a Weaver TO-1 base, mill some metal protrusions off the triggerguard and added Millet rings and a Simmons 4x scope. The rest of the metal was intact. I located a 5 round magazine (unfortunately not flush fitting) made by Santa Fe arms (I'm told this is real old.). At the range, with FN milsurp ammo, this baby would hold 2MOA or better.

Gun $30, Synthetic Stock $55, Gunsmith work $30, scope base & rings $25, 4x scope $35, 5 round magazine $30, total cost: $205

I may have it recrowned, and if that makes it more accurate, then I may pop for the $$ to have the barrelled action cryo'd.