So you're getting a Savage made No4 Enfield, eh?
Be careful...I bought one Canadian No4 Enfield many years ago and now have 5 Enfields! I have a 1942 Savage No4, a 1944 Canadian No4, a 1943 Aussie MkIII, a 1916 British WWI MkIII and a 1952 post WWII British No4.
Yeah...you could say I know a little about the Lee Enfield rifle and the 303 British round!
The one you have is actually a Lend-Lease rifle made in the USA Savage Plant in MA in 1942-43. Before the US entered WWII, we helped the British, who were not able to crank out enough guns, by "Leasing" them rifles that we made in our own factories. That is why many Savage Enfields and S&W 38 revolvers have both british proof marks and "US Property" stamps. By some sort of treaty, the US was forbidden to SELL armaments to any Allied nation, but we circumvented it by "lending" or "leasing" the Allies firearms and equipment.
The No4 Lee Enfield is a very good shooter. If it is in good condition and has a good action and bore, I can tell you by expereince that they WILL group as good or better than the average M1903 Springfield, German 98k or Russian Mosin. My 44 Canadian will do just that. Most Enfields can't out-group a Swedish Mauser, Finnish Nagant or Swiss K-31, but these were the most accurate military boltguns ever made.
The 303 round is very fun to shoot out of a No4 Enfield. It has alot less recoil than a 8mm 98k or 03 Springfield or even the 91/30 Nagant. It has excellent peep sights (like the Garand or Carbine) and its long sight radius and heavy weight make for a VERY pleasant shooter. I used to run 100-250rds at a time, through my Enfields in one afternoon and never felt wore out at all.
The 303 British is made by many makers still today. Federal, Norma, Remington and S&B make soft points. Wolf, Privi Partisan and S&B still make fmj rounds in the traditional 174 grain bullets. Surplus British and Greek 303 is good...but these days, VERY hard to find. The Pakistani 303 is around, but its hit and miss on quality and is loaded with the old Cordite propellant. Don't let anyone tell you that 303 is not around...it is...just not as cheap or in the qualtities it used to be.
The 303 British is not quite in the power class of the 30-06, 8x57mm or 7.62x54R but more along the lines of the 30-40 Krag or 300 Savage. Its PLENTY of power for killing the average whitetail deer or wild pig at 100-200yards. I have not shot deer with the 303, but have taken several feral pigs with the Federal 150gr soft points and YES..it definately did the job! I also blasted a few coyotes with the Aussie Enfield and again..the old 303 did very well.
So yes..if it appeals to you...go for it. The Lee Enfield has a large following and lots of fans (including me). Its accurate enough and has plenty of power. The Canadians use this round alot to take moose, carabou and whitetail deer even to this day. Sporterized Canadian Enfields in 303 are very common hunting rifles in many parts of Canada. The Aussies also use the 303 to take anelope, pigs and dingo dogs and again, a sporterized Lithgow Aussie Elfield is a very common hunting rifle in Australia. The WWII German veterans will also attest that the 303 is an effective stopper (LOL!!).
Welcome to the club...betcha won't have just one for very long.
- Brickboy240