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+---- Thread: Replacing a #4 Enfield (/showthread.php?tid=8856)
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Replacing a #4 Enfield - Mortblanc - 16 January 2018
Sitting here snowbound to some extent I got to thinking about the Arctic military units around the world and their equipment, especially their firearms. What I found was an amazement to my modern thought process.
One of the units I studied, partly due to it being a national neighbor, is a group called the Canadian Rangers.
The Canadian Rangers are a militia force sponsored by the Canadian government and supervised by the Canadian Army. It is an all volunteer force, 5,000 strong and contains members of both sexes and ages from 15 to "who knows" since there is no mandatory retirement age.
The Ranger units were first organized at the beginning or WW2 as a stop gap measure provide reconnaissance and defense against Japanese invasion on the Pacific coast. The organization spread across all of Canada and is still the first line recon effort of the Canadian military in the arctic regions.
The force also provides police and search and rescue services in the remote areas. In Canada that means they may be out on patrol for extended periods in all weather situations and facing several species of predators and evil humans as they roam the forests of the Taiga.
To meet the defense and survival needs of these Rangers the Canadian government equips each Ranger with a #4 Enfield Rifle (they also get 200 rounds ammo each year). Since they are on call 24/7 each Ranger keeps their issue rifle at home.
Yep, the rifle first issued in 1888 is still issued to select Canadian forces 130 years latter.
Due to a severe shortage of repair parts and the excessive ages of most of the #4 rifles in service it was decided that a replacement was due, and the standard combat rifle of the Canadian forces was not suitable. (Not suitable due to being full automatic firing mode.)
Specs were posted and several companies answered the call for submissions. After several years of testing a winner was selected. It is a rifle designed by Tika, submitted by Sako and produced by Colt.
Below is a write up about the old rifle and the new replacement, a high quality bolt action rifle in 7.62x51.
http://www.guns.com/2016/09/16/canadian-rangers-make-their-wwii-vintage-enfields-sing-in-competition-photos/
One odd thing about this process is that while the Canadian government whiles away their time and takes years to complete this re-equipment process a civilian shooter can buy this rifle off the rack right now. Which brings up another point.
Suggested retail on this rifle is $2,800 U.S dollars.
Price on the shelf is $1,150, or 834 pounds your money.
The last Enfield rifle I purchased cost me $80 U.S.=58 pounds in your funds.
And the Enfield is not being replaced due to performance issues, but due to lack of repair parts!
It makes me proud to be the owner of an old example of this rifle that is still performing in the most adverse conditions on Earth. I think I will reload some ammo for mine so I can play with it when the spring thaw comes.
RE: Replacing a #4 Enfield - Pete Grey - 16 January 2018
The No.4 Lee Enfield is a beautiful weapon, heavy yes, very smooth bolt, feels good against you shoulder and gives you confidence, it’s over 30 since I fired one, I think I still have a couple of stripper clips somewhere ( wish I had the gun ).
RE: Replacing a #4 Enfield - CharlesHarris - 17 January 2018
Suggested retail on this rifle is $2,800 U.S dollars.
Price on the shelf is $1,150, or 834 pounds your money.
[/quote]
My understanding is that the reason for the high contract cost is the ancillary equipment included in the "package" such as optical sight, hard case, cleaning equipment, etc. Not the rifle only.
RE: Replacing a #4 Enfield - Mortblanc - 17 January 2018
As a good friend of mine was prone to comment in such situations,
That better be one he!! of a carrying case!
RE: Replacing a #4 Enfield - CharlesHarris - 17 January 2018
Here are a couple pics of the kit
RE: Replacing a #4 Enfield - CharlesHarris - 17 January 2018
Links in Cdn. press describing the C-19 rifle if anyone is interested:
http://nationalpost.com/news/canada/meet-the-canadian-rangers-new-sako-rifle-built-to-defend-against-large-carnivores-extreme-temperatures
http://ottawacitizen.com/news/national/defence-watch/here-it-is-the-new-sako-rifle-for-the-canadian-rangers
http://www.sadefensejournal.com/wp/?p=3808
Rifle: 1. The replacement rifle is based on the SAKO T3 CTR (Compact Tactical Rifle).
SAKO Ltd is based in Riihimaki, Finland.
The Canadian supplier is Stoeger Canada from Whitby, Ontario.
The first 125 prototypes have been delivered to Canada and they will undergo User Trials by the Rangers. Feedback from the Rangers will be incorporated into production rifles.
Colt Canada will produce the barrel, bolt and receiver under licence from Sako. Production is scheduled to begin mid to end 2016.
The Ranger Rifle has several Canadian modifications.
a) Larger bolt handle and enlarged trigger guard to accommodate gloved hands.
b) Protected front and rear iron sights.
c) Laminated stock in unique orange or red colour with Ranger Crest.
d) Two stage trigger with three position safety.
Ancillaries: 1. Pelican hard transport case with Ranger Crest and custom moulded
internal foam supplied by Pelican Products ULC, from Edmonton, Alberta.
Cleaning kit, sling and soft transport case supplied by Rampart International, from Ottawa, Ontario.
Trigger lock supplied by The Old Co-Op, from North Gower, Ontario.
Colt Canada is the officially appointed Strategic Source and Centre of Excellence for Small Arms to the Government of Canada. Registered in the province of Nova Scotia, and with its manufacturing facility located in Kitchener, Ontario, Colt Canada provides full support to all small arms -ranging from 9mm pistols to .50 calibre heavy machine guns- in the Canadian Armed Forces inventory.
RE: Replacing a #4 Enfield - Midnitemo - 17 January 2018
I am currently waiting for something like this to become available in the UK in .223 , the Ruger Gunsite Scout never made it to these shores as a .223
RE: Replacing a #4 Enfield - CharlesHarris - 18 January 2018
(17 January 2018, 23:42)Midnitemo Wrote: I am currently waiting for something like this to become available in the UK in .223 , the Ruger Gunsite Scout never made it to these shores as a .223
Is Mossberg MVP series available in the UK? Several variations in .223 which take AR magazines. http://www.mossberg.com/category/series/mvp-series/
RE: Replacing a #4 Enfield - Mortblanc - 18 January 2018
(17 January 2018, 23:42)Midnitemo Wrote: I am currently waiting for something like this to become available in the UK in .223 , the Ruger Gunsite Scout never made it to these shores as a .223
You might try the offerings from CZ. Their 527 series is available in .223 and I have heard they are an excellent item. They are probably available in the UK. The Ruger offerings are usually over priced and not as finely finished anyway.
I am real big on bolt action utility rifles myself and do not hesitate to modify them to meet my needs. My .223 bolt gun is a Savage Axis for which I modified a magazine to 10 round capacity. It is lightweight, handy and extremely accurate shooting military surplus ammo into just over an inch and well made hand-loads into 3/4".
For general use the 10 round magazine is not a real benefit. Even for a military combat rifle the 10 round capacity is not a necessity. None of the other combat rifles of the late 19th early 20th centuries were blessed with them.
What I do consider a real benefit is being able to load from the top rather than remove the magazine or change mags. The Enfield has both features.
RE: Replacing a #4 Enfield - Mortblanc - 18 January 2018
I also have a Mossberg patrol rifle but it is in .308. It is ammo picky. What it likes it shoots very well but 99% of the factory ammo out there will not stay on a pie plate at 100m.
Thinking back about it I remember that I purchased my first AR rifle because I wanted a .223 with large capacity mags and the AR was cheaper than the Mossberg. I was not all that excited over the semi-auto feature but have grown to enjoy it. That and the lego like acceptance of accessories and add-ons.