WB
I've been wanting to build a custom No.4 MKI
Friday, April 13, 2018, 12:54

I built one back in the 1990's that came in with a headspace issue. It separated cases in two firings. Not everyone knows the LEE Enfields have replaceable and numbered bolt heads to adjust the headspace. I think they are numbered #0-#4 or something like that. I got the next number tighter and fixed it.

The No.4 aperture sights suit me very well. I cut the barrel to 17" and had a ramp front soldered on. Then I altered the front piece of the stock to a very short but well proportioned forend that suited the overall look without being clubby looking. Only problem was the Lee Enfield is not a "light" action, it still was pretty hefty despite its very short handy 10-shot package. They are easy to scope but it looks hardly natural. I do like the .303 British cartridge. Proven beyond reproach.

However the .30-40 Krag is sort of the "thinking Man's .303" in my view. Nominal .308 bullets are so much more plentiful than .312". Plus the bores have less variation than anything British. The cases are essentially a shorter version of the .405 Winchester brass necked down. A pre-war or early post-war, nicely done, Krag Sporter is a tempting project. You can still find them for pennys on the dollar what it would cost to do the work today.

A G2 platform would make a fine classic cartridge carbine.