Thread: Sorrell and Sons Lee Enfield bush rifle

Hey team,
I am considering purchasing a Lee Enfield 303 from Sorrell and Sons, a group doing restorations / alterations to some older No4s, making them into something similar to No5s or Jungle Carbines. They also have (infamously) made the enfield pistol grip addition to some enfields, much to the horror of many purists haha.

Having never had my own 303 I feel that it is a bit of a rite of passage, and quintessentially kiwi to have a lee enfield at some point. Seeing one of my mates No4s in action on some goats has made me keen to get my own, for targets and the odd goat / hare that we might see when out.

My question is more to see if anyone on here has had any experience with this outfit, and/or has any feedback etc.
Open to other suggestions too. Keen to get out there with some iron sights, real wood, and experience a different kind of hunting tool - as opposed to my Tikka 308.

I'll include a picture of on of there rifles. Their website + pictures can be seen here: https://www.leeenfieldresource.com/s...s-lee-enfields

my ears hurt just looking at the first 3 and the bottom one is neither fish nor fowl....
but if it tickles your fancy...why not?

More than enough sporterized Enfields floating around. Why on earth would you want to go full-retard-tacticool ?

Originally Posted by ebf

More than enough sporterized Enfields floating around. Why on earth would you want to go full-retard-tacticool ?

Haha fair enough. These have been restored to a degree, along with I believe being picked to have good condition barrels (keeping in mind age etc). The tacticool enfield at the bottom is not quite my style, however was considering the top - the AKA MAS.

I’ve been to his place and had a chat with him. Bought one his rifles for my father. I only test shot it in to a bank. Felt nice, shot nicely.

Originally Posted by stug

I’ve been to his place and had a chat with him. Bought one his rifles for my father. I only test shot it in to a bank. Felt nice, shot nicely.

@stug how loud was it with that brake on it?

The 7.62x39 version at bottom is perfect for goat control in the absence of centre fire semi autos and mag fed pumps.
I'd get that one for sh*ts and giggles.
Thousands of 7.62x39 ammo in the country that no one is shooting now.

Originally Posted by JoelA

Haha fair enough. These have been restored to a degree, along with I believe being picked to have good condition barrels (keeping in mind age etc). The tacticool enfield at the bottom is not quite my style, however was considering the top - the AKA MAS.

If you really must have one to satisfy an itch go for the longest sighting radius ie the JC.
I presume you have seen the Tardme listing?

Originally Posted by dogmatix

The 7.62x39 version at bottom is perfect for goat control in the absence of centre fire semi autos and mag fed pumps.
I'd get that one for sh*ts and giggles.
Thousands of 7.62x39 ammo in the country that no one is shooting now.

my comment of neither fish nor fowl.....was ...its NOT a SMLE anymore so doesnt have that going for it...nor is it a new 7.62 like ruger american or CZ OR HOWA or even a norinco...so you dont have advantage of new barrel and action nor the prestige of old gal. but yes great for goats or wallabies...its just a funny sort of a "thing"

You can honestly say the De Lisle Carbine (or replica in this case) is not a thing of beauty either. But effective for what it is, a suppressed fast cycling bolt action.

https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/marketpl...3?bof=60wbU3Sl

Originally Posted by stug

I’ve been to his place and had a chat with him. Bought one his rifles for my father. I only test shot it in to a bank. Felt nice, shot nicely.

How bad did it kick with the short barrel and brass butt plate?

Dads one didn’t have a muzzle brake. I can’t remember what the butt plate was, or if it had a recoil pad. Recoil was fine, typical .303.

I remember someone built a .223 Enfield with an AR carbine stock and handguard which took AR 10 round mags as well.
Even painted it an ‘evil’ black.
Apparently went quite well.

Originally Posted by dogmatix

The 7.62x39 version at bottom is perfect for goat control in the absence of centre fire semi autos and mag fed pumps.
I'd get that one for sh*ts and giggles.
Thousands of 7.62x39 ammo in the country that no one is shooting now.

I would have liked a 7.62 x 39 for just that (minus the grip) however they are hard to come by.

Originally Posted by zimmer

If you really must have one to satisfy an itch go for the longest sighting radius ie the JC.
I presume you have seen the Tardme listing?

And yes - seeing it on TM was how I got into contact with him. I hadn't considered that, thanks for the advice. Haven't owned a rifle solely with iron sights before, so good to know.

Thanks for the feedback everyone. To be fair if I could get a full wood No4 I'd go for that - however budget constraints and weirdly enough these appeal to me. I will likely fit a limbsaver or similar though, for the short barrel.

If I had spare cash I would buy an x39 version.... anyone got a 1in10 308 barrel laying around.

These rifles look a bit like the updated oz versions
https://modernfirearms.net/en/civili...s/aia-m10-eng/