Thread: Another SMLE restoration

How hard is it to take a sporterised one back to a fully wooded one. Have thought about doing this but looking at your pics I bet it isn't easy. I see quite a few 303s quite cheap that have been sporterised and have wondered about that.

Originally Posted by dogmatix

Yeah, it’s a right pain cutting it out. My first repro then split there anyway, so I had to glue it with a brass screw through that tiny area.

I almost split a repro stock whilst doing it and it was one from VMA so I cut right through it acraglass a bolt in place. I think by doing that, I strengthened the cutout area. But I won't be doing that again.

Originally Posted by Gordo

How hard is it to take a sporterised one back to a fully wooded one. Have thought about doing this but looking at your pics I bet it isn't easy. I see quite a few 303s quite cheap that have been sporterised and have wondered about that.

It depends how fussy you are.
I’ve been quite anal and wanted my rebuilds to be accurised guns, ie following all the tips and tricks to get them shooting well.

Or you can just through one together to look good, but the bedding isn’t done etc.

Originally Posted by Trigger

I almost split a repro stock whilst doing it and it was one from VMA so I cut right through it acraglass a bolt in place. I think by doing that, I strengthened the cutout area. But I won't be doing that again.

All my Enfields have had the same repair done, or I’ve had to do it myself!

You remind me to look up Roger Wadham’s book. His videos are pretty good on YouTube but he doesn’t cover everything.

@Trigger I have a PDF version of the book. It’s even saved to my iPhone.

@dogmatix you remind me that I should actually save the document to my computer. Its a whole 218 pages... long read.