Rifles, Semi Automatic and Automatic weapons

Le Enfield 303


The Lee-Enfield bolt-action, magazine-fed, repeating rifle was the main firearm used by the British Empire during the first half of the 20th century and throughout most of its turbulent history.
It was the British Army's standard rifle from its official adoption in 1895 until 1957.
And was a redesign of the Lee-Metford which had been adopted by the British Army in 1888. And became the standard issued weapon to rifle companies of the British Army and other Commonwealth nations in both the First and Second World Wars. Although it was officially replaced in the UK with the L1A1 SLR in 1957. However it remained in widespread British service until the early 1960s and the 7.62 mm L42 sniper version remained in service until the 1990s. And is still in service with the Indian Police, making it the longest-serving military bolt-action rifle still in official service. The total production of all Lee-Enfield’s is estimated at over 17 million rifles.
The Lee-Enfield takes its name from the designer of the rifle's bolt system James Paris Lee, and the factory in which it was designed the Royal Small Arms Factory in Enfield England. Although in Australia, New Zealand, and Canada the rifle became known simply as the "303.
The 303’s fast-operating Lee bolt-action and a large magazine capacity enabled a well-trained rifleman to perform the "Mad minute" firing 20 to 30 aimed rounds in 60 seconds, making the Lee-Enfield the fastest military bolt-action rifle of the day. The current world record for aimed bolt-action fire was set in 1914 by a musketry instructor in the British Army—Sergeant Instructor Snoxall—who placed 38 rounds into a 12 inch wide target at 300 yards (270 m) in one minute.
During the 1960s, the Ministry of Defence converted a number of Lee-Enfield No. 4 rifles to 7.62x51mm NATO and listed it as the L8 series. After replacing the Barrel and introducing a 10 round magazine. As part of a program to retain the Lee-Enfield as a reserve weapon. The Lee-Enfield No. 4 series rifles that were converted to 7.62 mm NATO were re-designated as the L8 series.
The result of trials conducted on the L8 series rifles were mixed, and the Ministry of Defence decided not to convert their existing stocks of Lee-Enfield No. 4 rifles to 7.62 mm NATO. Despite their decision not to continue conversions they learned from the results of the L8 test program and used them in successfully converting their remaining stock of No. 4 (T) sniper rifles to 7.62 mm NATO which led to the creation of the L42A1 series sniper rifles.



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.The L1A1 Self Loading Rifle (SLR 7.62)




In the early 50’s it was decided that the trust worthy Le Enfield 303 had passed its prime and needed to be replaced with a more modern robust semi automatic rifle. Based on a German design that had been adopted and modified by the Belgium FN company. The British Army developed its own model of the FN FAL, and called the L1A1 Self Loading Rifle (SLR). It was manufactured by the Royal Small Arms Factory Enfield and the Royal Ordnance Factory. Unlike other models used by different countries the British version was fitted with a lug so a bayonet and a rifle grenade launcher could be used.
The L1A1 SLR served the Australian, Canadian and British Forces around the world with its main usage in the Falklands. Although it was in service from 1954 until 1985 it generally looked and became an accessory much like a ladies hand bag, but with a lethal result if put to the test. I don’t recall many complaints about the SLR other than it gave a few gas problems and needed the regulator to be constantly adjusted and left handed models were virtually none existent. This created problems for those like myself who would have preferred the cartridge to expel to the left instead of in front of my face. Unlike the European versions which were made in metric, the British SLR was made using Imperial measurements and included several changes from the original Belgian FN FAL. Including being Semi Automatic other changes included the introduction of a fold-flat cocking handle, an enclosed flash suppressor and a folding rear sight. Minor changes included sand-clearing modifications to the body, breechblock and the breechblock carrier, a gas regulator, an integral fold-away trigger guard and pistol grip, strengthened butt-stock and an enlarged fire selector and magazine catch along with a modified take-down release lever to prevent unintended activation and top-cover retainer tabs to prevent forward movement.
The SLR was produced so the fire selector featured two settings safety and semi-automatic, rather than the original Belgian FN which featured automatic fire. The magazine from the 7.62 mm used by the L4 light machine gun was able to fit the L1A1 SLR. But had to be modified for the upward feed.


The L1A1 SLR was replaced in 1987 by the introduction of the bullpup L85A1, firing the 5.56 mm cartridge. Between 1987 and 1991, L1A1 rifles were phased out either being destroyed or sold on the black market.

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Le Enfielf L42-6 Sniper Rifle


During both World Wars and the Korean War, a number of Lee-Enfield rifles were modified for use as sniper rifles. The Australian Army also modified 1,612 Lithgow SMLE No1 Mk III rifles by adding a heavy target barrel, cheek-piece, and a World War One era Pattern 1918 telescope, creating the SMLE No1 Mk III* (HT). (HT standing for "Heavy Barrel, Telescopic Sight), which saw service in the Second World War, Korea, and Malaya and was used for Sniper Training through to the late 1970s.
During the Second World War, standard No. 4 rifles, selected for their accuracy during factory tests, were modified by the addition of a wooden cheek-piece, and telescopic sight mounts designed to accept a No. 32 3.5x telescopic sight. This particular sight progressed through three marks with the Mk 1 introduced in 1942, the Mk 2 in 1943 and finally the Mk 3 in 1944. Many Mk.3s and Mk.2/1s were later modified for use with the 7.62 mm NATO L42A1 Sniper Rifle. They were known by the designation Telescope Straight, Sighting L1A1.
Holland and Holland, the famous British sporting gun manufacturers, converted the majority of No 4 Mk I (T) sniper rifles, with the rest converted by BSA and, in Canada, Long Branch arsenal. These rifles were extensively employed in various conflicts until the late 1960s, when the British military switched over to the 7.62x51 NATO round in the 1950s, many of the No 4 Mk I (T) sniper rifles were converted to the new calibre and designated L42A1. The L42A1 sniper rifle continued as the British Army's standard sniper weapon until the mid 1980s, being replaced by Accuracy International's L96.