.303 Lee Enfield... Can I........?

[bettymoo]

Will I be able to purchase a lee enfield SMLE in India? I currently do not possess a fire arm license. How would I go about getting one ( both the license and the rifle?).

[mundaire]

Quite unfortunately the answer is nooooo.....! Check out the sticky under the Legal Eagle section regarding PB & NPB firearms as well as the one on how to go about getting an arms license. The closest you can get to a smellie (in India) on a regular NPB rifle license is the .315 IOFB made rifle...

Cheers!
Abhijeet

[bettymoo]

Hi Abhijeet.Im a complete noob, so you may have to bear with some stupid questions. I believe the issue is with the bore, i.e. .303 is a prohibited bore for civilians. I think there is a training lee enfield rifle that chambers .22 rounds. That would be legal right? I dont care too much about the bore, I like the rifle because of its history , I probably wont even get live ammo for it, if I do manage to get it.

[sitar]

.22 is a non prohibited bore but it is hard to find a lee enfield however .22 is one of most common bore here.

[penpusher]

Bettymoo,

Since 1990,the licensing authority for service caliber firearms ,which includes 303 rifles,is the Central Ministry of Home.

A 303 license can granted on the following conditions,

1.On inheritance-to one of the Class 1 heirs of a deceased with a license for a 303 rifle

2.Gift-when the licensee has held the firearm for 20years(?) and wants to gift it to one of his/her heirs

3.To an army officer allotted one before 1984

4.To a person with a threat from an organization/individual and this is supported by a police report saying that he/she can defend himself/herself only with a Category 1 (b) or 1(c)(which includes bolt action .303 rifles) firearm

I have never seen a .22 enfield on a license.I am not saying that there are none with civilians only that I have never seen one.Besides the IOF .315 there are also BSA made rifles in 8x50R Austrian Mannlicher also sold as .315 rifles(the IOF .315 is based on this).Rarer still are Lee Speed patent rifles in .375NE.

[sitar]

Bettymoo,

.........................................Rarer still are Lee Speed patent rifles in .375NE.

.375NE and .375 Magnum are same??
what about .375 HH Magnum?

[bettymoo]

Hi Penpusher,
So basically there is very little chance I can get an smle in any bore? The closest I can hope for is the IOF .315? How similar is the .315 to the SMLE? Besides the obvious difference being 5rounds/10 rounds. Does the .315 feed from a stripper clip?

[penpusher]

.375NE and .375 Magnum are same??

No

Hi Penpusher,
So basically there is very little chance I can get an smle in any bore? The closest I can hope for is the IOF .315? How similar is the .315 to the SMLE? Besides the obvious difference being 5rounds/10 rounds. Does the .315 feed from a stripper clip?

The iof .315 is basically the Enfield No 1 Mark 3.There is no charger bridge so no charger loading.

[Fowad]

Hi!

About .22 lr on enfield action, I have seen it in Bhopal but its Single shot and the box magzine is used for collecting fired shells. It has only 2 grooves, looks almost like smoothbore.

But I dont think it is a rifle to be possessed.

thanks,

Fowad

[mundaire]

Hi!

About .22 lr on enfield action, I have seen it in Bhopal but its Single shot and the box magzine is used for collecting fired shells. It has only 2 grooves, looks almost like smoothbore.

But I dont think it is a rifle to be possessed.

thanks,

Fowad

Now that's an odd beast indeed... any chance you could post pictures?

Cheers!
Abhijeet

[raj]

Hi!

About .22 lr on enfield action, I have seen it in Bhopal but its Single shot and the box magzine is used for collecting fired shells. It has only 2 grooves, looks almost like smoothbore.

But I dont think it is a rifle to be possessed.

thanks,

Fowad

Well,if it is still in bhopal,i will surely get its pictures soon.A test target is also possible if i get a hold of that weapon.
I m sure,our friend is not confused with IOF .22LR as some gunsmiths have made a Full-stock for it(Just like .303) & selling them at raised prices.

Raj

[R-Dhillon]

I remember shooting it during my NCC days..no idea 'bout the grooves but similar to what Fowad says...I'll post a pic...



Fired about 100 shots every saturday at the NCC range for about 4 months. Quite accurate if compared to IOF and did not make much noise as well...
Regards,
R.Dhillon

-- Thu Apr 30, 2009 19:05 --

I'll love to own one in .22 and attach a bayonet...it'll be awesome...

[Fowad]

I am sorry Abhijeet I am in Dubai now but surey I will try to get some photos for you on my next visit.

It looks exactly the same as our friends has posted photo of. Actually this gentleman came accross in order to assist him to mount some scope on this rifle so I saw it very minutely and as I had never seen anything as such I was surprised too. (2 grooves) which I earlier saw only in a few 12 gauge slug guns.
As Remington once offerd in its Pump Action as a spare barrel for slug shooting.
I advised the owner of the rifle not to mount any scope on it.

Fowad

[R-Dhillon]

I havent heard of civilians owning it till date...

[Fowad]

its a .22 lr caliber so civilians can own and as I mentioned I have seen it myself