1950 Canadian Longbranch CNo.4 Mk.1* .303 (Enfield)

[2ndAmendmentable]

This rifle is one that was passed down to me by my grandfather. I've shot it plenty and it still shoots like a dream. I also own a 1942 Savage MkI* issued to the Royal Navy in '42, with plenty of battle scars but a nice smooth bore. The action on these is second to none for the rifles of that era. LOVE shooting mine, but GOD DAMIT the ammo is hard to find here!

[zulu547]

Ok, so you seem to know your stuff! I just bought a Longbranch .303 1944, I would like to find out its military history. Any help on were to find that information? Hopefully more of these .303 rifle will hit the market now that the Canadian Rangers are going to upgrade!

[3OCALM1]

@zulu547 I don't know THAT much stuff or even the history of my own two LB Mk.4's. Anyhow, congrats on your Mk.4 and sorry I couldn't be of any help on the history.

[drcfox]

@3OCALM1 and zulu547

go to milsurps.com Lee Enfield forum - they will have plenty of information for you. Some of the people on the forum have been collecting and shooting Lee Enfields for 35+ years. As for my Long Branch - 0.5 MOA at 100 and 200 yards - got to love the Long Branch!

[drcfox]

@zulu547 The Lee-Enfields from the Canadian Rangers will be scrapped.

[maxrocks19]

where can you get one of these? are there still surplus stocks available???

[3OCALM1]

@maxrocks19 they come and go on the surplus market and the price varies. Periodically check on-line distributors like AIM surplus. You can find them at gun shows or on gunbroker,com, too.

[JRTMIN]

Good shooting. The best Rifle in the Worrld.

[JRTMIN]

Good shooting.

[3OCALM1]

@JRTMIN Thanks.

[Dalwhinnie15]

Being a Canadian gun nut I should have one of these in my collection.

[3OCALM1]

@Dalwhinnie15 hell yes you should!

[trainguy1218]

Oh, OK, I took that as meaning it had a reverse (Left handed) thread, as oposed to the head shaped with the ""sail" or mohawk style raised part. I saw the FPR tool, so will look for one, and a new screw to replace the one now bent over.

Thanks!!

Any advice on the markings used (if any) for the 7.62 conversion?

Thanks again

D

[3OCALM1]

@trainguy1218 I don't have a clue about the markings.

[trainguy1218]

Hey:

Just got one of these myself & can use some advice.

The screw thats set into the front sight on mine has been damaged by some previous owner. Was there a special tool used to loosen that screw to adjust the front sights position? My gunsmith tried to turn it, but it wont budge even after using penatating oil & heat.

also

My local gunsmith couldnt tell me if mine was the .303 or the 7.62 version as they are so close. How would the gun be marked if it was modified to the 7.62?

[3OCALM1]

@trainguy1218If it’s like most of the ones I've seen including both of mine it has sort of a reversed head common screw, for lack of a better name for it. By reversed I mean where the slot is raised instead of being a slot.

There is a tool out there that is commonly called a firing pin removal tool but the T handle of it also has a slot for the front sight screw. I have one but I don’t remember where I got it.

You could try Numrich.

[3OCALM1]

 Most all Enfields are .303 but there are some excepions. If it's a .303 you won't be able to get a .308 round to go in the chamber. The .308 is wider at the shoulder and won't go in very far.

[trainguy1218]

Hey:

Just got one of these myself & can use some advice.

The screw thats set into the front sight on mine has been damaged by some previous owner. Was there a special tool used to loosen that screw to adjust the front sights position? My gunsmith tried to turn it, but it wont budge even after using penatating oil & heat.

also

My local gunsmith couldnt tell me if mine was the .303 or the 7.62 version as they are so close. How would the gun be marked if it was modified to the 7.62?

thanks

[dphitch]

30CALM1 I Just bought one of these today. I've been wanting one forever. Mine is a NO 4 Mk 1* made in Long Branch 1950 as well. I took it straight to the range and fired off the 20 rounds I bought with the rifle. It shot great. My sights are a little different in that they have a slide catch on the side instead of the knob on top. Great Rifle with a great history to it.

[3OCALM1]

@dphitch Awesome! The rear sight on yours is actually correct for that rifle. Mine had the same one but i swapped it out for the "micrometer" type sight since it is more precise.

You ought to do a video of yours.

[dphitch]

@3OCALM1 Question, do you ever have a problem with the brass ejecting straight up and back down into the mag well area? This has happened to me a few times. I'm not really that familiar with the mechanics of this rifle and how it is supposed to eject empty brass. It might be me limp wristing it because it doesn't seem to do it when I rapid fire.

[3OCALM1]

@dphitch I don't think I've ever had that happen with either of mine.

[monkey50cal]

yay 303 are awsome they kill lots of brown peps back in the day

[7JDH7NL7]

I love the Enfield, Just the sound of it, i am starting collecting Ww2 british.

[NewShooter60]

I have a sporterised #4 MK1 ROF (F). Have a few shooting vids posted. Just refinished the stock. It took me a while to get on to the micrometer-aperture sites but getting better with it.

[yerchedmad]

i have a lee enfield No4 mk1 made in england, made in 1942. Your video is probably one of the best I've seen on youtube about the lee enfield no4mk1 thank you

[noskeb17]

Nice.... I LOVE BOLT ACTION GUNS!!!

[Haddockxyz300]

@noskeb17

Bolt Action Rifles...The kings of Accuracie,Power,Long Range,and the weapons tath can Be as good as a spear!

[unfairtrout]

my dad has one its really cool

[FargoMarc]

What did you pay, if I may ask? I used to have a 1942 Long Branch, I wish I had hung onto it.

[3OCALM1]

@FargoMarc I've had it since 1996 and I think it was about $130 then and that included a spike bayonet.

[strechinpick]

Just bought one Friday night at an auction. It is also a No. 4 Mk. 1 "1950" Bore is beautiful! and stock is in great shape. Couldnt be happier right now.

[3OCALM1]

@strechinpick

Awesome! You ought to do a shooting video of it.

[strechinpick]

@3OCALM1 , Im going to shoot thursday so I will try to gets some videos then.

[multigunlover]

i love this gun

fun to break down

[dbrinkm1]

Great Video!! I hv a 1944 model Long Branch just like yours. Love the micro slghts. From what I read,these were of a higher quality than those made in England which did not hv micro slghts .Also hv a 1955M1 Garand which I greatly lenjoy.Peace.from Dana disabled Veteran & Veteran Rep.retired.

[Mrbeanutube]

Well done video! Great looking Enfield!

[AA550cord]

Nice shooting. Especially at 200 yards. I shoot vintage military matches, and those are good groups for an old timer like that.

[jc0ol]

I hit better than that with my mosin. It also has sights I bought at a gun show for 85 dollars but it is deadly accurate. I get about 3 inch groups at 300+ yards with it...

[caniaccharlie]

Something I'm confused about. The no 4 Mk II's came along, but Long Branch stuck with the mk. I*? I was thinking that they seemed to be kind of inbetween the mkI* and the mk II.

Does the triggers on these hang from the trigger guard or the receiver?

[3OCALM1]

I think the Mk. II's came along a little later like in about 1955 or so.

The trigger on mine is attached to the trigger guard.

[caniaccharlie]

Great video, loved the intro! I also have a 1950 Long Branch, haven't shot it yet though, but just feels like it should be a good shooter. It has a great trigger pull, and bore. Mine has the mk 3 sites on it.

[3OCALM1]

Is the Mk. 3 rear sight the stamped one?

That's what mine had when I got it but I swapped it out for the micrometer rear sight.

[caniaccharlie]

Yes. I'd like to try one of the micrometer sites, but IDK if I can bring myself to alter a correct and all matching gun. I'm sure the mk. 3 is capable of better accuracy than I am.

[3OCALM1]

By putting a micrometer rear sight on it you don't permanently alter anything. The two are interchangeable.

[jubbles2343]

with the right handload and a good shooter a standard no4 is capable of sub moa, done it myself before now

[3OCALM1]

I haven't done very much reloading for .303 but when I did I used Hornady 174 grain boat-tail match bullets and W-W 760 for powder. I got better accuracy with that than any surplus ammo.

I should experiment some more with other loads but I haven't gotten around to it yet.

If you can find any, the South African .303 (marked 7.7X56R) is decent for surplus ammo.

[jubbles2343]

i never use surplus ammunition

[caniaccharlie]

How does the Privi Partisan stuff shoot? I bought 3 boxes for whenver I do get around to shooting mine.

[jubbles2343]

privi sucks, but the brass makes for good handloading and if you use the bullet heads they are very good

[caniaccharlie]

thanks, I only reload 8mm currently, may have to give .303 a try since there isn't much ever available locally.

[odinn62]

public safety my ass.gun laws are a way to control the masses and make people believe that someone will protect them,what a joke.just look at what happened in richmond ca hs.people gathered and watched a 15 yr old girl get gang raped cell phones and all and not one had the decency to call the cops.you and only you are responsible for your safety.

[DanOblacksmith]

Nice vid !!! I have a Savage 1944 no 4 mk 1 marked "U.S. PROPERTY" that does not have the aperture sights your longbranch has just a flip aperture with large and small peeps so I am a bit envious. Still, I have greased woodchucks out to 350 yards with these rudimentary sights. I like my enfield very much and with the right bullets I would not hesitate to hunt anything including elk and moose with it. Great guns for foul weather where a "pretty" rifle like a rem 700 or weatherby V might get dirty

[3OCALM1]

The adjustable rear sight should fit yours and they're not hard to find if you want one.

[AngloCrusader]

i dont know the point of this comment i take it as a compliment my american friend 30cal m1 chose to do a vid on my countries rifle, good job buddy for every big mouth canuck there are a 100 good ones

[stealthyshooter]

Nice shooting...

Ever tried rimfire shooting ?

Like .22s or .17s ?

They're really fun to shoot...

[3OCALM1]

I have a video here of me shooting my CZ-452 .22 LR.

[jethronb]

Did u mike a mauser vid yet  lol.Cant wait,great vid

[superdave934]

make not mike dumbass learn to spellz

[GordonALWAYS]

That is the most crisp bolt action ive ever seen...or heard! I didn't want an enfield until this video!

[3OCALM1]

It's not bad for a 59 year old military rifle.

That camera (Canon S3) has a very sensitive microphone for being just a digital camera so that effects how things sound in videos to some extent.

At one time I didn't give a shit about old bolt action military rifles, either.

It wasnt until I had some semi-autos and put enough rounds though them that I took an interest in bolt guns.

The old bolt bolt guns like that tend to cost a helluva lot less, too.

[GordonALWAYS]

I was never into semi automatics as much as bolt action rifles.

[LtTrent15]

you give canada a bad name. canadians are no diferent from americans. oh and nice video 30CALM1! keep it up! :D

[3OCALM1]

Thanks!

[XAfroTurfX]

Hey 30CALM1, you like Double Barrell Shotguns?

[3OCALM1]

Not really into them yet.

[covertcolt]

how easy is it to find this gun?

[3OCALM1]

Since you're in Canada it should be easy to find one.

Like finding an M1 in the U.S.

Good luck.

[covertcolt]

thanks :P

[3OCALM1]

WTF is that supposed to mean?

[monkeyboy2264]

Thank you for shutting him up. You have awesome vids :D

[3OCALM1]

Thanks!

My next vid will probably be on a 1944 Mauser K98k.

[gyates93]

It means that our corrupt government is too afraid to trust us with weapons.

[gyates93]

(Response to RyanEss08)

[KLipneR]

anti gun laws are more about public safety than anything.... not to say theyre correct

[m1accorder]

Excellent videos. Thank you.

[MikH990]

awsome video

[Pballlover22]

God I love being Canadian

[303lee7333]

hey bud class video i live when people show the targets afterwards good shooting, own a savage enfield but always wanted a longbranch

[foist101]

Damn I love your weapon videos. The massive kick and noise of this baby makes me proud to be Canadian. :]

[3OCALM1]

LOL, I don't usually pat myself on the back but I have to admit that this was pretty decent.

Thanks for the compliment.

[m1garand44]

Nice rifle!

I never see one of those.

[AngloCrusader]

thank you for this vid i like the footage you have some of my regiment the Princes Patricias Canadian Light Infantry, many a german,japanese,Italian chinese and Korean got laid out by those beauties...cheers

[3OCALM1]

I'm glad you liked it!

[LtTrent15]

Ive shot this rifle many times. Amazing rifle.

[QuestionMarker]

Great Rifle buddy, I'm going to buy one after or during my army career, actually heading off to bootcamp in June.

Can I ask, where could I buy a beautiful rifle like the one you have, I live in Toronto too.

Cheers,

[3OCALM1]

Thanks!

I've had mine for a while. Here in the U.S. the supply of them has sort of dried up on the surplus market. Since these were the service rifle of Canada for several years I would think they'd be easier to find there, especially ones made by Longbranch.

Why are you waiting until after the army to get one?

Anyway, good luck with boot camp.

[QuestionMarker]

Yeah, I agree it would be easier to find one in Canada.How much did you get yours for by the way?And how much do you think a WW2 era would cost me?I'm going to use this rifle for both target shooting and hunting.Would you recommend this baby for hunting as well?

I would think getting a license is much faster that way,but you're right I shouldn't wait that long, and get one now!And Thanks, boot camp is going to be a good experience.

[3OCALM1]

I think it was $130 then but I wouildnt use that as a price guide for now. I have another Longbranch No.4 from 1942 but I can't remember how much I paid for it.

Have you tried Marstar? I think they're in Ontario and would have more current prices.

I've never hunted with one but it would probly work out fine if you use softpoint sporting ammo and do your part.

Good luck!

[Dalwhinnie15]

Nice rifle. I may have to get one, and the patriot in me might just prefer a Canadian Longbranch. I would go nicely next to my Korean War Garand.

[3OCALM1]

What I forgot to mention about that rifle is that the rear sight on it is not original. The one it had and is most common on Longbranch No.4's is a stamped steel ladder type with graduations and a spring loaded lever on the aperture for moving it up and down. It has the general appearance of "micrometer" sight like on mine but the adjustments aren't as precice.

I have a Garand, too.

[RifleGlory]

what brand of ammo are you using.

[3OCALM1]

Those were my reloads that I'd had for a while. 174 gr Hornady boattail match bullet, W-W 760 powder, and an S&B case.

[furrylads]

i love the lee enfield rifles i wish i had one

i think day are the greats firles ever made

it is great to see then cheers from sean in ireland

[3OCALM1]

I would think they'd be easy to find in Ireland. You ought to get one if you like them that well and can get one.

[furrylads]

a get a firearms lincese in ireland for a centrefire rifle is a nightmare no joke buddy

i could wait for up to 18months for a lincese

cheers from sean

[3OCALM1]

That sucks! I didn't know it was THAT bad.

[furrylads]

one day there is a new law the next day something else it would you mad sean

[clogspecialist]

nice.

i would shoot my enfield more, but the ammo is a bit expensive for my liking.

[3OCALM1]

I think all the .303 surplus ammo has finally dried up. I still have some South African surplus and I can always reload.

[rugersix]

Those are fun rifles...I have the Savage made version for lend-lease! I love the .303British round!

[3OCALM1]

I'd like to have a Savage, too.

[whatsdoing]

Great video,looks like the no4 has not done much work, is the barrel a six groove one, check the bayonet lug to see if it is stamped with a number 6 on it indicating a six groove barrel. Hope to see another video on your no4 thanks

[3OCALM1]

Thanks!

It looks a little better in the video than in real life. It does have a 6 groove bore and I meant to mention that but forgot to.