British .303 question

[Guest Fingersoup]

Will the magazines for the Enfield mk4 #1 work with the jungle carbine(mk5 #1)? I understand that it's a better practice to leave my exisiting magazine in and use stripper clips but if I add a scope this won't be possible. Thanks.

[Garufa]

The magazines are the same for those two models. They were actually never intended to be removed.

[Guest Fingersoup]

Yeah, I read that they only took them out to clean them (why is that??) but stripper clips would'nt be possible with a scope. Thank you sir!

[R1100R]

I have both. They are the same. I wise I could find a supply of decently priced ammo.

[Guest cardcutter]

History time.
The SMLE .303 was developed over 100 years ago. Millitary rifles at that time, were just starting to come on board with magazine fed verses single shot rifles.
SMLE stand for Semidetachable Magazine Lee Enfield. The enfield was one of the first with a detachable mag. If you have everer tried to change the Mag out quickly you will understand it was not designed to be use often.
Hope this helps.
Jim

[BryanP]

[quote name='cardcutter' timestamp='1354123201' post='851975']
History time.
The SMLE .303 was developed over 100 years ago. Millitary rifles at that time, were just starting to come on board with magazine fed verses single shot rifles.
SMLE stand for Semidetachable Magazine Lee Enfield. The enfield was one of the first with a detachable mag. If you have everer tried to change the Mag out quickly you will understand it was not designed to be use often.
Hope this helps.
Jim
[/quote]

SMLE stands for Short Magazine Lee Enfield, but otherwise correct.

[Guest cardcutter]

[quote name='BryanP' timestamp='1354123773' post='851982']
SMLE stands for Short Magazine Lee Enfield, but otherwise correct.
[/quote]
I stand corrected sir.
In some of my reading on this weapon I ran across the phrase semidetachable magazine and it stuck.
Thanks
Jim Edited November 28, 2012 by cardcutter

[Swede]

If either of your magazines is numbered to the receiver of either rifle, make sure the properly numbered magazine ends up with its rifle when you start switching them. Not an essential, but nice to have a matching magazine for resale purposes and "just because".

[Caster]

It is my understanding that the WHOLE reason the magazine was configured as such was because of ease of manufacturing. The stamped magazine is the easiest part of the rifle to make. Much easier than the machined magazines of Mausers and Springfeilds.

[Guest Fingersoup]

[quote name='Swede' timestamp='1354132191' post='852031']
If either of your magazines is numbered to the receiver of either rifle, make sure the properly numbered magazine ends up with its rifle when you start switching them. Not an essential, but nice to have a matching magazine for resale purposes and "just because".
[/quote]
It got passed down to me so for sentimental reasons and because I love the way it shoots so much I wouldn't ever sell it anyways but that is a good point.