Thread: Resurgence of interest in the old "Three Oh"?

For left handers the Lee- Enfield bolt is murder on the outside of the left hand during rapid fire, many a blood blister have I had from that.

Originally Posted by Finnwolf

For left handers the Lee- Enfield bolt is murder on the outside of the left hand during rapid fire, many a blood blister have I had from that.

One is allowed to dream. (o:



Question is, IS IT possible? Cut off right side handle and reattach to left side. Would just have to get used to up = locked and down = unlocked. The safety catch would be sacrificed but no one relies on it nowadays, open bolt or not safe. The LE bolt handle does not function as a last ditch locking lug. If you have an old sporter... why not get the dremel out? Or am I insane @gundoc?

Originally Posted by Cordite

One is allowed to dream. (o:

Attachment 137867

Question is, IS IT possible? Cut off right side handle and reattach to left side. Would just have to get used to up = locked and down = unlocked. The safety catch would be sacrificed but no one relies on it nowadays, open bolt or not safe. The LE bolt handle does not function as a last ditch locking lug. If you have an old sporter... why not get the dremel out? Or am I insane @gundoc?

@Cordite a quick think about it would suggest that while you could just cut and shut the bolt, the physical clockwise action of closing the bolt couldn't be changed that easily. You would then have a bolt that would be pointing straight up when you were ready to fire.
don't know about a left handed one. Doubt if they did it for the military-you were just trained to use it the way it was designed. I cant remember the source but it suggested that the majority of soldiers weren't familiar with firearms anyway so it is less of an issue to teach a lefty to shoot right handed then make a bunch of rifles for a minority
Did find this comment on another forum:

"There were no left handed service rifles, leftys became proficient at using the rifle in right handed fashion under the gentle ministrations of Sergeants and other Non-Coms. I have seen a 303 from Qld at the Nationals where the bolt handle had been extended and bent back over the striker in such a fashion as to be readily manipulated with the left hand without having to reach over the stock or moving the head too much, and this enabled the shooter to use the left shoulder with ease."

Originally Posted by csmiffy

@Cordite a quick think about it would suggest that while you could just cut and shut the bolt, the physical clockwise action of closing the bolt couldn't be changed that easily. You would then have a bolt that would be pointing straight up when you were ready to fire.
don't know about a left handed one. Doubt if they did it for the military-you were just trained to use it the way it was designed. I cant remember the source but it suggested that the majority of soldiers weren't familiar with firearms anyway so it is less of an issue to teach a lefty to shoot right handed then make a bunch of rifles for a minority
Did find this comment on another forum:

"There were no left handed service rifles, leftys became proficient at using the rifle in right handed fashion under the gentle ministrations of Sergeants and other Non-Coms. I have seen a 303 from Qld at the Nationals where the bolt handle had been extended and bent back over the striker in such a fashion as to be readily manipulated with the left hand without having to reach over the stock or moving the head too much, and this enabled the shooter to use the left shoulder with ease."

Ah... but the beauty of a Lee action is that its bolt handle does not stick directly up at any time. The Lee's 60 degree lift (/) from the closed position (\) means you never need to lose the sight picture when racking the bolt. I say "need to" because anyone who's shot a Mauser quickly learns to lift their face off the rifle when pulling the bolt back, and with that bad habit in place you never realise that with the Lee you can just keep your head down. Also why you don't need a bent-down bolt handle to use a scope on a Lee Enfield.

I suppose you could manufacture a clamp-on bolt handle cross-extension to the other side, thus avoiding the dremel-&-weld scenario. A variation on this guy's device: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzJdMc0Mpyg

Originally Posted by Kiwi Sapper

Perhaps, but the photo shopped image appears to show an American WW 1 M1907 leather sling............... Let's stick with the webbing if we can. :>)

Aaagh, I've been found out. I confess, Windows "Paintbrush" horizontal flip, but nowhere near adobe photoshop. (o;

Originally Posted by csmiffy

@Cordite a quick think about it would suggest that while you could just cut and shut the bolt, the physical clockwise action of closing the bolt couldn't be changed that easily. You would then have a bolt that would be pointing straight up when you were ready to fire.
don't know about a left handed one. Doubt if they did it for the military-you were just trained to use it the way it was designed. I cant remember the source but it suggested that the majority of soldiers weren't familiar with firearms anyway so it is less of an issue to teach a lefty to shoot right handed then make a bunch of rifles for a minority
Did find this comment on another forum:

"There were no left handed service rifles, leftys became proficient at using the rifle in right handed fashion under the gentle ministrations of Sergeants and other Non-Coms. I have seen a 303 from Qld at the Nationals where the bolt handle had been extended and bent back over the striker in such a fashion as to be readily manipulated with the left hand without having to reach over the stock or moving the head too much, and this enabled the shooter to use the left shoulder with ease."

Ima true cackhander and have no major problems using normal firearms >im also a tightarse and im not paying an extra $100.00 simply for a LHmodel.
During my Tf careerall drill prior to firng done right handed -lasrt min flick to left shoulder to fire .did had some probs with ejection of5.56 cases from m16 causing a facial burn but easily sorted throwing shoulder forward shotty style .bren -nup right hand all the way left handed looks like an octopus trying to molest itself!
all my present arms cause me no probs whatsoever including the grand old dame my 1943 No4 Mk1*longbranch .303

Originally Posted by Cordite

One is allowed to dream. (o:.............

Perhaps, but the photo shopped image appears to show an American WW 1 M1907 leather sling............... Let's stick with the webbing if we can. :>)

Originally Posted by Cordite

One is allowed to dream. (o:

Attachment 137867

Question is, IS IT possible? Cut off right side handle and reattach to left side. Would just have to get used to up = locked and down = unlocked. The safety catch would be sacrificed but no one relies on it nowadays, open bolt or not safe. The LE bolt handle does not function as a last ditch locking lug. If you have an old sporter... why not get the dremel out? Or am I insane @gundoc?

Nothing is impossible but it certainly is impractical! I think the reversed photo is affecting you!

there were limited numbers of left hand SMLEs if my memory serves me correctly.

I had a vague recollection that "303" meant something to me Had to go well down into the old chocolate box to find this.

Originally Posted by Tahr

I had a vague recollection that "303" meant something to me Had to go well down into the old chocolate box to find this.

Nice one Bruce, worth rummaging through the old chocolate box for those old pictures. Back in the "old" days my old instamatic was next to useless and I missed out on many good photo's.

Here is a picture of my two 303's top one is the miss matched numbered one the other is the Isophore 1942 No 1 MK111 as I found out it has matching numbers on bolt ,action, magazine and presume the barrel but can't see as its under wood.

heres mine i can shoot the 3 better than the 4 but still need some practice

Vulcan Barrels has just brough in a heap of 303 gun drills and buttons to make 303 barrels more easily.
I recall maybe left hand twist to be authentic

Great to see they are still running and doing the business. I had a few shots with one around Christmas with ammo marked 1911! It would have struggled to hit a barn door with the almost smooth bore and ancient ammo, but it was an experience nonetheless.

I also had the privilege to be a part of a sniper specific battlefield tour to Ypres and Paschendale, where the first British sniper school was established. The range butts are still discernible, and we even found some projectiles there. To think some of these rifles are still active is amazing. Good on all who run them.

hmmm