SMLE .22 trainer

[Calfed]

I glommed a SMLE .22 training rifle a few years back and really never shot it. Last weekend my youngest son was visiting, so we hit the range and fired a few of the safe queens, including the trainer.







@50 yards with plain old Aguilla ammo. Trigger is pretty bad on the SMLE, so it was a challenge

[Candyman]

I had a chance years ago to pick one up for $250. Times were tight with a new mouth to feed so, I had to pass. I should start looking for one to add to my collection.

[DaleH]

What do these go for? My LGS has a MINT Lithgow MkIII SMLE 22LR that looks new, but is $750 asking - yikes!

[Calfed]

What do these go for? My LGS has a MINT Lithgow MkIII SMLE 22LR that looks new, but is $750 asking - yikes!

I got mine about 5 years ago for less than half that...but these things have been climbing in value.

[Candyman]

They should be around the $600 range. If your LGS has had it for a while, they may be willing to work on the price.

[DaleH]

Thanks! We'll see ...

[5thbatt]

Nice looking trainer, they have been in the $800 to $1200NZ here of late the latest 2 i picked up (which are peas in a pod to this one) were $1000 & $1200NZ

[dmg4]

What do these go for? My LGS has a MINT Lithgow MkIII SMLE 22LR that looks new, but is $750 asking - yikes!

Be aware that the "mint" Lithgow is possibly a JJCo rifle put together from surplus parts. They are very nice looking, but they are not military trainers.

My Enfield trainer is dead nuts accurate with Augila target ammo, and one of the quietest 22 rifles I own. With hearing protection, all I hear is the click of the striker, and that is felt through the cheek more than heard. My first time out, I actually assumed a squib or misfire until I saw a hole in the bullseye. I love these rifles.

Yes, it would be great to pick one up for $250, but if I had $700 and no one would be hurt by my spending it on one of these rifles, well....

[Alan De Enfield]

Great (and cheap) fun.

Had a day at the 100yd range, with my No1 Mk3, No2 Mk4*, No4, No4T and L42.
Just finished shooting the No1 Mk3 and switched over to the No2 Mk4* when the range officer ordered a cease fire due to a FTF.

It turned out to be me that had the FTF, but in fact he had not realised that I had changed from the No1 to the No2 (well you wouldn't would you) he hadn't heard the 'bang' - "laughs" all round.

The good thing about a .22rf on a 100 yard range is that you can fire, leave the position, go and put the kettle on, make a cup of tea and be back before the bullet 'hits the bull'. (slight exaggeration - but it seems hell of a long wait)

[Calfed]

Be aware that the "mint" Lithgow is possibly a JJCo rifle put together from surplus parts. They are very nice looking, but they are not military trainers.

My Enfield trainer is dead nuts accurate with Augila target ammo, and one of the quietest 22 rifles I own. With hearing protection, all I hear is the click of the striker, and that is felt through the cheek more than heard. My first time out, I actually assumed a squib or misfire until I saw a hole in the bullseye. I love these rifles.

Yes, it would be great to pick one up for $250, but if I had $700 and no one would be hurt by my spending it on one of these rifles, well....

Great (and cheap) fun.

Had a day at the 100yd range, with my No1 Mk3, No2 Mk4*, No4, No4T and L42.
Just finished shooting the No1 Mk3 and switched over to the No2 Mk4* when the range officer ordered a cease fire due to a FTF.

It turned out to be me that had the FTF, but in fact he had not realised that I had changed from the No1 to the No2 (well you wouldn't would you) he hadn't heard the 'bang' - "laughs" all round.

The good thing about a .22rf on a 100 yard range is that you can fire, leave the position, go and put the kettle on, make a cup of tea and be back before the bullet 'hits the bull'. (slight exaggeration - but it seems hell of a long wait)

Thanks, guys.

I had exactly the same experience with my first shots... I heard the striker go forward, but the report was so quiet and there being almost no recoil, I thought it had misfired. I turned and looked at my son, who was spotting, and he nodded and said "9 ring". LOL. We also shot a MAS 45 safe queen and it was pretty accurate too.

This rifle has a hollow magazine body. We used it to hold the empties and then poured them out when we were through firing it.

I've got a few Enfields, including consecutive serial numbered No4's, one still in the wrapper and one out. They are fine rifles.

[5thbatt]

I went night shooting Possums with mine using Winchester powerpoint HV ammo, mate had a suppressed Ruger 10-22 with sub-sonic ammo, there was no real difference with the noise level, there appeared to be no sonic boom with the HV ammo so would assume the length of the barrel resulted in the projectile travelling the last part of the barrel with no pressure behind it, so it slowed to sub-sonic velocity before exiting.

[George n the Ozarks]

I paid 700 for mine, it was on the special rack for 2 months at 850. Shop moved it to the regular rack and dropped the price and i rescued it. 8/41 Lithy and one month newer than my 7/41 Lithy in .303.

[George n the Ozarks]

Guess I have to figure out how to post pics.

[Calfed]

How does it shoot?

[indy1919a4]

I took a friend out to shoot my Enfield .22.. So I loaded him up (all one bullet).. And then warned him to prepare himself because this thing kicks like a mule..

So when he pulled the trigger and all we hear is a slight pop.. I look at him and say, "Did you break something, what went wrong" ... Well after he figured it out and got tired of running after me, he settled right down and like shooting it..

I think the neatest feature of those trainers is how the empty magazine body catches the spent 22 brass after firing.