The 5th generation Lee-Enfield
From Australian International Arms (AIA):
Australian International Arms have manufactured the 5th generation of Lee-Enfield, for target shooting, military match and sporting markets. However, unlike the 4th generation, this is not a ‘converted’ Lee-Enfield. The AIA rifles are redesigned with modern techniques
The below photo shows the current models on sale. They are all .308.
This photo comes from the Canadian company Marstar who sells them in Canada. The official AIA website is not very informative.
If you are not familiar with Enfields (from Wikipedia):
The Lee-Enfield was, in various marks and models, the British Army’s standard bolt-action, magazine-fed, repeating rifle for over 60 years from (officially) 1895 until 1956, although it remained in British service well into the early 1960s and is still found in service in the armed forces of some Commonwealth nations. In its many versions, it was the standard army service rifle for the first half of the 20th century, and was adopted by Britain’s colonies and Commonwealth allies, including India, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada.
The below photo shows what I believe to be are prototypes and are defiantly not sale at this point in time. I have read about AIA 7.62×39mm which suspect is what the below rifles are chambered in. They may in fact be using AK magazines! AIA only offers rifles in .308 at this point in time.
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The story so far, as I understand it, is that the 7.62×39 models are on the market in Australia and have been for a couple of years.
As for the 7.62Nato models, there was some hollering as to the source of the parts, particularly how much was of Vietnamese origin. Last I heard, the teak for the stocks was then sourced from Thailand.
There was, on a previous version of the AIA website, and on the Marstar site, too (IIRC), an announcement that they (AIA) were seeking an American distributor, supposedly to be set during the summer of 2007. Well, it’s 9/28 as I write this, and I’ve heard nothing.
And Yes, I am going to be the first one on my block to get one. As soon as they figure this out, that is.
Have you heard anything?
Hi Peter,
I am afraid I have no new information on their availability in the US. I hadn’t heard about the Thai stocks.
I am nearly 100% certain that 7.62×39 are not being sold in Australia at this point in time. I was given an Australian hunting magazine that had an AIA advertisement and a review of one of their rifles.
I will post the review and I will scan in the advertisement and post it on the blog.
Is the email you posted above valid? If so I will email you when I post the ads.
Yes, it’s a real address.
I belong to an Enfield chat board, and I’ll send you anything I happen to hear.
The 7.62×39 rifles are out of production. There’s also a company here in the USA that does this conversion of .303 No4’s and is looking at a .45ACP version as well.
http://www.specialinterestarms.com/
If you’re interested, the folks who make their barrels will also make .303 barrels in nearly any weight, although they do charge $25 for proper Enfield threading.
I too am incredibly frustrated by the lack of general information, specs etc.
but Id like your opinion based on what info has been released thus far:-
How would one of these heavy barrelled .308’s (The M10 “Match” or the No4 Mk4(T)) perform as an all-round varmint rifle?
-Would you find the load/calibre (.308) a bit excessive for the varmint application?
-Would the rifle deliver the required sub moa accuracy straight out of the box?
Im Australian and would encounter ranges anywhere from 50m-400m mainly on the Varmint class of animal eg rabbits, foxes, dingoes etc and then Id also like to branch into the larger game encountered in south eastern Aus like Roos, Pigs, Goats etc
I personally think it may be “too much gun” for rabbits and it may prove too loud for the afternoons where I sit a distance back from the rabbit warrens and pick them of individually. Id be extremely hesitant to get the any of carbine or shorter barrelled versions in .308 or 7.62×39mm due to the accuracy and recoil
I am seriously considering getting one soon, but again am a little put off by the lack of public awareness. Anyway Id welcome peoples opinions
regards
GM
Hi GM, I have seen photos of Australian service rifle shooters using the AIA rifles. Why not email or call the nearest club and ask how to get i touch with a member using the rifle. They should be able to tell you if the rifle delivers sub MOA accuracy.
There is nothing stopping you from using a .308 on varmints. You may want something smaller if you plan on eating them.
If you just want to cull them then I don’t think a dead rabbit will mind if you used a .22LR or a .50BMG
As far as recoil and noise goes, that depends on your situation.
I have **never** shot a .243 but from what I have read it effective on both varmints and larger game.
From http://www.gunnersden.com/index.htm.243winchester.html :
“The popular 243 winchester originated as a wildcat based on the 308 winchester brass necked down to 243 caliber, Warren Page developed the first prototype of this cartridge, it was then made available as a factory cartridge to the public by winchester in 1955.
The 243 winchester is the first true dual purpose class of cartridges, loaded with lighter bullets it is an extremely effective varmint round, sending a 70 grain bullet out the barrel at 3,500 fps., this is enough for any varmint sized game at the 400 yard mark, however load it with 100 grain bullets at 3,000 fps. and you have an excellent deer and antelope round good for 300 yards.
My own favorite bullet weight is 87 grains which serves the dual purpose of varmint and deer cartridge.
The 243 winchester is a light recoiling round which is comfortable enough for anyone to shoot, and it is inherently accurate which is a bonus to all that own a rifle chambered in this round. “
what do hunters normally use on kangaroos?
Thanks Steve,
The proffesional roo shooters who supply the table meat for the restraunt industry normally use .223’s and the occaisionaly one will use a .222rem as they shoot fairly flat, deliver good accuracy and the ammo is abundant and very cheap (either: surplus military, commercial or reloaded).
Id say the over-riding criteria for their choice of cartridge would be the economy side of it & that they can hit them through the head each time.
I will look into the target shooting thing and see if they know anything more about them.
I had been considering a .243 or 6mm rem in a remington 700 with a varmint configuration, which again would be a fine rifle though I had long been a fan of the original enfields (ergonomics, aesthetics etc) and when these new manufacture ones caught my eye they swayed me that way. If only they offered them in some other calibres.
Do you know if they plan to offer other calibres in the future?
I would get a .303 though Im convinced they would be complete and utter overkill on the lower end of the scale where as a .308 would mearly be a little over gunned! I wouldnt be too worried about what condition the carcass is in, anytime we specifically go after rabbits & meat I revert back to the .22Lr (which I still get alot of enjoyment out of)
GM
Hi GM, thanks for the info on roo shooting!
I have not heard of any plans to offer the M10 in any other caliber. The only other caliber I know it has been offered in is the 7.62×39mm.