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L39A1: British Service Target Rifle Before the L42A1 (ad-free)
🕑 Added 2022-08-05 12:00:06 +0000 UTCThe story of the conversion of the Lee Enfield to 7.62mm NATO would not be complete without the L39A1. This is essentially the civilian competition version of what would become the L42A1. It was actually in British service as a target rifle - not intended for combat. It followed the L8 (the first British military attempts at a 7.62mm precision version of the Enfield) and the L42A1. It was basically a copy of the conversions done by civilian competition shooters in the British NRA.
Sights were made by several different companies, as the rifles were not issued with sights - they were obtained by the unit they went to, whatever particular model that unit preferred. This example has Parker Hale diopter sights. The L39A1 also used a .303 caliber magazine, as they were intended for slow-fire, single loaded competition but the magazine was used as a loading tray. The .303 magazine will not reliably hold 7.62mm cartridges, but 7.62mm conversion magazines can be put in the L39A1 and will then work just fine. They also sometimes are fitted with .303 extractors. The stock has a semi-pistol grip a bit less substantial than the L8 .22 rifle.
The original sights were removed, and remarked as L39A1. They were made in 1969, 1970, and 1972, with a single serial number range used for the L39A1, the pretrial trials examples of the L39, and the “7.62 Conv” rifles. A total of 1,213 L39A1 rifles were made, with the other types accounting for about 28 additional rifles.
Comments
Real men!
Mick Gillen
Thanks Ian, a classic case of good timing. Co-incidentally I was looking at a collection of Envoys, Enforcers and L39A1s in a dealers here in the UK yesterday - he isn't selling :-( But I found this one online here and have bought it - subject to examination. It's an early one - 1969 #A219. https://www.guntrader.uk/guns/rifles/enfield-lee/bolt-action/7-62x51/l39a1-220505170743644
ViejoLobo
Good candidate for a desert workout, maybe ring steel at extended range.
Terry
The only thing less astonishing than Ian finding another Lee Enfield to discuss would be him finding another Lebel.
Guido Schriewer
this... is beautiful. could collect the whooole enfield models as heck. once shot a 22 no8 with a front sight as this one. greal greaaaat sights! 72 was an outstanding year. I was born, that rifle were made,...
Derrel Carter
Didn't the civilian Envoy also have the Monte carlo buttstocks?
