Tell me about the 2A/2A1 308

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Tell me about the 2A/2A1 308

Posted: 1/9/2017 4:12:16 PM EDT

I'm interested in getting one. Anything I should know?

Posted: 1/9/2017 9:02:32 PM EDT

[#1]

Basicly a .308 Lee Endfield

What's not to love?

Posted: 1/9/2017 9:11:39 PM EDT

[#2]

I received a 2A as payment for some work completed several years ago.

Rifle works fine, but kicks like a mule (62 year old shoulders).

My understanding is Ishapore used old stocks, even though the steel was all new.

My only gripe about the rifle is how ugly it looks.

Used to be, if you bought a couple of battle packs from Aim, you got a free Ishapore.

Posted: 1/9/2017 9:41:33 PM EDT

[#3]

Quote History

Quoted:
I received a 2A as payment for some work completed several years ago.

Rifle works fine, but kicks like a mule (62 year old shoulders).

My understanding is Ishapore used old stocks, even though the steel was all new.

My only gripe about the rifle is how ugly it looks.

Used to be, if you bought a couple of battle packs from Aim, you got a free Ishapore.

View Quote

FrenchKat !!! How have you been?
I'm the guy you got the A2 from LOL

Posted: 1/9/2017 9:44:32 PM EDT

[#4]

And how is this ugly ?

Posted: 1/9/2017 11:43:37 PM EDT

[#5]

Is it a removable mag or is it stripper fed?

Posted: 1/10/2017 12:56:39 AM EDT

[#6]

Quote History

Quoted:
Is it a removable mag or is it stripper fed?

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Yes and yes. But they were only issued with 1 magazine and are meant to be loaded with clips.

Posted: 1/10/2017 1:25:05 AM EDT

[#7]

I believe only the Long Lee Metfords were issued w/ 2 magazines; one was chained to the rifle.

Posted: 1/10/2017 3:19:42 AM EDT

[#8]

They look a lot better with the stove paint stripped off.

Posted: 1/10/2017 2:49:35 PM EDT

[#9]

Quote History

Quoted:
And how is this ugly ?

View Quote

Man, I just hate bad looking wood!

I've looked and looked, just can't find new wood. Thought I got a set of furniture I could redo, but the stock ended up being cracked.

Tr6r, how the hell are you man, where the hell are you? I do enjoy the rifle, I take it out with the FALs and BM59s and let it kick my ass! Those old Tommies have my respect!

MathewMacClain:

As to the mag question, I got a couple of Sarco replacements. I had to adjust the lips slightly before they would work reliably.

Posted: 1/10/2017 5:04:54 PM EDT

[#10]

I just picked one up in trade myself today. Great rifle for the money, haven't had a chance to take it apart for a good thorough cleaning.

Debating myself on whether to strip the paint or leave it. Just going to clean up my wood slightly and look for cracks

Posted: 1/10/2017 5:26:57 PM EDT

[#11]

What source do you recommend picking one up from?

Posted: 1/10/2017 6:01:44 PM EDT

[#12]

I picked up one locally off Armslist, but I had searched GunBroker and they were running anywhere from $300-400 depending on condition.

The ones I had seen locally here in NC were around the $350-$400 mark, not including tax.

I lucked out on the one I found on Armslist, the guy was looking for an AR and was willing to add cash. I was trying to downsize my AR collection and have been wanting an Ishapore Enfield for quite some time.

Attached File

Posted: 1/10/2017 6:19:56 PM EDT

[#13]

Quote History

Quoted:

Man, I just hate bad looking wood!

I've looked and looked, just can't find new wood. Thought I got a set of furniture I could redo, but the stock ended up being cracked.

Tr6r, how the hell are you man, where the hell are you? I do enjoy the rifle, I take it out with the FALs and BM59s and let it kick my ass! Those old Tommies have my respect!

MathewMacClain:

As to the mag question, I got a couple of Sarco replacements. I had to adjust the lips slightly before they would work reliably.

View Quote

I'm near 8st & the turnpike.... sorry to hear about the cracked stock,,, Can it be repaired?

Posted: 1/10/2017 7:41:10 PM EDT

[#14]

Maybe. You can get new stocks for a lot of stuff. New plastic or wood furniture for the FALs. Just put a new stock on my BM59E, I was able to get new wood for the Type 2 .308 Garand. Not to mention new plastic for the ARs. You just can't find a complete new wood for a Type 1, Mark III Enfield.

I'd be happy to take suggestions from anyone here that might know a source that not real expensive.

Posted: 1/10/2017 7:48:39 PM EDT

[#15]

Quote History

Quoted:
Maybe. You can get new stocks for a lot of stuff. New plastic or wood furniture for the FALs. Just put a new stock on my BM59E, I was able to get new wood for the Type 2 .308 Garand. Not to mention new plastic for the ARs. You just can't find a complete new wood for a Type 1, Mark III Enfield.

I'd be happy to take suggestions from anyone here that might know a source that not real expensive.

View Quote

Did you do a BM59E build?

Posted: 1/11/2017 10:41:53 AM EDT

[#16]

I got my 1st one (BM59E) from the Garand Guy as a complete rifle. Then I started collecting parts for another one (this was before all the kits hit the market). Sent the Garand Guy one of the Standard Parts builder barrel to have mounted on one of his receivers. I did the rest. That one actually ended up more in the BM69 configuration.

When the kits hit the market, I got one from Centerfire (2 mags), one of the Sarco repo barrels and got in on the JRA receiver pre-order. Just got the receiver last week, but haven't had a chance to build the rifle yet.

It was lots easier going the kit route then watching and waiting for parts to show up, cheaper too.

Posted: 1/15/2017 1:07:10 PM EDT

[#17]

The 2A1 has a stronger action.

Posted: 1/15/2017 2:17:05 PM EDT

[#18]

Mine was a decent shooter with surplus ammo . Kicks firmly . They are kind of ugly . I got rid of it years ago because it did not seem to fit my collection ,. The guy who bought it was burglarized and it was stolen. No idea whether he got it back or anything else .

Posted: 1/15/2017 7:26:29 PM EDT

[#19]

Quote History

Quoted:
The 2A1 has a stronger action.

View Quote

What are you basing this statement on ?

Posted: 1/28/2017 12:47:45 PM EDT

[#20]

Supposedly the 2a1 were later production, and therefor had better metallurgy and production practices than the typical smle, or so I've read.
Different methods of heat treating, if not the later higher nickel content?
Still used by the Indian royal guard iirc?

Posted: 1/28/2017 8:23:32 PM EDT

[#21]

Same rifle, 2A used the Enfield 2000 yard sights and the 2A1 had sights graduated to 800.

Posted: 1/31/2017 9:02:00 PM EDT

[#22]

I like mine, but it will need a little work before it feeds from the magazine properly. On the second to last round, the bolt skips over the base of the round. Probably just a quirk of mine. Overall, I love the Lee Enfield action. 308 just makes it even better.

Posted: 2/17/2017 8:57:52 PM EDT

[#23]

I got a 2A recently. I paid too much for it at $650 plus taxes/fees, but it was in great condition. It has a perfect 43-marked stock in it.

I did have to put an old-style windage adjustable rear sight on it since the front sight was off-center and the staked metal wouldn't give up to my sight pusher. It's a fun gun. I even managed to get a cheap Indian bayonet for it.

Posted: 2/19/2017 2:11:23 AM EDT

[#24]

WOW on prices. I remember passing on them at $80 after seeing that black paint.

Posted: 2/19/2017 10:51:24 PM EDT

[#25]

Quote History

Quoted:
I got a 2A recently. I paid too much for it at $650 plus taxes/fees, but it was in great condition. It has a perfect 43-marked stock in it.

I did have to put an old-style windage adjustable rear sight on it since the front sight was off-center and the staked metal wouldn't give up to my sight pusher. It's a fun gun. I even managed to get a cheap Indian bayonet for it.

View Quote

Yikes. I paid two bills for mine about 4 months ago. It's certainly not in perfect shape, but I don't think I would pay $650 for one even in flawless condition.

Posted: 2/20/2017 4:30:44 PM EDT

[#26]

I picked one up a few months ago at a gun show for $400 and it is in pretty darn good condition.

It was the only one I had seen in a long time so I grabbed it.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Tell me about the 2A/2A1 308

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