I like the enfield action ive inquired about so much I believe im gonna try to set it up for my girlfriend to shoot. She is kind of recoil sensitive. How is the felt recoil on this round? Im gonna fit a synthetic stock to her and handload for it so I can load em kinda tame. What do yall think?

Recoil is a subjective thing but I think it is very light especially with light reloads. Hornady 150 Interlocks and IMR 4064 is a really good mix.

podunkennels;
While recoil is always a subjective thing, I would think that by putting on any stock with a somewhat higher comb would help reduce felt recoil.

I find the recoil somewhere between a .30-30 and a .308, but again that is so dependent on stock design it's tough to put a definitive factor to it. Most Lee-Enfield's that I've shot with a higher comb kicked a bit more than say most 6.5x55's I've shot, but somewhat less than the "average" .308.

Hopefully that was some use to you and good luck with your fine old rifle.

Regards,
Dwayne

Thank you fellas, I believe I can load it light enough to shoot well for her with the proper stock.

bout like a 30-30.

Exactamundo...

Ingwe

good deal, I should be able to load it down enough that it wont be uncomfortable to her.

I gotta agree with Dwayne. I have hunted quite a bit with my 303. Even after some significant shoulder surgery, I was able to use mine a few weeks later. Granted I have a Limbsaver pad on mine and it has a custom walnut stock which fits me well. The recoil always reminded me of a 308.
If you GF is recoil sensitive a limbsaver will sort things out nicely and is easy to install. The 303 Brit is a great round for most NA game.

.303 Enfields were designed by someone's secretary who was 5' 2" tall with short arms and never held a rifle before.

It is an abomination. The stock is the negative factor with thesse rifles not the cartridge. The cartridge would recoil similar to a .308 Winchester if in like designed rifles. A SMLE as she comes, makes a great tomato stake.

Make sure there is soem attention to the butt and a decent recoil pad or better yet, let Ingwe restock it.

JW

Id love to put a piece of wood similar to Ingwes. However I do believe Im gonna put a synthetic stock and a cheekpiece on it for my girlfriend. The stock that comes on it isnt something id even consider shooting myself much less for her.

it's like a .308, but 5 less.

A quick Google search indicates that in the 1890s, 5'2" was the minimum height for British army recruits.

- Tom

Thats interesting, there may be something to it then.

On the other hand the "Jungle Carbine" model with the small hard rubber recoil pad hits harder than my 12 ga. with 3" mags. Yuck.

Are you planning to shoot factory ammo or reload for it?
If you are reloading, then try 45gns of Varget behind a 125 gn pill.
You can get some 3000 plus fps and recoil is tame. I shoot military rifle and use this load for 100 and 200 meter events in my No1 Mk3 and my No4 mk2.
rob