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Jungle Carbines (!)

offerorofferor Member Posts: 8,625 ✭✭
edited April 2002 in General Discussion
Recently I've seen a run of cheap jungle carbines -- you know the ones -- electroless nickel plate and the cone-shaped flash suppressor. They seem to be coming in two or three different grades from two or three different sources. Some seem to be .308 and others an older caliber. I admit they've caught my eye, but I'd prefer one in .308. Anyone knowledgable about these? How many of them, and which ones, are junk (you know, the stand behind a tree and pull the trigger with a string type...)? Which, if any, are worth buying (and decently accurate)? Yes, I'm a carbine lover... I admit it.
"The 2nd Amendment is about security, not hunting. Long live the gun shows, and reasonable access to FFLs. Join the NRA -- I'm a Life Member."
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Comments

  • oneshyoneshy Member Posts: 417 ✭
    edited November -1
    The original is a No5 Mk1 in 303 and originally came with suppressor. Some were converted from the Ishapore(India) MK2A1. Others were built from the No1 Mk3&4. Australia also got in with what's called the No6 prototype which is termed by some as the Mk7. Took a while to sort all the no. and I'm still not sure if I have them all correct. If you want a 308 it will be a conversion of one of these. If the rifle has British, Indian or UK markings you should be OK for under $120. Make your best deal. The original Mk5 $225. Stay away from nickel coated. Some reputable sources are AIM surplus, Navy Arms, Southern Ohio Guns and Freedom Arms. www.milsurpshooter.net Enfield forum can give you some more info
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  • gap1916gap1916 Member Posts: 4,977
    edited November -1
    I have seen some from a company called Gibbs. They make a .308 in a Extream 2 and 3 model. I do not know much about them but they do look pretty.
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  • wipalawipala Member Posts: 11,067
    edited November -1
    Gibbs rifle co. is a subsidiary of Navy Arms and turns out quality pieces
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  • gap1916gap1916 Member Posts: 4,977
    edited November -1
    The Gibbs Rifles are Nickel plated so they say. The extream 2 has a wood stock the Extream 3 has a plastic stock.
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  • offerorofferor Member Posts: 8,625 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Thank you for the feedback thus far. If there is more to be said feel free to continue. There seems to be some dispute about the quality of the shiney guns from Gibbs/Navy....? I thought Electroless Nickel was an old enough process that it would not have been recently added, or at least not to do anything but improve cosmetic looks. Am I wrong?
    "The 2nd Amendment is about security, not hunting. Long live the gun shows, and reasonable access to FFLs. Join the NRA -- I'm a Life Member."
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  • offerorofferor Member Posts: 8,625 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    By the way, I've avoided anything in the British .303 thus far. I generally go for what will be readily available in good quality modern loads. The .303 strikes me as an old, generally outdated caliber with a limited selection of ammo, and perhaps old hangfire prone stuff too -- okay for plinking maybe but not to bet your life on. What's the scoop on .303 as an alternative to .308? I've seen the Quest Extreme guns, by the way, and those may well be the nickel plated guns. My dealer has one he wants $199 for. I believe it's in .308.
    "The 2nd Amendment is about security, not hunting. Long live the gun shows, and reasonable access to FFLs. Join the NRA -- I'm a Life Member."
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  • offerorofferor Member Posts: 8,625 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I have to admit I never thought I'd be looking at a bolt action again with 2 exceptions: either a Weatherby in an African game caliber, or a .50 bmg just for kicks. But those Jungle Carbines are so attractive, or maybe evocative somehow, that I wouldn't mind having one hanging on my wall -- and I've never been one to hang guns on my walls either. Ever want a gun but couldn't put your finger on the sense of it, exactly?
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  • oneshyoneshy Member Posts: 417 ✭
    edited November -1
    303 is available everywhere and is becoming very inexpensive and surplus ammo now on the market is late 80's manufacture. Almost comparable to the 30-06. I would only stay away from nickel because it just doesn't seem right somehow. But, if the price is right..... $199 is too much. Check out that link I gave you earlier if you haven't already.[This message has been edited by oneshy (edited 04-03-2002).]
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  • offerorofferor Member Posts: 8,625 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    oneshy -- Thanks very much. Late 80s is fine. Where does the .303 fall in terms of power factor? I would imagine .30-06 is most powerful, but is .308 about even with .303? Sorry for the naivete re: .303. It has only been in my side vision up until now.
    "The 2nd Amendment is about security, not hunting. Long live the gun shows, and reasonable access to FFLs. Join the NRA -- I'm a Life Member."
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  • oneshyoneshy Member Posts: 417 ✭
    edited November -1
    Looking at my ballistic charts I see that they're almost identical, but the 308 has about a 2% advantage as it has a higher powder capacity and velocity.
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  • gunpaqgunpaq Member Posts: 4,607 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I recently began hunting with the .303 Enfields and was quite impressed by the rifles and the power of the cartridge. Usually hunt deer with a .270 and/or 30-06. Have taken three deer with the .303 and it nocked them over dead on the spot, one shot each, at about 40 yards, 100yards, and 175 yards + or - , using a sporter scoped #4. Have also shot quite accurately out to the 300 yard target at the range. Love that bolt action on the Enfields.
    Pack slow, fall stable, pull high, hit dead center.
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  • XracerXracer Member Posts: 1,990 ✭
    edited November -1
    .303 in modern loads is, in every respect, equivalent to .308 as a hunting round....good for any North American game up to, and including, moose and elk.It's been the primary hunting round in Canada since the 1920's.
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  • davcondavcon Member Posts: 139 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I thought I read some where that they weren't all that accurate. I believe they may have had a wandering zero problem. I think I read it in a magazine review sometime last year. I remember it because I thought they looked attractive and I too love carbines. The article was not positive and I put off the purchase until I could try one out. I still have not been able to try one out though.
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  • talontalon Member Posts: 150 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    The .303 military rifles, and reworks thereof, are accurate enough to get the job done out to common hunting ranges (50-150 yards). As their chambers are oversize to meet combat conditions they will lack "paper target" accuracy. However, some reloaders don't like this cartridge as the case is stressed upon firing (oversized chamber), and after 1 or 2 reloads, if that many, it should be considered unsafe to reload further.
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  • offerorofferor Member Posts: 8,625 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    By the way, two items of interest in the latest GUNS & AMMO issue. First, SSK has announced an AR-10 target model in .300 Winchester Short Magnum caliber.Second, Jeff Cooper has an interesting (and unusually long, for him) discussion of the merits of the .30-'06 vs. the .308 on the back page. Makes the ought-six sound downright enticing.
    "The 2nd Amendment is about security, not hunting. Long live the gun shows, and reasonable access to FFLs. Join the NRA -- I'm a Life Member."
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  • gap1916gap1916 Member Posts: 4,977
    edited November -1
    I ordered a Gibbs Extream II today. When it comes in I will let you know how well I did or did not do. The Extream II is a .308.
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  • gap1916gap1916 Member Posts: 4,977
    edited November -1
    I ordered a Gibbs Extream II today. It is chambered for .308. I will let you know how good the quality is or is not when it arrives.
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  • offerorofferor Member Posts: 8,625 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    gap --I look forward to your review.
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