BSA No 5 Mk 1 Enfield Jungle Carbine 303 British

[4thIDvet]

Just picked up one of these Jungle Carbines in .303. Got a great deal on it and never have seen one before? Anyone have one or fire one and are somewhat familiar with it?
It is a 1942.. The Brits were in the jungles of S.E. Asia during that time and this must be their version of the 'shorty' weapon? Shorter was good in thick jungles as you weren't banging into trees in that condensed environment.
Seller tossed in 200 rounds of armor piercing rounds for $50. I did not really want the ammo no real use for it. Then I looked up the prices. Holy sheeet that stuff ain't cheap.

Not the weapon I purchased but similar to this one.
BSA No 5 Mk 1 Enfield Jungle Carbine 303 British - Bolt Action Rifles at GunBroker.com : 1066302761

Out of their minds with this ammo price. $4.99 for one round? Keep it.
gun-deals.com - User-Submitted Gun & Ammunition Deals

[Nineteen_11]

I've got one. They are great fun. Tend to recoil noticeably harder as they are lighter & shorter & have a horrid rubber butt plate that doesn't spread the love the way the brass one does. They have become quite collectable over here in recent years as have the bayonets. Be mindful if it is surplus ammo, it will have mercuric primers which can badly effect the bore if not cleaned properly. Every kid wanted No5 back in the day.

[4thIDvet]

Thanks Nineteen_11 as the Aussies were kick ass bad to the bone troops from WWII and Vietnam I figured they would have them issued in their jungle ventures. They go upwards of $800 to $900 on Gunbroker here but a lot sitting around the $500 mark.
Previous owner fired it and left it sitting for a bit and I am almost afraid to start in on that bore. Thanks for the recoil tip I have a double right shoulder replacement and will wear a Pabst recoil pad.
Original bayonets are damn near 1/2 the price of the weapon.

[Nineteen_11]

They are pulling a good price over here. You seldom see them under $1500.

Check this one out

https://www.allguns.com.au/listings/1947-n5-jungle-carbine/

[FloridaAKM]

I bought one from a Supervisor @ work for $200.00 & 100 rounds of ball ammo. He didn't want it around his kids @ home anymore, so he sold it. IIRC, it is a 1947 model in very good shape, but has no bayonet.

A year later, I bought a sealed case of ammo, 288 rounds of .303 British for $150.00. Still have it all in & on top of the gunsafe.

[GBob01]

The No.5 was one that escaped my collectionn, and I have always wanted one along with a P-17 to go alongside it. I was being too picky, then along came obamma.
Can't believe that he just threw in the ammo.

[mrkalashnikov]

I have always heard the .303 Jungle Carbines had quite the recoil. Years ago you could buy them dirt cheap, like under $100. Now like every other inexpensive milsurp iron (Carcano, Arisaka, Mosin, etc) they're bringing high prices.

[Retvet]

I have one, matching numbers. Have never fired it, like most of my Enfield collection.

[4thIDvet]

The No.5 was one that escaped my collectionn, and I have always wanted one along with a P-17 to go alongside it. I was being too picky, then along came obamma.
Can't believe that he just threw in the ammo.

My buddy just picked up the ammo for me. Yup 200 rounds of beautiful armor piercing ammo. Dated 1944 hell their even annealed and on stripper clips. Each round is heavy as all hell and 200 rounds is out of my league for hauling around.
Need someone like Merc to carry them..

ADD: I wonder if these rounds are what the Brits used in their airplanes??

.303 BRITISH ARMOUR PIERCING LOT

[mrkalashnikov]

I just remembered the only person I actually know who owns a jungle carbine. A friend of mine had a brother who killed himself with it. When the local police released it to him it was covered with blood & gore from the suicide. He cleaned it up and it's in his milsurp collection now. I think that's creepy as hell and don't understand why he wanted it. Maybe to sell quickly, but not to keep.

[Sanders]

Wish I would have picked one up in 7.62 NATO when they were cheap and plentiful. Woulda coulda, shoulda, didn't.

[4thIDvet]

Wish I would have picked one up in 7.62 NATO when they were cheap and plentiful. Woulda coulda, shoulda, didn't.

Been reading about them and I guess? they were created during WWII for the Limeys and Brits to use running around the SE Asian jungles to kill Japs. They never saw WWII action and were with some Airborne unit sitting waiting for the invasion of Japan. Guess the troops who got them liked them? They were small light accurate and packed some good knockdown power.

[GBob01]

Wish I would have picked one up in 7.62 NATO when they were cheap and plentiful. Woulda coulda, shoulda, didn't.

I've got a No1 mk3 Enfield in .308, good shooter. Didnt know, or have forgotten that No5's were chambered for .308.

[Nineteen_11]

I've got a No1 mk3 Enfield in .308, good shooter. Didnt know, or have forgotten that No5's were chambered for .308.

As far as I can recall, the only No1 Mk3 rifles in 7.62 were made in Ishapore. Anything else would have been a conversion from a rifle originally chambered in .303. I dont believe any No5 rifles left the factory in 7.62.

Having said that, I've seen some outstanding conversions done on No4 & No5 rifles both in 7.62 & 5.56mm. The 5.56 Jungle carbines are an absolute joy.

Then there is, of course, the .45acp No1 Mk3 "DeLisle" conversions. We as kids had one & it was something special.

[Sanders]

I've got a No1 mk3 Enfield in .308, good shooter. Didnt know, or have forgotten that No5's were chambered for .308.

I don't remember if they were No1 or No5 when they were being sold. I do recall they were all Indian surplus, which is probably why I didn't look too closely at them. The few I did get my hands on looked neglected and abused with sewer pipe bores.