Editing Lee–Enfield (section)

==Civilian use==
Lee–Enfields are very popular as hunting rifles and target shooting rifles. Many surplus Lee–Enfield rifles were sold in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States after the Second World War, and a fair number have been '[[Sporterising|sporterised]]', having had the front furniture reduced or removed and a scope fitted so that they resemble a bolt-action sporting rifle.{{sfn|Wilson|2007a}} Top-notch accuracy is difficult to achieve with the Lee–Enfield design,{{sfn|Smith|1979|p=21}} as it was intended to be a battle rifle rather than a sharpshooter's weapon,{{sfn|Smith|1979|p=21}} and thus the Enfield is nowadays overshadowed by derivatives of [[Paul Mauser]]'s design as a target shooting arm. They did, however, continue to be used at [[Bisley, Surrey|Bisley]] up into the 1970s with some success, and continue to perform extremely well at Military Service Rifle Competitions throughout the world.{{sfn|Wilson|2007a}}

Many people still hunt with as-issued Lee–Enfield rifles, with commercial .303 British ammunition proving especially effective on medium-sized game.{{sfn|Wilson|2007a}} Soft-point .303 ammunition is widely available for hunting purposes, though the [[.303 British#Mark VII|Mark 7 military cartridge design]] often proves adequate because its tail-heavy design makes the bullet [[Yaw (rotation)|yaw]] violently and deform after hitting the target.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/bot37.htm |title=The Box O' Truth No.&nbsp;37 – The Deadly .303 British |publisher=The Box O' Truth |access-date=28 January 2009 |archive-date=16 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716223945/http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/bot37.htm |url-status=dead }}{{self-published source|date=January 2015}}</ref>{{sfn|War Office|1999|p=364}}

The Lee–Enfield rifle is a popular gun for historic rifle enthusiasts and those who find the 10-round magazine, loading by charger clips, and the rapid bolt-action useful for Practical Rifle events. Since formation in 1998, organisations such as the Lee Enfield Rifle Association have assisted in not just preserving rifles in shooting condition (many Lee–Enfields are being deactivated and sold as "wall-hangers" to collectors who do not hold a Firearms Licence in countries where they are required), but holding events and competitions. Lee–Enfields are also popular with competitors in service rifle competitions in many Commonwealth countries.

The Lee–Enfield series is very popular for service rifle shooting competitions in the UK and Australia due to the prohibitions on the legal ownership of semi-automatic centrefire rifles in Great Britain and restrictions on the legal ownership of semi-automatic centrefire rifles in Australia.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sportingshooter.co.uk/guns-and-shooting/useful-stuff/firearms-law |title=Firearms Law |publisher=Sporting Shooter Magazine (UK) |access-date=31 January 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090123222212/http://www.sportingshooter.co.uk/guns-and-shooting/useful-stuff/firearms-law |archive-date=23 January 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ssaa.org.au/newssaa/securitylegislation/lawindex.htm |title=SSAA—National Firearms Licensing Guide |publisher=Sporting Shooters' Association of Australia |access-date=31 January 2009 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080719103132/http://www.ssaa.org.au/newssaa/securitylegislation/lawindex.htm |archive-date=19 July 2008}}</ref> (For more information see [[Gun politics in the United Kingdom]] and [[Gun politics in Australia]].)

Rhineland Arms produces [[.45 ACP]] conversion kits for the Lee–Enfield action using [[M1911 pistol]] magazines.<ref>{{citation|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BQY/is_4_51/ai_n11840303/ |title=Rhineland .45 ACP Carbine: fun conversions for surplus Enfields and Mausers |author-first=Holt |author-last=Bodinson |date=April 2005 |work=Guns Magazine |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100527041456/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BQY/is_4_51/ai_n11840303/ |archive-date=27 May 2010 }}</ref>

The [[Lee–Speed|Lee–Speed Sporter]] was a higher quality British made version of the Lee–Enfield.

Rifle Factory Ishapore of India still manufactures a sporting/hunting rifle chambered in .315 with a Lee–Enfield action.<ref>{{cite web |title=.315" SPORTING RIFLE |url=http://rfi.gov.in/booking/prod/315_Sporting.htm |website=rfi.gov.in |access-date=9 November 2018 |archive-date=16 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180916213958/http://rfi.gov.in/booking/prod/315_Sporting.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>