Lee-Enfield .22 Caliber Rifles

     Notes: Enfield made a number of its SMLE and No 4 rifles in .22 Long Rifle chambering.  This was done to provide training rifles, to provide rifles for local shooting clubs, and to provide varmint hunting rifles for civilians.  Most of these were designed to mimic the weight and balance of their parent rifles, with minimal modifications for the new caliber.

     The first of these was the Short Rifle Mk I; why it was called a short rifle I don’t know, since they had a barrel length of 25 inches, the same as an SMLE Mk I.  It was introduced in 1907. The Long Rifle Mk II is similar, but converted from the long Lee-Enfield Rifles; it has a longer (25.2 inches) barrel that was thinner in profile.  The Short Rifle Mk I* is for game purposes the same as the Mk I, but based on the SMLE Mk I*. The Short Rifle Mk III was based on the SMLE Mk II and Mk II*, and for game purposes is the same as the Mk I.  The No 2 Mk IV was based on the SMLE of the same nomenclature; some had new .22 barrels, and some had .303 barrels with a .22 insert.  The No 2 Mk IV* was essentially the same rifle, just converted from a different Mark.  They are the same as the Mk I for game purposes, except for the weight.  The Rifle C No 7 was developed at the Long Branch arsenal in Canada, but sold primarily to British citizens by BSA in Canada.  It has a smaller magazine than other Lee-Enfield .22s.  The No 7 Mk I is identical to the Canadian No 7 Mk I, except for the bolt.  It is a converted No 4, not a new-construction rifle.  The No 8 Mk I was a “Youth”-type rifle with a shorter stock and a 24-inch barrel.  Despite it’s smaller size, it is as heavy as many other Lee-Enfield .22s.  It is a single-shot rifle with a blocked magazine.  The No 9 Mk I was essentially a No 4 converted for .22 for the Royal Navy; it is a bit heavier than the No 8.  The No 5 Trials Rifle was a test conversion of the No 5 into a .22 carbine, and had a 19-inch barrel.  Only about 100 were built.

Milcam

     Notes: Though designed for military use as a platoon’s sharpshooter’s weapon, the British Milcam found use primarily in civilian hands.  It is a bolt-action weapon that accepts high capacity M-16 assault rifle magazines.  The bolt action is strong, and does not require a long movement for cycling.  The trigger guard is large enough for Arctic gloves.  This weapon does not have a scope mount. 

     The Milcam HB (Heavy Barrel) was designed as a sniper's weapon, but primarily found use in civilian hands as a hunting weapon.  It is more accurate than the standard Milcam, and has a dovetail sight for the quick mounting of simple sights, but is otherwise the same.  Unlike the standard Milcam, the HB is drilled and tapped for a scope. 

     The Comcan is the carbine variant of the Milcam rifle.  It is the same weapon, except for the barrel length.  It is not tapped for a scope.

     The Snicam was designed as a dedicated military and police sniper weapon, and found some use in the UK with the police and military, and in the US with police, as well as with civilians.  The Snicam relies only on a scope, and has no iron sights.  The bolt action is by cam, and it has a lengthened heavy match-grade barrel.  The weapon has a bipod, and the cheekpiece, stock, and trigger are adjustable. The caliber limited its utility to military snipers. 

     Twilight 2000 Notes: This weapon does not exist in the Twilight 2000 timeline.

Parker-Hale 81

     Notes: Introduced in 1983, the Model 81 has a straight-comb stock with a pistol grip.  There is checkering on the pistol grip and fore-end.  The butt has a rubber recoil pad, and spacers could be put in between the recoil pad and end of butt to fit the shooter.  The Model 81 has sling swivels, something that is rare on most sporting rifles.  Options include a set trigger.  The rifle is grooved for an optical sight.  Two versions are available: the Classic, which fires most of the calibers available in the Model 81; and the African, which fires large cartridges.

Parker-Hale 1000

     Notes: Introduced in 1965, this rifle came in versions with two different magazines (5 rounds internal or 4-round detachable box) and three basic models, the Safari, the Standard and the Safari Magnum.  It has a Santa Barbara action, a walnut half-stock with pistol-grip wrist, and conventional checkering on the pistol grip and fore-stock.  It is basically a standard bolt-action hunting rifle, drilled and tapped for a scope.

Parker-Hale 1100 (First Model)

     Notes: This rifle is easily confused with another later Parker-Hale rifle also known as the Model 1100. This version of the Model 1100 is based on the Model 1000 (as opposed to the later one, which is a lighter version of the Model 1200), and dates from 1968. Like the Model 1000, this Model 1100 is a Mauser-pattern rifle of the Santa Barbara pattern, but the action is updated from that of the Model 1000.  The safety catch is on the right side of the receiver, and the bolt handle is swept downward in an arc.  It has a small removable magazine accessed from a hinging floorplate, similar to many magazine-fed bolt-action rifles.  The stock is of the Monte Carlo pattern.  Sights consist of a folding rear leaf and a ramp front with a tunnel-type protector.  The fore-end has a hand-swell and a Schnabel tip.  The butt is equipped with a Pachmayr Old English recoil pad.  Stocks are of English walnut, hand-checkered and finished in a weatherproof satin varnish.  The weapon is drilled and tapped for a scope mount.  A variant of this rifle is the Model 1100 De Luxe Safari; this version fires exclusively .375 H&H Magnum, and has the same stock as the Model 1000 Safari Magnum, but with the Pachmayr Old English recoil pad and lighter weight, and a longer barrel than the standard Model 1100.

Parker-Hale 1100 (Second Model)

     Notes: This Model 1100 is based on the Model 1200 Super Safari (below), and is also known as the Model 1100 Lightweight.  It chambers the same cartridges as the Model 1200, but has a 22-inch barrel (as opposed to the 24-inch barrel of the Model 1200 Super Safari), except on the .22-250 version, a hollow light alloy bolt handle, a light alloy trigger guard and magazine floorplate and casing, and a smaller fore-end.  The stock is of the Monte Carlo style, with a palm swell on the fore-end, a weatherproof satin varnish finish, and a Pachmayr Old English recoil pad.  The Model 1100M African Magnum fires much more powerful ammunition, has a heavy barrel, a strengthened action, and a stock with a heavy recoil bolt in addition to a standard bolt.  The comb of the Monte Carlo stock is shallower than the standard Model 1100, and the barrel is a full 24 inches.  It is basically as heavy as other rifles of its class, and does not generally get the “Lightweight” moniker.

Parker-Hale 1200 Super Safari

     Notes: Replacing the 1000 and 1100 (First Model) in production, the Model 1200 Super Safari was largely similar to those rifles except for the weight (slightly heavier) and in having rubber recoil pads as standard equipment, as well as woods that were more esthetically pleasing.  Like the 1000, the Super Safari could be had with either 5-round internal magazine or a 4-round detachable box magazine.  The Super Safari Magnum differed (other than the calibers) in having only 3-round detachable box magazine versions.  The Super Safari TX is a target rifle chambered only for 7.62mm NATO; it has a half-stock, straight comb, plain pistol grip, and was fitted with an aperture sight, as well as having a longer barrel.  The 1200 Varmint has a longer, heavy barrel; sales of this weapon stopped in 1975.

Parker-Hale Sporting Model Rifle

     Notes: This is a simple conversion of the Mk III SMLE into a sporting rifle.  In fact, very little changes were made to the SMLE design; the fore-end was reduced to half-length and the rear-sight protectors were removed.  Several versions were made: The Standard model w (No. 1) is as just described; the Supreme No. 1 had a pistol-grip stock with checkering, a Monte-Carlo comb, and a checkered fore-end. (It is identical for game purposes to the Standard version).  The Custom No. 1 has the charger guides, which were considered unattractive in a civilian rifle, removed; in addition, a rubber recoil pad is added to the butt.  The Custom No. 4 had a five-round magazine, and was built from new actions instead of refurbished ones, but is otherwise identical to the Custom No. 1.