Most people with even a tangential interest in Australian military history know about the iconic SMLE Mk III .303 rifles which equipped our soldiers during WWI, WWII and the Korean War.
The Lee-Enfield service rifles began their long and honourable service in 1889 in Britain, but the last service rifle version of the design was developed in India in the 1960s, and was known as the Ishapore 2A and 2A1 rifle.
India gained its independence from Britain in 1947, and inherited British military firearms and designs as part of that, with the Ishapore Rifle Factory continuing to produce SMLE Mk III rifles as well as providing repair facilities for the various other British firearms in the newly independent country’s armouries.
The 1949 communist victory in the Chinese Civil War resulted in some border disputes with India, which in 1962 eventually boiled over into the Sino-Indian War.
Indian troops, armed with WWI and WWII-vintage firearm designs and equipment like the SMLE found themselves facing People’s Liberation Army troops armed with SKS and AK-47 rifles.
The Indian government realised it needed to update its military equipment, and promptly obtained a licence to locally produce the L1A1 SLR in 7.62×51 NATO calibre. Production began in 1963, with the gun designated the Rifle 1A.
However, it was going to be several years before there were anything like enough SLRs available to be useful to the Indian military – and then someone pointed out that since the Ishapore Rifle Factory might be able to manufacture SMLEs in the 7.62×51 NATO round instead.
The short version was yes, they could – and did. The SMLE Mk III* design was strengthened (notably with improved steel) to accommodate the higher pressures associated with the 7.62×51 NATO round and entered service in 1963 as the Rifle 2A, with sights graduated (as on the SMLE) to 2000m. In 1965 the sights were changed to a more realistic 800m and the rifles thus equipped were designated the Rifle 2A1 – the most common variant of the rifle.
While officially designated Rifle 2A and Rifle 2A1 by the Indians, the rifles are almost invariably referred to as Ishapore 2A or Ishapore 2A1 rifles by collectors, in reference to the factory near Calcutta where they were made.
In addition to requiring absolutely no retraining of troops used to the SMLE, the 2A/2A1 rifles had the advantage of sharing many interchangeable parts with the SMLE. Almost everything except the magazine, bolt, action and barrel could be interchanged. They even mounted the same bayonet.
As a result, 2A/2A1 rifles were issued to reserve troops and police forces, especially in remote parts of India, where large stocks of SMLE spare parts were available and local forces were already familiar with the design.
Approximately 500,000 Ishapore 2A/2A1 rifles were produced between 1963 and 1975, with the majority (about 350,000) being the 2A1 version.
The stocks of the rifles are made from mahogany and, along with the strengthened action, mean the rifles are a bit heavier than an SMLE Mk III*.
The wrist of an Ishapore 2A/2A1 rifle (the metal part between the buttstock and forewood) has similar markings to an SMLE, namely “RFI, 7.62mm Rifle 2A1” and its year of manufacture; RFI stands for Rifle Factory, Ishapore.
Ishapore 2A1 rifles are not common in Australia. There only appears to have been a single shipment imported by Cobb & Co Trading in the early 2000s; a few individual examples have likely been imported from the US since then as well.
SHOOTING THE ISHAPORE 2A1
From a practical aspect, the Ishapore 2A1 handles and shoots just like any other SMLE. The major difference is the cartridge it is chambered for.
The rifle is, technically speaking, chambered for 7.62×51 NATO instead of .308 Winchester, and while the consensus generally is the two rounds are interchangeable in modern bolt-action rifles, the Ishapore 2A1 isn’t a modern bolt-action rifle; it’s a 60+ year old rifle based on a 120-year-old design, made in a country that (at the time, at least) was not known for its high level of quality control.
Is the 2A1 inherently unsafe? No. Can you fire commercial .308 rounds through them? Broadly speaking, yes (at your own risk). Should you make a habit of it? No.
Given the age and design of the rifles, reloading is your best bet – and avoid hot loads. Like the SMLE, Ishapore 2A1 rifles have rear locking lugs on the bolt (not as strong as the front locking lugs found on Mauser-pattern rifles) and a steady diet of commercial ammo or hot reloads can potentially cause issues and headaches no-one wants to deal with.
The distinctive squared-off magazine the rifle uses is proprietary, holds 10 rounds, and is not interchangeable with an L1A1 SLR magazine, despite many people trying over the years. As a consolation prize, the Ishapore 2A1 will mount SMLE bayonets, which might be worth some style points in a Service Rifle match.
As with the SMLE, the magazines are not meant to be removed from the gun except for cleaning; reloading is accomplished via five-round charger clips identical to those used in various Mauser rifles, or by feeding the rounds into the magazine one at a time from the top of the action.
With 7.62×51/.308 being a rimless round, there’s no danger of rim lock when loading an Ishapore 2A1, which certainly helps in Service Rifle matches or when reloading quickly on a hunting trip.
From a collecting perspective, the rifle represents the final development of the iconic Lee-Enfield as a service rifle and is the last bolt-action rifle adopted by a military for non-specialist (sniper/marksman) use.
2As and 2A1s are also more than suitable for Service Rifle matches, for the same reason.
If you’re a fan of hunting with vintage military rifles, the Ishapore 2A1 is a lot of fun, not to mention better to reload for than .303, with a wider range of projectiles available and a longer case life.
Regardless of whether it’s at the range, in the field, or on the cleaning bench, if you know your way around an SMLE, you’ll be right at home with the Ishapore 2A1.
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