The Enfield part of the title SMLE in fact refers to the form of rifling used so as to differentiate these rifles from those built with the former (read obsolete) Metford rifled barrels. Metford rifling was found to be unsatisfactory for use with smokeless propellant. It was adequate for black powder cartridges but eroded rapidly with usage of cordite ammunition.
David
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Hell no! I'm not that old!
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