Lee–Metford

Lee–Metford
Lee–Metford
Type	Service rifle
Place of origin	United Kingdom
Service history
In service	1888–present (ceremonial)
Used by	See Users
Wars	British colonial conflicts; First Sino-Japanese War; First Italo-Ethiopian War; Second Boer War; Boxer Rebellion; British expedition to Tibet; 1904 Paraguayan Revolution; World War I; Irish War of Independence; Chaco War; Second Italo-Ethiopian War; World War II;
Production history
Designer	James Paris Lee, RSAF Enfield
Manufacturer	RSAF Enfield
Unit cost	£3/15/– = £3.75 in 1892-1893
Produced	1884–1896
Variants	MLM Mk II; MLM Carbine; Charlton Automatic Rifle;
Specifications
Length	49.5 in (1,260 mm)
Barrel length	30.2 in (770 mm)
Cartridge	Cartridge .303 Mk I
Calibre	.303 in (7.7 mm)
Action	Bolt-action
Rate of fire	20 rounds/minute
Muzzle velocity	2,040 ft/s (620 m/s)
Effective firing range	c. 800 yards (730 m)
Maximum firing range	1,800 yards (1,600 m)
Feed system	8 or 10-round magazine
Sights	Sliding leaf rear sights, Fixed-post front sights, "Dial" long-range volley sights

The Lee–Metford (also known as the Magazine Lee–Metford) is a British bolt action rifle which combined James Paris Lee's rear-locking bolt system and detachable magazine with an innovative seven-groove rifled barrel designed by William Ellis Metford. It replaced the Martini–Henry as the standard service rifle of the British Empire in 1888, following nine years of development and trials, but remained in service for only a short time until replaced by the Lee–Enfield.