.22 Cal SMLE, surprise me!

[JGaynor]

Who was the contractor for this .22?

There were a number of private companies that converted them for the government, but there were also many gunmakers who made them for commercial sale---the latter were purpose-built and not conversions.

I have one thats a BSA. I believe the adjustable rear sight is a Parker-Hale. The rifle was a milorder aquistion from the old (VT) Century Arms circa 1953.

It shows plenty of use but stil a neat rifle.

Regards,

Jim

[jmoore]

Woweeeeeee. What a beautiful pece of wood. What is it? Is it an oak type, cut from a thin bough, down the grain? It's lovely

I think its maple, but...

Not an uncommon look on Pennsylania style percussion rifles ("Kentucky rifle"); rarely seen on modern gear.

[Peter Laidler]

We have/had a superb H&K formulated and manufactured sub cal insert for our L85 and L86 SA80's. It is very good and reliable. The problem is that it can't be used in the upgraded A2 rifles/MG's so they are all back in Ordnance. I gave my sons school Cadet Force 4 sets to use in their A1 type Cadet rifles but even these are being changed to A2 spec/self loading type soon

Anyway, if you've got an H&K sub cal kit and an A2 type rifle, don't worry because the kit can be modified slightly to fit the new type rifle.

Ah, yes......., where were we...........?

[Trilux]

What is different about the A2 to stop the kit working Peter?

[Peter Laidler]

It's the width of the new hammer. You can't make it narrower as it affects the next bit and so on. BUT you can machine the gap in the back end of the sub cal kit carrier so that it's wide enough to allow the new A2 hammer to slip through.

[Kev G]

Any idea what the .22 H&K magazines (complete) for the FAL and L1A1 sub cal kits are worth please ?

What are the .22 sub cal conversion kits legal status in the UK ?

Many thanks for any help, Kevin

[Peter Laidler]

I have looked for some genuine L1A1 rifle conversion kit magazines (from the L14 conversion kit) for yonks but they're like rocking horse shi............., er, manure. From that, the value is just what someone wants to pay. The outer cases are available by the zillion and the inner .22 magazine is a stock H&K part but it's the interface that's a pig to get hold of. I understand that BDL has some of the kits less magazines and has approached H&K to supply the interfaces but.............

I eventually made some by adapting the plentiful SA80 sub cal magazines to slot onto and rivetting into the L1A1 rifle magazine. Work a treat.

Well, they WOULD work if you could possess an L1A1 to fit them into but L1A1's are taboo in the UK. But there is hope if you have a REALLY early deactivated L1A1 because the barrel was slotted but not plugged so the sub cal kit will fit in and operate.

This brings to the for another point about UK proof................... The proof house jump up and down like frogs on fire and will reject a No8 rifle barrel for even a whiff of a bulge (the UK MoD will accept 3 bulges but I have never ever seen more than one bulge in 30 years.....) but the H&K sub cal barrel passes proof while standing alone and not within the confines of the L1 barrel. Just how stupid is that. It defies mathematics, metallurgy and engineering common sense................

I've had my rant now............. Where were we. Have you got some spare sub cal mags KG? I have loads of other spares

[Kev G]

Nothing yet Peter as I have no idea if the price I have to pay for them is reasonable.

All the best Kevin

[John Sukey (Deceased)]

Has anyone considered a sub calibre insert along the lines of the barrel insert and bolt? I was thinking of something along the lines of the old sub cal adaptor used in the FN FAL/L1A1 rifle

You mean like the Morris tube, or the .22 barrel insert and bolt for the Lee-enfield?
Have both

[tankhunter]

It's the width of the new hammer. You can't make it narrower as it affects the next bit and so on. BUT you can machine the gap in the back end of the sub cal kit carrier so that it's wide enough to allow the new A2 hammer to slip through.

Peter, Wouldnt that be worth putting in on the Staff Suggestion Scheme?... It would make all the sub cal kits workers again, & you might get a financial 'Gift' to boot! Got to be worth an enquirey with REME Tech Services?
Mike