Wandering zero on No 5s

[GRF]

I am rather new to the milsurp game, I have heard and read several comments about "wandering zero" with the number 5s. I would like to ask those of you with experience is this fact or myth? thanks GRF

Information

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[Badger]

Here's an older thread on the subject ...

Anyone has Mr. Laidler's article on the Wandering Zero? (click here)

Regards,
Badger

[GRF]

Thank you Badger I find the volume and the detail of the knowledge available on this site to be absolutely amazing. For a milsurp newbie it is somewhat awe-inspiring. GRF

[shottist]

Probably get flamed for this but I'll be in good company with Capt. Laidler. Yes Virginia, SOME No 5s do exhibit this trait. I have had 3 of these rifles in varying conditions that have had it. My latest which is in excellent condition, all matching and with a bright, shiny, sharp lands and grooves barrel does it WHEN IT GETS HOT. The bedding on this rifle is correct, the head space is spot on but it is all over the Target after about 20 rounds. By this I mean that the group size goes from 2-3" to over 12-14". No matter, I sincerely doubt I'll ever have to use it for prolonged rapid fire and it is without doubt one of the neatest and coolest looking battle rifles ever made. Flame on!

[Alan de Enfield]

Probably get flamed for this but I'll be in good company with Capt. Laidler. Yes Virginia, SOME No 5s do exhibit this trait. I have had 3 of these rifles in varying conditions that have had it. My latest which is in excellent condition, all matching and with a bright, shiny, sharp lands and grooves barrel does it WHEN IT GETS HOT. The bedding on this rifle is correct, the head space is spot on but it is all over the Target after about 20 rounds. By this I mean that the group size goes from 2-3" to over 12-14". No matter, I sincerely doubt I'll ever have to use it for prolonged rapid fire and it is without doubt one of the neatest and coolest looking battle rifles ever made. Flame on!

Me Too.
Although mine is after about 30 - 40 rounds.
The group stays fairly good (around 3") but the whole group starts to move on the target.

[bearhunter]

Maybe it's just me, I find that most rifles, after 20 or so rapid rounds will start to have wandering zeroes.

When barrels get hot enough to fry fingers on, they will distort from any stresses. Firing more bullets down a barrel suffering from heat stress will just cause more stress and erratic zeroes. Any rifle that can maintain 20 rounds on target under rapid fire conditions is doing well in my poinion.

[villiers]

`Tis only to be expected that the group spreads out when the barrel heats up after about 40 rounds in quick succession. Especially with a light, short *rsed barrel as on the No 5.
"Wandering Zero" is a different matter. The group is the same size but elsewhere on the target. My two (.303 & .308) No. fives do NOT do it. My concentration tends to "wander" after about fifty rounds and this has the same effect.

[Thunderbox]

I've never observed the phenomena in any of the No5s I've tested.

No5s are sensitive to (a) incorrect forend fit (b) dirt build-up on the muzzle crown, but so are most other types of Enfield.

[Peter Laidler]

I'll tell you what really does bring bring home the problem of a wandering zero and that's get into a 10 minute gun battle with one. And if you're not hitting the target, then it's a problem....................... And by targets, we don't mean paper targets at 100 yards but real targets that are liable to shoot back at 20 yards.

Believe me, when they warmed up, they did wander and we wondered!

[bradtx]

GRF, I read an online article years ago (link might still be in my old, dead laptop) regarding the MoD tests for the wandering zero. Some rifles never displayed the problem, some inconsistantly wandered and some consistantly displayed wandering...not a good start to a trial. Basically everything tried 'fixed' one rifle or another, but two items were never changed, the No.5 action body nor the Mk.VII ammo.

My personal opinion is that there was too much metal removed from the No.4 action body design to create the No.5 design. A downloaded version of the Mk.VII ammo, specific for No.5s might've helped also.

While I believe there was a problem, I haven't been able to duplicate it with mine no matter how hard I tried. Most collectors have no problems.

Brad