+ Reply to Thread
Page 1 of 3 1 2 3 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 22

Thread: 7.62 NATO No4 barrels

Click here to increase the font size Click here to reduce the font size
  1. #1
    Legacy Member Bruce_in_Oz's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Last On
    Today @ 04:54 AM
    Location
    Brisbane
    Posts
    2,237
    Local Date
    03-29-2024
    Local Time
    08:43 AM

    7.62 NATO No4 barrels

    I was offered a couple of ".308" barrels for No4s the other day. The price was not at all silly given the price of any barrels in Oz.

    They turned out to be essentially new in their rather tatty brown paper wrappers.

    Not wanting to buy a mummified pile of junk, I unrolled the wrapper for a look.

    Bores are NICE; 6 groove, RH twist; appears to be 1:12" twist.

    External finish is blast / grey parkerize.

    There is a tiny proof mark (crown over crossed pennants over an unidentified tiny squiggle), on the Knox form.

    Just forward of the Knox Form, the letters " A W " are stamped on the left side in characters about 3mm high.

    Breech thread shank is longer than a standard No4: space for a breeching washer?

    Front sight base lugs but no bayonet lugs

    Any clues as to what I coughed up for?
    Information
    Warning: This is a relatively older thread
    This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

  2. # ADS
    Friends and Sponsors
    Join Date
    October 2006
    Location
    Milsurps.Com
    Posts
    All Threads
    A Collector's View - The SMLE Short Magazine Lee Enfield 1903-1989. It is 300 8.5x11 inch pages with 1,000+ photo’s, most in color, and each book is serial-numbered.  Covering the SMLE from 1903 to the end of production in India in 1989 it looks at how each model differs and manufacturer differences from a collecting point of view along with the major accessories that could be attached to the rifle. For the record this is not a moneymaker, I hope just to break even, eventually, at $80/book plus shipping.  In the USA shipping is $5.00 for media mail.  I will accept PayPal, Zelle, MO and good old checks (and cash if you want to stop by for a tour!).  CLICK BANNER to send me a PM for International pricing and shipping. Manufacturer of various vintage rifle scopes for the 1903 such as our M73G4 (reproduction of the Weaver 330C) and Malcolm 8X Gen II (Unertl reproduction). Several of our scopes are used in the CMP Vintage Sniper competition on top of 1903 rifles. Brian Dick ... BDL Ltd. - Specializing in British and Commonwealth weapons Specializing in premium ammunition and reloading components. Your source for the finest in High Power Competition Gear. Here at T-bones Shipwrighting we specialise in vintage service rifle: re-barrelling, bedding, repairs, modifications and accurizing. We also provide importation services for firearms, parts and weapons, for both private or commercial businesses.
     

  3. #2
    Advisory Panel browningautorifle's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Last On
    Today @ 01:16 PM
    Location
    Victoria BC
    Posts
    29,838
    Real Name
    Jim
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    03:43 PM
    Are these not Canadianicon barrels? Did we have any that were not marked with Canadian Arsenals? It sounds like our earlier marking...
    Regards, Jim

  4. Avoid Ads - Become a Contributing Member - Click HERE
  5. #3
    Legacy Member Bruce_in_Oz's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Last On
    Today @ 04:54 AM
    Location
    Brisbane
    Posts
    2,237
    Local Date
    03-29-2024
    Local Time
    08:43 AM
    Thread Starter
    Interesting possibility!

    The six groove RH twist is a clue, I guess. All they needed to do was ream to .299" / .300", adjust the cutter box on the rifling machine and use the same drive setup as they did for the Bren barrels.

  6. #4
    FREE MEMBER
    NO Posting or PM's Allowed
    ssj's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2013
    Last On
    11-13-2017 @ 01:21 PM
    Location
    New Zealand
    Posts
    651
    Local Date
    03-29-2024
    Local Time
    11:43 AM
    Since you are in OZ my only guess is (or it was a MAB / TSE Engineering, a 303 barrel, they are 6 groove. Someone somewhere commented that they were really 308 barrels so tight which target shooters of 303 like. TSE recently quoted my about $350AU for a new blank barrel (so I assume it needed chambering as the final cost was $950NZD), but I also had someone else comment that the new TSE barrels they have seen are not up to much quality wise. So if it was a good unused 303 target barrel ready chambered etc I'd pay $350AU.....If I had a Fulton's 308 sterling conversion target gun I'd certainly pay that and store it.

  7. #5
    Legacy Member Maxwell Smart's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2008
    Last On
    03-03-2024 @ 07:37 AM
    Location
    Queensland, Australia
    Posts
    411
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    05:43 PM
    I have two of these "AW" marked barrels; they do not clock up even close in any of the No 4 actions I have, so breeching washers would seem to be needed.

  8. #6
    Legacy Member Bruce_in_Oz's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Last On
    Today @ 04:54 AM
    Location
    Brisbane
    Posts
    2,237
    Local Date
    03-29-2024
    Local Time
    08:43 AM
    Thread Starter
    I figured that they had some sort of "official' background or had come from UKicon or Canadaicon. The only people in Oz who put proofs on stuff seem to be Thales / ADI / Lithgowicon.

    Definitely 7.62; dummy rounds and 7.62 headspace gauges won't fit a .303!

    Extractor slot is a little wider than .303 type, as well.

    Definitely need a breeching washer.

    The question now is; where do these fit with the "purists" if I bundle up a bunch of parts and build myself a clone of an L8 for competition work?

    Despite having a "real" ordnance produced and proofed barrel, will it be even less Kosher than my old "bitza" No4 Mk2 with its .30" / .308" barrel (chambered for .303 but custom throated for .30 cal 168gn Sierra Matchkings)?

    Is .303 service rifle shooting going to wither because nobody can get decent quantities of "real" .303 ammo and thus resort to commercial, boat-tailed bullets that will eat their barrels?

    Are the "rule nazis" going to insist that the " club regulations" are more important than getting people on the mound and safely shooting the MATCHES? Great way to make people walk away.

  9. #7
    Moderator
    (Lee Enfield Forum)


    tbonesmith's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Last On
    03-05-2024 @ 02:45 AM
    Location
    Sydney, Australia
    Posts
    1,076
    Real Name
    Thomas Smith
    Local Date
    03-29-2024
    Local Time
    09:43 AM
    I've had a couple of AX marked barrel (7.62 No4's) with the same long shank that I believe came from Lithgowicon SAF they were heavy profile. And I had a standard profile No4 7.62 with the long shank that came from Lithgow, and it came unused with a couple of washers, .070" and .004" if I remember correctly. I am pretty sure that was 2 letter marked
    Last edited by tbonesmith; 09-01-2013 at 05:19 AM.

  10. #8
    Moderator
    (Lee Enfield Forum)


    tbonesmith's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Last On
    03-05-2024 @ 02:45 AM
    Location
    Sydney, Australia
    Posts
    1,076
    Real Name
    Thomas Smith
    Local Date
    03-29-2024
    Local Time
    09:43 AM
    Quote Originally Posted by Bruce_in_Oz View Post
    The question now is; where do these fit with the "purists" if I bundle up a bunch of parts and build myself a clone of an L8 for competition work?
    There are tonnes of full wood 7.62 No4's around, and noone thinks they are fake anything. They are just 7.62 conversions. I've done a a few and they shoot great. My No4Mk2 with the standard profile 7.62 barrel, centre bedded shot like you wouldn't believe, as do all the heavy barrel versions when they are set up well.

  11. #9
    Contributing Member muffett.2008's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Last On
    Today @ 05:27 PM
    Location
    Scone, NSW. Australia
    Posts
    2,163
    Real Name
    kevin muffett
    Local Date
    03-29-2024
    Local Time
    09:43 AM
    SSJ, I can vouch for the quality of TSE barrels, in 303,7.62 and other calibres.
    I would not caste dispersions without firsthand experience, it only belittles the individual doing so.
    Have a nice day.

  12. #10
    Legacy Member Bruce_in_Oz's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Last On
    Today @ 04:54 AM
    Location
    Brisbane
    Posts
    2,237
    Local Date
    03-29-2024
    Local Time
    08:43 AM
    Thread Starter
    I was just having a bit of a snark about "gamesmanship".

    Every so often, you run into the odd character on club "committees" who likes to wax obnoxious about the "rules", whils flexing them as much as they can for their own benefit.

    It certainly occurs in lots of other fields and is sometimes called "psyching out" your competition. Fair enough at the "big kid's" level, but it tends to put off newcomers who witness it unexplained.

    I have shot rifle and pistol at international "Shooting Games" and "Master's Games" (somebody has to take home the wooden spoon), as well as international REAL military matches, (throw in machine-gun matches) and the "games" are definitely not all conducted on the mound!

    However, if you are trying to encourage a steady stream of new shooters, it is not productive to play these silly games on the "prospects".

    Apart from all that, thanks for the advice, T-Bone!!
    Last edited by Bruce_in_Oz; 09-01-2013 at 07:30 AM.

+ Reply to Thread
Page 1 of 3 1 2 3 LastLast

Similar Threads

  1. 2 groove barrels versus 4 groove barrels?
    By kennethf in forum M1903/1903A3/A4 Springfield Rifle
    Replies: 7
    Last Post: 10-12-2010, 11:16 AM
  2. Garand barrels in 7.62x51 nato
    By cab32 in forum M1 Garand/M14/M1A Rifles
    Replies: 10
    Last Post: 11-29-2009, 12:17 AM
  3. 7.62 NATO barrels
    By Publius in forum M1 Garand/M14/M1A Rifles
    Replies: 9
    Last Post: 08-26-2009, 10:30 PM
  4. Belted 7.62 NATO
    By Swagman in forum Ammunition and Reloading for Old Milsurps
    Replies: 13
    Last Post: 08-03-2009, 11:15 PM
  5. The Truth About 308 Win and 762 NATO
    By Edward Horton in forum The Lee Enfield Knowledge Library Collectors Forum
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 07-30-2009, 03:30 AM

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
Raven Rocks