No 3 Mk I*(T)(A) acquisition

[browningautorifle]

This scope is slightly out of focus

Is it focus or has it a scum inside on the lens?

https://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=24864

Here's the 1916... https://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=59831

[smle addict]

Yes sir, out of focus. When I got back home, I scoured these forums on how to focus these scopes. Easier than I thought. The lock screw on the focus cover plate was loose, and with each pull of the trigger, the focus got a little worse. I set it on my bench, aimed across the valley, then slide the plate back until it was in focus. And the image is extremely crisp and clear too. The lenses are a little dirty due to age, but its. nice and sharp again.

[CINDERS]

I would not warrant any alarm at the grouping of the Indian ammo if I remember my use of it there was a profound expectation of click - bangs most rounds with copious amounts of smoke and confetti out the tube, I thought my MkIII had become a black powder weapon! P.O.F = Possibility Of Firing...........
Anyway gave up using it went down the reload rabbit hole.

Bit later ~ bought the hard cover version tonight of "Bayonets and Blue Flames: Surviving Palestine, North Africa, Crete and Stalag IVB" looking forward to reading it.

[bros]

Attachment 135365
Well, I took this rifle out to the range today. I found the section in Skennertons "The British Sniper" on how to zero this scope in its mount. Pretty straight forward, but nerve wracking. I was petrified I would lose one of the tiny grub screws. Anyways, did a quick bore sight and adjustment for windage. I was using some surplus Indian Mk7 ammo. First ten rounds produced a decent group, albeit 12 inches over the POA.
Attachment 135366
After a few more adjustments, I was able to get that elevation down to where it needed to be.
Attachment 135367
Decided to run a batch or handloads through the rifle. Much more consistent, and pretty well-centered.
Attachment 135368
Last group of the day: took it out to 200 yards and was able to put eight rounds into the black. The first round was that high shot at the 8/9-ring. After dropping a bit of elevation, the next seven rounds went into a relatively decent group.
Attachment 135369
But...., there is always room for improvement. This scope is slightly out of focus, so trying to shoot a blurry target is not ideal. Gotta read up on how to focus the Aldis.
I appreciate all the nice comments, and I'll post more when I get more proficient with this rifle and scope. The offset scope does take some getting used to, and I'll be the first to admit it takes extra concentration as it is neither comfortable nor ergonomic. With the weight of the P14, this thing has very mild recoil.
Hope you all enjoy.

Nice to see the "old girl" at the range. What distance were those targets shot at once you were dialed in 100yds?

[smle addict]

The first two targets were both at 100; the first two were Indian KF 1947 ammo. The next were with a handload. The last target was 200 yards. I plan on taking it out on sunday for another shoot. Now that the scope is in focus, I'm hoping to shoot better.

[Surpmil]

Attachment 135365
Well, I took this rifle out to the range today. I found the section in Skennertons "The British Sniper" on how to zero this scope in its mount. Pretty straight forward, but nerve wracking. I was petrified I would lose one of the tiny grub screws. Anyways, did a quick bore sight and adjustment for windage. I was using some surplus Indian Mk7 ammo. First ten rounds produced a decent group, albeit 12 inches over the POA.
Attachment 135366
After a few more adjustments, I was able to get that elevation down to where it needed to be.
Attachment 135367
Decided to run a batch or handloads through the rifle. Much more consistent, and pretty well-centered.
Attachment 135368
Last group of the day: took it out to 200 yards and was able to put eight rounds into the black. The first round was that high shot at the 8/9-ring. After dropping a bit of elevation, the next seven rounds went into a relatively decent group.
Attachment 135369
But...., there is always room for improvement. This scope is slightly out of focus, so trying to shoot a blurry target is not ideal. Gotta read up on how to focus the Aldis.
I appreciate all the nice comments, and I'll post more when I get more proficient with this rifle and scope. The offset scope does take some getting used to, and I'll be the first to admit it takes extra concentration as it is neither comfortable nor ergonomic. With the weight of the P14, this thing has very mild recoil.
Hope you all enjoy.

There are no anti-backlash springs under the reticules on these Aldis scopes, so it's possible that your vertical dispersion is partly caused by that. Hard to believe, but that error was repeated on the No.32 until well into production.

Optically those Aldis No.2 and 3 scopes were top quality, it was the mechanics that failed them. Your scope was originally a Holland & Holland fitting on a SMLE by the way.

[smle addict]

So after the first range trip, I spent the following days focusing the scope in my garage. Once I was able to obtain a crisp picture, I loaded up a fresh batch of loads and made it to the range.

At 100 yards (first pic), the rifle prints groups just over 1.5 inches (its advertised standard). I'm sure some reticle backlash is worked into these groups (thanks Surpmil for that info). The scope is 108 years old, so I am not expecting bench-rest sized groups out of it.

The rifle really starts to shine at 200 yards (second pic). It was very consistent, and aside from the two errant 9-ringers, the majority of rounds fell into the 10 and x rings. All in all, I am very impressed with the accuracy of this rifle. It is awkward to shoot the offset scope, but it is fun nonetheless.

Next trip will be at the 300 yard line.

[bros]

Really nice .....lookin forward to the 300yd results

[smle addict]

I was finally able to make it to the range today. It was a little warmer than expected, so I was encountering a persistent mirage at 300 yards. After a few small adjustments (I eventually had to set the elevation drum set at "4"), I was able to send 9 rounds into this target. I am still astounded at how well these old optics shoot. This is the furthest distance my local range has. I'm going to have to plan a desert trip to try this rifle/scope combo at distances beyond 300 yards.

[Surpmil]

Yes, they shoot alright. All that is required is mounts with no play, a reticule likewise, and little or no parallax. Consider the results achieved with scope-sighted target rifles in the second half of the 19th C.: often as good as most modern rifles and scopes.