Parker Hale Target sights for FN FAL and SLR

[John H Turner]

I have a Parker Hale Target Rear Sight to fit the FN FAL or SLR. I acquired this back in the early 1980's when I could own an SLR (Lithgow L1A1 ser. no. AD7007958) Sadly the SLR was handed in in 1988. I have attached some pictures. I thought they may be of interest to people who are lucky enough to still own (and shoot) an SLR.

Information

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[mrclark303]

Hi John, now that's interesting, I have never seen a civilian target rear sight for a L1, thanks for sharing.

Your old rifle was a Singapore contract example by the way (re-stocked in British plastic I'll wager). Many of the UK civilian L1's appear to have originated from this Singapore 1970/71 contract.

I have a former UK civilian owned Singapore contract rifle in my collection, an AD71, it was in virtually new condition when it was unfortunately deactivated.

[nzl1a1collector]

I've got one of those little blighters, yours is only the second one I've seen

[Peter Laidler]

Me neither...... Never seen or heard of one.

Added a bit later: Looking at it closely it does look a bit like something semi experimental. Not the usual finish that you'd expect from P-H with file marks etc etc. You'd expect the zeroing deflection/range scale to be adjustable in order to re-set them. It sounds obvious doesn't it? The range and deflection scale numbers are a bit hit and miss but the vernier scale markings are perfect. Drum heads look like they're straight off a later P-H5 type - so presumably will be the lead screw and click adjustment. Interesting

How was it retained within the dovetail of the rifle KtK? Looks like the screw locks the male part of the dovetail in place by friction.....?

Mind you, the L1A1 was never going to be a competition rifle warranting a P-H sight - and a 1/4 or 1/2 MoA one at that - especially after a few months of service when the articulating TMH would give 1MoA just by opening and closing it!

[Brian Dick]

I have one of the P-H target sights installed on my Aussie L1A1A. It's main benefit to me is the much smaller apertures for informal target shooting off my bench. I think they were used primarily on the Australian competition rifles that were produced in small quantities.

I installed a Hythe sight on my BSA L1A1 and it shoots just as well with the smaller aperture.

[mrclark303]

I have one of the P-H target sights installed on my Aussie L1A1A. It's main benefit to me is the much smaller apertures for informal target shooting off my bench. I think they were used primarily on the Australianicon competition rifles that were produced in small quantities.

I installed a Hythe sight on my BSA L1A1 and it shoots just as well with the smaller aperture.

Plus one for the Hythe Brian, they certainly tighten up the groups don't they... When you say Lithgow competition rifles, would they be specially factory prepared Semi Autos, as I recall the rare single shot Lithgow Target rifle had some sort of sighting assembly bolted to the left of the receiver ?

[John H Turner]

Thanks for all the comments. I have only just joined the forum and this was my first post.
As regards the Lithgow SLR, it had coachwood furniture and was purchased from Tom Collins at the London Armoury around 1982. It was in very good condition and I had to strip it down to clean out all the gunk that had been packed into it. I only fitted the target sights for a short while because as Peter said it never was a target rifle. Great fun for knocking down the falling plates though!

[enbloc8]

Interesting...I've seen pictures of a Belgian FAL that was factory-adapted for target shooting, and they used an aperture sight that was screwed to the side of the body. I assume British/Australian competition rules would have forbidden such a change?

[Brian Dick]

Mrclark303 is correct. I checked Skennerton's little book on the Australian SLR. The Australian target model came with a Central base fitted to the left side of the body by two tapped holes. There was also a plate for the Rawson sight which was also in common use at that time. The TMH has the sight base dovetail milled off.

You can remove the service sight, fill the aperture with Devcon steel filled epoxy and drill an aperture to taste. This method works very well too and doesn't alter the military look of the rifle.

[browningautorifle]

a Parker Hale Target Rear Sight

I had a body cover for an FN C2 that had been modified after removal of the original rear sight to take the PH5C. It would slip on any C1 and be within a few inches of zero as soon as it went on. It was a superbly accurate mod but of course time went on and I sold it. This is something I've never seen either...neat.