ACCURIZING THE ENFIELD

STOCK BEDDING RESULTS

Bernd emailed me some time ago with a specific problem with his No4 Mk2. It appeared that his rifle was grouping nicely for the first several rounds and then it began drifting high. Bernd believed the problem must be stock bedding. So together, over a couple of emails we decided that it was most likely an issue of the original wood heating during firing. This was causing the wood to expand and push on the barrel, thus changing its shooting characteristics. Bernd decided to try not only the action bedding method that I described on the Stock Bedding Page but also use the center bedding instructions as well. Below are the results of these bedding methods, described by Bernd himself. As the pictures show, our theory was correct, that the cause of his original problem was the wood expanding and effecting overall accuracy.

I'm quite glad to report that my Enfield No4 Mk2 is now shooting very well. Let me tell you what I did: The results are shown in the enclosed pictures. All testing was done with a Leupold BR36 scope fixed by a SK-Mount. All cartridges were composed of Norma cases with CCI BR2 primers. Group 1 was loaded with 17grs Viht N110; the rest was loaded with 15grs Viht N350. All bullets were moly coated Sierra 180gr Pro-Hunters. Seating depth is so that the bullet is just touching the lands.

Group1 (10 Shots)

Shows the starting point with 17grs Viht N110. The action was Epoxy bedded like you explain it on your Stock Bedding Page.

Group2 (10 Shots)

Shows the results after adding the center bearing with 10-lbs. upward pressure at 5 inches from the action.

Group 3 (10 shots)

Group 4 (10 shots)

Shows the results after I had removed as much wood as possible between the center bearing and the action screw. This was replaced by Brownell's Acra Glas (red). So I tried to make the forestock stronger and more temperature insensitive. As you can see, the rifle was now very accurate but "double grouping" - no longer drifting! Group 3 were first 2 groups like Group 4. The last shots just landed between the groups.

Group 5 (20 shots)

Shows the final results. I opened up the center bearing slightly with fine sandpaper, so that the barrel is just able to move better in the bearing. I hope that the size of the groups is easy to estimate by the size of the bullet holes.

Images courtesy of Bernd Kaercher