My SMLE

Hi everybody,

after a long time I took my SMELLY out Saturday.
I shot it at 100 and 200 meters, with very varying results.
Three shots in less than one inch at 200 meters, then it started "sinking.......
Is it possible that the barrel tends downwards when heating up?
Then a bit to the right.....
Anyway, still more than ok and really lovely to shoot.
I'll try again and put more concentration in what I do.
It is a 1943 dispersal, for which I also have the long bayonet.
Nose-cap, bolt handle and barrel, the only numbered parts all matching.
Barrel with 4 grooves and in pristine conditions.
Here some pictures.
Attachment 84143Attachment 84144Attachment 84145Attachment 84146Attachment 84147Attachment 84148Attachment 84149Attachment 84150

Mighty nice looking...yes, it seems something is touching the wrong spot and when it starts to heat up it moved.

Just looking at the muzzle it just appears to me that it seems to be more to the Rt of the nose cap (pic 7) and you can see the front sight base is well to the Rt side It may just be the angle of the camera and being out of focus but that is one spot I would look first if the POI changes as the barrel gets hotter. If I am wrong I expect incoming.

Don't panic Ovidio there is probably no foundation there just what or how it appears to me it is certainly very nice rifling and rifle. Thanks for the share.

Here a better picture of the muzzle (before cleaning).
The other one is really too bad to understand anything.
I'd really be interested in understanding your point, because it is not really clear to me yet (language limits, I guess....).
Thanks for looking that accurately anyway!
Next Saturday I'll take out my No.4, Long Branch. Another little jewel.....

Just another couple pictures.
I love this rifle so much.......

Attachment 84158Attachment 84159

Muzzle looks pretty good Ovidio if you look closely the Left ear protector seems pretty close ti the sight base I am wondering if when the barrel gets hot it it moves a smidge & contacts it do not panic but its no soul crushing biggy its just what I noticed. Others may chime in.

Thanks Cinders.
I'll look at it the next time I shoot the Smelly.
In any case, a bit of filing might do the trick. I don't think it could be anything big.
Also, Saturday I was fairly consistent with the windage, only a few shots went right.
It was the elevation that really bothered me.
I have a target (soiled by a friend of mine before I could take the picture) which shows how my first 5 shots were all above target, each of them a bit lower than the previous one, until I settled close to the bulls-eye for my nice group.
Then.....down again.
All holes right of the target and into the black are not mine.
Mine are only the ones stretching vertically for about 15 inches, but in a very narrow path. With the only "sh...tty exception of the one in the 8 at 7'oclock. That one is mine, sob......

Oh, the date is wrong. I was a bit out of my head, I guess....

So, a vertical group...can be caused by breathing...sight picture variation or a warming barrel. I had a .30 cal sporting rifle once that would shoot POA for the first three and then climb straight up the bull. Is that what yours did? You almost need a spotter to watch your fall of shot and record same.

Guess I have to try with a spotter. I started high and came down low. Then it stopped for a few rounds (I took some time between rounds) and then.....it plummeted further down.
Also the following target, with cold barrel, started high and came down.
Really a nasty girl that Smelly;-)

When you have an 'accuracy' problem you need to take al of the human influences away - or at least as many as you possibly can - and fire small groups of 6 or 7. We used to use an Enfield layer - or the rest. The experts could identify the fault(s) by the shot pattern.