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Gents, does anyone know the correct method/tooling to remove the complete foresight protector and sight block assy from an L42 ? I've so far removed the protector and the foresight block locating split pin but the actual block itself is firmly not moving. I'm loath the start utilising Tool Fine Adjusting L1A1 just yet! Any help would be gratefully received!
The actual block is sweated onto the barrel. You'll have to heat it up to the melting point of solder then slide it off. I used to run solder down into the recesses at the side of the block too so they'll be pretty secure What exactly do you mean by the locating split pin? I have seen one or two L42's and there's no split pin or any pin. I am minded to ask why it needs to be removed?
I'm quite likely to find myself on some sort of 'hitlist' for this, but I'm having mine screw cut to fit a moderator.... Probably heresy! Mine is a working weapon which I often take deer with so the unearthly boom of a .308 110gr ballistic tip is not very helpful. I've a very good engineer friend who has designed a rather natty thread protector which will allow the foresight to be refitted with an almost invisible join. OK... Commence the vilification!
Actually, I rather more question the suitability of a 110gr Nosler Ballistic Tip bullet on deer. Very lightly constructed bullet the may not penetrate properly. It's a varmint bullet, after all. If there is a manufacturer of lightweight polymer tipped 0.308" bullet suitable for deer and such, then do please let us know. Otherwise...
I only use 110gr Hornady BTs on roe as I dont think they are suitable for anything larger. I haven't tried then on the two vermin species but if theyre good for roe they'll be fine for them! The hand loads I've worked up are kicking out at 2960 f/s and by my calc that gives them an mv of almost 2140 f/lb. The roe I've taken (less than 10 I have to admit) have all died immediately from deep and devastating local tissue damage to major organs in the upper thorax. Exactly what it says on the tin! This loads comes in at over 400 f/lbs over the legal limit so I'm pretty happy with it. I'm open to opinions though! Regards Deano.
interesting project !
could you post some piccies ?
Cheers,
G
I'd love to. I'm planning on fitting at t8 moderator which with my mates highly engineered thread protector will mean I can use it practically yet with almost no visual indication that anything is awry convert back into a fairly neat L42. I love it!
But before you jump DBB you realise of course that if it is a real, genuine L42 that you've got and are changing it then it relegates it from being an ultra rare £2,000 rifle to an undesirable not worth half as much rifle. Regardless of the almost invisible changes. Think ultra rare MGB GT V8 with plastic front wings........................
Won't the rifle be very long and unwieldy for a deer gun?
Given that the UK price for an L42 is £4-6k these days, I think I'd have used something like a Parker Hale .303 sporter as a basis for such a project....
you could buy 4 modern guns for the price of that and not irrevocably change a collectible. In the end, it is your firearm to do with what you want but come time to sell or trade it, you will regret it. On the upside, I might be onto a cheap L42 when the time comes :)
Just my thoughts too Thunderbox. Absolute sacrilege. Just think hard before you resort to this proposed butchery DBB.
But on the UP side of course, one less L42 makes the remainder even MORE valuable. Think unwrapped No4's!
That's what I thought initially, then "Windup" then "Why not" then "Value" then .............Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter Laidler
What a confusing business for a newcomer!. A new thread perhaps.
IF you intend on using a lightweight bullet, the 125gr Nosler is a controlled expansion bullet. It's all serious overkill, I guess, for a 50-60 lb animal, but it's poor form to use a varmint bullet on a game animal- spoils much more meat.
What makes the whole scenario really wierd (on top of using an L42a1) is that you could kill them with an UNSUPPRESSED .22 Magnum just as easily- with about the same noise signature as the suppressed uber velocity .308 load. (Sonic crack of the 2900fps .308" bullet will be very bad, noise wise- forget the minor report of the rimfire round- it's overshadowed by the bullet "noise".)
Perhaps the OP should get it rechambered in 300 whisper ?? :)
:rolleyes:AND, cut the barrel back to 10" or so, in order to keep the velocities sub-sonic. But then, a 200-220gr. bullet would be better, too.Quote:
Originally Posted by xa-coupe
:runaway:
To be honest, I think he's winding us all up. Cutting an L42 barrel for a moderator, destroying its value............ think about it! Noone would do such a thing. Even for me, for whom an L42 was just a working tool, I understand the rarity of the beasts if nothing else
i did wonder if it was a troll but the first post didn't cut to the chase immediately and it was also written in un-troll like prose... Mind you as it's the sort of suggestion that would be described as inflammatory or flame bait on an enfield-loving forum...
Anyway good luck to him (I know of a heavy barrelled enfield which had such a stalking use until recently [eh Peter] no moderator attached though) - think I'd personally prefer something a bit lighter to lug around. Not to mention something which wouldn't be reduced in value/originality by such an act. Maybe it's better that it's getting put to a practical use. I can understand people wanting wall hangers, as long as they don't deactivate historic sniper rifles for this to happen, but I like to think of them out on the range, or even in the wilds hunting.
It'd be a bit like mounting one of the Fulton sight bases onto a No4T and altering the rifle to fit the sight base............ Who would seriously suggest doing such a thing.
Nope, I think it's a clever wind up!
I'm gonna come straight out and say it, funning or not I think the boy needs his head examined. To even consider forking up a perfectly good L42 oughta be a hanging offense.
I think that you are being a bit too polite there about this matter Vintage Hunter but we all agree with you. Well said!
I appear to have open a fairly massive can of worms here!! No its not a wind up. As much as I love my L42 i wasn't entirely aware of its worth..( i sort of inherited it... long story). Thank you all for your passionate opinions. A re-think is underway as we speak.
Deano
While thinking consider this. There were less than 1100 of these rifles made, IIRC, and they started life as a No.4 (T), actually for a brief period they were plain old No.4's. Now take into account the number that wore out in service and were scrapped or were destroyed after they left service, and finally lets not forget the ones that were Bubba'd by they're owners, so there's not many left in original condition. Right now you have a silk purse, if you perform the modifications you speak of you'll then have a sow's ear.