No32 Mk3 scope and Fulton regulated 7.62mm Rifle..

This was a recent purchase, and I was mainly after the scope but it came with the rifle in a auction type sale, with the intention to use the rifle as a parts rifle etc, but when I received the rifle, it was Fulton Regulated, and the added bonus it had an L42 barrel and mag, also has the magazine well modified to take the 7.62 mag , the pads that have been fitted look to be well done, just a shame they are positioned approx 5mm away from were they should be.

What is interesting is the rifle started life as a Longbranch No4 Mk1* and then FTR,d and converted to No4 Mk1/3 at Fazakerley.

The scope (No 22085 ) comes with a miss matched Tin which has the original rifle number on and also the original scope number on the label inside, the original scope number has been lined out and another added in Pencil ?
Complete with an early Roger Payne bracket Which is excellent and this example is in the white (straight from the foundry) and what Roger sells to trade without any cosmetics being done , also a set of covers which I wasnt expecting.


I,ve put some pics up as someone may have rifle No D36687 or scope no 14233 or 17471. and looking for the tin.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...1280x853-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...1280x853-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...1280x853-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...DSCF4540-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...DSCF4541-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...DSCF4542-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...DSCF4543-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...DSCF4547-1.jpg

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Originally Posted by bigduke6

the pads that have been fitted look to be well done, just a shame they are positioned approx 5mm away from were they should be.

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Big Duke

Nice looking rifle.

I would not stress over the pad postion.

As Peter Laidler notes in his book on No4 (T) rifles, the pads were positioned rearward by 3/16" in some cases.

Get a copy of his book, if you don't already have a copy.

Its the sort of book that I can read every few months or so and pick up something new.

I highly recommend it.

Paul

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../03/No4T-1.jpg

‘.303 No. 4 (T) SNIPER RIFLE’
Laidler & Skennerton
Hard cover edition only, 9½ x 6 in., 126 pp, 80 illust., no dust jacket, 1992. ISBN 0 949749 17 6.
An Armourer's Perspective of the British No.4 (T); the Holland & Holland Connection.
Relevant telescopic sights, cases, slings and access-ories are also detailed. Those 7.62mm conversions which resulted in the L42A1 are also described in the final chapters.

Thanks Paul, Am in the process of obtaining his books ( I PM,d him the other day) I was planning on getting them at the last war and peace show but had spent up, and had enough cash to get me home and have a few pints with Warren while on transit through London.


(Books are now on the way, and the little Green book about No32 scopes is now a Little Blue book)

It was a Red book when I got it.

Was yours so long ago that it was ring bound, MkVII?!?

ATB

Yes, it is.

I like it Dukie - and it's certainly the next best thing to an L42 from the looks of it. Don't forget that an L42 lookalike can cost upwards of £2,500 to produce (if I recall one milsurps user's recent project to create a replica 4t)!

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Originally Posted by PrinzEugen

it's certainly the next best thing to an L42 from the looks of it.

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Thats what I,m thinking, and It doesnt need much as it is, the push on but pad was removed as soon as it was out the wrapper, needs about an inch off the fore-end and hand gaurd, the cheek rest to be moved or replaced (have one ready to go) and remove the varnish.

Think I,ll give it a run first, see how it preforms, the whole kit was certanly a lot cheaper than the price you quote.

I suppose another plus is that you can put as many rounds through as you want as it's a replica not the real thing.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by PrinzEugen

I suppose another plus is that you can put as many rounds through as you want as it's a replica not the real thing.

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For the amount I would use it I would say yes, but it being an original barrel it may be worth keeping it to one side, you never know whats round the corner, and there may be a few L42 owners looking for a spare someday? I,ve got another original but is about an 1 1/2" short plus plenty of other target barrels (with snake skin finish).

Slightly shortened barrels.......... that's switched on the memory banks. There was a project in hand regarding L42 barrels. Because they were exposed and by very the nature of the beast, they suffered constant attrition from bulges at the muzzle. 14 MAG were looking to see whether the barrel could be shortened by 'an amount' in order to save an otherwise perfect but bulged muzzle.

I think that they could be shortened without detriment for a muzzle bulge/ring but don't know how much. But seem to recall that it wasn't much at all. Another problem - if it is a problem, was that the rifle had to be unbreeched and barrel removed in order for the correct machining to be carried out.

Another problem at the time was (and I don't understand it either but may have got it slightly wrong if anyone cares to comment) that to save a bulged/ringed muzzle, you had to identify the bulge as soon as it happened then isolate the rifle before many more rounds were put through it otherwise more damage was done. In my opinion, the damage was already done but WO1 Roger xxxxxx was leading the trial and I won't be seeing him for some months now

There was another project being looked at by the 'tiffy' courses at Bordon to ascertain the viability of a slimmed down L7 fluted flash eliminator being fitted. The aim was to incorporate the two ideas as a preventive measure for the bulge problem. I think I've mentioned this some time ago. Sorry if I'm boring you!

Not boring by any means, very interesting. The barrel I mentioned was shortened and machined down, but was not done in service.

Was the project just looked at or was there any barrels tested with the eliminator?

Yes, that's what enterprising folks did before there was ever a whiff of L42s being released for sale.

What did the enterprising folk do Surpmill.............. you've lost me? Cut the barrels short, fit flash eliminators - or what? And how can they have done it before they were released?

Someone told me that Australia werre first to try the flash eliminators during their trials with the L42's although what one they tried, L4, L7 or L1A1 I don't know. Can any Aussies comment on this

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Peter Laidler

What did the enterprising folk do Surpmill.............. you've lost me? Cut the barrels short, fit flash eliminators - or what? And how can they have done it before they were released?

Someone told me that Australia werre first to try the flash eliminators during their trials with the L42's although what one they tried, L4, L7 or L1A1 I don't know. Can any Aussies comment on this

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We are 8 hrs ahead

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Originally Posted by Bindi2

We are 8 hrs ahead

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????????

Originally Posted by Bindi2
We are 8 hrs ahead

?????????????????????????? me too!

Rifle tested with scope and shoots like a dream with downloaded ammo, at 50 mtrs 1/2" - 3/4" group no problems, will get some pics when I,m back out sunday.

Will try with normal ammo next month, when at the 100mtrs range.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Peter Laidler

What did the enterprising folk do Surpmill.............. you've lost me? Cut the barrels short, fit flash eliminators - or what? And how can they have done it before they were released?

Someone told me that Australia werre first to try the flash eliminators during their trials with the L42's although what one they tried, L4, L7 or L1A1 I don't know. Can any Aussies comment on this

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Oops, forgot to quote the early post I was replying to! I meant making up an L42 replica from a spare No4(T) action etc. Back in the days when you could mail a stripped receiver half way round the world and get it back again with a minimum of paperwork and the sky remaining suspended above us!;)