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At the range today some one was chatting at he had seen No15 chests modified whist in service to accept rifle with scope fitted. I’ve never come across any evidence of this, so I was a little sceptical, but then I’ve only seen a few. Has any one else any info to share on this topic. My main reason for asking was I’m thinking for knocking a chest up for my rifle and one with scope attached would be convenient, but I’d prefer accuracy over convenience.
I have owned a fair number of No.15 Mk.I chests along with the rifles and have never seen or even heard of one modified in service to hold the rifle with the scope still attached. I do not think the army would have done that as there would then be no room for the issued scope case.
If such a modified chest exists then I suspect that it was modified by a civilian owner.
Given the increasingly high market value on the No.15 Mk.I chests, I would not recommend modifying an original chest, though building a custom chest is up to you.
Note that these chests are heavy and as far as I know were usually left in Quartermaster stores as they were used for storage and for shipping, but were not taken into the field. British sniper Arthur Hare for example described turning his rifle into the QM at the end of WWII and he did not have a chest.
Nope, I've not seen one, or heard of it being done either, and as pointed out above, it would totally defeat the whole point of the chest in its service use!Quote:
Originally Posted by Micheal Doyne
And I'm not understanding why you think it would be more convenient?
Unless you are in the fortunate position to have lots of guns and have a proper armoury room so don't store your guns in conventional gun cabinets, I can't see when you'd ever put the rifle in the chest. In all the years I've had my 4T, the only time in my ownership its been in the chest was when I collected from the RFD i bought it from, and the only time it's likely to go back in it, will be the day that I sell it. It's a nice to have thing if it came with the rifle, and contents like mine did, but, if I didn't have it, I wouldn't be that bothered about getting one......well not a non-original one. They are heavy and awkward, and take up a lot of room.
Thank you GeeRam and Seaforth., I thought that was likely to be the case. The only reason I could see is if one where going to regularly fire it directly from it’s chest.
And to you point GeeRam, I am lucky enough to have an all be it small strong room, so yes those that have a chest live in their chests. Also I like the look of them so I transport my L42 to and from the range in his chest.
I admire you for that level of anal commitment.......however barking that idea is :rofl:Quote:
Originally Posted by Micheal Doyne
I get the hump if I have to move the ruddy empty thing around from its permanent location, I can't even begin to imagine putting the damn thing in a vehicle and taking it to a range (on top of my sanity being questioned by my fellow club members)
Oh my sanity is rightly questioned already! Particularly when they shooting away with AIs and I’m their with my Snider, the l42 is a modern as I go.
I know what you mean. I'm often the only saddo on the firing point with a rifle that has some wood on it & no bipod....
:lol:
I'm quite lucky, in that its only in the past year or so, that we've had an intake to our small club of newer younger club members that were not initially interested in old milsurps or old target rifles.........and were looking at ghastly modern black plastic contraptions......;)
However, as they had to do proby on our one and only club rifle, which is a 60's or 70's target conversion of a P14 with 7.62 heavy barrel and cut timber, they have come around slightly to appreciating them and wanting something made out of an old tree :D and all put in for at least one 303 slot on their FAC app in addition to a 7.62 slot for a plastic fantastic.
And likewise, a L42 would be about the only post 1945 rifle I'd want to own (not much chance of that though) even though my GSG StG.44 is technically modern albeit a copy of a pre-45 design, and it does have a small piece of tree in ts construction. It does attract a lot of attention on the range though.
I've got one of the GSG Sturmgewehrs as well. Love it. Mind, I've been around long enough to have owned one in 7.9 x 33 that worked (pre-Dunblane) albeit the selector lever had to be welded to self-loading (& safe) only. Our late treasurer who was a '2 sighters & 10 to count' man (he never shot more than twelve rounds per shoot - why could one possibly want a rifle with a magazine?!?) went very quiet very quickly when a pal of mine shot five bulls in five shots at 300 with it.
Sorry.....wandered off topic a little. Apols.
That is a great off topic!
I also have a GSG StG44, it mostly used for rabbit so has acquired a suppressor and optic.
Now you've picked my interest.....:DQuote:
Originally Posted by Micheal Doyne
Like to know more about the suppressor and optic mount you used. Do use you the pukka GSG pic rail mount that replaces the standard rear sight or did you use one of the MP5/G3 style claw mounts to fit behind the rear sight in the same position as the original ZF4 MP44 optic fits?
Did use use an off the shelf muzzle end 1/2-28 adaptor (which seem to be now not available) or have one made?
That is a great off topic!
I also have a GSG StG44, it mostly used for rabbit so has acquired a suppressor and optic.
---------- Post added at 02:52 AM ---------- Previous post was at 02:45 AM ----------
H had a G3 claw mount but the optic was too far back, so I went for the official GSG rail (which engendered a lot of fitting! ) originally mounting .....cough...... a No32mk3..... but it was a little silly having a £1200 scope of in my view significant historical value on a £200 rifle. So I switched it out for something a little more sensible. I would love to have a ZF4 but sadly that is yet to be aquired.
I purchased earlier this year the off the shelf adapter. The over all result is quite serviceable, until I can get a ZF4.
Attachment 109743
Functional if not beautiful
It also has replacement wooden grips, Rather than the brown plastic, and the bi pod comes off quit often.
The main issue is I mostly use it for rabbits and it does run the risk of people thinking I’m am a terrorist with and AK, or just go going a bit OTT and using 7.92 on a rabbit...
Well 7.92 would be a fun way to dispatch bunny's.......a mate of mate in the USA often uses his scoped M1903A4 for squirrels.......in his words, "because I can" :lol:
I have the same GSG pict rail sight mount which I acquired when in the USA a few years ago, but as yet I haven't fitted it. I was just going to put one of those small red dot blade Vortex sights on it for 25m gallery plinking as the old eyes are struggling with the iron sights a little now.
I would like a repro ZF4 though to put on a claw mount to look more 'authentic'.
Need to get a set of those wooden grips for mine as well :thup: and a pair of repro MP44 mag pouches, as I have 3 additional 30 rd mags.
That fabric sling on your's looks interesting as well, what is that?
I've just got a normal repro K98k sling on mine, and I also have one of the repro MP44 canvas covers to transport it to and from the range :)
It is just a repro German fabric style sling. I find it a little more supple when used as a shooting aid.
---------- Post added at 02:45 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:42 PM ----------
I have a number of spare mags but they are a range only thing as for bunnies I find they get in the way a bit and frankly there aren’t so many that I need 28rnds in a single go, or 168 spare in mags... that would be funny though
---------- Post added at 02:49 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:45 PM ----------
I found the claw mount put the scope a trifle high for my eye, and beware on mine, the gsg rail was initially angled to give me a POA around 120 MOA below my Point of impact even with the scope at max range! It gave me some head scratching for a while, I even tried two other scopes in case this one was the issue...
sorting it was a lot of filing!!
Considering the size of the mag you'd wonder why they didn't do .22 Mag as well.