New Manufacture No4 Barrels

[no4mk1t]

I read this on the National Match High Power forum. There is no announcement of this on Criterion's website yet, so for now, take it for what it's worth.

Good news!

I received an Email response today from Criterion Barrels on a recent query to them about adding #4 Enfield Barrels to their product line to allow the many surplus rifles out in the United States an opportunity to be rebarreled and extend their lives on the gunline. The email from them stated that they about 95% complete on the production of a run of #4 barrels which should be available soon.

This means that the Military Vintage Games may see new rifles on the podium to knock all the New Old Stock Swiss and Swede rifles that have been dominating the matches in the last few years.

Just received an update from Criterion. They have an export agreement in place with their Australian Distributor (C96 Trading-Fine European Arms Importer and Wholesaler) and are working to finalize a deal with their Canadian Distributor so our Palma Teams may be competing against "as-new" Lee-Enfields pretty soon.

And considering the Lee-Enfield's propensity for sweet spots in long range accuracy it could make upcoming matches very interesting.

Information

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[Bindi2]

Still need someone to make Mk7 projectiles.

[Colonel Enfield]

Still need someone to make Mk7 projectiles.

Do you mean a 174gr FMJ round for the .303 generally, or one with an aluminium core a la the issue military round?

[Beerhunter]

Do you mean a 174gr FMJ round for the .303 generally, or one with an aluminium core a la the issue military round?

He probably means174gn bullets with a flat base for starters.

There is a couple of guys in the UK who make them but they appear to hand-swage the jackets on and so they are FAR from Cheap.

[Bindi2]

The mil spec 174gnFMJ open base. Not fussed about what is in the front as long as it works.

[ssj]

He probably means174gn bullets with a flat base for starters.

There is a couple of guys in the UK who make them but they appear to hand-swage the jackets on and so they are FAR from Cheap.

Hi,

Well barnaul already make a 174gr flat base, good for 1 1/4inch MOA out of a worn P14 at 100yds and are 32cents NZ.

[CINDERS]

You would think with the amount of interest in the Mk VII progie some manufacturer would take up the challenge in making one to the same profile weight and BC we the shooters will do the rest but one step at a time a projie is useless with out the rest and so is the barrel without the tother.
So barrels it is, surely do I miss those Malcolm Bone TAIPAN 170gn .312 FBHP

On the Criterion barrels as far as the whisper I heard here in aus the price is $800.oo AU per barrel for the No.4 so you pick up a modest No.4 for say $700.oo buy a barrel $800.oo then fitted say $300.oo and hey presto $1800.oo AU

So it is sorta getting to be a pursuit that is getting out of the reach of the average family person so then the sport may be for the few who can afford it so much for the fun of shooting Milsurps as a hobby.

[jmoore]

So it is sorta getting to be a pursuit that is getting out of the reach of the average family person so then the sport may be for the few who can afford it so much for the fun of shooting Milsurps as a hobby.

Hobby? Not too unaffordable. But if you aspire to be top ranked in a competitive sense, then, no, not so much. But rarely would that be the case anyway. Top shooters probably burn through well more than $1800 per annum in ammo alone. I'm not a top shot but easily spend that per year as a duffer.

[CINDERS]

I was speaking for a previous thread that was posted by a chap married with 2 children and a mortgage and how the sport is getting expensive for Mr average, there are 1,000's out there like this person but I know years ago when I was on the bones of my arse how I longed to shoot every week end rather than one weekend a month.
Now I can open up the safes and go eenie meenie miny moe my wife does the same and my son well he is stuck with his 223 for now gotta start somewhere.

So for all those PB's out there having to hedge and scrimp to get some shooting in, keep the faith things will improve so you can pursue your passion its worth the wait a good plan is to get the wife involved I was lucky we met as pistol shooters and well the rest is history

[Colonel Enfield]

I was speaking for a previous thread that was posted by a chap married with 2 children and a mortgage and how the sport is getting expensive for Mr average, there are 1,000's out there like this person but I know years ago when I was on the bones of my arse how I longed to shoot every week end rather than one weekend a month.

Ammunition prices do seem to have gone up a lot in the last few years, as do the prices on the rifles that fire them. There's a couple of people I know who want to get into service rifle shooting but look at what a half-decent SMLE costs (about $550-750 or so, and that's without getting into the risk of getting a mismatched parts gun or something like that), then see it's more than $1 a round for the ammo and then decide they're maybe not quite as keen on getting into it all as they thought.

Sure, there are still some cheap rifles to be had out there if you know what you're looking for, but the people who want to get into shooting old rifles for the first time don't generally know what they're looking for.

I'm sure we've all had someone call us (or send a blurry, low-resolution pic) and say "I'm in a gun shop looking at an SMLE No 4* and it's $800, is that a good price?" and either had a lengthy conversation with them trying to work out what it is or just told them to leave it so you can check it out on their behalf later - because there's useful sums of money involved and no-one wants to see their friends or family out of pocket.

Even five years ago there were plenty of perfectly average SMLEs floating about for about the $350 mark, which is a sensible price for an entry-level rifle and not a huge capital outlay so if it turned out the rifle was a bit ordinary**. But now there's quite substantial sums of money (for the average person) involved, I do worry the hobby/sport is going to lose the younger members because they don't have the disposable income to buy increasingly expensive rifles and very expensive ammunition to make them go bang every month.

* I know the No 4 isn't an SMLE, but a surprising number of people don't.
** Terrible