Spring and screw under barrel

[Prince Humperdink]

I have been messing with my new No1mk3 1945 made Ishapore rifle,and I have a question.What is the cradle,spring and screw unit for under the barrel?I'm guessing that it affects elevation?Thanks,
Ryan

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[Ridolpho]

Prince H: The "inner band" is part of the bedding system of the No. 1 rifle and is designed to work with the inherent vibration characteristics of the long, whippy barrel and to return that part of the barrel to the same position in the forend channel shot after shot. It wasn't used on Lithgow heavy barrel versions but is there on every other SMLE although in a slightly different positon on the earlier SMLE Mk I.

Ridolpho

[Bruce_in_Oz]

It is all about tuning the rifle to the ammo. Ordnance systems settle on an "ideal" round and then make their chosen rifles and machine-guns work with it. "Sports" shooters tend to do things the other way around, much to the joy of the ammo component makers.

As Ridolpho rightly noted, The set-up for "H" rifles and earlier SMLEs was different.

In the case of early rifles, the big difference was the ammo. Mk6 ammo produces significantly different "wave" patterns in the barrel when fired; what worked for Mk6 did not work for Mk7.

The "cradle" (stud) that sits between the nosecap and barrel, is forced upwards by the spring. This is to push the muzzle firmly against the bottom corners of the little "window" machined into the top of the muzzle hole in the nosecap.

The inner band, a little further to the rear, acts to pull the barrel down, but the spring allows a little "flex".

The old, "torpedo" Mk6 was a different shape, heavier and lower velocity than the more familiar Mk7. The change to Mk7 ball meant "re-tuning" EVERY rifle to the new, ballistically superior ammo. The "new" ammo also required new rear-sight calibration, differently-profiled base included, and a new magazine, (the lips and follower for Mk6 did not work reliably with Mk7).

[Peter Laidler]

Bruce's thread above also answers the Q. that gets asked on the forum regularly. Zeroing/accuracy of a rifle. And the very first answer always is '....what ammo are you using' You should always use the ammo that the rifle was made to shoot. That will ascertain........... anyway.........

[5thBatt]

Bruce's post implies the changes made to the inner band & nose plunger & spring were to do with the different ammo, this is incorrect, the nose plunger & spring were introduced to the Mk1 series of the SMLE in 1906 prior to this there was none, the lighter spring for the plunger was introduced in 1909 & the inner band was moved about one inch back to strengthen the forend with the introduction of the MkIII in 1907, MkVII ammo was not introduced untill 1910.

[Bruce_in_Oz]

Point taken about the dates.

So, when was the tiny extra "cut-out" in the muzzle hole of the nose-cap introduced? And when and why was it omitted from "V" series SMLE nosecaps, like the sample on my desk?

I fished out my copies of the original MK 1 SMLE spec. (S.A./242, 13 July 1903) and it does not list the "Stud" or it's spring; curiouser and curiouser.........

Then, in 1906, the original 1903 Mk1 was "modified".

Included in the changes was: "(6) A stud and spring were fitted to the fore-end which act on the barrel near the muzzle, located underneath the nosecap. These stocks were marked "S" below the nosecap........." (Ref: The British Service Lee: Ian Skennerton; page 93)

My sole example of a Mk1-style nosecap has the "extra" window in the top of the muzzle hole.Any serial number it may have once had has been removed by rather "agricultural" grinding of the front of the boss. Interestingly, it is marked: "King's Crown" (Edward Vll), over "01", over "E", this indicating it to be from the very first run of the Mk1 at Enfield

Another interesting thing is that Watkins' and Speed's original patent drawing for the "inner Band" appear to show, not a neat, round hole, but one with two "flat", bearing surfaces on the upper quadrant on either side. More "fine tuning" that proved unnecessary?

Every time I come here or dive into the "books", I learn a little more.