N04 (T) build up

[Gunnie]

Learned Enfield members,
I am looking to add a No4(T) to the safe to keep my Nagant sniper company. I have recently bought a Tele Sight Type 31 which looks to be in very good nick, I plan on having a Zeiss trained and qualified optical restorer look it over and give it a service/clean.
I have bought a set of the reproduction pads & mount sourced from Numeric Arms. These should arrive soon.
As for the basis of the rig, I have a Savage No4 Mk1 which was sold out of service from the NZ Mounted Rifles, in an 'unfired' condition. The buyer put a few mil rounds through it after buying from a stock agent many, many years ago. He cleaned the bore and rifle and then stored it away as he felt it was too big for the roos he was culling at that time. Whereby, many years later it has come into my possession.
I've been directed to a gunsmithing business in Tasmania, Australia, to have the lot assembled and accurized.
Talking to the 'smith at Island Accuracy, I've learnt that the Savage No4's were set up as snipers without scopes.
I'm only just starting to research the 4(T) and am keen to hear what advice, information that you all may have. Thanks in advance.

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[tbonesmith]

I wish you all the best with your build. I did a full rebuild on one a couple of years ago and it remains on of my favorite rifles to pull out and shoot.

There are a couple of books you should buy too: .303" No4(T) Rifle; An Armourers Perspective, by Peter Laidler.
and: Telescope Sighting No.32 by Peter Laidler

Also if you havn't already done so you should look at the instruction for such a build on this site:
Milsurps Knowledge Library - Making Up a Useable No.4 Sniper - Part 1 (by Peter Laidler)
Milsurps Knowledge Library - Making Up a Useable No.4 Sniper - Part 2 (by Peter Laidler)
Milsurps Knowledge Library - Making Up a Useable No.4 Sniper - Part 3 (by Peter Laidler)
Milsurps Knowledge Library - Making Up a Useable No.4 Sniper - Part 4 (by Peter Laidler)

More relevant information here:
Index of Peter Laidler's on-line series of articles.......

Show us all the results when you get there!!

Welcome to the site.

[Gunnie]

Cheers Bonesmith,

found the articles you've indicated about 20minutes after I posted, typical!!
Not 100% confident in doing this myself but I'll ask the guys in Tassie if they are familiar with it.
It all should work out OK, as the Tassie guys have done a few apparently.
I've yet to finish my Nagant after a very long hiatus with it sitting in the LGS with nothing happening. It was supposed to have been done to completion but that wasn't the case.
Am also considering adding another example of the WWII sniper genre, either a 1903 Springfield or a Mauser. trying to decide which way to go! Cleavers has them currently as re-finished versions and I'm leaning towards the 1903 as I don't have a 30-06 in the safe.

Will look at chasing up the books that you've mentioned. Cheers

[tbonesmith]

I've seen both their 1903A3's and the '98's and both look good. The 1903's are just like new, as they have new wood, whereas the '98's are fully refinished with nicely cleaned up wood.

[trooper554877]

Dont go anywhete near tassie. I have seen there work and its disgracefull. Ask paulseamus how good they are. They talk the talk but have no legs to do the walk.
Get a competant gunsmith to do the job.
Cheers

[muffett.2008]

Hey Ned, did you sign the visitors book?

[trooper554877]

How are you going muff?
Keep watching the obituaries but havent found your name yet!!!
You must be going allright then. Been burnt out yet?
Always did need a. Good clean out over there

[Gunnie]

Hey guys, thanks for the heads up. Considering that I would be outlaying several hundred for the work, I'd be ****ed if the work was of a shite standard. I've just had a similar type issue with the Nagant, so a repeat would not be accepted.
They wouldn't want to get me on the bad side, got some friends in high places: nono:

I've spoken to a local smithy, Allan Swan, but he's not too familiar with the 4T's. But I dare say that if I provide the details of the step by step on this website, he'd be more than on the right track eh!

Tbone: hope to get in to Cleavers some time next week if all goes well. I'll drool over those snipers and make a decision there. One things for sure, I won't leave the shop without putting a deposit on something.

[Gunnie]

Gents, thanks for the heads re problems using a certain GS for the work. I'll look at printing off all the info and passing to a local gunsmith to see if he is happy taking on the project. I've seen a lot of his work on other types and in particular martini actions, so am happy with his quality of work.

Question if I may pls:

I have two No4's that I was considering as a basis for the 4(T) project. I've since been advised to not use either of them as both rifles are worth more in their original format.
The rifles in question are:
1 - a 1942 Maltby No4 Mk1, in very good condition with a bright, clear/clean 2-groove barrel. The rifle has a set of vernier micro sights in the place of the usual 300/600 battle flip peep. The rifle shoots very well with my reloads using 174gn Sierra BTHP factory seconds.

2 - a 1944 Savage Lend Lease No4 Mk1*, in excellent condition. Has markings for a New Zealand Mounted Rifles issued rifle which was sold out of service without ever having been issued (or sold I was told). It also has a 2-groove barrel which is near perfect condition. The rifle still has packing grease around the action!!! The rifle has a 300/600 flip battle peep sight.

How it was put to me was that the NZ issued rifle is unique in its own right and potentially worth a fair sum. The Maltby is also a better than average example of this classic model and with the micro sight a possible high end dollar rifle.

Now I do not profess to be an expert on these rifles by any stretch of the imagination. Hence my question here to the learned. Pls post your opinions and espouse your knowledge on the willing to learn.

thanks in advance.

[RobD]

Here's my 2 cents of advice: I have seen several (well, quite a few actually) rifles converted to faux snipers (K98s especially, but also Israeli Mausers, .303s, and 1903A3s) which disappointed their owners. The dealers' stands are quite full of them at shows in the UK. What has gone wrong? Well, the owner inevitably a bit of an optimist who likes the look of the rifle, can't really get it to shoot well, blames his eyes and the iron sights for this, and firmly believes the rifle is inherently accurate. But most of all he has a vision that it will have legendary accuracy in his hands, once 'scoped. So he spends typically £500+ on the conversion, only to find the groups are as bad as before. Plus he now has a rifle with holes drilled in it which he can't sell on. So, whatever you do, choose a rifle which groups very well indeed before you start.