range time with a Mk I***

[smle addict]

I bought this rifle around four years ago. It wasn't too expensive ($650) and I've always liked the look of the early SMLE's. I took it to the range and only fired six rounds through it. First round went high; subsequent shots made a nice two-foot group! I looked down at the rifle and saw the forend had split from the rear to about 2-inches forward of the magazine well. The stock had walked forward, and the muzzle was now 1.5 inches behind the nosecap. Went home and disassembled, found the draws were complete pulp. I wound up cutting away all the rotten wood, and glued in a new piece of walnut. I had to cut/file/chisel and sand the new piece to fit. I did use a wood dowel to anchor the draws, and promptly screwed it up, which necessitated using a larger dowel to anchor the new wooden piece. Lastly, I found a piece of threaded steel stock and used it to tie the back of the stock together (the original brass rod with caps was long gone). After staining/sanding and BLO application, it was done. Not the prettiest of jobs, but it was the best I could do. Obviously, I wont be working at Holland & Holland anytime soon! (first three pics)

It went back in the gunsafe and I forgot about it for three years.

About three weeks ago, I was going through the safe and found the Mk I***. Figured it was time to test my handiwork. Hit the range the very next day and couldn't have been more pleased. At 100 yards, first two rounds were left and a little high. Made the adjustments and put the next seven rounds into a decent group using 1969 HXP surplus FMJ (pic 4). Tried out some of my handloads with 180 grain sierras over 36.5 grains 4064. Next pic is the 8-round group (pic 5).

Fired about 120 rounds total, and the draws held solid and the zero never changed. While this isn't a target rifle, it kept them in the black at 200 yards as well.

Biggest help was Peter Laidlers' on-line article on repairing draws and having a couple of ratty, cut-down No4 and No 1 forends to practice on.

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