7.62 NATO No4 barrels

[Bruce_in_Oz]

I figured that they had some sort of "official' background or had come from UK or Canada. The only people in Oz who put proofs on stuff seem to be Thales / ADI / Lithgow.

Definitely 7.62; dummy rounds and 7.62 headspace gauges won't fit a .303!

Extractor slot is a little wider than .303 type, as well.

Definitely need a breeching washer.

The question now is; where do these fit with the "purists" if I bundle up a bunch of parts and build myself a clone of an L8 for competition work?

Despite having a "real" ordnance produced and proofed barrel, will it be even less Kosher than my old "bitza" No4 Mk2 with its .30" / .308" barrel (chambered for .303 but custom throated for .30 cal 168gn Sierra Matchkings)?

Is .303 service rifle shooting going to wither because nobody can get decent quantities of "real" .303 ammo and thus resort to commercial, boat-tailed bullets that will eat their barrels?

Are the "rule nazis" going to insist that the " club regulations" are more important than getting people on the mound and safely shooting the MATCHES? Great way to make people walk away.

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[tbonesmith]

The question now is; where do these fit with the "purists" if I bundle up a bunch of parts and build myself a clone of an L8 for competition work?

There are tonnes of full wood 7.62 No4's around, and noone thinks they are fake anything. They are just 7.62 conversions. I've done a a few and they shoot great. My No4Mk2 with the standard profile 7.62 barrel, centre bedded shot like you wouldn't believe, as do all the heavy barrel versions when they are set up well.

[Bruce_in_Oz]

I was just having a bit of a snark about "gamesmanship".

Every so often, you run into the odd character on club "committees" who likes to wax obnoxious about the "rules", whils flexing them as much as they can for their own benefit.

It certainly occurs in lots of other fields and is sometimes called "psyching out" your competition. Fair enough at the "big kid's" level, but it tends to put off newcomers who witness it unexplained.

I have shot rifle and pistol at international "Shooting Games" and "Master's Games" (somebody has to take home the wooden spoon), as well as international REAL military matches, (throw in machine-gun matches) and the "games" are definitely not all conducted on the mound!

However, if you are trying to encourage a steady stream of new shooters, it is not productive to play these silly games on the "prospects".

Apart from all that, thanks for the advice, T-Bone!!

[Maxwell Smart]

So, did we end up with a definitive answer as to who made these "A W" barrels - Lithgow or CAL?

[rgmaggi]

Very interested in converting a No4 MK1 into a 7.62x51. I have 3 No4 and one SMLE. I was looking for some time for 7.62x51 barrels for the no4 but nothing... I checked the website you posted but it seems to have nothing there regarding the "kit" Could you post the actual address?

thanks

[ssj]

a) Its not a 303, so cant compete in 303 matches but shoot it all you want. I shoot my 303 alongside palma shooters up to 600m. I dont give a **** frankly I have a lot of fun and that's what its all about. I got 41.2 last time at 500m while sighting it in (it had never been shot at 500m before by me) So a 2 and a 4 high so a 45 could have been possible....not bad for a 60 year old gun.



b) btw I run a 308 FMJ in my as new Lithgow barrel, shoots very well.

c) Service rifle is fine here in NZ, 174gr 303 FMJs flat base are now being made again....I'll let you stew a bit on who's making them....

;]

I just got 100 to try, they might suck.