Parker hale m85

[Gil Boyd]

Rob,
I would be mate, but I'm not repairing Hadrians Wall for it, what do you want for it? They produced two small A5 prints, one in October 1985 and the last one in November 1985 which one have you got. The date will be on the back cover bottom right

[WarPig1976]

I have just been handed a folder of firearms manuals to dispose of. One of them is a 'Parker Hale 7.62 x 51mm sniper Rifle M. 85 REPAIR INSTRUCTIONS' it is dated Nov 1985 on the back page and is 18 pages long. Will try to put a photo up later. Any idea of value? Anyone interested?

We'll need a close up of each page, front and back including cover to properly determine Value.

[chosenman]

Am I correct, is this Parker Hale sling a converted Lewis gun sling? As I understand PH purchased surplus slings and converted them to target slings branding them as model 1927 pattern.

[sd4f]

It looks to be a PH sling. One of the brochures shown elsewhere show a wooden M85 with that sling.

M85's didn't come with a sling, so there isn't one which is correct. So you can pretty much do whatever you like on that front. I'd like to get a L8A1 sling, but it appears that the buckles are sewn in, so having those detachable buckles, and quick detachable button swivels, is sort of redundant and just looks odd to my eye.

Meanwhile, all the modern slings have lots of plastic, which I would prefer to avoid, mainly because it sort of dates it to now, making the rifle look a little anachronistic.

[Bruce_in_Oz]

Parker Hale went with what is essentially a magazine for the M-14.

The question is:

Did they reduce the spring "force".

I ask because I have been involved in using M-14 Mags in bolt-actions and the "full-strength" spring causes all sorts of dramas in feeding.

The main issues with "full-strength" springs are:

1. A ridiculous amount of "drag" on the bolt from a full stack of cartridges.

2. A nasty tendency to "spit out" cartridges during slow feeding.

Shortening the standard spring "works", but a better solution would be to wind a "lighter" spring to the same form but using thinner wire.

Stock M-14 mags are designed to work with the incredibly fast action of that rifle's bolt, and in "adverse" conditions.

Think about the seeming "lightness" of a standard Lee Enfield or Mauser magazine spring compared with the M-14 Mag.

How "heavy" is the mag spring on the Accuracy International?

[sd4f]

Parker Hale went with what is essentially a magazine for the M-14.

The question is:

Did they reduce the spring "force".

To answer that part, no they didn't. The spring is quite strong. It's a fairly easy thing to rectify, basically the free length of the spring has to be reduced. Gotta get some music wire and get around to doing that.

As it is though, it works flawlessly. It's just stiffer than other rifles.

The cartridges won't pop out though since it's a mauser bolt design, the cartridge engages the rim as it's being stripped from the magazine. That would be a problem with push feed actions.

[RCS]

I would think that the M14 magazine spring could be modified or replaced to improve the feeding. You have the opposite when using BAR M1918 magazines in M1 rifle conversions. These magazines have a "soft" magazine spring as compared to the FAL or M14 magazine spring and reliable function is not always possible. Most conversions of the M1 rifle to a box magazine use the M14 (and caliber change to 7,62mm ) There are dedicated box magazines for commercial bolt action rifles such as the Remington 700 and others too

[jmoore]

The only drama I've noticed with M14 magazine use in the M85 is that the feed lip geometry has to be spot on moreso than in the m14. Usually it misses picking up rounds. Otherwise it's been no bother except when one releases unexpectedly. The solution to date has been to mark those mags that work well in the M85 with the secret code "M85" written on the back of the body in magic marker.

[jmoore]

I would like to know from what source P-H procured the 10 round magazines. Not USGI for sure, unless they were modded from said.

[Gil Boyd]

I can definitely now confirm the sling sold with (if requested) the M85 was the Parker Hale Inch and three quarters wide canvas strap, also used on the Lewis Gun. So anybody with a Lewis Gun with the strap attached should look for the PH logo on the strap metal