No32 SCOPE QUESTIONS

[bros]

A couple of questions here guys regarding the No32 scope.
1- Is there a sequence for tightening front or rear thumb screws when attaching scope to rifle?
2- I have 2 original No4MK1 T series rifles ( both 1945 M47 C)....I understand that in some cases the bolt can be removed with scope still mounted to rifle, both of mine need to have scope removed in order to remove bolt. Did Holland & Holland not ensure this was the case when doing the conversions?
Sorry if the lingo is incorrect (thumb screws) for the purists out there...thanks for the help and have a great day.

Information

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[CINDERS]

There are threads for the Q's you ask giving the answers but main thing as PL alludes to the tightening of the screws you do not have to be a 6'6" godzilla tightening them up, as for the bolt removal savvy armorers realized this fopar and rectified it by judicious removal of some metal I think it is in the No.4 T by Skennerton & Laidler.
But if you have a T I would just leave it alone no bubba and buy a breech flag for the range days

[jmoore]

I've yet to see in person a rear sight modification done on a No.4 Mk.I(T) or L42a1 that allows the bolt to be removed whilst the scope is on the rifle. (And have been looking since the little book that has a description of such mod came out last century...) Have thought about doing one myself just for giggles, but hate the thought of cutting up a perfectly good rear sight!

[Peter Laidler]

The perfectly good rear sight IS perfectly good for the No4 rifle JM. But will be a perfectly BETTER sight for a No4T and an L42. I bet that you've never seen a No4T ot L42 with a Bren sling as part of the CES either JM. That's because when the rifles are returned to Ordnance they have to go back 'as issued'.

[Roger Payne]

I must admit, having climbed all over 385 L42's at Charnwood Ordnance in about 1994 or whenever it was, I never found a rear sight so modified either. However, Peter's comments about the rifle having to go back 'as issued' could explain that. They are easy enough to do - I used a half round file, though one has to proceed carefully. I also used a spare rear sight in each case, rather than alter the originals. There's no doubt that at times it is convenient to be able to slip the bolt out easily whilst on the range.

[PrinzEugen]

I seem to recall that the screw tightening is a front thumbscrew then back one a bit, with the back always being the final one to be done up tightly.

[CINDERS]

And that I also seem to recall has been mentioned by PL as an answer to the same question from quite some time ago, but as mentioned not to 68 ft lbs that some think they need! And as has been said by the person who Co. wrote a book on them they do and have broken!!!!!!!!!!

[bros]

There are threads for the Q's you ask giving the answers but main thing as PL alludes to the tightening of the screws you do not have to be a 6'6" godzilla tightening them up, as for the bolt removal savvy armorers realized this fopar and rectified it by judicious removal of some metal I think it is in the No.4 T by Skennerton & Laidler.
But if you have a T I would just leave it alone no bubba and buy a breech flag for the range days

Not too worried about the breech flag as I usually shoot at a private range...the concern was not to remove scope everytime when I clean the bore from the breech end.....thanks

[Peter Laidler]

Send me your address by PM Bros and I'll send you one. Easy to fit and re-zero

[Lee Enfield]

I've yet to see in person a rear sight modification done on a No.4 Mk.I(T) or L42a1 that allows the bolt to be removed whilst the scope is on the rifle. (And have been looking since the little book that has a description of such mod came out last century...) Have thought about doing one myself just for giggles, but hate the thought of cutting up a perfectly good rear sight!

Yeah, I had a good laugh when a (fellow) internet "ExPurT" said that he's "seen many No4T rifles" which have had the rear sight modified for bolt removal.

I asked him to send me or post a picture of one as in looking at well over 100 No4 T rifles in person, and several hundred more in photos, I've never seen a single one which had a (properly) modified rear sight. Strangely not a single picture was forthcoming...

I HAVE in fact seen several which were modified by grinding the rear sight slide...obviously home done....and wrong.

The perfectly good rear sight IS perfectly good for the No4 rifle JM. But will be a perfectly BETTER sight for a No4T and an L42. I bet that you've never seen a No4T ot L42 with a Bren sling as part of the CES either JM. That's because when the rifles are returned to Ordnance they have to go back 'as issued'.

And of course, most of the No4 T rifles I've physically had in my hands were sold out of the British system by the late 1960s, so it's quite possible that none ever received the modification...especially as most have early manufacturer codes (SM41 Singer manufactured ect.) rear sights....arguably likely original to the sniping rifle.