No. 5 Accuracy

[Ridolpho]

We're probably all familiar with the inherent accuracy problems the No. 5 displays. Thought it might be interesting to hear what No. 5 owner/ shooters have found- does your zero wander?

I only own one No. 5 and it's a well used old girl. The draws area completely fell apart when I disassembled it (old vertically dowelled Indian armourers patches) so I was forced to repair it. You can see the transverse dowels I installed to help hold the walnut replacement piece in place. Eventually I had it fully floated forward of the barrel reinforce and the attached targets show my first test of the repairs for accuracy (about 100 rounds through it by the time I shot these). I was getting groups like the right hand target over a sandbag and, for fun, finished my ammo off with 5 shots in a "lead sled". Much to my surprise it made quite a difference with 4 shots 1.5 inch center to center. Appears to have some real potential!

I've concluded that, for me, the sights on the No.5 limit accuracy (short sight radius, coarse aperture, sight picture crowded by protector wings). It's only natural that accuracy will be less than with No. 4 (and No. 1) rifles. But my zero doesn't wander.

What have you found with your "Jungle Carbines"? Best wishes for a Merry Christmas to everyone.

Ridolpho

Information

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[browningautorifle]

I never had any problems, but I never saw them as a match rifle. I always shot from the shoulder, standing...to also help reduce felt recoil. I could hit and that was fine. I've had a pile of them too.

[Ridolpho]

BAR: I enjoy firing mine prone and standing and am thinking about giving it a try in my clubs "3-Gun" weekly meeting this season. Obviously very maneuverable but also a mag capacity advantage over the semi-autos. If your club allows it it's fun to try out older milsurps in this kind of competition. Regards.

Ridolpho

[villiers]

Mine´s still more accurate than I am, so there´s no reason to quibble. AND it´s more fun to shoot than anything else I´ve tried. AND it´s about the only rifle I can comfortably transport on my motorbike. Christmas present to myself this year was an Israeli FAB Defense LRC-2 conversion for my Arsenal Strike One 9mm which is ok for up to 100m, but the No. 5 is still my first choice for a morning at the range.

[Son]

I have no accuracy trouble with my No5. It seems to shoot 5 good surplus or equivalent reloads into 3 to 4 inches at 100yds without too much effort. I know it would do better if I was better... i have occasionally shot 2"

Very happy that your resurrection has been successful. Nothing more satisfying than getting the results to confirm a job well done.

but... the "wandering zero" was a supposed problem of the in service rifle. If your rifle isn't in it's standard bedding in a good condition foreend and shooting MkVII ball or reloads that replicate MkVII ball, I don't think you can look to replicate or rule on the condition (real or imagined) without all those elements present.

A couple of other points, the sight radius, even though it seems short at 23.25 inches, it is a whopping 4 1/4 inches longer than the No1 MkIII at 19 inches. Why would the No5 accuracy be any less?

If you are seeing the aperture and the sight protector when you are shooting, then you are not letting your eye control your sight picture. Granted, the aperture is big, but if you trust your eye- concentrate on putting the tip of the blade on the target without acknowledging the aperture or the sight protector and your eye will center the tip of the blade in the aperture. It may well tighten your groups a little further.

Cheers,

Son

[martins8589]

I had a No5 that I had bought really cheap. It was very rusted and badly pitted. The timber was terrible. I guessed it had been in the QLD floods but I thought, what the heck. Cheap enough. So seeing as the bore was shot (looked like the rifling was cross threaded.lol.) I used it in a service competition and as I had run out of 303 projectiles I loaded HJBC 308 target projectiles. Not expecting to hit the target but have fun anyway. Well blow me down it scored well at 300yds and in the 50yd rapid I was the only shooter to get all 20 shots on the target.
What more can I say. Ces't la Vie!

[Ridolpho]

A couple of other points, the sight radius, even though it seems short at 23.25 inches, it is a whopping 4 1/4 inches longer than the No1 MkIII at 19 inches.
Cheers,
Son

Son: Thanks for the comments. After reading your post I pulled out an SMLE and was surprised to see how much longer the sight radius is on the No. 5! I was doing some safe shifting this morning and I decided to take a shot of a few different rifles with rear sight lined up with a No. 4. The Pattern 14 is the winner with SMLE MkV runner up. It's an eye opener how short the radius is on a "Long Lee"- only slightly longer than the SMLE.

There's obviously much more to it than sight radius as I don't think the No. 4 is that much more accurate than the No. 1- or is it? I presume the aperture sight was introduced to improve infantry marksmanship and it would be interesting to know if there are documents that indicate that it did (ie organized testing with average shots).

I understand what you're saying about using the aperture sight and I wonder if part of my problem is shooting different rifles with slightly different sight pictures on the same outing. I just checked a few and the sight protectors are asymmetrical on many which must help to confuse my aging brain when the sun is bright and from the rear!

Still hoping to get some comments from No. 5 owners who have experienced accuracy problems (or not) with unmodified rifles and, as Son suggests, MkVII ball.

Ridolpho

[Littlejohn]

Still hoping to get some comments from No. 5 owners who have experienced accuracy problems (or not) with unmodified rifles and, as Son suggests, MkVII ball.

Haven't fired mine enough to comment on accuracy. My grandsons commandeered it on the last range trip, and burned up all my ammo.

Attachment 68197 Attachment 68198

Just took some new photos, today...





These No. 5's are cool rifles. I was lucky to get this one at a very good price.

[Parashooter]

Attachment 68202
No.5 Mk.1. ROF(F), excellent original condition without alterations.
100 yards, 30 shots in five minutes, no cooling time.

10 shots, A80 Mk.7, upper target.
15 shots, 180 grain Rem. JRN handloads, lower target.
5 shots, A80 Mk.7, upper target.

X = point of aim for Mk.7.

[CINDERS]

Even a center mass hold on an enemy in the jungle would have put a Mk VII round into them and slowed them up for the Coup De Gras