The sniper rifle was gauged exactly the same way as the standard No4. The difference beinbg that, as an example..... If a No4 rifle failed a gauge test, say worn leed, then it'd be sentenced 'Z' for a new barrel to be fitted at Base Workshops. If the same applied to a No4T, then we'd ask the sniper what he thoiught. If he said it was perfect, then it'd stay. If he commented that he'd noticed it was getting difficult to group, then it'd be sentenced Z for a new barrel. In short, the barrel was sentenced when it failed the gauge test but for a sniper, when it failed the gauge AND accuracy test......not necessarily the same thing. But it did mean that when in doubt, the Armourers and snipers could spend a leisurely morning on Mere or Battlesbury ranges doing a spot of range testing from 300 or 400 yards as shown on the front cover of the No4T sniper book

All No4's and T's in service had lashings of grease XG-295 or 279 sloshed between the fore-end and handguards and metalwork......., usually carefully applied with an old shaving or paint brush liberally coated in the stuff. Then put together and the excess wiped off with a bit of rag that was kept in the Armourers overall pockets. It's this grease and the OX52icon oil that gave Armourers overalls (and Armourers) that distinct smell that made them so appealing to the opposite sex.........., especially when they got their weapons out. Oh, the old ones are always the best!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The woodwork was always treated with nothing but linseed oilicon. At the recruit training regiments, such as Hadrians Camp or Houndstone Camp in Yeovil, the recruits would polish the woodwork up with highly brushed and polished brown boot polish. Nobody bothered about this really because while it was a bit of bull-manure, being beeswax, it was protecting the woodwork anyway.

Has that answered the questions in a long drawn out and roundabout way on a lazy Saturday morning from the Small Arms School at Warminster