New Acquisition

[Neuraleanus]

A 1943 Long Branch.



From the bottom to the top:

1. 1943 Mk I* Long Branch (2 groove)
2. 1944 Mk I BSA (ex French, 5 groove)
3. 1942 Mk I* Savage with an early sight protector (2 groove)
4. 1955 Mk II Fazakerley (5 groove)

And, in the corner is a 1923 No. 1, Mk III SMLE, with the magazine cutoff. I did experiment with a Parker Hale rear sight on the Savage, but couldn't get the sight aligned. A Mk III ladder sight worked much better.

Weather permitting, I'll get these to the range this weekend.

[Alan de Enfield]

I did experiment with a Parker Hale rear sight on the Savage, but couldn't get the sight aligned.

What was the problem ?
There isn't much (any) aligning to do, the PH5C simply bolts on in the existing holes.
Were you using the correct model of sight - you were not trying to fit a PH5A or PH5B were you ?

A 5c with the correct eyepiece (Iris aperture with coloured filters) can make a HUGE difference to your shooting.

Early morning or late evening, bright sun or hazy light conditions, with the coloured filters & the iris infinitely variable aperture and you get the best sight picture possible.

Eyepiece interchanges with all PH sights (shown on my MkIII)

[Neuraleanus]

Despite how I adjusted the 5C I could not get the sight to align with the barrel. In contrast, a Mk III ladder sight had no difficulty. Perhaps its how I attempted to mount the sight to the rifle. Maybe spacers are needed.

[Sapper740]

From Rifleman.org.uk/PH here are the simple instructions for mounting a 5C sight:


DIRECTIONS FOR FITTING:


(1) Remove the regulation rearsight, sight axis screw, plunger and spring.

(2) Remove the regulation ejector screw.
(3) Place the Model 5C sight on the left side of the action body so that its fixing screw holes
are opposite the axis screw hole and the ejector screw hole respectively.
(4) Drive home the screws, the ejector screw from the left hand side, and the other from the
right.

[Alan de Enfield]

Maybe you overtightened the 'long' screw going thru the original rear sight mouting ears - this can tilt the 5C and will certainly pinch the sides of the body together, which can trap the bolt and stop it working (Don't ask .......)

Use the 'short screw' method going thru the left hand side original sight mouting ear and into the 5C mount - Like this






You may notice that I use an AJP 4/47 sught as it is a much better engineered sight than the PH5C (although I do have a couple of 5Cs still)

The TZ4/47 does not pull the elevation screw into engagement in line with the barrel like the 5C (which leads to a twisting effect in engagement of the rising dovetail). Instead a strong spring loaded lever pushes the screw (and the rising dovetail) sideways out from the action. This maintains good bearings on both side of the rising dovetail and equalises wear.

Unlike the 5C you don't have to undo/retighten the lock screw to adjust the elevation setting. A better functioning and better built sight than the 5C in all respects.

[Neuraleanus]

From Rifleman.org.uk/PH here are the simple instructions for mounting a 5C sight:


DIRECTIONS FOR FITTING:


(1) Remove the regulation rearsight, sight axis screw, plunger and spring.

(2) Remove the regulation ejector screw.
(3) Place the Model 5C sight on the left side of the action body so that its fixing screw holes
are opposite the axis screw hole and the ejector screw hole respectively.
(4) Drive home the screws, the ejector screw from the left hand side, and the other from the
right.

I did that, but no joy. I used one long screw and that can over-tighten which may of been the cause of the miss-alignment. One of these days I'll try the left screw method. I know that the rifle itself is fine as its right on target with a small group using the Mk III sight.

[browningautorifle]

Despite how I adjusted the 5C I could not get the sight to align with the barrel

I can't even imagine why. I had a FN body cover that took the 5C and used one on various #4 rifles, also one 7.62 version. Take them off and change rifles, they would still be within a few inches of zero.

[Neuraleanus]

Took the Long Branch to the range today. Shot at 100 yards using three different kinds of ammo, 174 gr PPU, 174 gr Reminington, and 150 gr Federal. The rifle performed flawlessly, no feeding issues no matter what I used. The left-most and right-most shots are from me adjusting the front sight:

[Surpmil]

Do you feel that's your shooting, the rifle or the ammo?

[Neuraleanus]

Do you feel that's your shooting, the rifle or the ammo?

More a reflection of my skill level than anything else. I did spend some time adjusting the front sight so that may account for some left to right variation.