An Experiment

[Bindi2]

It will be interesting to see the results .
There is no mention of this in the manuals for the No1 Mk3. I am sure the Boffins would have tested this.
A taller front sight is the order of the day. This change is in the manuals. Where you are aiming is to be taken into account.

[Alan de Enfield]

There is no mention of this in the manuals for the No1 Mk3. I am sure the Boffins would have tested this.

Tests have been done and the results printed in the manuals (you just need to find the correct manual):


Comparisons in the difference between MKVI and MKVII ammunition with / without the bayonet fitted :


There are several pages but this is a good summary :

Source :
“Musketry Regulations Part 1”
1909 (With Amendments 1914)
Issued by the General Staff – War Office.

Summary :
With a SMLE & with MkVI ammunition there is no effect to the POI when the bayonet is fixed.
With a SMLE & with MkVII ammunition there is a 4 feet Rise in POI at 600 yds when the bayonet is fixed.
With a Lee Metford, or CLLE there is a 6 feet drop, and 2 feet to the right change in the POI at 600 yds when using MkVI ammunition with the bayonet fixed.
With a Lee Metford, or CLLE there is a negligible effect in the POI when using MkVII ammunition with the bayonet fixed.

YES – that is correct – with the CLLE / Lee Metford the POI is NOT AFFECTED when using MkVII with the bayonet fixed, but with the SMLE the POI is NOT AFFECTED when using MkVI with the bayonet fixed..

[Bruce_in_Oz]

The rather "exotic" bedding of the No 1 Mk 3 rifle is at play.

Your Basic No 4 is a totally different beast. "upward " pressure on the barrel right at the front end.

No 1 bedding is "multi-point. The llast eight ot so inches are the fancy bit. Starting from the middle of the barrel:

The "inner Band(the cute little (internally tapered) band that fits closely around the barrel, is pulled DOWN by the associated SPRING and screw.

Then there is the tiny spring-loaded plunger that eats near the rear of the nose-cap . It applies UPWARD pressure.

Finally, there is the muzzle aperture in the front of the nose-cap. This applies DOWNWARD pressure to the barrel, right at the point of departure of the bullet.

NOTE: Some nose-caps have a tiny "extra" cut-out at the top of this aperture, Some do not.

Thi s "extra" bit means that the muzzle is "centered" by the two "points, formed by this aperture "extension.

No 1 Mk 3 bedding was designed to tune the RIFLE to the "issue" ammunition. (One round to rule them all! As it were). Millions of rifles; tens of billions of a very specific cartridge.

Replace a damaged fore-end? LOTS of potential "tweaking" to get acceptable group size within the specs for allowable "deflection". DEFINITELY NOT "Bench Rest' territory.. At the time, the rifle was seen as an expensive handle for the real weapon, the BAYONET.. One look at the wrist of the butt will confirm that. (See also the P-13 / 14, etc.

[Neuraleanus]

The rather "exotic" bedding of the No 1 Mk 3 rifle is at play.

Your Basic No 4 is a totally different beast. "upward " pressure on the barrel right at the front end.

No 1 bedding is "multi-point. The llast eight ot so inches are the fancy bit. Starting from the middle of the barrel:

The "inner Band(the cute little (internally tapered) band that fits closely around the barrel, is pulled DOWN by the associated SPRING and screw.

Then there is the tiny spring-loaded plunger that eats near the rear of the nose-cap . It applies UPWARD pressure.

Finally, there is the muzzle aperture in the front of the nose-cap. This applies DOWNWARD pressure to the barrel, right at the point of departure of the bullet.

NOTE: Some nose-caps have a tiny "extra" cut-out at the top of this aperture, Some do not.

Thi s "extra" bit means that the muzzle is "centered" by the two "points, formed by this aperture "extension.

No 1 Mk 3 bedding was designed to tune the RIFLE to the "issue" ammunition. (One round to rule them all! As it were). Millions of rifles; tens of billions of a very specific cartridge.

Replace a damaged fore-end? LOTS of potential "tweaking" to get acceptable group size within the specs for allowable "deflection". DEFINITELY NOT "Bench Rest' territory.. At the time, the rifle was seen as an expensive handle for the real weapon, the BAYONET.. One look at the wrist of the butt will confirm that. (See also the P-13 / 14, etc.

Found the potential cause, the spring loaded stud in front by the nose cap was missing. It's now replaced.