Long Lee Enfield accuracy vs the MKVII cartridge?

[rayg]

Just curious, in as much as the MKVII cartridges velocity is approx 2500 fps and considerable more then the 2000 fps the Long Lee Enfield was designed for. What impact would a MKVII rd have on the point of aim of a Long Lee Enfield that was sighed in at 100 yrds with the older rd?. Would the MKVII shoot higher or lower and would it change windage like shooting more left or right of center because of the faster bullet? Ray

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[bradtx]

rayg, When the Mk.VII was in the process of selection there was also found that the forcing cone needed to be modified slightly to improve accuracy.

I have no idea how badly it'll shoot, maybe there'll be no difference, but I'd expect some accuracy degradation. Let us know.

Brad

[Fred G.]

What's a forcing cone? Oh, OK, I looked it up. Never mind.

[rayg]

Hi Brad, not so interested in accuracy but the difference in bullet impact between the two cartridges. As I understand, a slower heavier bullet would impact higher at 100 yrds then a lighter faster bullet. So a MKVII bullet would shoot/strike lower then a rifle sighted in at 100 yrds with the older heavier bullet. Now what about windage. The Enfields have a right hand rifling twist. Would a faster bullet effect bullet impact/strike more left or more right then the slower heavier bullet, or would there be no change? Ray.

[bradtx]

Ray, In that context, a very interesting question regarding the windage aspect. I can't wait for the ballistic guru's responses.

Brad

[Fred G.]

Hi Brad, not so interested in accuracy but the difference in bullet impact between the two cartridges. As I understand, a slower heavier bullet would impact higher at 100 yrds then a lighter faster bullet. So a MKVII bullet would shoot/strike lower then a rifle sighted in at 100 yrds with the older heavier bullet. Now what about windage. The Enfields have a right hand rifling twist. Would a faster bullet effect bullet impact/strike more left or more right then the slower heavier bullet, or would there be no change? Ray.

Enfields have a left hand twist. Higher velocity ammo from my experience will hit higher.

[rayg]

Oops you're right Fred, got it mixed up, Ray

[Fred G.]

Well, I got something right today!

[rayg]

Ok, I shot my unmodified 1896 Long Lee MkI with MKVII ammo and the bullet impact was low and about 3-4" to the right. The other day I had shot my other Long Lee with the same ammo and the impact was point of aim center.
I looked at the front sights and noticed that on the one that shot center, the blade was centered in the sight and the blade on the un-modified rifle was offset to the left and not in the center. There was a star type stamp on the side of the sight of the one with the centered blade indicating a modification. So apparently the front blades were moved to compenstate for bullet drift between the older rd and the MKVII rd.
Which must mean there is a difference in windage impact between the two cartridges. Ray

[Fred G.]

Ray, it was a case of when the Metford barrels were replaced with Enfield barrels, and the newer rifles came out with Enfield rifling, the soldiers noticed that the rifles were shooting to the left. These sighting problems were encountered during the Boer War. This was remedied per LoC (list of changes) paragrahs 10393, 10439 & 10798 by fitting removeable foresights, pinned to the block and altering the "V" notch in rearsight leaves and slides. The rifle Without the star on the front sight base has the front sight Base set .02" off to the Left of the center line of the barrel and the barley corn front sight blade set .05" to the left of the center of the barrel. The rear sight slide notch is cut .03" to the left of the center of the barrel. as is the rear sight battle sight notch at the top of the rear sight leaf, also set .03" to the left of center line. The rifle that has the barley corn front sight blade, is it a MkI* that was made without provision for a clearing rod? The star on the right of the front sight block or base indicates that the rifle's barley corn sight is set only .02" to the left of center. Since the front sight base, like on the other rifle is also set off .02" from the center of the barrel, the barleycorn blade is actually centered on the base. That rifle has a * punched on the right side of the base. This difference in the position of the two front sights I believe was caused by a difference in the ammo which brought the front sight .03" closer to the right again. How the rifles shoot with Mk VII ammo is anybody's guess since they weren't designed to shoot it. If your rifle is shooting dead center of aim, you're fortunate. My CLLE's have adjustable rear sights that were put on them to remedy this very problem and get them to shoot dead on with whatever ammo they were using. Fred