Question for anyone with Lithgow H barrelled rifle

[BushyFromOz]

H barrelled rifles that have the rear sight fitted, were the sight guards relieved for the barrel? or did they have enough clearance between the barrel and the guard?

Also, if anyone has pictures of the barrel channels work required, that would grouse

Thanks

Information

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[Homer]

If I'm understanding the question, yes there was enough clearance already. No adjustment necessary.

[BushyFromOz]

If I'm understanding the question, yes there was enough clearance already. No adjustment necessary.

Thanks Homer

I have been going through my box of bits lately, figuring out what to do with some of it. I have a matching 1917 Lithgow action with the matching nosecap that has been enlarged for a H barrel. I am undecided what to do with it. Knowing i dont have to butcher a sight guard is nice to know, but im not really keen on enlarging the barrel channel on a stock though

[Maxwell Smart]

About the only area you might strike trouble is the rivets at the very front of the long handguard.

[Frederick303]

It was a standard procedure to open up the front nose cap barrel hole even on standard weight SMLE rifles which had the forend was packed for SR(B) work. In my 1937 Australian score book there is reference to that it was allowed, but that opening up the metal between the front sight guards on the nose cap where the front barrel band sight base lay was not. So you could use that set with a standard weight barrel and use it as a test rifles to try out the various packing schemes.

The opened barrel hole in the nose cap will not work unless a H barrel is used or the handguard is packed with a standard barrel, as otherwise the front plunger will simply push the barrel up to the top of the enlarged hole.

If you have access to a copy of Sweets 4th edition, he has all of the various packing techniques listed. I believe there is a copy here in the Milsurp library. When I was playing with such things and doing it with Nitro loads (close to MK VII Z) I found a variant of Martian Nodal packing to work quite well in tests at 100 yards. Never went beyond that, but the combination of packing he front handgaurd (which requires that alignment to never be disturbed and the nodal packing around the rear band gave very nice results, as long as the standard action bedding and barrel reinforce pressure (determined by the metal spacer under the front action screw was correct. It is actually very simple and graphite is your friend.

[rgg_7]

Do you have the diameter for opening up the nose cap? Ron

[smle addict]

Well, ask and you shall receive. In all honestly, I'd rather be digging through the gun safe than painting the house (which I am dragging my feet on).

Here are some pics of my H-barreled SMLE. It is a 1907 Enfield with an H-barrel fitted in 1938. The barrel is sitting tight in the barrel channel. The nose cap barrel hole has been opened up, but is slightly oval in shape. I took a mic measurement of the hole at the widest point.

Hope the pics answer some questions.

[5thBatt]

The muzzle end of a H barrel is the same diameter as the standard barrel as they both use the same front sight block so a standard nosecap fits both, there is a noticeable "step down" before the front sight on a H barrel.

[Homer]

The muzzle end of a H barrel is the same diameter as the standard barrel as they both use the same front sight block so a standard nosecap fits both, there is a noticeable "step down" before the front sight on a H barrel.

This is correct.

The OP was referring to the rear sight protector within the barrel channel, right?

[BushyFromOz]

This is correct.

The OP was referring to the rear sight protector within the barrel channel, right?

Yeah, the rear sight protector