L42a1 Trigger Guard Loop Survey

[limpetmine]

My 6 hour old L-42 does not have the loop. It is a BDL import, with serialed chest and mostly complete CES. Need the Scope, Regiment, and the scope can strap. And the little vial with the brush.

It's just reality. At 1080 total produced, my guess would be that they were ALL used. I'm no expert and I'm not trying to hurt anyone's feelings. We've guessed that half or more of that number have been scrapped as they were completely worn out. I will also say that the most tired L42 I've owned would shoot so much better than I can that it's not even funny once the scope was serviced and the rifle tuned up. That's irregardless of the wear in the bore, etc. I've had sixty or so since they were first imported in 1993-94, imported more than 50 myself and checked every one thoroughly with correct gauges. I still have a couple of exceptionally nice ones too but they've certainly been used. Just maybe not so much since the last time they were refinished in MoD service. I really don't know of any unused examples anywhere, not even at the Royal Armouries who got the Enfield Pattern Room collection from Nottingham. At least I sure didn't see any new ones there, (Nottingham), during my visit in 1999. Maybe Peter and Roger can elaborate a bit. They've seen more than I over the years. Anything is possible but......

[Brian Dick]

Wow, it sounds like you did do well at Louisville. The scope will be perfect too thanks to Peter. He serviced all of them over the several years I imported those rifles. Send me a PM with the serial of the scope and I'll find the worksheet in my file for you. I hope you enjoy it.

[jmoore]

My 6 hour old L-42 does not have the loop. It is a BDL import, with serialed chest and mostly complete CES. Need the Scope, Regiment, and the scope can strap. And the little vial with the brush.

Indeed!

The follow is purely opinion and observation on a quite limited scale!:

They really do shoot better than the theorists could ever fathom, IF you bear down and really really concentrate on each shot. Do your part and they'll do theirs, but they don't forgive sloppy technique like some of the Super Tactical Marvels that everyone else gets all thrilled about. Aside from the front pad coming adrift occasionally, they're rather more rugged than anything else in the precision rifle world, I think. Plus, the iron sights will do quite well in a pinch. The one I just got was doing 1-1 1/2 MOA at 100 and 200 yds w/ the irons before the front pad got sorted. Haven't tried it w/ the scope yet!


Hey, Limpetmine, get on your belly or behind some rubble and shoot some targets at ludicrous distances for us, please. (But don't get your sling all twisted up!)

[Tom Jackson]

L42A1D71, AU1680, all matching including scope and box; loop has been removed.

[bradtx]

limpetmine, AHHH, the honeymoon period is upon you!

Brad

[Peter Laidler]

I'll let you all into a little secret. When equipment, such as the L42's were withdrawn very slowly back to Ordnance, they have to go back as a CES with all the kit because they're going straight back into store. Whether they are going into long term preservation or Mobilisation or War Reserve stocks. This means that they go through the Armourers shop who inspect it and decide whether it needs to be refurbished by them (the unit Armourers) or by the Field or Cammand workshop where they've got better facilities and more time. From this, you'll see that for it's journey to Ordnance, it is up to A1 standard. Some were, admittedly, a bit ropey and moth-eaten aound the ears while others were absolutely superb. But don't forget, the fore-ends, handguards and cheek rests were already in very short supply. Hence the number of cheek rests with slip patches.

They sat on the shelves for many years before being released and even then were picked over before the public got their hands on them. Ordnance took some parts out too....., such as the IWS brackets, leather slings and handbooks. Additionally, instructions were issued that the chamber stick and nylon L8 type slings were to be retained for the replacement L96's.

As a matter of interest DanL, the snipers were/are trained at Brecon/Warminster where the instructors are based and not at the normal Army Training Regiments that deal with recruit training. They don't have sniper training facilities, nor do the units. The snipers return to their units after the course, when they're fully trained.

[Lance]

All three of mine '70, '71, and '74 do not have the loop

[Peter Laidler]

3 of them................ All complete to CES? now you're just showing off Lance!

I hope that by now nobody is short of the IWS bracket because exact repops have been produced. Just get one today, while they're available and if the other half moans, just remind her of the age old advice that everything was cheap YESTERDAY

[jmoore]

Thank you, Lance! (He gets a written thanks for resurrecting this thread, in case the rest of y'all feel slighted.)

Updated totals on pg 1, but to save having to jump back, it's (up to and including post #45 on pg following):

W/ loop-- 10
W/o loop- 35
Anybody else? Pictures are always good, too but there's another (older) thread dedicated to that aspect of L42a1ness. Link below:

https://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=19309

[Peter Laidler]

Let's keep it going for a bit longer then with a small request. Has anyone else used one of the repro IWS brackets with the night sight?

Obviously we have and I have to say that while it wasn't spot on zero, it was close to and well within the zeroing ability of the night sight we used.