Preliminary range report - both owner and rifle survived

[Edward Horton]

If your Enfield shooting gets you down at the range just pick a National Animal and fix bayonets and vent…………………
I just picked the one who cheats at Rugby.

[pathdoc]

OMFG is that something cute and cuddly and Australian making an unspeakable gesture?

(Where can I get a target like that? I have an uncle who'd appreciate it.)

[spinecracker]

I want to throw up...and laugh...not easy doing them both at the same time...

[pathdoc]

It was one of the Mk.IIIs that were changed over to the Mk.III* configuration in the 20's, so the windage adjustment went bye bye then lol.

Sacrilege!!! You poor fellow. *Commiserates.*

The rifle eventually got sold to pay for my 1944 Long Branch. Unlike some rich people around here, I can't afford to have a collection :P

Much as I'd like a collection, I'm not sure the Mrs will stand for it - wealthy or otherwise! The best thing about an SMLE is that you can always buy a military-issue windage-adjustable backsight second-hand if you go to the right gun show or find it on e-bay. You can't do that for a No.4 without going to a target sight. (Mind you, I did go for a target sight on my SMLE, but that's to try and level the playing field against target rifles with price tags in the four figures...)

[spinecracker]

Last time I was at the range I noted that someone had downloaded pictures of Osama Bin Ladin from a website that specialized in such targets, stuck them to a cardboard box and blasted away at 50 yards - and missed. Says it all, really.

[spinecracker]

There is a No.4 Mk.1* for sale on a well-known gun auction website, with a windage adjustable Parker Hale micrometer with an adjustable diopter (NOT the PH5C kind, I hasten to add), and the front sight is a Parker Hale globe, going for about $350 at the moment, but I don't think my wife would let me go for that unless my Long Branch went bye bye too (sob)

[jmoore]

jmoore, how many RPM did you get up to?

That depends on whether the target was in my face or a bit farther out. On a really good day, its possible to run one a bit over 2 rounds a second (no real aiming, but good for ten yards or so). Thus, if the timer is started at the sound of the first shot being fired, you can almost have the third one downrange at the one second mark. I haven't done this in a while, But it takes less practice than you might think- it the shot placement that's really tough! At distance, the problem is that you will tend to fire much too soon, as your finger will automatically hit the trigger as the bolt closes. You actually have to concentrate on NOT firing the weapon when operating in this mode. Generally, all the aiming I did was to get the front sight protecting ears on target and let fly. During transitions to the next target, I would usually not cycle the bolt until late to prevent firing too early- it was easier to manage than changing the firing technique at speed.

Other things- if you save brass, this isn't going to be fun- not only does it fly surprisingly far, some rounds will have a bit of extra stretch due to (I think) the bolt not being ALL the way down when it fires. If the handle is too high for safety, it won't fire, but since the locking surfaces are on an inclined plane, being slightly open increases the headspace a skosh.

I found that I could run the rifle faster than I could aquire the sights- not as fast or as accurate as a semiauto, but close enough to be exciting!

Don't try this unless you have a completely safe downrange zone of 2000m or so, sometimes rounds will go off into the wild blue, esp. at first ! I had the opportunity to work this out at Ft. Benning, so there weren't any worries. (I reckon finding open areas in Oz ain't a huge drama!)

[Edward Horton]

OMFG is that something cute and cuddly and Australian making an unspeakable gesture?

(Where can I get a target like that? I have an uncle who'd appreciate it.)

Strange it isn't a New Zealand website

http://www.kermitairgunclub.com/targ...ages/koala.jpg

Targets from your printer - Cast Boolits

[villiers]

They always told me that the object was to force them to keep their heads down. And I bet you scared the target no end.

[gunner]

If your Enfield shooting gets you down at the range just pick a National Animal and fix bayonets and vent…………………
I just picked the one who cheats at Rugby.

Hi Ed,

you use a strange way to introduce a suppositoryOuuch!

Regards

Gunner