Getting a Metford to shoot, need some help.

[Noel]

I was asked a couple years ago to store my Uncle's firearms for him as Alzhiemers took its toll on him and no one wanted them. Long story short I am a gun nut and was happy to help. Met my Aunt and Uncle half way and made the exchange. They were all packed in a box, and she didn't know what they were at all. When I saw the brass butt plate I'll be honest when I sighed and thought bummer, another Enfield....flame away.

When I got home I pulled it out of the box and it was actually a Metford. Story goes Uncle Den's Dad or his Grandfather was in the Boer War on the Brit side and brought this rifle home and then it came to Alberta somewhere along the way.

Now the bad news. Someone took the old girl to Jenny Craig and cut the stock back. Now the rifling isn't the best but it is still 30" long. The rifle shoots to the same POI at 100yds more or less 4" groups but with the ladder sight at it's lowest I am printing 7" high and 4" to the left. Front sight is solid as is the rear so drifting them accordingly won't happen.

Is it just a lack of barrel support causing the grief here? I am able to shoot pretty good with open sights on my other guns so I am curious what to try.
I plan to slug the bore too, perhaps bumping up the dia would help.
Trigger pull is about 11#. The tendon in your finger about pops with each break of the sear.

Any help appreciated.

I spose I should take some pics to post. She is from 1892.

Information

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[englishman_ca]

1892, that is an early one, nice!

My tuppence worth with tips from experience shooting these. I would be happy with 4 inch groups at 100 yards with open sights, that is 'minute of deer' shooting. My Metfords don't like boat tail bullets, they perform better with flat based bullets in mild hand loads. Most commercial hunting ammo has boat tails. Perhaps try different brands and see how they do.

Trigger pull seems a little heavy. Try switching out the striker spring for a weaker one. Slower lock time, less primer strike, but less pull off too. The bent on the cocking piece could be stoned smooth and would help, but is a fast and easy way to bugger things up royaly f you don't know what you are doing, maybe best leave it alone for now and try changing the striker spring first.

Bedding of the rifle should hold the barrel tight at the lower barrel band. It was found that free floating the rest forward helped acuracey. In fact some later model factory front bands were opened up 20 thou to clear the barrel. So restocking with a full length stock may or may not help.

[Noel]

I will take it up home this weekend and if the hunting is slow will take some pics.

As to loads I rarely shoot factory fodder. Been trying to find something similar to the load they used for the rifle when built but it may be easier to stablize a light round nose bullet instead. I would also just be happy to have the load regulate to the sights even if I can't get the windage adjusted short of hacking off the front sight and sweating it back on. I should note the front post is by no means centered over the bore so it was at one time regulated for the full stock no doubt.
It had a No1 MKIII (?) bolt in it, I found a Long Lee bolt on CGN with the dust cover, still not quite the right one but it is closer. I believe this model had no safety.

Thanks for the info englishman ca!