got to the range yesterday - finally happy

[spinecracker]

My range report has already been posted in the range report section, but I just wanted to say how happy I am with my 1943 BSA No.4 Mk.1, Ftr'd 1949 (funny thing is the barrel stamp is for 1948 - so FTR'd over December 1948/January 1949?). Although there was a freezing fog and visibility was down to 200 yards quite often (and my breath kept fogging up my glasses and scope lens), I managed to zero in my rifle using 1944 Canadian surplus, and then proceeded to blast away at a very, very small pumpkin (to see if I could hit a rabbit at 100 yards). I think I can safely say that even smaller rodents are now in danger in northern Nevada.

Quick question - what kind of groupings should be expected with WW2 surplus 303 that may not have been stored in perfect conditions? Anyone have any experiences? I think I was pretty lucky when I bought my Canadian ammo (288 rounds still sealed in the black box with the wooden box), as I think it may have been looked after very well. I only had 1 click-bang, but I think that was due to the cold weather.

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[Peter Laidler]

Cold weather Spinecracker...... you don't know what cold weather is! We've had it down to -10c here in deepest Oxfordshire. Slushy snow everywhere and 10" deep on my garden. You softee wild Colonials and you antipodeans too, you don't know your born!!!

[bradtx]

spinecracker, You might want to baseline the rifle with a box of Mk.VII like commercial ammo. UMC groups like highly regarded HXP with S&B 180 gr. coming in a close second. To throw out a number, I would expect you to be able to group four inches or less with five rounds.

Brad

[spinecracker]

Cold weather Spinecracker...... you don't know what cold weather is! We've had it down to -10c here in deepest Oxfordshire. Slushy snow everywhere and 10" deep on my garden. You softee wild Colonials and you antipodeans too, you don't know your born!!!

Errr...I'm English. Born and bred. I just happen to be over in the US . And I have been out shooting in -23 degrees C weather before, but Sunday just chilled me to the bone for some reason - could not even feel the adjusting knobs on the scope - I must be getting old. Tell you what, come over and we'll go snowshoe hiking up in the Sierra Nevadas in the winter - got to love those 150mph winds and -40 degree temperatures up near the peaks lol.

[spinecracker]

Bradtx, I will be doing that in the summer. I just have a bunch of surplus I want to shoot for fun, but still hit the target. I also want to get a benchrest and see how accurate my rifle is with as much of me taken out of the equation as possible.

[Edward Horton]

Cold weather Spinecracker...... you don't know what cold weather is! We've had it down to -10c here in deepest Oxfordshire. Slushy snow everywhere and 10" deep on my garden. You softee wild Colonials and you antipodeans too, you don't know your born!!!

Dear Mr. Laidler

As long as you can see the target its NOT to cold to go shooting.



If you can’t see your target you just stay home and read an Enfield book and mentally prepare yourself for the next trip to the range.



Signed
Ed Horton
“Softie Wild Colonial”

[Edward Horton]

And remember the antipodeans are just as crazy as the “softie wild Colonials”.

[Baal]

Cold weather Spinecracker...... you don't know what cold weather is! We've had it down to -10c here in deepest Oxfordshire. Slushy snow everywhere and 10" deep on my garden. You softee wild Colonials and you antipodeans too, you don't know your born!!!

I'm guessing that's Brit humour? I don't know you well enough to know for sure.

-10c is short sleeve t-shirt weather where I live. -40c is not unusual. Moving back to Calgary next week though, so I won't have to endure that very often any more.

spinecracker, You might want to baseline the rifle with a box of Mk.VII like commercial ammo. UMC groups like highly regarded HXP with S&B 180 gr. coming in a close second. To throw out a number, I would expect you to be able to group four inches or less with five rounds.

Brad, thanks for the heads up on UMC being close to MkVII. I wasn't aware of that but I do like the ammo. I mostly reload these days, but I've gotten into the habit of testing every Enfield with UMC so I have an apples to apples comparison between them all.

[three0three]

Dear Mr. Laidler

As long as you can see the target its NOT to cold to go shooting.



If you can’t see your target you just stay home and read an Enfield book and mentally prepare yourself for the next trip to the range.



Signed
Ed Horton
“Softie Wild Colonial”

nice rifle and good book, read it a bunch of times. it is the top book in my "on the can" library

[Peter Laidler]

Yes, it was only ironic British humore Baal....., have no fear. You'll never get used to it though!