Guess I won't be shooting my Pattern 14 in the VCMP Vintage Sniper Rifle match.

[RBruce]

Scope requirements: M1918 Telescope, Aldis, Periscopic Prism scope, Winchester A5, William Malcolm 3X. To say nothing about the mounts.

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[Uncle Ray]

Gee; that's a bit rough, I would be a bit concerned having to air my P.14 original scoped sniper rifle that's worth $6,000 to $7,000 just to shoot in a vintage sniper match.

In my club, we allow a bit of flexibility. A B-square mount with a cheap 3x to 4x 'scope is acceptable, mounted on a $500 rifle.

As a competitive service rifle shooter since 1958 I found long ago that shooting original sniper rifles becomes a sport for the rich; a "look what I've got" show. Nice to look at, but don't bugger them up.

If you want to encourage younger fellers into this game, you need to be a bit flexible in setting the rules. If everything about the rifle itself meets the requirements, why penalise a budding competitor. Let him fit a $99 scope on a B-square mount, with the 'scope power limited to what was then available, ie; 2.5x, 3x, or whatever.

If the VCMP want to stick exactly to the rules, then they should all be using Cordite loads, Berdan corrosive primers, and 174gn ball military-issue projectiles. I bet you they don't.

Don't worry about it. join a shooting organisation that has flexibility, not archaic ideas set in the past.

No doubt I will cop heaps for saying all of the above, but the more restrictions you have, the less members you have. Here in Brisbane, Australia, the Queensland Military Rifle Club has over 350 members. In our "sniper" matches, as long as the rifle is original, modern scopes are allowed, but with the above restriction being on magnification only. Slings have to be of an original pattern. What could be more fairer than that?

We shoot for enjoyment, which must be a bit different to this VCMP effort, but then whom am I to dispute the aims of this organisation that I know nothing about.

Good luck, and best wishes with your shooting!

[RBruce]

I didn't mean to imply that I had a Pattern 14 Sniper rifle, just a Pattern 14 with a S&K no drill mount without an approved scope. BTW, the S&K mount is much better than the B-Square mount. I've had both, and got rid of the B-Square. They a bit more expensive but much more sturdy.

[Uncle Ray]

Hi RBruce,

I knew what you meant, and I understood from your comments that you may have wanted to shoot in such a competition but could not because the rules specified "all original" ??

I just added my own observations re the BCMP comps insisting on "all-original" sniper rifles. I would not be prepared to shoot my original P.14 sniper rifle with it's Aldis No.3 O/H mount for fear of chipping the lenses through recoil inertia, that's all.

I notice your comment re the B-Square mount. I have one of those mounts on my other P.14 comp. rifle for several years, and have been very happy with it, as I prefer a "bridging" mount. I have not tried the S&K mount. I also have a 30/06 M.17 and have been looking around for another B-Square mount, but as B-Square mounts are no longer available in Australia, and those US companies that do have them, will not post outside the US, unfortunately.

[RBruce]

OK. I can under your concern with using unobtainium. BTW, is it illegal to ship a mount from the USA to a foreign country? If not, someone here might be the intermediary for you..

[Uncle Ray]

Thanks, RBruce,

I will put a WTB in the forum.

Cheers,

[JGaynor]

FWIW i recently saw an ebay ad for reproduction mounts for the P14 (T) (Rifle no. 3 mk1 (T) ). It consisted of a set of the bases plus two sets of rings - 1 in 7/8" Dia and 1 in 1" diameter. They were expensive but if the organizers are going to permit Weaver K4's on Gew. 98's then in fairness there should be a similar exception for for the P14 (T).

Regards,

Jim