P-14 Range Report

[MeatMarket]

I stated in a previous thread that I had a Remington P14 given to me by my grandfather. The owner before him had installed a cheap scope to the top of the reciever. Recently, I removed the scope and mount and replaced it with an original adjustable rear sight that I bought from a guy in the UK and took it to the range.

I don't have pictures, but the results show it shooting consistently about 6 inches high and a bit left at 100 yds. There seems to be no way of adjusting the elevation on the sights, but the beauty of peap sights is that you can change your sight picture. Looking down the sights, I aligned the front sight post so that it was lower than center until I was able to shoot a tight group on the bullseye. Once I was able to find an accurate sight picture (using a bench rest) I set up some bowling pins at 50 yds and knocked each one off from a standing unsupported position with no misses.

At that point I had run out of daylight, but I'll take it back to the range for more kentucky windage research. I'll be checking to see if it can be effective out to 200 or 300 yds.

Information

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[us019255]

I believe that there are different front sight heights for these rifles. A taller one will solve your problem.

The interesting thing is that Enfields (No 1 and No 4) are factory targeted for a "center of the bullseye" hold, not the 6 o'clock hold that us used in the USA. I found that I had to set my sights at 400 yds to shoot at 200 yds, until I made sum UK type targets (just the top 1/2 of the bull is black.) I would have expected that after you put a standard sight back on you would have found it shooting low.

I have two m1917's and have a long term goal to get a p14


'

[Doug Rammel]

Did you flip the sight up and use that peep. All 3 of my p-14's are on at 100 yards with the sight up and then set the slide as low as it will go.

[MeatMarket]

I believe that there are different front sight heights for these rifles. A taller one will solve your problem.

I didn't know this. Are there any markings to differentiate one from the other and do you know how many variations there are?

Did you flip the sight up and use that peep. All 3 of my p-14's are on at 100 yards with the sight up and then set the slide as low as it will go.

I didn't try that. I'll experiment with the sight flipped up next time I go.

[us019255]

Sorry about the miscommunication I thought you were using the ladder up, calibrated sight. I do believe that the "battle sight" was at 400 yds.

Do report back after experimentation. I really would like to know where your rifle shoots in comparison to the ladder settings. Be sure to include size of bull, distance, and where you hold.

[MeatMarket]

I do believe that the "battle sight" was at 400 yds.

That's interesting to note, and may explain why it shoots high at 100yds. It would be good to get my hands on a manual to know for sure if that's how they did it. The shooting range I use goes out to 500yds, so I could test that theory myself. I'd post a pic if I had the time, but on the front sight (between the sight blade and the sight base) there is a divot made like someone used a hammer and punch to sort of lock the two pieces together so that it wouldn't slide out of zero.

[Patrick Chadwick]

there is a divot made like someone used a hammer and punch to sort of lock the two pieces together so that it wouldn't slide out of zero.

That is known as staking, and would usually be applied by an armorer when the rifle was zeroed.

It would be good to get my hands on a manual to know for sure if that's how they did it.

Get "The Pattern 1914 and U.S: Model 1917 Rifles" by Charles R. Stratton. The battle sight is only for "quick & dirty" shooting. Useless for target shooting. Whether it was zeroed at 300 or 400, whether yards, meters, ells or fathoms does not matter, forget it! Seriously, I think it was 300 yards.
Just use the flip-up peep sight for accurate shooting. That's why it's there! If you are still too high at 100 yards, with the peep sight in its bottom notch, then use the 6 'o clock hold, i.e. aiming at bottom center of a full round black.

Only if you are still seriously high at 100 yards with the 6 'o clock hold should you consider fitting a taller foresight blade. The foresight blades for the M1917 and P14 are basically the same as for the Lee Enfield, so you do not need to run around looking for one labeled "for the P14" at a fancy collector's price.


Patrick

[MeatMarket]

Thanks a lot Patrick. Good info.

[MeatMarket]

I believe that there are different front sight heights for these rifles. A taller one will solve your problem.

I just noticed there are markings on the front sight blade. On the right side is '14 and on the left side is .045

I haven't made it back to the range yet.

---------- Post added at 07:09 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:02 PM ----------

Will any of these sets of Enfield sight blades fit on my P14? enfield sight blade | eBay

[Patrick Chadwick]

Will any of these sets of Enfield sight blades fit on my P14?

Yes, but the height markings are (I think) different. Ask Peter Laidler on the Lee-Enfield forum. Better than that, save his time and do a search on the L-E forum, because I seem to remember that he answered this very question in detail some time ago.


Patrick