+ Reply to Thread
Page 2 of 2 FirstFirst 1 2
Results 11 to 13 of 13

Thread: A question for the UK members with cadet knowledge between 1985 and 1990

Click here to increase the font size Click here to reduce the font size
  1. #11
    Legacy Member RossM10's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Last On
    01-27-2024 @ 09:46 AM
    Location
    Surrey, England
    Posts
    37
    Local Date
    03-29-2024
    Local Time
    12:05 PM
    No sooner had they been issued, they were withdrawn, years passed, we got them back then they were withdrawn again.
    This gives some idea of the problems: L81A2 Cadet Target Rifle - ARRSEpedia
    The cadets referred to them as "Elephant guns".

  2. # ADS
    Friends and Sponsors
    Join Date
    October 2006
    Location
    Milsurps.Com
    Posts
    All Threads
    A Collector's View - The SMLE Short Magazine Lee Enfield 1903-1989. It is 300 8.5x11 inch pages with 1,000+ photo’s, most in color, and each book is serial-numbered.  Covering the SMLE from 1903 to the end of production in India in 1989 it looks at how each model differs and manufacturer differences from a collecting point of view along with the major accessories that could be attached to the rifle. For the record this is not a moneymaker, I hope just to break even, eventually, at $80/book plus shipping.  In the USA shipping is $5.00 for media mail.  I will accept PayPal, Zelle, MO and good old checks (and cash if you want to stop by for a tour!).  CLICK BANNER to send me a PM for International pricing and shipping. Manufacturer of various vintage rifle scopes for the 1903 such as our M73G4 (reproduction of the Weaver 330C) and Malcolm 8X Gen II (Unertl reproduction). Several of our scopes are used in the CMP Vintage Sniper competition on top of 1903 rifles. Brian Dick ... BDL Ltd. - Specializing in British and Commonwealth weapons Specializing in premium ammunition and reloading components. Your source for the finest in High Power Competition Gear. Here at T-bones Shipwrighting we specialise in vintage service rifle: re-barrelling, bedding, repairs, modifications and accurizing. We also provide importation services for firearms, parts and weapons, for both private or commercial businesses.
     

  3. #12
    Legacy Member Frederick303's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Last On
    07-28-2020 @ 09:41 PM
    Location
    Pipersville PA US
    Posts
    739
    Local Date
    03-29-2024
    Local Time
    08:05 AM
    Thread Starter
    I had previously read the L81A2 site you mentioned.

    The only comment I have is I read that the Australianicon L81A1 rifles that were pulled down and the parts sold off in the USAicon were scraped not because of cracking but because of stretching or action body recoil surface set back. That would indicate the actions were too soft, not that they were too hard. Now I do not recall where I read that, but it would have had to have been around the time these rifles were being imported, say 2002 to 2004. If anyone knows the exact failure cause, please feel free to write in. I would be interested in knowing, since I am trying to get a M84 action body heat treated prior to assembling it into a faux L81A1

    Many thanks to all who took the time to write in, my understanding of the Cadet issue of the No 4 has been very much improved. Of course any more details that anyone recalls would be of interest. Of course this has raised new questions, such as if the pre 1957 lots of RG and pre 1955 RL lots were still being issued in 1987, why were they not past their condemnation date? I ask as Major Reynolds in one of his letters to the NRA around 1968 spoke on the proof of .303 Mk VII cartridges and indicated that after 14 years of storage the cartridges were tested each and every year. From what I gather by 1987 the ammunition, at 30 years would have been kind of close to end of life. I know in the early 2000~2004 era, when I tried to fire some MK VII RL 54 and RG54 that came out of sealed cases that they did suffer from hangfires under cold weather conditions.

  4. Avoid Ads - Become a Contributing Member - Click HERE
  5. #13
    Advisory Panel
    Peter Laidler's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Last On
    03-24-2024 @ 09:52 AM
    Location
    Abingdon, Oxfordshire. The home of MG Cars
    Posts
    16,507
    Real Name
    Peter Laidler
    Local Date
    03-29-2024
    Local Time
    02:05 PM
    If the ammunition is stored properly, it will last for many, many years. In the 90's we were using some RG69 belted ammo in GPMG's that came from returned ammo stocks.

    I fired a load .303" ball, recovered in belts from a crashed wartime fighter. While the tracer would only light occasionally, the ball and AP just sailed on into the target. We used the rest up shooting a Vickers MMG. As luck would have it, the event was being filmed by the BBC and in the last 50 rounds of the last belt, I put 4 ball and 1 tracer on a nothing lost nothing gained basis. And just when we really wanted it to all ignite - it did! Lovely sight

    added next day.......
    We used a Thompson on the range today with some 'found' ammo still in its wartime packaging and it was perfect. We also used an M1icon carbine with similar ammo but not as much. No chrono of course so it could have deteriorated slightly but it all went well and hit the targets at 25 yards so made the day worthwhile.

+ Reply to Thread
Page 2 of 2 FirstFirst 1 2

Similar Threads

  1. 1985 Chilean Mauser Carbine
    By rocky321 in forum Mauser Rifles
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 01-01-2011, 04:18 PM
  2. A question for Australian and New Zealand members from North America:
    By Frederick303 in forum The Lee Enfield Knowledge Library Collectors Forum
    Replies: 12
    Last Post: 12-20-2010, 09:12 AM
  3. MRT 1985 M1907 Sling ?
    By Greg V in forum M1 Garand/M14/M1A Rifles
    Replies: 22
    Last Post: 03-01-2010, 03:00 PM
  4. Question for Mr. Laidler and others that might know something about UK Cadet rifles.
    By Frederick303 in forum The Lee Enfield Knowledge Library Collectors Forum
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 10-08-2009, 04:36 PM
  5. Replies: 0
    Last Post: 10-10-2006, 02:34 PM

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
Raven Rocks