Use of Brit SMLE No.4 Mk.1 T by Aust Army in WWII

[Peter Laidler]

We put these onto our L96's to replace the original 6x 42 green S&B's These L17's are languishing somewhere now that the last of the old L96's have been withdrawn and destroyed.

Later we had another gizmo fitted to a modified/replacement front cradle cap. To be honest, your average sniper doesn't either a) want or b) need a lot of complicated kit. They like it best when they're lightweight and familiar with what they've got

What is that rifle might I ask Sapper?

[pe4king]

Peter
The rifle is an AI AW with a heavy fluted match barrel I think the same profile as the L115 as it is bloody heavy, but I love it, I have shot a 49.5 at 1000 yds with it as well as dropping Fig 11 targets at 1100m it is much much better than me.
But not bad for a Sapper eh
I have seen these scopes fitted to the AW50's the EOD units use

[Peter Laidler]

I'd like to see a thread concerning these AI rifles but there just aren't that many around to warrant one I fear. Magnificent beasts but there's so many different variations. As for AI....... It should really read A! because their public relations profile must register rock-bottom on the management richter scale. Only the private opinion of one, shared my many I hasten to add

[pe4king]

Peter
AI rifles dont seem that uncomon however due to their cost there will never be loads of them around, in their various forms there are about half a dozen at our club alone. the uncommon ones are the L96's we have a bloke with one which was released from the police (one of around 20 IIRC) but it is a genuine L96A1 and complete to CES, He paid quite a lot of money for it and has been offered well over three times what he paid to sell it.

[Peter Laidler]

I appreciate that we're going well off track now but back to the S&B L17 scope on the .50AI rifle......... Are you sure it was the L17 telescope you've seen? Or something like it? I ask because the 7.62mm range scale simply wouldn't lend itself to the trajectory of the long range .50. I seem to recall that during the trials the recoil if the rifle against the relatively heavy range and deflection turrets eventually tore the turret screws out from the inner sleeve of the telescope. It would/could also happen to the green S&B's on the old L96's But SUPERB rifles none the less.

Longebow and Brian Dick on this forum also have L96's

[pe4king]

Peter I'm 99.9% sure it was as I also thought it strange, maybe it was an expedient lash up done for a short term answer this was about 5 years ago.
A very lucky few own L96's I do remember seeing one for sale but it was financially out of reach at the time, so my AW will have to do, ho hum lol.