My first restoration, 1915 BSA transition No1 MkIII

[flying pig]

I am just finishing up on my first attempt at a restoration of a bubba'd No1 MkIII. The rifle is a 1915 BSA that I found out falls into the correct serial number range for a transition rifle. It lacks the magazine cut off and it is stamped a III not a III*. Kinda interesting anyhow!

Before:



After:
















Louthepou helped me out lots on this one. I read Skennerton's lots while researching the rifle and each part I aquired, and asked lots of questions here and elsewhere. Thanks to everyone who helped me out with this project, it was a blast and can't wait to start on the next.

Information

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[Centurion]

I'm not sure that you intend to shoot this nice looking rifle. If you do, I would suggest that you check out Roger Wadham's publication on Lee Enfield Accurizing (The Lee Enfield Rifle) as I completed a similar project about six months ago and was able to make the old girl shoot 1minute groups--with factory loads. I hope to do better with handloads. I bedded the forend with "Steelbed" using Wadham's guidelines. However, rather than using the old-fashioned cork/springs methods for the front handguard, I used heat tolerant silicone. This has the effect of damping barrel vibration but without any shifting/shrinkage/etc. Just remember to use a good release agent to make sure that you can get the handguard off the barrel as the Silicone makes an excellent glue!

[flying pig]

Yes I definitely do plan on shooting her, thanks for the tips! I will have to find a copy and get reading.

[tbonesmith]

That looks like a very happy No1! Congratulations on your first restore. By the sounds of things you've got the bug, and what a wonderful infection to have!
All the best.

[jmoore]

Having done the restoration, I'd shoot it "as is" before "un-restoring" it by making accuracy modifications. Wouldn't be surprised if it shoots quite well just like you built it!

[flying pig]

Does the book offer more detailed study of proper military bedding and set up? If it does I would be interested in that part of it for sure. I'd like to learn about the relationship between parts and what each point affects, standard set up of an issue rifle etc. I did read the armorer's manuals here and had some valuable advice given too me but I'm hungry to learn all I can

[tbonesmith]

Does the book offer more detailed study of proper military bedding and set up? If it does I would be interested in that part of it for sure. I'd like to learn about the relationship between parts and what each point affects, standard set up of an issue rifle etc. I did read the armorer's manuals here and had some valuable advice given too me but I'm hungry to learn all I can

I think the book is more about range rifle setups.

[gsimmons]

Look for Peter Laidler's articles on stocking up.

[flying pig]

Does he have one on the No1 MkIII foreend? I read his article about the No4. I think I have a grasp on what to do just not the why, plus I'm always all ears for learning newtips and tricks. Trial is fun but error not so much

[gsimmons]

Same principle for both the No 1 and No 4.