Is there supposed to be wood here?

[Cdn303]

So, I spent the afternoon with the search function, and couldn't find the answer to my question.

I've got a '43 manufactured BSA No1MKIII, that I've be trying to figure out why it is shooting 12 inch groups at 100, when it should be doing a lot better. There is no "Damned Crack", and from my initial scan, it apprears that the bedding is correct. I've now started to go over the bedding in more detail and come upon a question.

Is there supposed to be a piece of wood behind the front guard screw on an SMLE/No1MKIII?


The rifle was sported at one point, and restored by a previous owner. I think another problem I may have is the nosecap might not be touching correctly, but I'll get to that later. I am also looking for a normal length stock so the rifle fits me a little better.

Information

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[jmoore]

Yep, your stock is missing a chunk.

I'm not sure that the bit of card stock under the barrel reinforce is doing you any favors, either.

[browningautorifle]

It looks like someone had a go at bedding. Mickey Duck or someone equal. When Peter Laidler gets here he'll have advise on this. It's not all lost...have hope.

[Thunderbox]

The missing chunk of wood doesn't matter - in fact the later beech forends omitted that piece altogether.

If the rifle has had a replacement forend fitted, then the bad shooting is likely down to plain bad fitting of the forend. Best to take that bit of card board out, and refit the forend from first principles. Use talcum powder or something similar to check how the metalwork is sitting in the forend.

Check that the inner band spring and front stud are both present, etc.

[Ridolpho]

Cdn303: In addition to the help you'll get on this forum you might also want to buy a copy of Roger Wadham's "The 2012 Complete Book on Lee Enfield Accurizing". Loads of great photos and text and hugely helpful to me.

Ridolpho

[Cdn303]

Hey, Thanks Guys. You answers my first question, and my second one before I even asked it.

@Thunderbox: Yes everything is all present and accounted for. And I guess I forgot to mention it, but she does wear a beech stock. What about using chalk line chalk? Would that work?
@ bar: I've got the article, that resides in the Knowledge Library, that Peter wrote on replace a forestock. And somewhere in my searching I had found a series of pictures where someone used a sharpie to show the bedding areas. But naturally I forgot to save the link so I'll be back at the search function when I get some time.

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

Attachment 35355

The missing chunk of wood doesn't matter - in fact the later beech forends omitted that piece altogether.

If the rifle has had a replacement forend fitted, then the bad shooting is likely down to plain bad fitting of the forend. Best to take that bit of card board out, and refit the forend from first principles. Use talcum powder or something similar to check how the metalwork is sitting in the forend.

Check that the inner band spring and front stud are both present, etc.

Thanks for posting that tidbit. I saw the picture and remembered the new No 1 Mk III I got from BDL was missing that bit as well. I have printed Mr. L's fine article and am reading it over and over trying to get up the nerve to attempt fitting the new forend to my bubba molested Lithgow. If I can't talk myself in to an attempt I may have to ship the whole thing back to BDL for fitting as I would not trust anyone local to do the job properly. Fitting a forstock properly may not be rocket science but it seems close.