Lee Enfield No1 Mk3 - Rear Sight Issue

[Peter Laidler]

We're not saying anything beyond a few ideas so that YOU can identify and then tell us what the actual problem is. Only then will WE be able to tell YOU what to to fix it

[jmoore]

A photo of the front sight similar to the photo of the rear might clear things up a bit. It's not unusual to see the front blade offset to the left some.

[Mace_3000_99]

Don't worry, I fully intend to fix this issue myself but with some fully appreciated advice. I will get you some more information about my issue when I can. Sucks living in the city, never enough time to head to my mates farm to fire a few rounds.

I am still hoping to get out there this weekend and try everything that people have recommended.

[Bruce_in_Oz]

The "Block, Band, Fore-Sight", (Post), is OFFSET from the bore axis by 0.015" (fifteen thou) to the LEFT. That's 0.015 "Pratt and Whitney" inches, by the way. Note that the "ears" on the nose cap are ALSO offset the same amount to the left!

I understand that this was to compensate for all the weird stuff that goes on whist the bullet is winding its way through the barrel AND as it travels through the atmosphere. Given the sight radius of a SMLE, fifteen thou. is a reasonable offset for a target at 400 yards. Just a hint, when "bore-sighting", try aiming out a window at distant street-lamps at night; it cuts down the "clutter" in internal reflections in the rifling. And be prepared to do "adjustments in the field".

That aside, is your rifle a recycled "range rifle" with a Lithgow heavy barrel in it? If so, the "standard" rear sight bed will have been "retro-fitted" somewhere other than the factory. (Unless you have one of the fairly rare factory set-up "H" barrel rifles.) Not only that, but unless the barrel has been CORRECTLY indexed (dead square) to the receiver / body, the front sight will be canted from the start. Start with checking the alignment of the barrel FIRST.

If the tapered hole for the barrel has not been reamed out PERFECTLY on the original centreline, the base will be "wonky" in some direction or other and thus may be skewed by a significant amount, like ten to twenty thousandths of an inch at one end).

If whoever put it on there was not quite up to speed, it could also be canted a degree or two around the bore-line, just to add to the misery.

All is not lost, however. Alan at Kingaroy Firearms in Queensland has the set-up to open out the bases correctly for the heavy barrel.

Has the nosecap also been "relieved" (butchered), by the opening out of the barrel hole with a rat-tailed file in the hands of a "non-tradesman"?

Final caveat: ALL of the offsets and fiddling are predicated by the use of MK 7 BALL!! S&B or Winchester hunting ammo WILL produce different results.