Wanting a Replica L42A1

[Surpmil]

My advice: find a No4 Mk2 rifle that is cut down, sporterized or shot/rusted out in the bore. Rebarrel using whatever barrel takes your fancy: lots of retired target rifle barrels are available that are still perfectly good for your purpose but not up to grade for target work. You'll probably have to have the threads cut and you might as well have the shoulder cut for breeching washers and have the smith/machinist make you a few of those at the same time. Canam in Canada has 7.62mm extractors. Mags are available here and there. For a scope mount, get a reproduction of the Soviet PU mount and machine the back flat to fit the side of the No4. This is the only scope mount system I am aware of that will allow you to simply screw the base to the receiver and then collimate the mount/scope to the rifle bore and then remove and replace the scope without appreciable loss of zero.

For a lefty this is a lot of work and expense for a rifle that still won't suit you like a LH rifle will. A Savage of some type might be your best and cheapest bet.

[bigduke6]

For a scope mount, get a reproduction of the Soviet PU mount and machine the back flat to fit the side of the No4.

Have you got your mounts mixed up Surpmil, isn't it the PE/PEM mount ?

[Surpmil]

Have you got your mounts mixed up Surpmil, isn't it the PE/PEM mount ?

Don't think so.

If you're thinking of the "LSR" PE mount it has windage adjustment only. The PU (short, later scope) has elevation and windage adjustment, in fact it even has cant adjustment: you file down the two lugs on the back of the 'bracket' until you have the the windage correct, and if your cant is off you file whichever one will correct it. You can just see the two lugs in this photo on the left side bottom. Not much left of these two though.



Elevation is adjusted with the two grub screws and once you're zeroed it should stay that way, especially with the aid of a bit of Loctite. And obviously the scope can be removed or replaced without losing zero. Pretty damn clever.

[bigduke6]

More than clever I would say, never knew that mount was so versatile, I,ve been looking at a German, LSSR/SSR mount or the Russinan PE to use on a SMLE, but think I may be tempted by one of them.

[Peter Laidler]

Hey......... I've got an even BETTER idea.......... Save all that machining, filing and cutting and...... and....... Just go and buy one of the superb, made from a block of steel, three point fixing, solid, built like a brick outhouse, works like a charm, never been known to come loose etc etc picatinny dovetailed rails from someone who sells them in South Carolina (there, that's satisfied those who dislike any commercialisation or well deserved promoting of their wares.....). Put this on the bloody rifle. Now get a picatinny slide/slip on/off female rail on your telescope and there you have it. A rifle with a rail with a scope that you can take on and off. AND at the end of it all, when you're old and don't need/want to shoot anymore, the rifle can be sold off, untouched.

And it won't be as high/tall as the russian scope. But if you want/need to raise your head or profile a bit just add a cheek rest.

Where there's a will, there an easy AND a cheap way

[Surpmil]

More than clever I would say, never knew that mount was so versatile, I,ve been looking at a German, LSSR/SSR mount or the Russinan PE to use on a SMLE, but think I may be tempted by one of them.

Well, they're made for a rounded receiver so you'd just have to mill or file down the lower of the two lugs on the back of the base a bit.

There are quite a few civilian derivatives of this system around now, and some have a screw to adjust for windage instead of the "file-down" lugs, but you lose the cant adjustment with the screw.

The Yugoslavs made some variations on this system as well into the 70s and 80s. Nothing better has come along since AFAIK. A good sized coin to tighten the locking screw and you're ready to go.

[bigduke6]

Thanks Surpmil, I guess its one of the reasons we see more Nagant snipers than normal? there are a lot over here ( described as "original"). I will give one a go , only headache I will have is the holes already on the receiver, need to make a template of these and use for the backing plate, I could lower the mount also as I don,t have the charger bridge. anyone know about the PU repro scopes?

[Surpmil]

The scopes seem to be pretty sound, originals or repros. If you find the 'bracket' too high it might be possible to cut some out and use those lightening slots as guides to re-align the pieces for silver-soldering or a bit of careful TIG welding! I've heard there are a few people using them on No4s around here as a "bush rifle". Strong, simple, pretty cheap and easy to set up. Let us know how it turns out if you go ahead with it?