no4 mk2 Lee enfield 1953starts to string shots vertically in an un-controlled manner.

[RobD]

I assume you are an experienced shot and are meanwhile getting consistent groups with other rifles?
And I assume the bore has been slugged or gauged and is not worn?
And I assume your home-loads are using .311 diameter bullets, not .308 wrongly labelled?
If all the above are sorted, and the bedding is OK, and the screws are all done up tight, and the nose cap is not fouling the front sight... then maybe the front sight element is loose... or the rear sight is loose?

[Brian Dick]

The way I test rifles for consistency and accuracy is by using a black 1" paster on a white sheet of typewriter paper at 25 yards. Just shoot off a sandbag and set the 1" black aiming mark on the top of the front sight. You can't get much more consistent short of a rifle vice. It will take less ammo and any existing problems present themselves pdq. Since your rifle has been "improved", ( I say that tongue in cheek), by a competitor at some point, I'd guess you have a forend bedding problem. Has it been floated or relieved contrary to MoD specification?

[ssj]

I assume you are an experienced shot and are meanwhile getting consistent groups with other rifles?
And I assume the bore has been slugged or gauged and is not worn?
And I assume your home-loads are using .311 diameter bullets, not .308 wrongly labelled?
If all the above are sorted, and the bedding is OK, and the screws are all done up tight, and the nose cap is not fouling the front sight... then maybe the front sight element is loose... or the rear sight is loose?

Attachment 48994

Load testing....2MOA set between them...

Brand new barrel, Lithgow H barrel, 100 odd shots...

yes, 311bullets, first 9 were fine....Ive used .308 boattail FMJs and they shoot very well, the bore is parker hale gauged at 0.301 if I remeber correctly.

Sights, good idea, look OK....but I intend to take them apart/swap out just in case something has fallen apart internally, might be the peep sight itself.

Bedding, I cant see an issue with it, it was done by a retired NZ armourer when he put the new barrel on it earlier this year.

[newcastle]

I had a similar thing once on a No.1 Mk 3 with PH 5 a sight. I had forgotten to tighten up the elevation screw properly after putting eyepiece part into the base. Twas jumping around all over the place

[Peter Laidler]

So far we've learned that it's not the rifle and not the ammo..................

[muffett.2008]

Yeah, well as the OP is in Kiwiland and they just had a few more tremors..............they don't call them the Shaky Isles for nothing.

[browningautorifle]

So far we've learned that it's not the rifle and not the ammo

My very first though was along these lines. Vertical was always breathing. Split groups would be factors within the firer's control, concentration or different ammo.

[ssj]

Hi, for the AJP there doesnt seem to be a way to tighten it, but checking it last night and I can see it play has developed in it. So Ive temp fixed it at 320yds, I'll shoot at that, if it groups I know the rear sight is worn out. Checked the butt stock, seems solid.

---------- Post added at 10:31 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:24 AM ----------

Yes, I dont think its the ammo.

Im no great shot, but Im honest in that if Ive done a bad shot I fess up to myself on. Now I do need a check piece as I find im water-lining it a bit and I hope that will fix that, but its minor.

Not sure its not the rifle yet, but Im dammed if I can see a fault. I have a second rifle I'll shoot this as well when I next get the chance but the barrel is the original PH ball burnish barrel and a bit worn.

When I got it the rear sight it had no play in it, I checked it as my ph5c on the other gun does, so wanted to make sure it was OK. Now it has, so it maybe the sight is the issue, Ive locked it to see if it will group, I hope so.

[browningautorifle]

But basically its gone from me getting it inside the x and 5 ring to shooting +/- 2~3MOA at 300m (or 500m) vertically in a random manner. So I could drop the sights 2MOA and then it would shoot 3 or 4 MOA high.

Have your eyes changed?

[ssj]

not in 10seconds, no.....in the last decade, yes....

To go from a good shot 9 to a bad shot 10 and subsquent shots suggests a mechanical failure/change of some sort to me.