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

[browningautorifle]

Not quite what I meant. Mine are slowly doing things and because of this I wondered if you might be suffering something similar. It doesn't take much to change what used to be a clear sight picture into a bit less. Anyway, you'll have to hold the rifle a bit closer to the screen so we can examine it...

[CINDERS]

Hmmm I am thinking along a couple of trains;
A) length of time in the string of shots you say by No.9 she drifts could be barrel heating up touching some where only a few thou it needs to be irksome assuming you are consistent with the hold/breathing/trigger control as any one with a featherweight sporter barrel will find after 5 rapid shots there may be a bit of symmetry loss in the group I witnessed my friends 25/06 do this @300m off a Caldwell rock steady rest with rear bag fast 5 shot string.
B) heat haze coming up from the fore woods (barrel heat) I have had this happen on hot days and if in a rapid string or firing quickly to keep in the same conditions with either my Mk III's or my No. 4's once at 600m brought the rifle up to the bottom of the bull and as it came up so the bull greyed out and disappeared into heat mirage coming off the fore woods 10th shot of a 15 shot string 38 degrees C

[ssj]

Hi, Im tending to think something has failed/cracked/drastically changed. I wondered on a) as the first 9 of 12 in the first 12 string were fine though it had never done this before. The second 12 were all over the place vertically straight off about 30~40mins later after it had cooled. Next weekend after finding the nose cap was touching and fixing that I fired 7 and they were all over the place vertically so I stopped firing and retired.



b) If it stringed higher and higher, yes, but it can shoot 1 or 2 2+MOA low and then 1 or 2 2~4 MOA high....or the reverse...no pattern I can see...its like something is loose or moving about.

Out of ideas now. Im taking my second No4 next time at 500m and I'll fire both that will eliminate me and the ammo. Guess Im going to grind out the epoxy bedding and re-do it over the winter but it means I probably wont do the Charles Upman VC shoot this year

[Peter Laidler]

SSJ......... If you are a good shot and the ammo is a constant as you say then something IS moving about. I would say that the fore-end collar is too long and allowing movement. Not a lot, but accumulatively, when this is accentuated at the muzzle it's a LOT and it allows the barrel to whip instead of a controlled, weighted pulse. There's more to it and I'm trying to think of a simple everyday schoolboy type of example. Think springboard in a swimming pool in reverse is the nearest I can think of

[ssj]

Hi Peter, Im a reasonable shot and Ive shot this gun enough to know its been consistant, its always shot better than me.

;]

I understand what you are driving at, someone else has suggested I change the load to see if the degree of effect changes, 1/2 gr lower and 1/2 higher. Im wondering if its the summer heat has caused the lower forestock stock to warp and its not bedding properly any more. It spent a lot of time, years in a gun safe, this summer its out on a hot range....

[tbonesmith]

I think you are at the point of being loads better off to hand the rifle off to someone capable for further assessment and rectification if necessary.

[ssj]

Hi,
Rectifcation isnt the issue, locating the problem is, but you are right, one more try as the rear sight seem possibly wonky and if no joy I'll try and get it back to the old armour I bought it off to look at. If he's still going.

[Ridolpho]

ssj: I sympathize with your frustration. Have you tested Capt. Laidlers hypothesis that the collar might be too long? I've found this to be the case on quite a substantial proportion of my fleet and have attributed it to our virtually undetectable humidity here on the "great plains" and attendant wood shrinkage. In any case, very quick and simple to test and to remedy.

Ridolpho

[ssj]

Hi, the stock is actually alloy pillar bedded so has no collar (I didnt know this when I bought it). However I agree with Peter's suspicio. Im thinking along the lines of the stock may have warped in the NZ sun this summer after years in a cool gun cabinet (or yes, dried) and the setup is no longer true. I have another new un-issued std no4 mk2 lower forestock Im working on that will be std T config for another no4 mk2 gun, I think I'll swap it in (though it needs work still). If the accuracy goes back to "as issued" then I have found the problem. It will be over winter however, I just lack the time right now for major work.

regards