No. 4T range gun

[Ridolpho]

Did a post about this rifle a while back wherein I learned that it has been refurbished, probably sunkorite on parkerizing. I still find the finish a little strange- too perfect. If an arsenal refurb, it was clearly not used post refurb and it's original barrel has a near perfect bore. In any case, as purchased by me it had a longitudinal crack running right through the wood in the draws area which appears to be due to the (butt)stock-bolt protruding. It bent the strap and cracked the forend- possibly without a shot being fired. The draws were still a very snug fit so I decided to simply replace the strap and glue the crack which appears to have worked. Also had to shorten the front triggerguard screw a bit for a good clamp on the wood. I purchased a No. 32 MkII with an original bracket to use on it (previous owner claims it was overhauled by Capt. Laidler- Peter, I'll bet you hear that a lot!). However, the scope is excellent and, by fluke, the bracket is reasonably well collimated to the rifle bore. Got it to the range before Christmas and, in the midst of the painful MkI/II zeroing process, shot the 5 shot group shown. Well within the 3X3 inch square required by the Canadian EME manual and suggestive of good potential with more careful shooting. Was using Remington FMJ which works well in most of my Lee Enfields. Incidentally, the crescent wrench on the shooting bench was used to "adjust" the scope mount on my Tokarev SVT 40- not on the "T". Happy New Year everyone.

Ridolpho

Information

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[Roger Payne]

Nice looking combination all the same Ridolpho. Of course Peter is the one to say if the scope went through his hands or not, but giving it a dekko I reckon I already know the answer.

[Peter Laidler]

I have it recorded as '.......resurrected from dire condition in 1/95. Probably ex India with W mod. It looks as though the fibre/dowty desiccation seal is missing from below the red desiccation screw

[Roger Payne]

It has 'that look' & the dessication screw..........says it all!

[Ridolpho]

Thank's for that info, Peter. Very effective repair! It is working like a charm 20 years on. Very clear image and very smooth functioning of range/ windage drums. I assume the dessication seal is to keep moisture out- not a big problem in Alberta most of the time.

Ridolpho

[CINDERS]

Ridolpho just a question for you on what I found out with my T do not ask me why but it detests being shot from a bag (Handful of wheat group) for one reason or another it shines from use of the sling and yourself in the prone position as I had a similar group to yours off a rest and whilst in spec the POI was scattered plus it did not like WIN-748 anyway went to old load and prone position and witnessed by the target marker 3 shots in 1" Fig 11 targets chest shifted POA to the head and put 3 in 3/8ths " @100M.
So by some mysterious measure maybe your T does not like being shot from a rest either ??

[Ridolpho]

I don't really know yet, Cinders. have only had it to the range once and was mainly occupied with the zeroing process. I do know that I personally can't shoot as tight groups prone as from a supported left hand on a bench with anything! My other (well worn) "T" will put 3 in an inch off the sandbag although for a more meaningful 5 shot group the best I've ever managed is about 1.5 inch. With the present rifle, I think the trigger will need to be worked on as it is quite a heavy pull and has a bit more creep than my best ones. On the day of my test of this "T" I also was shooting an SVT with a (typically) horrific trigger pull and it probably doesn't help shooting two with such radically different characteristics on the same range visit. Regards.

Ridolpho

[vintage hunter]

Cinders, how far in front of the mag are you resting your T? I've noticed that mine shoot differently if rested too far out. I figure it's changing the stock tip tension and screwing with the harmonics because it don't make no difference where I rest the L42 with it's floated barrel nothing changes. Same thing with my M1A, too far from the mag and it starts shooting buckshot groups.

[CINDERS]

I sat it just in front of the center band so that the band was recoiling away from the back of the bag, I have the bag filled with Garnet and it is pretty hard though not as hard as a table top there has to be some give and agreed there is a vast difference in the weapons from my purpose built match F class rifle to a built for a purpose rifle in the T.
I actually just threw out the 25yd (22.8M) target I used that I downloaded from this web site to see where the drums were at for elevation but understand guys I was messing with WIN~748 which I was trying to get velocity for a lower working pressure sorta like 2440fps for around 38,000@ psi but it was just not coming together and I was getting nowhere in a hurry so went back to a load my other shooting 3oh's like and it worked at treat.

I bear in mind they are all different beasts in their own rite and what works in my T may not be digested very well by another, it is allot of fun doing up loads but I cannot afford to procure another T as my wife is already at her limit with what I have amassed and really I cannot blame her as when you shell out a fair whack of money and then gingerly feed the thing to preserve it she often wonders why I do not shoot the T more.
If I keep shooting it and wearing it out and have a spare barrel put in its not a T or put a spare in and shoot it well I then miss out on as issued Spec 1 category, I would love a whole safe full of T's, L42's and a M-82 not sure about that one I have a PH 1200 22/250 I could do up as a replica but it is not the same.
I am hoping to have a go in Nov '15 at the sniper shoot here and will get the dope on the ranges we shoot think its 3-5-600M, but if you have followed my T's story it has had me a bit twisted up in what it was doing, it cost me a fair few dollars to procure then more $'s getting right all the while having to justify the expenditure to the minister for war and finance.

[vintage hunter]

Next time out try resting the fore end up close the magazine and see if it improves anything. It's been my observation that the vast majority of rifles having skinny non-floated barrels are finicky as hell about where the fore end is supported. Most of the time they produce tighter groups when the support point is in close proximity to the front action screw.