.223 No.4 Revisiting

[newcastle]

perfectly Thank you. Much appreciated.
charlie

[newcastle]

Alrigty then - no.4 mk2 procured in "good to excellent condition". Haven't actually got it yet though. Quetsion which is probably a Peter one but someone else may know. Is there way to confirm that pressure is being distributed evenly between the two locking lugs when firing? Woukd uneven wear of finish be an indicator of it being slightly off kilter? Does this make a difference for accuracy?

[Peter Laidler]

To ascertain the equality of load between the locking lugs of the bolt and mating surfaces in the rifle, you need to go through the bolt fitting procedure where it speaks of blueing the surfaces. Yes, an uneven bolt DOES make a noticeable difference in accuracy. We have two tests for it.

[martins8589]

Hello Peter, which part of your library has the tests in it?
Are they the same for the NOIMKIII and No4?

[Peter Laidler]

It's the part that relates to the correct fitting of a bolt and yes, the fitting of a bolt is identical. Maybe someone who's computer literate can resurrect it.

[bigduke6]

See link below

http://photos.imageevent.com/badgerd...0boltheads.pdf

[newcastle]

Excellent information thank you.

[Surpmil]

Seems most unlikely that a Mk2 in very good condition would have uneven bolt lugs, but a glance at the bearing surfaces should give the answer: they're either polished from close and frequent contact or they're not.

[newcastle]

Attachment 72777Quick update on this project. I procured a No.4 Mk 2 whihc i decided to keep as is. I then found another which had seen very little actual firing but was completely done as a collectors item. The muzzle are of the barrel had been left in water or something and was screwed with pitting up about half an inch up both inside and on teh exterior of the barrel, on the crown and muzzle etc. The only thing i can think of is that it had been stored muzzle down on a damp peice of fabric or carpet or something. Additionally the stock had been sanded poorly (even to the extent of sanding out serial numbers and the "L" for long buttstock, ending in there being a small divot where they used to be) and had then been varnished. I've stripped the varnish from the stock and used brass wool with linseed oil / Turpentine mixed 50/50 to somewhat refinish the wood and it drank a fair bit of the stuff on the exterior. The wood is completely solid, no cracks or dings anywhere. The barreled action with gunsmith to remove and machine and fit the new barrel which I got from Douglas barrels. mor ein another 6 months or so which is the next time i visit the city with the gunsmith.

[Peter Laidler]

I think that you were a bit rash to condemn the barrel for a bit of pitting at the muzzle. I think that you should have accuracy tested it first. Wew used to gauge barrel muzzles and if they were pitted but passed the barrel gauge test, we'd accept it, depending on the accuracy test.