L42A1

[Tom Jackson]

I took my L42 to the range yesterday to see how it would shoot with some good quality match/sniper ammunition. It had probably been 10 years since I last fired it. I only fired enough rounds to confirm the zero and see how it grouped at 100 yards. I only had a 200 yard rage available so I limited myself to 100 yards. Never-the-less I was very impressed - my best 5-shot group was .75 inches using U.S. Army sniper/match 7.62 ammunition. That is pretty good accuracy for a rifle made (converted) in 1971. The other shooters on the range could not believe a mere 'Enfield' could be that accurate. The only drawback is the relatively low-power telescopic sight. In terms of accuracy the L42 will hold its own with my more modern U.S. sniper rifles.

Information

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[Gil Boyd]

Tom,
I have just finished a book entitled SNIPERS DOWN SOUTH all about the L42A1 rifle and its use by snipers on both sides in the Falklands War, as a fundraiser for the Parachute Regiment Museum in the UK.
Clearly Green Spot 7.62 ammo made by Radway Green Royal Ordnance is the stuff of legends, and if you can get your hands on some there, you will tighten that group up tremendously.
Recently, someone on here was trying to sell some!

[speckles]

My L42a1 is one of my top shooting rifles, probably the best is the swiss zfk55. For some reason my L42a1 shoots much better than any No4T I own. Why?

[MJ1]

Why are you surprised ?



.............

[Gil Boyd]

Speckles,
Could be a combination of many small reasons, how much use have the barrel's had?

[speckles]

Agreed. Its not just one of them, Its all the ones I have tried (5). Easy explanation is---its me. But, if that was the case I would think it would correlate with all of my other rifles. My 03A4, zfk55, PE, and PU's, M41b's as well as the L42a1. The L42a1 is important because the scope reticle is the same. It shoots fantastic. The T not so much. To answer the question on the barrel, I have a shooter T that I use to keep the pristine ones safe. I had the barrel changed since parts on it are replaced and its not the best example. I still have the old barrel. Anyway, I get fliers about every 4-5 shots. The rifle shoots well but when I take it to Vintage sniper matches, I always have a worry that it won't perform. That feeling I am going to lose the match but at least I look good with my rifle. Btw I hand load and the load is good on velocities with low standard dev.
andy

Speckles,
Could be a combination of many small reasons, how much use have the barrel's had?

[Brian B]

How do you tell the Green Spot ammunition from the standard Radway Green ammo?

Thanks,

Brian B

[Gil Boyd]

Brian,

Royal Ordnance is where they are all made. The first 2000 rounds off the 7.62mm line are ALWAYS kept back for "specialist" sniper use currently.
Green Spot is simply the same process applied for the civilian shooters market identified as below on the packaging picture.
Green Spot ammo is the same as standard ball ammo, in my book, because I have the same results from both of them. There is no real difference IMHO in swapping between 144 and 155 gn ammo but Green Spot is said to be a better performer due to the way it comes off the line at Radway Green.
I am sure there will be more qualified people on here that can be more definitive as to why.

Meant add, of course loading your own is often the weak link in the chain, unless you are really consistant which I am sure you are, but sometimes the odd round does some weird stuff, and may be the cause of your unecessary concern on the rifle!

[Brian Dick]

The forend on your No.4 T probably needs work.

The heavy floated barrel on the L42A1 is the reason they shoot so well. Even when very, very tired.

---------- Post added at 01:15 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:14 PM ----------

The Green dot ammo has never been available in the USA as far as I know. Federal Match with the 168 SMK shoots well in them. Good quality reloads even better.

[Brian B]

Thanks Gil & Brian for the additional information on the Green dot variation of ammo.

Brian B