Savage No. 4 Mk 1*

[mrbennet]

After recent discussion about No. 4's I had a look at mine and thought it would be worthwhile having a look at. I got it about a year ago after talking with one of our rifle club members. He knew I was interested in 303's and asked me if I wanted a No. 4. Of course I did not hesitate and picked it up a few days later. It looked a bit dirty but did not take very long to clean up and is in very good condition. It was a pleasant surprise to find the paperwork in the butt and as it turns out I know the original owner, and all the 3 owners since. Dookie Agricultural College is still going and still has a rifle range. The original rear sight was missing but this was understandable as it was sold as a full bore target rifle with a Parker Hale PH5C. The PH5C was also missing but I contacted the second last owner who still had it and he delivered it a few months later. In the meantime I had purchased a Singer sight so I could shoot it in events at our Military Club, and it shoots very well with (I presume) its original 2 groove barrel. The other Savage marked Singer sight in the photos came on a No. 4 sporter which I had since purchased and won't be using that sight so it will go on this rifle. I have other plans for the sporter, more on that in another post!
The magazine on this rifle is un-numbered which in my limited experience is not unusual for 303's in Australia. The foresight cover came with the rifle, but I have added the reproduction sling and the target sling swivel.
I would be interested to know the history of No. 4's in Australia to fill in the first 20 years of this rifles life.
By the way I looked up the value of 15 pounds and 10 shillings in todays Australian dollars and it would equal $457!

Information

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[CINDERS]

If its 303 cal where is the ejector screw on the left side of the receiver or is that missing due to the fact the 5C sight is not mounted on there with its correct screw!

[mrbennet]

You are correct Cinders, when I got the rifle the ejector screw was missing but luckily when I got the PH5C it did have the correct attachment screws. The rifle ejects fired cases no problem without the ejector screw. From what I have read the ejector screw is there for live round ejection, so I have just tried ejecting some live rounds and they did hang up so I will put an ejector screw back.

[Hcompton79]

Yes, the ejector screw is only for live cartridges. Normally, the rim of fired cases drags on the left side of the receiver, causing them to pivot out to the right when the bolt is pulled back sharply. Might be one of the reasons people have problems with ejection on the 7.62 conversions.