No4 rifle bedding

[scharfschutzen63]

Is there any benefit to somewhat loosening the front trigger guard screw on a properly bedded No4 rifle for long term storage?

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[Buccaneer]

I can't see any benefit all, if the collar was fitted correctly when the fore-end was first fitted up then there should be no additional pressure on the woodwork as the front trigger guard screw will be seated against the collar.

[Mk VII]

Some people do it, just tie a label on it to remind you that you loosened it.

[Bruce_in_Oz]

You could go nuts and swap out the 1/4" x 26 BSF front screw for a hex or torx "cap" screw if you can find one with that thread.

Then, you can use an "inch-pound" torque wrench to ensure repeatable tension.

This is commo0n practice with the bench-rest set who, of course, are infrequent users of the mighty No4 action.

And, as pointed out already, a correct bedding setup requires all the "load" to be taken by the little collar, which is supposed to be precisely trimmed to length as per the original instructionsThe pressure applied to teh fore-end by the triggerguard is much more important. See also: Thew upward pressure applied by the front of the fore-end to the barrel.

And just for giggles, ALL of the aforementioned was done to tune the rifles to shoot the government-issued Mk 7 ball ammo. Not Hornady "Match", not PPU Mk 8z, nor an infinite array of "hand-loads".

Deviate from that fodder and all bedding bets are off.

[CINDERS]

I agree with Bruce its more like finding a load that the rifle likes, there are those of us here that have spent countless hours at the range and serious $'s as consumable components are not cheap Sierra SMK 174gn projies are now over a $1/Aud each here now.
The modern projie has a better BC than the standard MkVII so will fly flatter so your sight settings will be higher for any given yards range and if you shoot allot of ranges then your going to have to throw a good deal of lead away to get the DOPE on all the conditions, windy days, hot days, overcaste days, early morning verses late arvo on and on it goes.
I did this over the course of a few years and have worked out the load and sight settings on my 4' & III's for each individual rifle I used in comp's which in some cases were winning combinations but it cost serious $'s given the amount of rounds put down range.

The only pill that came close to the MkVII was the Highland 174gn projie but we cannot get them here anymore 5 years ago I lucked onto 400 of them and snapped them up they are still here along with 300 of Malcolm Bones Tiapan 174Gn HPFB in .312".

[Alan de Enfield]

The only pill that came close to the MkVII was the Highland 174gn projie but we cannot get them here anymore 5 years ago I lucked onto 400 of them and snapped them up they are still here along with 300 of Malcolm Bones Tiapan 174Gn HPFB in .312".

I have found that the Prvi Partisan (PPU) 174g factory load is very close to MkVII, except that it seems to be a 'fraction' high and slightly to the left (sorta 10 O'clock ish) but once zeroed in is very close, and, importantly, is consistant.

In fact, I found I could not home-load to give any better performance that the factory.

[Strangely Brown]

I have found that the Prvi Partisan (PPU) 174g factory load is very close to MkVII, except that it seems to be a 'fraction' high and slightly to the left (sorta 10 O'clock ish) but once zeroed in is very close, and, importantly, is consistant.

In fact, I found I could not home-load to give any better performance that the factory.

Alan, I've come to a similar conclusion regarding the PPU bullet (rather than the factory load) after shooting a competition the other day at 600 yards; it's certainly made me question the use (and cost!) of the 174gr Sierra MK in my No.4 SR"b" rifle.

Whilst supplies of the PPU 174gr .311 bullet appear to be unaffected in the UK, I'm desperate to try the .308 150gr PPU bullet which I suspect has become a casualty of the ongoing war in Ukraine.

[CINDERS]

Pretty much all projies here are unobtainuim or very very limited and primers are even more so at least in West Au pistol powder is non existent.
I did find out the other day that Aus sent over 150 Million rounds to the Ukraine which was or could have been a mixed munitions sizes, but either way our govt apparently has left us a bit short!

[Alan de Enfield]

Pretty much all projies here are unobtainuim or very very limited and primers are even more so at least in West Au pistol powder is non existent.
I did find out the other day that Aus sent over 150 Million rounds to the Ukraine which was or could have been a mixed munitions sizes, but either way our govt apparently has left us a bit short!

I'd happily give up a few weeks / months worth of ammunition - I expect that Ukraine will find it much more valuable than us 'leisure plinkers' who just want to kill pieces of paper.

[CINDERS]

My reference on the munitions side of things is successive Govts have run our forces a bit ragged with budget cuts and lack of upgrades and as always it has been a worry that Aus eventually there may be the possibility of a take over from the North. (But we will sell off our country long before that happens.)
Its really a swipe at our leaders in charge.

I'm very sure the rounds will do the job for the Ukrainian armed forces, as far as paper cutters go here us milsurps shooters (Civies that is) are no longer allowed to shoot at Fig.11 or 12 targets or any humanoid figure only bulls eyes.
Plus us civies here are pretty much restricted to bolt guns only.........they are getting tougher ownership laws passed as well, they will never be satisfied until in this state at least all the firearms belong to the police or armed services.

One deputy police commissioner said and I quote "Owners of firearms who do not use them at all can hand them into any police station." yeah like I'm going to hand in my Sniper T and a few other collectible rifles for nothing at all.
He even went on to say that all illegal firearms once started as legal ones what a load of horse sh*t have they never heard of ghost guns don't come to West Au to live if you want to own a firearm it is now incredibly expensive and ringed in iron hoops to stop you.