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(BOUGHT IT) a 1914 BSA SMLE ftr'd in 44*

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paddyofurniture View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote paddyofurniture Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 06 2017 at 1:45pm
Enjoy!

Very nice rifle.

Let us know how it shoots.
Always looking for military manuals, Dodge M37 items,books on Berlin Germany, old atlases ( before 1946) , military maps of Scotland. English and Canadian gun parts.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Shamu Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 06 2017 at 2:04pm
I'm honestly no longer sure, I haven't competed for a long time.I used to shoot "Full Bore", but that isn't really a US discipline, so I kind of lapsed. "F" Class is popular here but its so modified that I dont see myself getting into bench rested with scopes as a discipline.
Cry

Mods always struck me as "odd" because you could completely restock & re-bed the action as long as it looked "bog stock", but if you changed the sights it was a class difference!

This sight was "bolted on" rather than installed!ConfusedShockedCry

Its off diagonally, vertically & horizontally, & worse still it wobbles! The best zero you could hope for would be "Minute of next Tuesday" IMO. Its also still fitted with the original rear sight so you're looking at a very odd sight picture under about 300 yards.

When I do my cleanup & re assemble it I'll shim it properly & with the right screw, (I'm kind of hoping this is why it was sold because it was "shot out & wouldn't group")Star
How did your vacation go? Did M. Zed have lots of "honeydo lists" or did you get to go shooting?

Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force)
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Stanforth Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 07 2017 at 2:04am
I don't compete with anyone except myself.
Every month I go to Bisley with a few of my rifles with two objectives. Firstly to work up the best load for the particular rifle and then, when I am happy, I try the get better scores than I did last time out.
I shoot rifles from 7.62mm (308) to 50/70 and enjoy them all with no pressure.
Life.. a sexually transmitted condition that is invariably fatal.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Zed Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 07 2017 at 4:30am
Shamu; the rear sight mounting on my No1MkkIII* also uses the rear trigger guard screw. I purchased a longer one from the a specialist in the U.S.A. The threads are not standard on the SMLE's so not easy to find locally.
I agree that the standard rear sight does get in the way when shootint at 200 yardsetc. So I removed the rear of the back sight and filed off the underside ridge; then refitted it upside down. So if I need to use it I can easily flip it over. Now it does not interfere with the diptre sight.
To set up the AJ Parker sight I used a laser; shining through the dioptre and aiming at the front blade; ensuring that the beam was in the middle of the back sight notch at 200 yards, then again at 1000 yards; to ensure it was correct vertically. It works well with the Parker sight. I suggest you try andadjust the fittings to ensure alignment before junking the idea. It does make it easier to shoot.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Shamu Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 07 2017 at 5:52am
Yes there will be some shims fitted to align it.
I also have the longer rear screw coming in.
Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force)
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Zed Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 08 2017 at 11:54am
I did get to shoot a few times; once with the No1 rifle and a couple of times with the .45 pistol. A change in the way I shoot the pistol seems to be working and I'm quite pleased with the improvement.
But it was a busy few weeks. Did not get time to strip the Resistance No4 yet, or repair my XT500, the Renault 4L van passed the annual test and broke down on the way home! ignition problem; got it home but need to get some parts. Last week was spent sorting out a new gate; digging foundations, building the pillars and wall. Got a steel gate from a friend but need to get it blasted and painted before I hang it.
Also I have been given loads of photos of the liberation of our local town. I'll post some on a new thread.

Next weekend is a 4 day holiday and the wife and daughter are off to see Granny, so I should get some shed time at last!! Thumbs Up
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Shamu Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 08 2017 at 2:05pm
Sweet!
If you need the old Enfield screws for the early No1's I have a few sources that are a good bit less than the custom guys who usually sell for $30~40 a pop!
I tried to order from one place & they were a mess, but "Liberty Tree Collectors" are pretty decent.
https://www.libertytreecollectors.com/productcart/pc/viewcategories.asp?idCategory=62
Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force)
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Shamu Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 09 2017 at 1:12pm
"To set up the AJ Parker sight I used a laser; shining through the dioptre and aiming at the front blade; ensuring that the beam was in the middle of the back sight notch at 200 yards, then again at 1000 yards; to ensure it was correct vertically. It works well with the Parker sight. I suggest you try and adjust the fittings to ensure alignment before junking the idea. It does make it easier to shoot."

Brilliant! Just flipping brilliant, why didn't I think of that?
Hug
There's no way I'm dumping the P-H, it IMO open sights are  the biggest single disadvantage of the No1 over the No4, the sights! The P-H fixes that very neatly & gives windage as well.
Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force)
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Zed Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 09 2017 at 1:57pm
Looking forward to a range report soon!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote AlexMaz Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 10 2017 at 2:17am
Originally posted by Zed Zed wrote:

Looking forward to this interesting pre workout supplement report soon!

Wooow, that's a looking rifle.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Shamu Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 10 2017 at 5:59am
I taped a small (3"X3") piece of white card to the front edge of the front sight  protectors & used Zed's laser trick. It worked perfectly! all 3 sights are now aligned at the 200 yd mark. Is the 5 yd range wheel on the open rear sight always this stiff? I found it almost impossible to turn! The thing is oiled & slides easily & the wheel spins freely once disengaged with the button.
Beer

I haven t made it to the range yet & I want to do the detail strip down & birthday, including getting most of the extra oil out of the wood, before I get a zero as I'm sure it will change as I do this.
Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force)
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Zed Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 10 2017 at 11:20am
On my No1 the lightly side micro adjustment wheel is almost impossible to turn without relieving a bit of pressure on the spring; but it's tricky to do it accurately until you've worked out how much pressure you need to keep it engaged in the thread while making it easier to turn.
However I should that the spring in mine is not standard. The original spring was weak and I found the sight would slide forward under recoil; causing an vertical amusing group until I realised what was happening!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Shamu Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 10 2017 at 2:21pm
I think Godzillas "bruvver in Brum" installed mine after nicking it from a mack truck!Pig
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Shamu Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 11 2017 at 9:45am
The package of Cosmo-saturated swivels, parts, screws & so on arrived! Let the Chaos & mayhem begin!

Now I discover I also need the front handguard as its missing its fingers too!
Ouch
*sigh*

All I'm waiting on now is the longer rear trigger guard screw for the PH5a, which is on its way from somewhere else. No matter I can start without it as dismounting the Peep is the first order of business.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Shamu Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 13 2017 at 9:31am
One of the screws is utterly Buggered! I know they're used parts but really, this thing is a tiny boat anchor. Threads are crossed & stripped & the center 1/2 of the shaft is worn down to 1/2 its original diameter!

Also the longer PH attaching screw has arrived now & its perfect. There's a shout out to the supplier further down in the forums.

Now for the big reveal as I've stripped the rifle completely for cleaning & a birthday.
Here's the receiver right side view. I included the wrist so "the unbelievers" won't be able to say Its a different gun.



I can't see a slot for a cut off, can anyone else? I can't see any sign of welding or other work either. But, just to confuse this even more, the pivot screw hole is both drilled & tapped on the bottom! I have no idea of the sequence of operations that would have been used in 1914 to machine the receiver from billet castings, but I'm at a loss to explain this. How the heck did it get past the veritable army of inspectors?
WackoEmbarrassed
Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force)
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Shamu Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 14 2017 at 11:20am
I've had a couple of requests for pics of the inside of the receiver bottom/magwell. There's some thought the slot is filled with weld.
I'm dubious, but here's what I could get.

Butt to the right LEFT wall shown. If there's evidence of a cut or re-weld it should show up on here?


Butt to the left RIGHT Wall shown, just for the sake of completeness.


& a couple of shots after the first cleanup, 5th oil drain Confused just some gratuitous gun pron. I'm using the "Hot black trash bag wrapped in paper towels" method as it seems the kindest to old wood. The front parcel shelf of the mini-van is a pefect oven to cook it gently!

It cleaning nicely without changing the character of the wood IMO, & the replaced rear handguard is a decent match. Now I'm looking for a close matching front one with the wings.
Wacko



A bit too glossy for my tastes but we'll finish draining the excess oil & se how it ends up.

Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force)
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