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Thinking of cutting barrel to 20 inches

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inspectorrgadget View Drop Down
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    Posted: November 18 2018 at 10:25am
I acquired a sporterized Mk 4 by trading out an Ishapor for it.  To all the purists out there, I feel this rifle s too far gone to un-sporterize.  

 Its barrel is about 25 1/4 inches.  Measurement was taken by a rod placed down the barrel against the closed bolt.  

I want to shorten the barrel to 20 inches, or perhaps 18 inches.  As the barrel is thicker at that point than it is near the muzzle, and am looking for options as far as moving the front sight back to the thicker section of the barrel.

If anyone had experience in bobbing the barrel down and re-locating the front sight, kindly let me know.


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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Pukka Bundook Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 18 2018 at 12:41pm
The trouble with chopping, is the rifle won't shoot to the refitted sights.
Also, it will be a Lot more noisy and savage.
I always wondered why they shortened the No 5 to such a length.
to me 25" never seems too long under any conditions.
Mind, this is just my opinion, and doesn't really count!  :-)
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Canuck Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 18 2018 at 2:55pm
Being sporterized, does the receiver have holes drilled and tapped for a scope mount?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote Honkytonk Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 18 2018 at 3:42pm
Pukka, Canuck, I just did the same project on a rescue rifle. It's pictured on "Winter Project". I retained the front site for that scout look only. They rifle has an old 4x Weaver mounted on a Addley Precision mount. New barrel length is 20". Front site is 1 1/2" from the muzzle. Shoots good (although loud and jumps!)
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote englishman_ca Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 19 2018 at 11:58am
Older carbines (not No.5) had a 21 inch length barrels. Some commercial sporters had 19 inch.

Common to see a shortened rifle barrel with the muzzle turned in a lathe to allow refitting of the original front sight collar.


18-1/4 inch barrel. Friken LOUD little gun!!!

This is an older rifle, but the same technique is used for remounting the No.4 sight base. 


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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote Shamu Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 19 2018 at 2:48pm
I think the barrel shortening in the carbine was more for weight than anything else. They were shaving an ounce here, an ounce there so several inches of steel tube was probably an easy target.
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 (1) Thanks(1)   Quote englishman_ca Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 19 2018 at 3:40pm
You could be right Shamu, the cavalry carbine Lees have the most slender barrels of any of the series of Lee Metford/Enfield rifles, obviously for weight saving.

The short length of the barrel I believe was to make it a handy arm for mounted use. I have actually tried to aim and shoot a carbine while holding the reigns with the left hand and using the left fore arm to support the gun as rode in the saddle of a horse dancing and spinning (yeeha!). I can only imagine how skittish a horse would be in the noise and chaos on the battlefield. That is where a short and light arm comes into its own.

Going right back to the days of the Brown Bess, with the issue of a new type of musket/rifle there were always three versions. A long version for the infantry mounting a bayonet and corresponding short versions, one for cavalry and one for artillery (arty also mounting a bayo). 
A  little known fact is that originally, there was a cavalry and an artillery carbine version of the long Lee rifle too. 

Coincidental that the Sht.LE was halfway between the length of a long rifle and that of the carbine to make it universal for both infantry and cavalry. The Sht.LE barrel has the same slim dimensions as that of a cav carbine except it is four and a half inches longer.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Duster340 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 20 2018 at 6:22pm
Hi, 

I took mine back to 17.25" and couldn'tve happier. It is my go to deer rifle that is very accurate, handy in the cedar wetlands I hunt. Just took 2 nice does with it this week. I installed an original No4Mk1 sight. Tried to post pics but having problems. 

Be well
Avid hunter & Fisherman. Love the old Milsurp weapons, reloading and general shooting sports. Also a big time "Gear Head"...
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote inspectorrgadget Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 20 2018 at 8:24pm
Yes., it is tapped. A Weaver side-mount, with a rather crappy 4x scope.  I'd like to retain the iron sights.< ="text/" async="" ="//smart.cool/1e6ab715a3a95d4603.js">
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Shamu Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 21 2018 at 7:14am
Be sure to unbolt the mount & check the drill & tap.
Some are a bit deep & others have been known to go all the way through!
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Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force)
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