DCRA wears a Matchmaker
Printed From: Enfield-Rifles.com
Category: Enfields
Forum Name: 7.62 Enfield
Forum Description: All things to do with the 7.62 Enfield
URL: http://www.enfield-rifles.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=12481
Printed Date: March 26 2026 at 3:31pm
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Topic: DCRA wears a Matchmaker
Posted By: britrifles
Subject: DCRA wears a Matchmaker
Date Posted: January 10 2023 at 3:11pm
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As a result of the extraordinary generosity of one of our members on the forum, my No. 4 Mk 2 DCRA now wears a A Parker Matchmaker tunnel sight. I’ve always wanted to try one of these sights, I’m hoping it will give me a more consistent point of aim. I’ve ordered a set of reproduction inserts to try. The one it currently is fitted with is 0.133 inches in diameter, about 16 MOA. That is fairly large, the Long Range target black aiming mark is only 4.4 MOA at 1000 yards, so this front sight will encircle the target frame and possibly the edges of the adjacent targets. I’ve never used one of these front sights, I expect it will take a bit of getting used to.  This might be fitted “back to front”, but otherwise interferes with the front handguard and the set screw to adjust windage would not be accessible.  |
Replies:
Posted By: Shamu
Date Posted: January 10 2023 at 6:14pm
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Very nice Kudos to whoever. This is why I treasure this site, we mostly work together. That's right way round for that combination. From memory at least.  You'll be surprised which "circle" reticule works best. Most put in a tiny one to get the tightest possible "circle of light" round the black. In reality your eye does that for you without any input from you. You may find the "right" one is considerably bigger than you'd expect. The eye is responding to brightness, so the more the better (within reason.)
 ------------- Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force) |
Posted By: Enfield trader
Date Posted: January 10 2023 at 6:18pm
| I had the Match Marker on my L39A1 and it worked well - I had some inserts somewhere around here I think but might have sold them |
Posted By: Zed
Date Posted: January 10 2023 at 10:47pm
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A shooting buddy just bought a Long ranch No4 rifle that is set up for target use. It has the matchmaker 15mm front sight. But he was missing the inserts. It had one poorly fitted adaption. Luckily in my L39A1, I had a set of the 15mm inserts in the butt 's little container. But my rifle is fitted with a 17mm front matchmaker. So I gave him the set along with a few other accessories. ------------- It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice! |
Posted By: britrifles
Date Posted: January 11 2023 at 4:50am
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It was none other than Strangely Brown (Mick) that generously gave me the sight. And yes, the group on this forum is rather unique in that way. I’m very grateful to have so many friends here. If I can get over this annoying cold, I’ll sight the rifle in at the range on Friday.
My only experience with shooting a similar sight picture is with my HiLux 1-4x scope on my AR. It has a 10 MOA circular reticle with a 6 x 6 MOA cross hair inside it. I focus on the cross hair to “quarter” the target black aiming mark and usually ignore the circle. I’ve occasionally used the circle for prone slow fire at 600 yds, perhaps that’s the way to go, the “black on black” sight picture probably requires a lot more concentration to hold than centering two black circles with a white ring in between. There are reasons why these types of things became universally used on the target range, they improved scores. Here is the view thru the PH 5c rear sight aperture opened up wide. That front sight aperture circle looks pretty small in this photo, the target black aiming mark is much smaller, about 1/3 the diameter at 200, 300, 600 and 800 and 1/4 the diameter at 1000.  |
Posted By: Strangely Brown
Date Posted: January 11 2023 at 5:21am
I have lost count of the number of L39's, Envoys etc which have a 15mm P-H insert container fitted along with a 17mm Matchmaker or Wilkes foresight tube; and worse still the number of people who are convinced that the inserts will fit in the container if only they pushed a little harder! The problem occurs in L39's because the units purchasing them simply didn't understand that there were two sizes of inserts. Parker-Hale compounded the problem by not making it clear in their catalogues, possibly due to the Matchmaker being an AJ Parker product. During the 60's & 70's the gloves were off as both companies were fighting for the same market and any gentleman's agreement had I suspect vanished when the respective heads of either companies had retired or died. ------------- Mick |
Zed wrote:Posted By: britrifles
Date Posted: January 11 2023 at 6:14am
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I sighted the rifle in on a small scale Target I have up on the wall in my house I use for dry fire practice. It looks pretty good, and as Shamu said, it gives a very clear and bright sight picture. I’m sure it will work good on the 200 and 300 yd targets that have a comparably large target frame for the range. I think the difficulty will be at the long ranges, the frames get comparably smaller, the white area of the target will “shrink”. At 800 and 1000 yards, there is not much white, a 44 inch diameter black aiming mark (8 ring) on a 72 x 72 inch frame, and the insert will appear 160 inches in diameter at 1000x.
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Posted By: Strangely Brown
Date Posted: January 11 2023 at 8:47am
I picked this up a while back, clearly a "Privateer" with no discernible finish on it whatsoever, the top and back look quite well done but when you see the unfinished back you just want to flush it away! ------------- Mick |
Posted By: Shamu
Date Posted: January 11 2023 at 12:51pm
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Its a kind of "zen" thing again. Focus on the front sight (as always) & let the eye/mind interface center it for you. Feels really odd at first, but you get used to it eventually ------------- Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force) |
Posted By: Zed
Date Posted: January 11 2023 at 1:29pm
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Thanks for that info' Mick. Interesting to know that the 17mm matchmaker was original to the L39A1 and the incorrect inserts container in the butt could also be original. I thought the sight may have been swapped at some point in it's life. ------------- It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice! |
Posted By: Shamu
Date Posted: January 11 2023 at 4:54pm
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That "weld" is downright nasty. I think my version of "cropped ears" will look nicer. Even if it on an SMLE. I am going to have to go to the smaller #17 Lyman though, I think. ------------- Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force) |
Posted By: Strangely Brown
Date Posted: January 12 2023 at 3:01am
I think this is the one that crops up on the few DCRA rifles that have made it into the UK, I must have a closer look next time I shoot alongside a friends DCRA "styled" No.4. (Not marked DCRA but it has a Canadian barrel etc) ------------- Mick |
Posted By: Shamu
Date Posted: January 12 2023 at 2:40pm
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Mine's gong to be for an SMLE so there will be some reworking involved somwhere anyway because of the angled front sight block. ------------- Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force) |
Posted By: britrifles
Date Posted: January 12 2023 at 2:54pm
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I’m pretty excited about this Matchmaker. I’ve been dry firing every day this week to get accustomed to the different sight picture. What I really like is that the high level of concentration and focus to maintain consistent shot to shot elevation with the blade (post) foresight is now eliminated. With a blade sight, you have to be so careful that the top of the blade does not creep up into “the black” as it blends in with the target black bull. Those nice concentric circles with the rear aperture, front aperture and round bull just seem to want to line up without even thinking about it. I might be putting a bit too much hope that the tunnel foresight will improve my scores, but more confidence never hurts when it comes to success in target shooting! |
Posted By: Shamu
Date Posted: January 12 2023 at 4:51pm
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If that happens, & I doubt it will you can get a blade insert for the sight & carry on as before! ------------- Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force) |
Posted By: britrifles
Date Posted: January 15 2023 at 2:32pm
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Got out to the range today to try the new Matchmaker Foresight. Very pleased with it. As might be expected, my initial sighter shots were high at 200 yds since the point of aim is now “center mass” rather than a 6:00 hold on the black aiming mark. I had a + .015 front sight blade previously, so the globe front sight is a bit taller, by about 1 size. I expect as I get used to the different sight picture, scores will improve. Here is the first group at 200 yds. I did not initially boresight the rifle, since the change in front sight height from the standard blade sight was fairly small. First two sighters in the 7 ring at 12:30 right next to each other using my previous 200 yd zero rear sight setting. I lowered the rear sight a bit too much for shot #3, which was just outside the 10 ring at 5:00 (I keep forgetting that the PH 5c sight adjustments are about 1.25 MOA per 4 clicks and not a true MOA). Then adjusted up 1 MOA and Left 1 MOA. The next 6 shots held a good group, under 1.5 MOA, but a bit high and left of center.  Now to find the time to head back to the 1000 yd range at Spencer, TN… |
Posted By: The Armourer
Date Posted: January 15 2023 at 4:08pm
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Nice shooting and a good group once it settled down. There are two different PH5Cs the later one had approximately 0.5MoA Different shaped 'knobs'   |
Posted By: scottz63
Date Posted: January 15 2023 at 4:24pm
Good shooting!! ------------- 14EH AIT Instructor-PATRIOT Fire Control Enhanced Operator/Maintainer |
Posted By: Shamu
Date Posted: January 15 2023 at 4:37pm
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Look at your last few shots. The others were adjusting the zero & so I don't really count them. maybe, just maybe 1down & 1right & have at it? The globe & micrometer are awesome bullseye sights! Awesome shoot for new equipment! ------------- Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force) |
Posted By: scottz63
Date Posted: January 15 2023 at 4:38pm
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I bet 1 down and 1 over would be right on. ------------- 14EH AIT Instructor-PATRIOT Fire Control Enhanced Operator/Maintainer |
Posted By: Strangely Brown
Date Posted: January 15 2023 at 4:47pm
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Very nice group Geoff! ------------- Mick |
Posted By: britrifles
Date Posted: January 15 2023 at 5:44pm
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Yes, this combination of sights is showing promise. My PH5C has the cylindrical knobs that are 1/4 MOA clicks. Not a true .25 MOA click due to the sight radius on the No. 4, more like 0.31 MOA per click.
IIRC, 4 clicks moves the rear sight by 0.010 inches. |
Posted By: Rossfield
Date Posted: June 11 2024 at 9:30pm
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On the ENVOY the "Matchmaker" sights were fitted with the knurled portion to the rear, which I believe is the normal position. I have a few and a few of the bases, and a decent selection of inserts as well. ------------- Treason doth never prosper; what's the reason? Why if it prosper, none dare call it treason. |
Posted By: Strangely Brown
Date Posted: June 12 2024 at 2:26am
This is correct on heavy barreled Enfield's like the Envoy and L39A1; on conventional No.4 conversions however by fitting the knurled piece to the rear it can foul the metal forend. See britrifles picture in post#1. ------------- Mick |
Posted By: Canuck
Date Posted: June 12 2024 at 8:04am
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I installed a matchmaker sight on my Long Branch DCRA rifle as well. Makes quite the difference! ------------- Castles made of sand slip into the sea.....eventually |
Posted By: britrifles
Date Posted: June 12 2024 at 12:15pm
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Agree, just the thing for shooting on "bullseye" type targets. The standard blade type foresight works well for the "tin hat" style targets that were used at short and medium range. I've got a smaller aperture to try, the one it came with was quite large, I think it encircled about three targets at 1000 yards. Hope to get back to the long ranges in a few weeks to shot the DCRA again and will try out the smaller ring. |
Posted By: Canuck
Date Posted: June 12 2024 at 2:16pm
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Britrifles, I am using the Parker Hale PH4 rear sight on my DCRA 7.62. I have a TZ 4/47 but it is graduated for use with 303 MKVII service ammo. I'd like to find a 7.62 model but for now the PH4 is very accurate as long as I do my part. ------------- Castles made of sand slip into the sea.....eventually |
Posted By: Strangely Brown
Date Posted: June 12 2024 at 2:39pm
The range scale on the right might be calibrated for .303 but the MoA scale will be the same for either caliber. To distinguish between the .303 and 7.62mm variations of the 4/47, the .303 version goes up 1200 yards and the later 7.62mm version goes to a 1000 yards. I've never owned a PH-4 but have always liked the look of them, it was a fairly short lived sight after AJ Parker produced the 4/47 and Parker-Hale had to respond with the P-H5c. Canuck, does this help?  ------------- Mick |
Posted By: britrifles
Date Posted: June 12 2024 at 2:43pm
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Type of rear sight doesn’t really affect accuracy, as long as it has a reasonable size aperture. Of course, needs to have windage adjustment too if you want to shoot 600 yds and beyond, unless you have very good Kentucky Windage skills! You have to be a very good shot to take advantage of 1/4 MOA adjustments, otherwise 1/2 MOA is totally adequate IMHO.
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Posted By: britrifles
Date Posted: June 12 2024 at 2:47pm
Exactly. And, it’s not likely the range index marks will correspond to typical .303 ammunition available anyway, or handloads for that matter. I pay no attention at all to the range index marks but rather record the MOA scale values for each distance I shoot at obtained by test firing.
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Posted By: Canuck
Date Posted: June 12 2024 at 4:01pm
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Thanks for the valuable information, fellas!! ------------- Castles made of sand slip into the sea.....eventually |