Chronos wrote:Is it a common mod for full timber service rifles? I know I've read an article about it, possibly in one of the service rifle pages.
It is not really a mod unless it is done differently to the armourers specs.
This is a whole subject by itself but just to touch on:
As standard all SMLES (should) have upward presure just back from the muzzle (supplied by a small spring), #4 rifles have pressure applied when the fore end is fitted properly(by an armourer).
Range .303's due to the heavy barrel being fitted and often neutrally bedded tightly(electrical tape seemed very popular going by quite a few that I have had apart- one was bedded with poured alloy and scraped, nothing was standard) with the copper or brass draw plates packed with brown paper. They are then free floated to the end with an overbored nose cap fitted with a grommet dampening vibrations. (these are the ones you have read about in service rifle rules- epoxy bedding, full floating etc is not allowed)
MH's also work better with upward pressure at the muzzle.
L39's and variants are also bedded differently to a #4, the Enforcer is a pure class act for bedding and apart from pulling it apart for for cleaning I have left it and will not distrurb it again as I don't think I would be able to duplicate the original workmanship.
Generally most cared for service rifles shoot acceptably and quite a few that look like dogs on the surface are very well assembled (and vice a versa). Before I fiddle I always test first, especially with range rifles.
When it comes to all other service rifles I only shoot them as I get them and don't fiddle much so although I have a swede, KAR98az, various K98's and a springfield I haven't fiddled much with them other than obvious repairs and screw tightenings. I know they rely less on hand fitting than Lee enfields and variants but are they drop ins? I will find out one day.
Actually this is so far off track that if the mods want to move it I would have no objections.