Compared with the older SMLEs, No4s generally differ in their bedding by free floating along the length of the barrel with a short downward (only) pressure bed at the end of the forend.
A while back I picked up a nice old No4 which had just come back from Allan Swan; surpisingly the front sight was spliced up tight against the forend. Like a lever action, as it was, the gun could shoot a tight cold bore group, but as the barrel heated, the POI wandered rather dramatically. This needed fixing; Service Rifle often demands 30+ shots in a short period. The barrels become
hot.
- Allan Swan
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So I dug out the Dremmel and relieved the tight contact between the front sight and forend. I then cold blued the area, making the changes almost undetectable once reassembled.
- Correcting the bedding, see where I've ground it to relieve the front sight.
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- No more contact between forend and front sight
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- No more contact between forend and front sight
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Now the barrel can flex left/right/up, indicating the bedding is as it should be. If I'm doing my part the gun will now hold a long, consistent group, even as it heats.
Wihout a rear mounted arpeture sight, you are really up against it. To optimise precision, one way or another, you need to be running a peep sight. The SMLEs can be adapted to take a central sight. Peep sights are essential for consistency.
- A rear peep sight is an absolute must
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I'm still blessed with sharp eyesight, so filing the front sight from a square to a blade helps me achieve more precise windage. Meanwhile a six o'clock hold gives me more precise elevation.
A dab of yellow or white paint on the front sight helps contrast against the black targets. This only works for a front sight with an open top - the sun needs to get to it to bring out the colour.
- File to a blade and paint it
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- See how the yellow pops out?
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Yellow tinted glasses also makes the yellows/whites pop, helping with sight picture.
- Essential kit
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On the subject of slings, I use an m1907 sling from Brownells America - a great sling, but has a bit of a tendancy to slip, so I use a heavy metal peg to keep it tight on my bicep.
- I peg my sling to stop slippage
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I also have markings on my the sling for the 3-ps, standing,
Sitting,
Prone
- I mark my sling - keeps things simple
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Maybe you too can extrapolate something out of this info, just thought I'd share
COVID19 has stopped me from shooting, but not writing.
In2.