by No1Mk3 » 11 Aug 2021, 4:24 pm
G'day Gun-nut,
About 30.000 H barrels were made during the 1920's and 30's for rifle club use only, but late 30's the Defence Dept also aquired some barrels for use in DoD marksmens rifles The H barrel is 11oz (312g) heavier being larger in diameter from the Nocks form to the sight band. There were private made barrels such as Motty but these are not SMLE but made for the Rifle No1 Range Pattern, essentially a long Lee shortened to 25", a lot of these Range Pattern and H barrel rifles saw service during WW2 when owners were asked to donate rifles to help our war production including at least one with it's original Galilean sight, and all late war No1MkIII HT snipers had the heavy barrel, I really don't feel the weight affects me, it is not huge and can help prevent wind buffeting, Cheers.