Squeezing the most out of a No4

[in2anity]

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.

[marksman]

l've really enjoyed reading this

thanks for posting it up

[in2anity]

YW marksman - just trying to make the best of a pretty farked situation. I'm really missing my club

[Ziege]

Not up to speed on squeezing the most out of a #4, but I managed to squeeze quite a bit out of my last #2

[in2anity]

Not up to speed on squeezing the most out of a #4, but I managed to squeeze quite a bit out of my last #2

Not familiar with the #2. A no4 mk2 perhaps?

[rookie]

Maybe you too can extrapolate something out of this info, just thought I'd share

Thanks for the share in2anity - easy to read and great info

[ratpaker]

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Love my old No4 Mk1*, its barely been fired sine new (1942 vintage) rifling on the original 2 groove barrel is sharp and like new.
I did manage to win the B grade at a recent service shoot, only my second time on the range with this 303, very please with the results, over the bench I got groups at 100 meters in the 21/2 to 3 inch area although I feel a lot of that was my poor shooting.
Just using PPU factory ammo for now, reloads coming soon.

[Blr243]

I recently purchased some factory ppu for my numb 4 but not yet had the opportunity to shoot .. soft point 150 grainers. At only 22 dollars a box. 20 yrs ago a dollar a shot seemed uncomfortable but now it’s great and I hesitate to reload for it atm even though I have the gear

[in2anity]

Love my old No4 Mk1*, its barely been fired sine new (1942 vintage) rifling on the original 2 groove barrel is sharp and like new.
I did manage to win the B grade at a recent service shoot, only my second time on the range with this 303, very please with the results, over the bench I got groups at 100 meters in the 21/2 to 3 inch area although I feel a lot of that was my poor shooting.
Just using PPU factory ammo for now, reloads coming soon.

Mine's also a No4 Mk1* but Savage. That PPU brass is thick - that's it's main attraction to me. But the factory loads don't group as tight as my handloads, maybe due to short OAL / i.e. big jump to lands? I think for the original 2 groove barrels, a flat base bullet can sometimes be better. Those Taipain bullets were really popular club level, but the company stopped for a while. Although apparently they are making a "resurrection" i.e. https://www.bulletmaker.com/Bults/Jret.htm

[in2anity]

I hesitate to reload for it atm even though I have the gear

What makes you hesitate Blr?

[Blr243]

With v max in 243 ( reloading ) I can get what I consider to be almost a premium projectile at a very good price , but big heavy 311 projectiles are not in that price bracket , and if I considered the time I spent reloading , it does not seem worth the trouble , but that’s when I’m busy with work. Now that work is almost non existent for me with corona , and money is tight I may resort to loading old three oh again. We all now have a lot of time on our hands ........ but I don’t want to be reloading a ton of stuff, It’s really nice to be able to test in small amounts to be sure we got it right before getting a stack made up ..... but we can’t test shoot a thing at the moment and we can’t hunt at the moment so no point getting all anxious about the ammo supply when we can’t shoot anyway ...... doesn’t matter weather I have 5 or 5000 rounds in my ammo box. The same amount of ammo is going to still last a year if we are locked down

[in2anity]

Yeah fair enough - you are somewhat limited when it comes to .311 pills. I shoot the 174gr HPBT SMKs from the NSWRA store - priced at $260/500 which I think is pretty reasonable (for a high grade pill). Although I have a modern 5 groove barrel though - I've been told sometimes the boat tail bullets don't stabilise so well in the old 2 groovers...

[ratpaker]

I've heard that about boat tail projectiles too but out of my no4 the ppu factory ammo shoots pretty well and it's boat tail?
Maybe when the barrel gets a bit of wear in it?
I know i can get 150 grain flat base for about 45 bucks per 100.
Won't match the sight adjustment markings but I'm sure I can figure it out.

[in2anity]

I've heard that about boat tail projectiles too but out of my no4 the ppu factory ammo shoots pretty well and it's boat tail?
Maybe when the barrel gets a bit of wear in it?
I know i can get 150 grain flat base for about 45 bucks per 100.
Won't match the sight adjustment markings but I'm sure I can figure it out.

I think it’s more a stability issue - you might not see it until you stretch it out, like 3-400m+. They may still present very well at 100m and 200m. Of course, this is all pretty anecdotal - TBH I’ve never owned a 2 groove LE to have personal experience with. Maybe like you say it’s simply a bore size issue. All said, If you’re gettin acceptable accuracy out of a BT then may as well keep shootin em I reckon! Whatever is acceptable accuracy for your ability and application.

[No1Mk3]

G'day fellers,
The FB vs BT issue with Enfields is a very individualistic issue. Some rifles, particularly 2 groove, simply don't group well but changing to FB makes a big difference. This happens in reverse for some, so i have a Longbranch 2 groove that only likes 150g FB, another, a 2 groove Savage shoots anything, whilst another 2 groove Savage only likes heavier BT's. I have 2 Fultons Regulated ROF No 4's with 5 groove barrels and 1 shoots everything but the other really likes heavy (174g +) FB. Need to play with your loads, try everything and see if your rifle is going to spark up with one particular type, Cheers

[Blr243]

Good info numb 1

[in2anity]

Yep good info No1. Thanks.