1st Annual SDMB International Postal Rifle Shoot

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
61

[QUOTE=Martini Enfield]
You realise I have to ask you what sort of SMLE Mk III* rifle you have, right? What year it was made, who made it, etc etc…
[/QUOTE]

Kinda hoped you would mate, I’ve enjoyed reading (and had a few questions answered) by your Enfield posts :smiley:

My baby is a 1915 BSA with matching serial No’s. No modifications and well used. Indeed I’m sure it came out of the factory with rifleing but there isn’t much to be seen now.
I think it was one of the batch that came of of Italy last year and was is a sorry state when I got it but a lot of TLC later it looks good (to me anyway).
There is a regimental disc on there but it’s too worn away to make out the stamps.
Got a 1915 (pat 1907) bayonet last week (remington).
What else… I don’t have an original oiler / pull through for it yet but my childhood memories tells me there’s one in a trunk in my folks attic back in Scotland.
There’s still a bit of work to be done on her like getting a new fore-sight and a couple of screws.
I could go on for hours about it (ask the wife).
Oh, just got 400 rounds of 1943 ammo a couple of weeks ago, going down the range on Sunday :slight_smile:

62

[QUOTE=SeaDog]
Kinda hoped you would mate, I’ve enjoyed reading (and had a few questions answered) by your Enfield posts :smiley:

My baby is a 1915 BSA with matching serial No’s. No modifications and well used. Indeed I’m sure it came out of the factory with rifleing but there isn’t much to be seen now.
I think it was one of the batch that came of of Italy last year and was is a sorry state when I got it but a lot of TLC later it looks good (to me anyway).
There is a regimental disc on there but it’s too worn away to make out the stamps.
Got a 1915 (pat 1907) bayonet last week (remington).
What else… I don’t have an original oiler / pull through for it yet but my childhood memories tells me there’s one in a trunk in my folks attic back in Scotland.
There’s still a bit of work to be done on her like getting a new fore-sight and a couple of screws.
I could go on for hours about it (ask the wife).
Oh, just got 400 rounds of 1943 ammo a couple of weeks ago, going down the range on Sunday :slight_smile:
[/QUOTE]

Very nice! Does it have the Magazine Cut-off and Volley Sights?

If it was made in 1915, it’s an SMLE Mk III, not a Rifle No 1 Mk III :wink:

The “Rifle No x Mk x” designation only applies to Lee-Enfields made after 1926…

I think you’ll find that the bayonet you’ve got isn’t actually for an SMLE, it’ll be for an M1917 Enfield. The Pattern '07 Bayonets were never made by Remington- Wilkinson Sword, BSA, RFI, SAF Lithgow, and a few others made them, but never Remington, AFAIK.

If you let me know what parts you’re after, I can probably put you in touch with someone who can help you out… Oilers and Pull-throughs can be easily arranged. Make sure you get a brass oiler and not a bakelite one.

And while I remember:

DO NOT FIRE THAT AMMUNITION!

It’s corrosive- if you fire it and do not IMMEDIATELY clean the barrel (ideally with a 50/50 mix of Windex and Water), the barrel will begin to rust, eventually rendering it useless. Honestly, you’re better off just buying commercial ammo (It’s not THAT expensive, be honest) and knowing that your barrel isn’t going to rust if you don’t immediately clean it after you’ve finished shooting.

If you’ve got any questions or want more info, my E-mail is in my profile! :slight_smile:

63

[QUOTE=Martini Enfield]
Very nice! Does it have the Magazine Cut-off and Volley Sights?

If it was made in 1915, it’s an SMLE Mk III, not a Rifle No 1 Mk III :wink:

The “Rifle No x Mk x” designation only applies to Lee-Enfields made after 1926…

I think you’ll find that the bayonet you’ve got isn’t actually for an SMLE, it’ll be for an M1917 Enfield. The Pattern '07 Bayonets were never made by Remington- Wilkinson Sword, BSA, RFI, SAF Lithgow, and a few others made them, but never Remington, AFAIK.

If you let me know what parts you’re after, I can probably put you in touch with someone who can help you out… Oilers and Pull-throughs can be easily arranged. Make sure you get a brass oiler and not a bakelite one.

And while I remember:

DO NOT FIRE THAT AMMUNITION!

It’s corrosive- if you fire it and do not IMMEDIATELY clean the barrel (ideally with a 50/50 mix of Windex and Water), the barrel will begin to rust, eventually rendering it useless. Honestly, you’re better off just buying commercial ammo (It’s not THAT expensive, be honest) and knowing that your barrel isn’t going to rust if you don’t immediately clean it after you’ve finished shooting.

If you’ve got any questions or want more info, my E-mail is in my profile! :slight_smile:
[/QUOTE]

No volley sights or cut-off

Sheesh, you would think with the amout of time I devote to this gun I would have got it’s model number right :smack:

Thanks for the warning on the ammo. The barrel is well used so its not like I’m ever going to drive tacks with the gun plus I love cleaning it almost as much as shooting it. Fear not, it will be cleaned withing an hour of shooting any corrosive ammo. I’ve recently read that a good cleaning with hoppes N0. 9 is just as effective as the windex / hot water method. Thoughts?
Push comes to shove, I have 400 rounds, no way will I be able to resist :slight_smile:
I have a bakelite oiler but it’s not the right vintage so it doesn’t get to go near the smelly!
Thanks for the offer to help on the parts, I may well take you up on that mate.

I think Remington made 100000 1907 bayonets during WW1 :wink:

64

[QUOTE=SeaDog]
No volley sights or cut-off
[/quote]

Very interesting… that would make it a late 1915, since the official order to switch over to the Mk III* configuration wasn’t given until 1916. BSA, however, started early, in the interests of having stocks of the new mark on hand when it was “officially” introduced.

I’ve never seen Hoppes No. 9 here (I use Breakfree CLP myself), but I’m told it’s just as effective- Hoppes No. 9 is a favourite amongst the Milsurp crowd in the US, so I’d say it’s just as good- if not better- than Breakfree.

Let me know when you’re interested, and I’ll put you in touch with some people who can help you out, both in the US and the UK. It’s no good trying to get gun parts out of Australia at the moment due to the fact Australia Post won’t handle gun parts and you need a Defence Department export permit for anything deemed a firearm part as well.

And a check of The Book (The Lee-Enfield Story, in case you were wondering) does indeed confirm that Remington made a batch of Pattern '07 Bayonets during WWI. I’ve never seen one myself, so I imagine they’re worth a premium to bayonet collectors…

65

Almost made it out to the range tomorrow, but a run in with strep throat and the side effects of antibiotics changed my mind.

Someday… Some day…

66

Tomorrow might give me enough time to get to the pistol range, but I doubt it. Labor Day weekend is looking like the best window. I should probably dig out the Hardballer and a couple of boxes of ammo…

67

Duh duh duuuummm! I finally got some shooting in!

I’ll be submitting the targets to our official scorer, shot a fairly pathetic series with the Makarov, did much better with the 1911, and between the two with the Springfield '03. I hope Hirundo82 shoots a Mak (and beats the tar outta me), otherwise I’m dumping that one and sticking with my 1911 score.

Got pictures -
range officers
Shooting the Makarov
Too much gun?
Trouble
Too noisy
Stop with the pictures!
7 year old steals the camera

68

Fantastic, Bobo! I have every intention of going this weekend. Of course, we all know how intentions go, but I’ll try.

69

[QUOTE=Bobotheoptimist]
I’ll be submitting the targets to our official scorer, shot a fairly pathetic series with the Makarov, did much better with the 1911, and between the two with the Springfield '03. I hope Hirundo82 shoots a Mak (and beats the tar outta me), otherwise I’m dumping that one and sticking with my 1911 score.
[/QUOTE]

I’m still working on that–I’m having issues finding 9x18 ammo. I’m planning on checking a couple more stores this week, but there’s not a major show in town until mid-October.

70

[QUOTE=Hirundo82]
I’m still working on that–I’m having issues finding 9x18 ammo. I’m planning on checking a couple more stores this week, but there’s not a major show in town until mid-October.
[/QUOTE]
If you don’t mind ordering it I’ve had no problems with cheaperthandirt.com.
Blazer, Winchester, and American Eagle also are making the stuff, but Hornady is the only one I’ve used (except for surplus junk, which was all that was available for a while). I’d like to blame my pathetic performance on the ammo, but I can’t honestly do it since I hold Hornady in high regard.

71

[QUOTE=Bobotheoptimist]
If you don’t mind ordering it I’ve had no problems with cheaperthandirt.com.
Blazer, Winchester, and American Eagle also are making the stuff, but Hornady is the only one I’ve used (except for surplus junk, which was all that was available for a while). I’d like to blame my pathetic performance on the ammo, but I can’t honestly do it since I hold Hornady in high regard.
[/QUOTE]

I can’t order it because all packages through my building go through the front office. I think that it has to be clearly labeled as ammunition when it is shipped and, although firearms aren’t prohibited in my building, I try to keep my gun ownership unknown in my building–it just prevents problems.

Anyhow, I made it to one of the other gun stores here in town and they had Winchester 9x18 FMJ in stock, so I’ll try to make it to the range this week.

72

I didn’t aticipate how hard it was going to be to get some B-19 targets. I tried a couple of sporting goods stores, the local store, two shooting ranges a gun shop and no one stocks a B-19 or equivalent. Heck, there’s not all that many circular targets, most of the ones being sold are silhouettes.

I guess I’ll order them online. Then, once I get them, then I’ll have to find time to get to the range.

That’s what I get for waiting… :smack:

73

[QUOTE=Kaboodle]
I didn’t aticipate how hard it was going to be to get some B-19 targets. … Heck, there’s not all that many circular targets, most of the ones being sold are silhouettes.
[/QUOTE]
I ended up using something like an A14 (maybe) - 1" circles, whatever the targets are called.

74

I took my No 4 Mk I* to the range yesterday, and discovered that if you shoot in windy conditions, all your bullets will hit the target off-centre, in the direction the wind is blowing! :smack:

I’m going to try again in a week or two when the weather is better…

75

[QUOTE=Martini Enfield]
I took my No 4 Mk I* to the range yesterday, and discovered that if you shoot in windy conditions, all your bullets will hit the target off-centre, in the direction the wind is blowing! :smack:
[/QUOTE]
Hmm, I’m trying to come up with a subtle dig about how even fancy reloads, expensive rifles, newfangled calibers, and benchrest rules can’t help the shooter that can’t gauge the wind… But I won’t because I pack up and leave before the daily 2:00 wind hits my range. :slight_smile:

I hope ammo isn’t as expensive as I seem to think it is over there (down there? down under? Does anyone really say that?). It’d piss me off to spend $40 and not have a usable target.

Good luck! I hope all of you get a chance to get some shooting done, whether it’s for this or not.

I feel a hankering to dig out the cowboy guns next.

76

OK guys, **Bobo ** got his targets in to me, and he set the bar pretty high. I’ll save the actual posting of scores for when we have a few more participants so as not to scare anyone off!

I know I’m having vehicle problems which will preclude me getting to the range before the end of the month; does anyone else have any issues with extending it another month? Martini Enfield, will that make it possible for you to join in?

77

[QUOTE=Cowgirl Jules]
OK guys, **Bobo ** got his targets in to me, and he set the bar pretty high. I’ll save the actual posting of scores for when we have a few more participants so as not to scare anyone off!

I know I’m having vehicle problems which will preclude me getting to the range before the end of the month; does anyone else have any issues with extending it another month? Martini Enfield, will that make it possible for you to join in?
[/QUOTE]

That’d work out really well, actually Jules. I’m expecting a Permit To Acquire for a new rifle in the next week or so, so with any luck I can combine my SD Rifle Shoot with my New Rifle Sighting In Shoot. :smiley:

I’ve got a new job now, so I can actually afford some ammo- I know, the horror!- and next time I’ll remember to rent a Spotting Scope so I can see where the shots are falling before the cease-fire…

78

[QUOTE=Martini Enfield]
I’m expecting a Permit To Acquire for a new rifle in the next week or so, so with any luck I can combine my SD Rifle Shoot with my New Rifle Sighting In Shoot.
[/QUOTE]
Sweet! Tell us all about it!

79

[QUOTE=Bobotheoptimist]
Sweet! Tell us all about it!
[/QUOTE]

Well, it’s a 1901 dated BSA (Sparkbrook) Magazine Lee-Enfield Mk I* Range Pattern Rifle, complete with Magazine Cut-Off and Volley Sights. Mis-matched bolt, but a good bore and it just felt right when I was handling it in the shop.

Hopefully I’ll have a full range report in a couple of weeks, assuming the PTA gets issued soon!

80

[QUOTE=Cowgirl Jules]
OK guys, **Bobo ** got his targets in to me, and he set the bar pretty high. I’ll save the actual posting of scores for when we have a few more participants so as not to scare anyone off!
[/QUOTE]
Had a service rifle match today, my best score ever would still only be good enough for fourth place… and I couldn’t even shoot up to that level. First through third (.30 cal) shot in the 360’s, in the 350’s, and 348. .233 first place scored even higher.
10 shots each prone, sitting, offhand, plus an additional 10 prone. I hate shooting prone - scored 278 out of a possible 400, considerably worse than the target I sent to Jules, only a 139 by our rules. Of course, 3 of the 4 targets are much smaller and the heat of direct competition throws me off a little.

So, there you go. Beat my 139! Someone please, go shooting!
Jules, did you ever get yourself a new carry piece? Martini, did you take your new baby out? Kaboodle, any ol’ target will do; Hirundo82, your Makarov is lonely and wants to go out; silenus, Triskadecamus, SeaDog, Tripler…