WOW! These Guys Knew What They Were Doing

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sobo4303

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Smoky Lake, Alberta
I bought a wrapped No.4 Mk.2 (Dec 1954 stamps) and asked questions about what to feed the beast.

Well, 174 grain bullets were the original design, so I picked up a box of the UMC green box. 174 gr jacketed stuff - cheap.

Wow...sighted in to 100 yards then moved down to 300 yards. Adjust the peep for elevation and aimed at an 8" gong. Thwup! Fired four more times. Thwup, Thwup, Thwup, Thwup, Thwap!

I did not take pics...but wow...what an amazing rifle. With the right ammo, all shots were within 4" circle. Hard hitting and incredibly accurate for open sights. The fine front blade only just covered the width of the target. I may be selling a few of my other guns, as they will probably be related to the safe.
 
Hey...I'm tired...played a gig till 3:30 am this morning and it's getting late. Played for about 450 happy go lucky cowboys and cowgirls...but that's another story.

The round count was 6...(I see that I did not explain it too well)

2 at the 18" gong to see where she was hitting...adjusted the sight up 3 clicks then went for the 8" gong. One, two three four. Four hits on the 8" within about 4".

Rested rifle on sandbags.

Going to work up some lead loads. However was going to use them in an upcoming Legion Shoot, but if the UMC stuff shoots so well, I will just head down to Cabela's and buy some more and just use that stuff. Now I just haveta learn to breath and shoot from standing....I know the rifle can do it.

I am just amazed at that old technology and how today's rifles have to rely on glass to get those results.

The key I think is the relatively long distance between the front sight and the rear peep.
 
Maybe it's the shooter, you should loan me the rifle to give it a true test of it abilities.;)

sobo4303 said:
Hey...I'm tired...played a gig till 3:30 am this morning and it's getting late. Played for about 450 happy go lucky cowboys and cowgirls...but that's another story.

The round count was 6...(I see that I did not explain it too well)

2 at the 18" gong to see where she was hitting...adjusted the sight up 3 clicks then went for the 8" gong. One, two three four. Four hits on the 8" within about 4".

Rested rifle on sandbags.

Going to work up some lead loads. However was going to use them in an upcoming Legion Shoot, but if the UMC stuff shoots so well, I will just head down to Cabela's and buy some more and just use that stuff. Now I just haveta learn to breath and shoot from standing....I know the rifle can do it.

I am just amazed at that old technology and how today's rifles have to rely on glass to get those results.

The key I think is the relatively long distance between the front sight and the rear peep.
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Thats what happens when things were made with pride and people took pride in their work and you didnt have to put another $1k over the intial price tag into it.
 
I know you said you didn't take pics but a couple pics would be nice :)

Where did you get it? I love these old rifles.

J
 
Kelly Timoffee said:
Maybe it's the shooter, you should loan me the rifle to give it a true test of it abilities.;)
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I have a No.4 Mk.2 of similar vintage. You are welcome to try it out next time you are in town. I have always suspected it is more accurate than I can prove, and I will not be sorry to have someone confirm that.
 
Kelly Timoffee said:
Maybe it's the shooter, you should loan me the rifle to give it a true test of it abilities.;)
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Tell you what....join your local Legion and enter into the upcoming shoot in St. Paul AB in July/August - not sure yet. Then you can shoot it and maybe you and I can have a friendly turkey shoot...yours against mine. That way, I get to meet another swell GunNutter!

:D
 
AdrianM said:
Good stuff.

I'm going to try shooting some of my milsurps this weekend. I hope I get some good results.
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AdrianM, I sincerely hope you aren't planning on throwing away $600 by taking the original wrapping from another No4 MkII, to try it out on the range.

Not that I'm telling you not to. It's your rifle. Just advising you that there are hundreds of No4 MkII rifles out there that are in near new to pristine condition condition for around $500 or less, have already come out of the wrapper/grease and are no longer such great investment vehicles.

The OP, may not have realized what he was doing or he may have been well aware of what he was doing, I don't know. Suffice to say it's been done and can't be fixed.

If you have to shoot a pristene No4 MkII, I advise you to sell it for $1000 plus dollars, buy one that is in minty condition for around $500 and buy another $500 worth of ammunition to shoot it to your heart's content.

Your rifle, your choice.
 
Ganderite said:
The most reliable ammo for these Enfields will be flat based bullets. A new one like yours will handle boat tails, but most are much better with flat base.
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That is what I have heard. Curiosity got the better of me and I removed the bullet from the UMC ammo (designated s 303 174 gr MC - metal case). Finding it is the issue. In 174 grain, Hornady has the flat base RN or BT FMJ bullets (which I suspect is similar to UMC stuff. Barnes makes only a 150 gr and Speer has the 180 gr roundnose (which is not nearly as accurate - I tried some ammo). Sierra has the Matchking in 174 boattail. Have not shot it yet.

I understand that the rifle was designed for 174 gr pointed bullets, so that is the direction I was going to lean in.

I have some 180 gr lead (gas check) but cannot shoot it at the same velocities.

I have not found any 174 gr flat base bullets.

Again, was really impressed with the UMC stuff.
 
Bear...I knew this would come up eventually.

I knew exactly what I was doing. Pristine is not the same as new. I bought the rifle with the intention of eventually unwrapping to shoot it. I had a BSA which was in reasonable pristine, but an average shooter at best. I wanted more. I have no intention of selling it nor did I buy it with the intention of a future investment by the value.

I am enjoying the nostalgia right here and now and experiencing and appreciating first hand just how remarkable these rifles truly are. Yes, there is one less wrapped rifle in the world now and yes, yours and others will continue to appreciate in value because of increasing rarity.

I can tell everyone first hand that few rifle makers today have the same quality and craftsmanship that went into my '54. The price I paid was equal to most mid-priced rifles under $1,000 but I got 10 times the quality.

That was everything I hoped for when I unwrapped it and I do not regret it for a moment. :D
 
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