#7 Long Branch questions

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I just bought a 1943 #7 Long Branch 22 Cal. rifle on the weekend. It has a odd front sight that has a German insert in it. Can anyone tell me how it works and why it is designed like it is ? I'm also wondering about a hole in the back of the magazine. I would think it would be a single shot. What's the hole for ???
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It is a standard civilian front sight that has been fitted. Looks as if the fittings are there for either an adjustable front aperture or inserts in different sizes. This is not a sight that has any official association with C No. 7 rifles.
The rear sight is a Parker Hale target sight, usually used for fullbore (centerfire) long range competition. It fits the .22 because the receiver has the same profile and holes.
1943 is an unusual date for a .22. Could you post a closeup photo of the left side of the receiver, showing the markings?
 
Match sights; the rifle has been used for serious target shooting.

Some shooters prefer a double-aperture sight system. You look through the rear aperture and you get the target into the middle of the forward aperture, then you let off your round. In theory, it is much more accurate than using the standard rear aperture with blade forward, as the Number 4 and Number 7 were built. A disadvantage is that it is more difficult with the double-aperture system to see how your group is progressing unless, of course, they are all in the bull.

Personally, I think the rear aperture/forward blade is just as good, especially if you have a PH or similar rear sight that you can move sideways just a bit so that you can aim with the CORNER of your front sight. Try it; you won't believe just how much your groups might tighten up.

Your front sight assembly was made by one of the top target-rifle/target-sight makers in Germany. Sehr gut, ja?

Just for interest, can you post a photo of the left side of your action? I have one of these rifles but a bit newer than yours and it is marked not as a Number 7 but as a '.22" Long Branch' with the 1944 date. I have never seen a 1943 Number 7 and I don't suppose that most of the other fellows have, either.

Thanks.

Hope this helps.
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Saw this one at the Chilliwack show and was very tempted. You have a nice rifle but it is a 22 conversion of a Long Branch No 4 and not a No. 7
 
55recce said:
Saw this one at the Chilliwack show and was very tempted. You have a nice rifle but it is a 22 conversion of a Long Branch No 4 and not a No. 7
Click to expand...

I was just looking at BadgerDog's site and Yes it looks like it's a converted #4 LB. Not a #7 I was wondering about the grooves in the front aperture sight, Something to do with light/shadows ???

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Interesting rifle. It's a 1943 No4 MK1* converted to 22 lr.Very nice wood. Looks like a CNo7 barrel so that's good. I see a shoe on the trigger. I've seen PH put on 22's before...they don't offer much adjustment. I'd take the front and rear sight off and put on the correct CNo7 sight. I'd even consider changing out the receiver as there's lots a CNo7 receivers out there. The rifle would then be correct. Just my thoughts. Ron
 
I would second the replacement of the receiver with one of the ones available from Elwood Epps. They are priced right at $50 each, and I am sure if you asked you could get whichever year you like (as long as you like 44, 45 or 46).

Whoever you get to replace the barrel, make sure they run a level on the front sight base and on the rear sight crosspin to make sure the barrel is on straight. I see way too many of the post-factory Cno7s with the barrels poorly indexed. An out of index barrel will make it very hard to zero the rifle at various distances.

You could even align them using two straight edges, one at the front sight base and one at the rear sight. Looking from behind you will see any error outside of a degree or two. Just for fun, try it on your rifle now. You will have to remove the front sight blade to do it right, as well as removing the target sight from the rear.

Edited to add: The photo of the front sight is not clear. Are there lugs on the barrel under that front sight? There should not be on a true no7 barrel.
 
Thanks for all the info you guy's. It doesn't have any lugs on the barrel. I don't think I will get the receiver changed. I don't know any gunsmiths around here I would trust with it. I might just get one of the #7 receivers from Ellwood Epps, just for the future before they disappear. Would there be a preferred year to get ?
 
Regards taking it all apart and putting it back together again...

Naw, index shoot it, have fun, enjoy! All that extra work, why?

(I mean, I know why, just take 'er shooting, is all!!)
 
Yes they are. However, the model marking may vary. Originally they were marked just .22" for the model. However many were later upgraded to the later markings. Check the photos on milsurps thread for some of the variations.
Here is a shot of one of my recent purchases. This one is a 45 date but with the first type markings.
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I got my#7 receiver this morning. Pleasant surprise, the receiver was a 1945 and looks to be brand new :D The guy on the phone told me they only had 1944 receivers. Now I need a good gunsmith in the lower mainland.

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