I have a 1917 No 1 that has been heavily modified. Barrel cut to about 19”, and a very cut down forestock. However the bore looks good and I would like to hunt with it. I have a Bushnell Banner scope on it and I am getting pie plate size groups at 100 yds ie I’m hitting the plate but shots aren’t that close. Not an excellent shot here, but the forestock is very loose and after reading Roger Wadhams book on accurizing lee enfields I think the loose forestock is part of the problem. I can wiggle it up and down about half an inch. Wadham talks about replacing worn draws with fresh wood. I could do that but I’m not interested in preserving a already chopped up rifle so my first question is do I need to replace the draws or can I just bed the receiver? Hopefully I’m making sense there is a lot of info in that book to absorb. Thanks for reading
Accurizing a sporter No 1 Mk III
- Thread starter abramh
- Start date
Hi abramh, first thing you need to do is take the forend off and see how buggered up it is. Chances are the recoil draws will be busted, and the back of the forend may be cracked.
Once you see how bad it is, you can decide if you fix it or find a spare. Lots of sportered forend around, not difficult to find.
Once you see how bad it is, you can decide if you fix it or find a spare. Lots of sportered forend around, not difficult to find.
First off, glass bed the ways and gorilla glue any cracks. A screw through the wood, forward of the king screw is also a good idea.
Now, with a 19 inch bbl, muzzle blast is going to present a real threat of creating a nasty flinch, You may want to consider a muzzle brake.
As Lou states, bedding is very critical. You may also have to install a pad on the tip of the fore end to put 5-6 pounds of upward pressure on the bbl to stabilize harmonics but that short bbl should be stiff enough not to be a problem.
Find bullets that match bore diameter. I'v seen No1 bores that look to be excellent but have .315 bore diameters. Nothing, other than proper diameter bullets will fix that. CIL used to make bullets up to .315 diameter. To my knowledge, that is no longer an option unless you want to cast your own.
One other thing not mentioned was the butt stock. If it's loose in the socket, accuracy will be poor.
Now, with a 19 inch bbl, muzzle blast is going to present a real threat of creating a nasty flinch, You may want to consider a muzzle brake.
As Lou states, bedding is very critical. You may also have to install a pad on the tip of the fore end to put 5-6 pounds of upward pressure on the bbl to stabilize harmonics but that short bbl should be stiff enough not to be a problem.
Find bullets that match bore diameter. I'v seen No1 bores that look to be excellent but have .315 bore diameters. Nothing, other than proper diameter bullets will fix that. CIL used to make bullets up to .315 diameter. To my knowledge, that is no longer an option unless you want to cast your own.
One other thing not mentioned was the butt stock. If it's loose in the socket, accuracy will be poor.
That rifle originally came with a barrel band about half way down the barrel. Many sporters lost the band when cut down. This weakens the attachment of the forestock to the receiver, often resulting in the forestock coming loose. one possible solution is to re-install the barrel band (if possible), along with repairing the draws and knox form bedding as needed.
Foreend is in good shape just very dried out I think. Butt stick seems tight but I haven’t had it off to look at it yet. There is a small gap where it joins the metal I might shin that with oak edge band veneer and sand it to a tight fit. Not sure what the bore diameter is it shoots Remington, Privi and Federal bullets all about the same. No band I think the forestock is too short for that now.
Hard time making that fit, you would have to cut it in half. They do make a no4 stock so they may also make then.for no1 rifles
No I mean sporter stock buddy.
Interesting thread here:
https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbt...cs/5520160/all/Advice_on_Model_of_1917_Action
The full length military stocks were carefully designed with features to compensate for movement in the wood from shrinkage/warpage.
A sporter rifle takes away most of that bedding.
Since most sporting rifles are used for hunting, the application is likely for an accurate first shot out of a cold barrel.
The point of impact on the second shot will move as the barrel warms. If sighting in a sporter, sometimes you are chasing hits all over the target trying to zero. Yes there are some sporter style sniper Lee Enfields, but they have had black magic applied to the bedding in the stocks. Again, a sniper shot is taken from a cold barrel.
So give it a try. Lots of methods for bedding are promoted by different shooters. Just be prepared for less than target rifle performance out of a LE sporter.
I have a sporter with an 18-1/4 inch barrel. it is one LOUD little gun!
A sporter rifle takes away most of that bedding.
Since most sporting rifles are used for hunting, the application is likely for an accurate first shot out of a cold barrel.
The point of impact on the second shot will move as the barrel warms. If sighting in a sporter, sometimes you are chasing hits all over the target trying to zero. Yes there are some sporter style sniper Lee Enfields, but they have had black magic applied to the bedding in the stocks. Again, a sniper shot is taken from a cold barrel.
So give it a try. Lots of methods for bedding are promoted by different shooters. Just be prepared for less than target rifle performance out of a LE sporter.
I have a sporter with an 18-1/4 inch barrel. it is one LOUD little gun!
If the butt stock is tight, don't worry about a small gap. It's what's going on inside the socket that hold things together.
Make sure you take off the fore end first, before trying to undo the bolt that holds the butt in place. If you don't take off the fore end first, there is a band across the back of the fore end with a square notch cut out. The end of the stock retaining bolt has a square cut end to match that cut out, which acts as a retainer to stop the bolt from backing off.
This is how most fore end stocks get split.
As for repairing the ways, don't waste your time. It's already been cut down so there is no reason to try to keep things original. Glass bedding will do all of the tedious work for you and it will be perfect as well as most likely better than wood inserts glued in place or the copper shims some stocks come with.
Glass bedding also eliminates the need for a barrel band.
You say you would love to get consistent 3-4 inch groups out of your rifle. As long as your bore is in good shape and close to spec diameter it should be easily capable of that and better when fed ammo it likes
