No4 mk1 front sight

[Lyallpeder]

I am relatively new to lee enfields. I am looking at a couple sporters and one has a front sight that is obviously not original.

I realize there is no way to tell for sure, but do rifles like this, that have a front sight like this added tend to be usable with the original flip up rear sights? Original configuration is not that important to me but I would like to use the original rear sight.

Incase the link doesn’t work it’s an added front sight that is similar to a 1980s style hunting rifle. In fact it looks almost identical to my 1980s model 70

https://m.imgur.com/a/o3Gfpet

 

[Lyallpeder]

Photo? Last try. Maybe not, sorry.

 

[Potashminer]

So, to assure you - is sold by XS sights - a plastic thing that you snip off to find out desired height of the front sight you eventually want to order. Others have done similar with a zip tie around barrel with the blade standing vertical. Key thing for a front sight is the height of the top or the ball above the centre of bore line. If the front sight - whatever it is - is correct height, it works with your rear sight to place bullets on target where you want them.

About only way to satisfy you is to take it out and shoot it. You did not say - so likely a 303 British?? Can buy both 150 grain and 180 grain bullets these days - sometimes pointy (spitzer) and Round Nose in one weight or both. Your iron sight can only properly match up with one of those - those bullets likely fly to different places on 100 yard targets - so might have to try more than one weight or bullet style - who knows what that front sight installer had in mind??

FYI - original military ammo was defined to be 174 grain FMJ with 2440 fps, plus or minus 40 fps. So, even with "standardized" ammo, was still quite a number of front sight inserts - each different heights. The armourer would replace front sight height to get the target group where they wanted it. For windage, would move the front sight to establish that. For a front sight, move it in the OPPOSITE direction that you want bullet holes to move, with same ammo. Move rear sight in the SAME direction that you want bullet holes to move.

 

[Ganderite]

There are two ways to do this.

Your rifle has a good front and rear sight. You want to zero the sights so that 200 on the sight hits POA at 200 yards. OK

Shoot the rifle at 100 or 200 yards and notice how low or high it hits. Then use this calculator to find out how much higher or lower your front sight should be. The blade in that sight is available in various heights. If the rifle is hitting high you need a higher sight to make it hit lower. Take the blade off, measure how high it is and then order a sight of the correct height.

http://www.sdmfabricating.com/sightcalc.html


Or, take a big paper clip, wrap it around the muzzle end of the rifle, and stick the wrapped end up. Clip it to be a bit higher than the current sight and then shoot. It should shoot low. Use a side cutter to keep adjusting the height until the rifle hits at the correct elevation. Then measure that height and order the blade that will give that height.

 

[Lyallpeder]

So, to assure you - is sold by XS sights - a plastic thing that you snip off to find out desired height of the front sight you eventually want to order. Others have done similar with a zip tie around barrel with the blade standing vertical. Key thing for a front sight is the height of the top or the ball above the centre of bore line. If the front sight - whatever it is - is correct height, it works with your rear sight to place bullets on target where you want them.

About only way to satisfy you is to take it out and shoot it. You did not say - so likely a 303 British?? Can buy both 150 grain and 180 grain bullets these days - sometimes pointy (spitzer) and Round Nose in one weight or both. Your iron sight can only properly match up with one of those - those bullets likely fly to different places on 100 yard targets - so might have to try more than one weight or bullet style - who knows what that front sight installer had in mind??

FYI - original military ammo was defined to be 174 grain FMJ with 2440 fps, plus or minus 40 fps. So, even with "standardized" ammo, was still quite a number of front sight inserts - each different heights. The armourer would replace front sight height to get the target group where they wanted it. For windage, would move the front sight to establish that. For a front sight, move it in the OPPOSITE direction that you want bullet holes to move, with same ammo. Move rear sight in the SAME direction that you want bullet holes to move.

There are two ways to do this.

Your rifle has a good front and rear sight. You want to zero the sights so that 200 on the sight hits POA at 200 yards. OK

Shoot the rifle at 100 or 200 yards and notice how low or high it hits. Then use this calculator to find out how much higher or lower your front sight should be. The blade in that sight is available in various heights. If the rifle is hitting high you need a higher sight to make it hit lower. Take the blade off, measure how high it is and then order a sight of the correct height.

http://www.sdmfabricating.com/sightcalc.html


Or, take a big paper clip, wrap it around the muzzle end of the rifle, and stick the wrapped end up. Clip it to be a bit higher than the current sight and then shoot. It should shoot low. Use a side cutter to keep adjusting the height until the rifle hits at the correct elevation. Then measure that height and order the blade that will give that height.

Thanks folks. That is a lot of helpful info.