tps50701.....great response....do you remember the barrel markings on the
C3? I looked at one at the local armory...was stamped "Parker Hale 1200TX" plus some other nomeclature I don't remember? It also had the clip conversion and the tatical bolt handle. Was told it updated. Was in a beech stock. Viewed just this past winter. Also were these parkerized or blued? The reason I ask...I'm toying with the idea of putting a C3 together.
That sounds as though somebody pieced something together - definitely not an official rifle.
The additional markings were Parker Hale Birmingham England.
There also is the 7.62 x 51 markings near the chamber on the barrel, as well as the British Proof marks which more than likely was 20 tonnes and the crown cipher.
They were parkerised finish with a black epoxy paint over top that was called Suncorite. This is replicated with modern bake on finishes rather easily.
C3 would be your most easiest choice, as the 1200 TX can be more easily had.
The M84 would be about as close to an M87 as your're ever gonna get, unless you can find an M87. The M84 is a solid bottom action intended to be shot as a cadet/army target rifle. You wouldn't be able to add a magazine system onto it without major machining.
If you want the magazine system, get yourself a PH 1200 Super Clip rifle in whatever calibre you want. They made a hockey sock of different calibres.
The magazine system is the same as the C3A1, the mags just look a bit different, compared to the 6 rd mags the Canadians used.
I'll tell you that the Canadian army was the primary recipient of almost all M87's ever produced. Very few ever made it out into the civilian market. The majority were in the UK and used by police forces - the SAS dabled a bit with them before they settled on the L96A1 - supposedly beat the M85
ya right! They preffered the M85, but MOD said different.
The mount we used on the C3A1 was produced by PH but was designed by John Unertl, due to his incessant whining. He balked the idea of using the PH rings with his scope. This is why the mount was chosen. The M87 receiver is set up to take the rings as well as the additional machining the Canadian's required for the steel mount.
The comparison between the C14 and the C3A1 are like night and day with calibre's when you look at em. The effective range at best with a C3A1 was 800m which it was designed for. Remember, this is not a target rifle, this is a centre of mass drop the target - sniper rifle. The C14 has an effective range of 1800m, with the majority of shots occuring in the 1300 to 1500 range.
This fills the gap between the C3A1 and the Tac 50 quite nicely. Just cry when you start burning out barrels. Why do you think these rifles were sold with a spare barrel in the kit! It's still a fabulous rifle, just way overpriced for the average joe to afford. Ammo is a heap more expensive then 308. Although, we're still using top of the line ammo for everything down the tube - just makes sense to make every shot a worthwhile use of such an expensive barrel.
I don't have a problem sharing any info I have on the C3 or C3A1 if anybody needs it. Got share the wealth of knowledge as Hungry say's
Cheers
