Scope fell off Lee Enfield Rifle

D

deaf_shooter

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Winnipeg, Manitoba
Yesterday, I went to shoot outdoor with my brother. I decide to bring my late grandfather's sportized Lee Enfield NO.1 MK3 Rifle to shoot. And, only modify I done to this rifle was install the scope rail kit.

Outside was around -4 Celsius, and I shot about 40 round. The scope held fine during entire shooting period, and was able to hit okay. Due to amount of snow, and forget the paper target, we just shot for fun and don't cared whatever scope zero in or not.

When my brother and I walked back to the truck, for some reason the scope felled off. It left me puzzled how it may happened. And, I probably won't put scope back on again because I was thinking to try to load my rifle with strip clip in future.

Here is picture
http://i.imgur.com/wl0fWCd.jpg

close look to scope kit so you can see it should be hold by 1 screw that dig into rifle with 2 screw to push scope kit into rifle
http://i.imgur.com/3pPDEYB.jpg

You can see dent on top of chamber as result of scope kit screw. I follow instruction and try to avoid over-tight screws
http://i.imgur.com/HTQLPQT.jpg

Only thing I could think reason why scope could fell off is that cold weather cause scope kit to shrink, while heat from constant firing cause gun to expand a bit.

I wonder if someone else have same issue as I do?

In case anyone ask
Scope Mount Kit was from ATI, and Scope is Tasco brand, cheap one I bought from Wholesale Sport for $70 or so.
 
That's probably what happened,shrinkage (like George Casanza on Sienfeld)The two .303's that I attached a scope to had no stripper clip bridge because they were sporterized and lightened.I ordered an scope install kit from Western Gun Parts for both.This entailed me drilling and tapping two holes in the side of the receiver,then attaching the rings to that base, but they are on there good after that.https://www.google.ca/search?q=.303...-receiver-scope-mount%3Fa%3D1722986;1155;1155
 
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deaf_shooter said:
Yesterday, I went to shoot outdoor with my brother. I decide to bring my late grandfather's sportized Lee Enfield NO.1 MK3 Rifle to shoot. And, only modify I done to this rifle was install the scope rail kit.

Outside was around -4 Celsius, and I shot about 40 round. The scope held fine during entire shooting period, and was able to hit okay. Due to amount of snow, and forget the paper target, we just shot for fun and don't cared whatever scope zero in or not.

When my brother and I walked back to the truck, for some reason the scope felled off. It left me puzzled how it may happened. And, I probably won't put scope back on again because I was thinking to try to load my rifle with strip clip in future.

Here is picture
http://i.imgur.com/wl0fWCd.jpg

close look to scope kit so you can see it should be hold by 1 screw that dig into rifle with 2 screw to push scope kit into rifle
http://i.imgur.com/3pPDEYB.jpg

You can see dent on top of chamber as result of scope kit screw. I follow instruction and try to avoid over-tight screws
http://i.imgur.com/HTQLPQT.jpg

Only thing I could think reason why scope could fell off is that cold weather cause scope kit to shrink, while heat from constant firing cause gun to expand a bit.

I wonder if someone else have same issue as I do?

In case anyone ask
Scope Mount Kit was from ATI, and Scope is Tasco brand, cheap one I bought from Wholesale Sport for $70 or so.
Click to expand...

At -4C there was enough differential expansion for screwed-on bits to fall off? Whatever did we do in Korea? What do the Rangers do way up there, where the air is rarified etc......

I would have a close word with installer, even if it's the guy you see when you look in the mirror.

tac
 
.
It is possible that the receiver of the rifle would get quite hot if the rifle was fired rapidly. I have seen Lee Enfields have smoking wood handguards after a wild minute of firing a lot of rounds downrange. This might cause the receiver to expand and push on the scope base mount and the screws holding it.

A technique to remove broken bolts is similar. Heat is applied to the bolt which expands, but the metal of the part the bolt is screwed into is a larger heat sink and keeps cooler. Upon contracting, the heated bolt contracts and loosens, so it is much easier to take out.

I am not sure what the ATI mount base is made of, but if it is a softer metal, pressure could cause the screws to move backwards against the threads in the mount and loosen. With a "no drill-no tap" mount, it is always not too tight and secure and can be prone to movement.
 
tacfoley said:
At -4C there was enough differential expansion for screwed-on bits to fall off? Whatever did we do in Korea? What do the Rangers do way up there, where the air is rarified etc......

I would have a close word with installer, even if it's the guy you see when you look in the mirror.

tac
Click to expand...

prety sure Ranger don't use ATI scope mount kit....

ATI kit was no drill kit that just mount and screw in. entire possible that screw wasn't tight enough.
 
What happened is this: You used a no-gunsmith ATI scope mount. Period. Look no further.

It's junk, sorry you lost money buying it.

If you must scope a No1Mk3 and don't want to drill and tap holes, find an S&K mount, and you'll be good to go.

Lou
 
louthepou said:
What happened is this: You used a no-gunsmith ATI scope mount. Period. Look no further.

It's junk, sorry you lost money buying it.

If you must scope a No1Mk3 and don't want to drill and tap holes, find an S&K mount, and you'll be good to go.

Lou
Click to expand...

Agreed. The ATI items are sub optimal, to say it the nicest way.

The S&K mount does require altering the forend btw, it's not no gunsmithing.

Scopeing an SMLE has never been easy. The No 4 is much easier to scope with a no gunsmithing mount and much better served with a bunch of different mounts.
 
cantom said:
Agreed. The ATI items are sub optimal, to say it the nicest way.

The S&K mount does require altering the forend btw, it's not no gunsmithing.

Scopeing an SMLE has never been easy. The No 4 is much easier to scope with a no gunsmithing mount and much better served with a bunch of different mounts.
Click to expand...

Thanks I forgot about the slight modification needed to the forend - cantom to the rescue! :)

Lou
 
oh okay

well I didn't really put research on ATI parts, so problem is solved, I guess.

will cut my loss and figure what to do to get rid of my ATI kit with scope. And using the iron sight to hunt deer with. (need a practice for sure)
 
deaf_shooter said:
prety sure Ranger don't use ATI scope mount kit....

ATI kit was no drill kit that just mount and screw in. entire possible that screw wasn't tight enough.
Click to expand...

Yeah, yeah, I comprehend that - I was just trying to make a point that in Canada -4C is just about getting to think about putting a jacket on over a shirt type temps.

tac, bin frozed and survived.
 
I was going to try one of these bases on an SMLE once. The charger bridge was just slightly off square, thus rendering the ATI scope base a useless paperweight.

There is a company in Ontario called Addley Precision making a side mount scope base for the SMLE #1 MK III*. I have not heard of any range reports. The Addley product for the SMLE requires drilling and tapping of one hole in your receiver.
 
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If you're going to drill and tap might as well go for a regular Weaver or PH side base...a lot cheaper.

Not that I'm recommending drilling and tapping.

The S&K mount worked...some wood removal and no changes to the receiver at all.
 
cantom said:
Agreed. The ATI items are sub optimal, to say it the nicest way.

The S&K mount does require altering the forend btw, it's not no gunsmithing.

Scopeing an SMLE has never been easy. The No 4 is much easier to scope with a no gunsmithing mount and much better served with a bunch of different mounts.
Click to expand...



Plus, there's that barrel..... ;)
 
After a few years dickin around trying to keep scopes zero'd on my trusty hunting enfield no1 mk3 sporter... I made my own on the milling machine with a section of premade 1913 picatinny rail.
My receiver had the weaver T0-1 dovetail rail originally , useless junk as well.
Now my scope is mounted rock solid and the rifle returned to my stable as one of my go to hunting rifles.
 
45ACPKING said:
After a few years dickin around trying to keep scopes zero'd on my trusty hunting enfield no1 mk3 sporter... I made my own on the milling machine with a section of premade 1913 picatinny rail.
My receiver had the weaver T0-1 dovetail rail originally , useless junk as well.
Now my scope is mounted rock solid and the rifle returned to my stable as one of my go to hunting rifles.
Click to expand...

Can we have some pics of the set up please? :)
 
cantom said:
Cyclone- you mean the long, skinny, whippy SMLE barrel that was designed to be controlled by those coil springs in the original full length forend?
Click to expand...

Its interesting to compare how the SMLE #1 MKIII* was bedded as opposed to the #4 SMLE. There was supposedly a large amount of $ and time spent on working out the bedding system for the #1 SMLE by the UK Gov't. If you ever hear how Fulton set up an SMLE it's very interesting reading.
 
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