sighting #5 lee enfield

If it groups tight, forget about a possible bend-- anyway, you may just have a constiction where the flash hider is fitted. Check by running a tight fitting patch thru the the bore. You should be able to feel any restriction. Your problem may also result from the barrel not being fitted in proper alignment to the receiver.
All is not lost, you can make the sight modifications I mentioned in my previous postings, or I might be willing to take it off your hands for a modest amount.

Good Luck,
John S.
 
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cured ..

:D using the 303 bore straightness guage i ran it through the barrel on the end of a .22 cleaning rod. i found the binding point just 4cm in front of the flash hidder assembly.i cradeled the barrel in a hydrolic press ,carefully applying pressure untill the guage in the barrel moved freely. at that point i gave it a liitle extra push(thinking the barrel would spring back a bit).
being somewhat pleased with the outcome(guage slides freely from breech to muzzel) i headed to the range. i had pushed the front sight post back to center & fired for effect..:D
bang on center @ 25m & 100.
couldn't be happier, this rifle always grouped great. i just couldn't get past that off centered front sight
 
well...i'm not much of a 'tool' guy but my buddy is.
we removed the stock & cradeled the barrel in 2 heavy steel brackets.
ran the guage through the barrel untill we hit the bind point.moved the 2 brackets to each side of that bind point.placed another heavy steel bar over the center of the bind point & applied pressure with the hydraulic press.
slowly added pressure while trying to move the guage from the bind point with a .22 cleaning rod. when the guage was able to move freely, we gave the press a little more push (thinking the barrel may spring back).
worked like a charm, rifle shoots poa = poi with front sight dead center.
i do wonder if this is a permanent fix or will the barrel have a 'memory' & move back over time...guess i'll have to go shoot again (oh darn:))
 
The problem with surplus, is it is old. wood shrinks, dries out, expands, cracks, Metal rusts, pits, warps & wears out, etc. You never know what had happened to the rifle, etc.

All of the tricks mentioned may work, but frankly, well, it's an old rifle. I have had allot of experience with older rifles, and any permanent alteration will only affect the value of the rifle. Take the rifle to a gunsmith or a smith who has experience with Lee Enfields.

Regards

Pete
 
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