Sighting in an enfield

cam1936

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Well as the title says how should I go about sighting in my No5. I took her to the range the other day but couldn't hit much of anything anything at 50 yards (I know it's embarassing). I was shooting offhand and standing and I didn't have a spoter to look to see where my shots were going, I will have to drag a buddy out next time. But should I be shooting off a bench and a sandbag to start out? Also what should I set the sights to? If I have them at the 200 yard postition (and assuming the rifle is zeroed at 200) how high/low should the bullet be at 50/100 yards? I had no clue going in so I didn't really know where to start. The battle aperature appeard to be putting them low at 50 and the peep sight at 200 yards looked to be going high at 50. Any advice? If the elevation is off should I pick up some new front posts?
 
Take a good bench rest (or sand bags, something stable anyways).

From the shooting rest, first try to get on paper at 50 yards. If elevation isn't totally off the board (so slightly high or low isn't too bad at this stage), adjust windage. Use the short range sight at the rear, not the flipped-up ladder peep.

Then, take it to 100 yards. Same rear sight. See how high or low you are.

If at that distance you are too high or low, you'll need to change the front sight blade for a taller or shorter one. Mind you if you shoot too low you can use the sliding peep on its ladder, but I consider this a temporary solution until you find the right sight blade,

lou
 
Always start out shooting from a solid rest, prone or bench, or even a vise if one is available. You want to eliminate the shooter as a source of error or variation to see if the gun is shooting consistently. Start at 25 yards to see that you are getting the shots on the paper, produce a group, zero it, then check the zero at 100 and adjust as necessary.
 
To answer your trajectory question : Depending on the ammunition you're using, if you're zeroed at 200 yards, you'll hit between 2-3 inches high at 100 yards. 150 grain from most manufacturers is about 2" high, 180 grain is usually 3".
 
Battle sights were generally for 300yds (not sure about the No5), so if you expect the aperature to coincide with the battle sight, you will likely need to set it for 300. Also I have read in some publications that the battle sight was also zeroed with bayonet on. FWIW I use only the aperature, and zero at 100yds, then see how close it is at various other ranges and make note of the corrections required.
 
"...should I be shooting off a bench..." Yep. Off hand is the least stable position. Sighting in is always done off a bench.
 
Get a target and put it in the middle of a square of paper four feet by four feet and put it at 25 yards.

Rest the rifle securely in sandbags and remove the bolt. Adjust the rifle until you see the bull's eye through the barrel.

Raise or lower your rear sight until when you aim you align the rear and front sight to point at the bull's eye.

Shoot the rifle.

See where it hits.

Adjust the sights until you hit the middle of the target at 25 yards.

Then try it at 50 yards and if you are hitting between the middle to one inch above the bull's eye, try at 100 yards.
 
Big targets help too. Butcher paper, old engineering drawings, backside of gift wrapping. Start at 25 yards off of rests, front and back. Work your way out.

Buy a roll of banquet paper from your local grocery store to cover the target boards. Then put your targets on that.
 
Hi Cam1936.First find out where its hitting on paper and then you can look for shorter or higher sights.There is usually some for sale on e bay and very rarely they come up for sale on the EE here.There will be a number on the sight that will let you now at least which height you have.
 
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