Question About Enfield No5 Mk1 Sights

[another pake]

Earlier I reported that I had found and purchased a No5 Mk1 in like new condition. I spent a good deal of time on Sunday firing this little beauty. What a great shooter!

My question tho regards the rear ladder sight, which is an 800 yard ladder.
Since this is my only Enfield I'm curious as to the original, as issued bullet weight/ speed information. I happened to be shooting PPU 150s because that's what I could find.

I will be reloading for this one and I want to end up with a load that can utilize the sight's calibration if possible.

Thanks

 

[Sistema1927]

My understanding is the the No5 "Jungle Carbine" utilizes the same rear sight as the No4 with a longer barrel. It is unrealistic to think that these carbines were intended for use at 800 yds.

I have found that the flipped down 300 yd aperature is "close enough" for most anything that I have needed to shoot with mine, using any and all ammo that I can lay my hands on. These are not MOA match rifles by any stretch of the imagination.

 

[another pake]

I stated my question poorly.

I understand fully that theses pieces are not intended for accurate long range fire. But the sights were calibrated for an original bullet weight and speed.

What is it ?

Thanks

 

[Jim Watson]

I would assume that any .303 made much after 1910 would be sighted for Mk VII.
Wiki says: "In 1910, the British took the opportunity to replace their Mk VI cartridge with a more modern design. The Mark VII loading used a 174-grain (11.3 g) pointed bullet with a flat-base which gave a muzzle velocity of 2,440 ft/s, (740 m/s) and a ballistic coefficient of .467.[13] "

 

[another pake]

Thank You! That's what I was looking for.

Since my request I also found this page to be informative and should help when reloading.

http://www.ballisticstudies.com/Knowledgebase/.303+British.html

pake

 

[AlexanderA]

My understanding is the the No5 "Jungle Carbine" utilizes the same rear sight as the No4 with a longer barrel.

That's not correct. The ladder sight ("Singer sight") for the No. 4 is calibrated to 1,300 yards while that for the No. 5 carbine is calibrated to 800 yards. You occasionally find these mixed up. In either case, the maximum setting is probably optimistic.

 

[Jenrick]

Jim Watson hit the nail on the head. Be aware that as late as the mid 1960's overseas munitions factories were still producing .303 British using cordite rather then gun powder. You will see different velocities with cordite rounds versus powder rounds. Overall though they will still shoot roughly to the same point when using the standard sights vs. target sights.

-Jenrick

 

[Curator]

If you use "mil-spec" .303 British loads, your N05Mk1 will shoot to the sights. However you won't get the same velocity that the No4 Mk1 or No1 MkIII would get with their longer barrels. The MkVII round is a 174 grain pointed flat base bullet at 2440 fps is considered the standard. I barely got 2200 fps firing these in my No.5 carbine, more like 2180 + or - about 30 fps. These loads did shoot to the sight graduations on all my military .303 rifles including the No5 Carbine.

 

[another pake]

Once again, Thank You All. This has been helpful.

Now if I could find some .311 or .312 bullets....

Until then, it'll be PPU s I think.

pake

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

Save that PPU brass. It's some of the best.

 

[dprice3844444]

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=591979&highlight=jungle+carbine
taming the recoil