Cool! I've seen in person a Russian, American (Garand and Springfield) and German WW-II sniper rifle, never held an English one. Is that a period-correct English No.4 Mk I T? Stay safe.
First time I've seen one of these mounts with unbuggered screw heads! Nice scope covers and sling too!
It is s very low mileage 1945 #4T that had 4" cut off the barrel. You know to make it better. I had a new 1944 dated #4 barrel sitting around for twenty years so a no brainier .
Thank you everyone for the comments. I had a lot of help from friends all around the world sourcing the missing bits. The stuff does not grow on trees.
First time I've seen that style of sling. Obviously a British issue sling, but redesigned to be a shooting sling (drawing inspiration from the U.S. M1907 and M1923 slings).
The sling was experimental during the war and very popular with Commonwealth shooting teams post war and can still be seen in NZ and Canada at matches. I have also used the BREN sling but I seem to fall back to the common Enfield woven canvas style.. Most matches today don't allow sling supported position aides in vintage matches. Some classes and events do but not in my area. Also original target slings in the style are cost prohibitive. My sling is a copy at just under $100. Originals are four times that.
I am a great fan of the No.4(T). (and all things SMLE) I built myself a bogus one out of a Longbranch No.4. It's not very "correct", but looks the part to the casual observer, and it seems to have the No.4(T) "spirit", and is very accurate. I have not been able to repeat it, but did shoot a .50" group at 100 yards with it. She'll do right around an inch all day with a handload using the Hornady 174 grain FMJBT. Having a genuine No.4(T) would really be something.
Yeah, know what you are talking about the .303B (7.7X57?) in the SMLE has some "different" dispersion characteristics. They tend to shoot 3moa, (the average SMLE) but that does not translate into 6moa at 200, 12moa at 300, etc. They tend to maintain 3moa at distance. I'd love to have a Savage, never have found one at a good price. Have three Longbranchs, a Enfield, BSA, and Australian. I'm sure I left one out. What bullet do you shoot in you genuine honest to God real deal real McCoy No.4(T)?
174g FMJBT Match King H/IMR 4064 150g flat base Game King H/IMR 4895 Depending on range and barrel condition.
Ahhhh....another fan of the SMLE. Nice MkIII. Outstanding group. Heck, they are all nice. 4064 works nice in the .303, but I've gone to 4895 because my M1 likes it, and anything the M1 likes, my 03A3 likes. So, I just stock 4895 now as it also works well in just about every other rifle calibers such as 7.92, 7.65, 7.62X51, 7.7, and on and on. Perhaps not ideal in some, but good enough. I've shot 150 grainers in the past, but just stick to the 174BTFMJ now. Just for fun, I do load a 123 grain bullet to shoot in my Bogus "Jungle" carbine.
My B.I.L has a reproduction/restore project one. Repro scope and mount, mostly original rifle with some ancillary parts that needed to be replaced. I used it in a vintage sniper match on the 600 yard line after my PU sniper scope mount had a wardrobe malfunction. I was really impressed with the reticle. I wish some sporting optics manufacturers would replicate it. I shot the rifle very well. I was clicking along 10s and Xs after my first shot found the wind...right up until a case head separated on the 9th shot. Was on my way to a 99.
The degree of vandalism shown by some people never cease to amaze me. Stock No. 4 Mk 1s and Mk 2s, okay they were once cheap and plentiful, so I can (sort'a) see someone hacking one of those up to "make it better." But, No. 4 Mk 1 Ts or Mk 1* Ts were never plentiful, or all that cheap.
