December 19th, 2020
7minute read
Read part one of this series atThe No.
4 MK I (T) Sniper: A Solid Foundationand part two atThe No.
4 MK I (T) Sniper: Battle-Ready Accuracy.
Should you even shoot an original No.
4 (T)?
Yes, of course!
Think about something that Major Hesketh-Prichard said regarding the telescopic-sighted rifle during WWI.
It is important that the barrels of these rifles should not be worn out in practice shooting.
Scope-sighted rifles were pretty scarce in WWI, the optics fragile and repair of either difficult.
Setting Your Sights
There are many reasons I enjoy shooting the No.
The sound it makes cycling is unique (Ive always liked it!).
Its much more quiet than any of its contemporaries and operates more smoothly.
Sometimes I even wonder if a cartridge is in the chamber after cycling.
When new from the assembly line though, the No.
First step in shooting the No.
4 (T) is mounting the scope of course, and there is a method to it.
Ensure the front ring fits into its spigot on the base before tightening.
It is best to start both, then tighten the front thumb screw first and the rear one last.
This gives the scope the best chance of returning to its original zero within 1 Minute of Angle.
The test rifle did better returning to within 1/2 MOA.
Thats still3 inches at 600 yards.
If you dont remove the scope, theres still the matter of cleaning to consider.
Range Time
Enfield rifles as a class have an unusually slippery buttplate.
I also found holding the fore-end helped.
All my 5-shot groups had a great 3-shot cluster inside.
This rifle shoots best for three shots.
Try as I might, shooting slowly and carefully, my 5-shot groups were invariably bigger.
Of course, the rifle is supposed to shoot accurately for a single shot.
The added comb, one of the well thought-out additions to the No.
4 (T), raises the comb height almost enough.
It is far superior to the competition on all sides, which dont have one at all.
The scope is far forward, too far in fact to easily get a full picture from the bench.
It is set perfectly for prone shooting, since your head is a little more forward in that position.
Once again, the rifle was thoroughly well thought-out.
Handloads
I was finally able to acquire sufficient Varget powder and Sierra 174-grain BTHP bullets.
Up to Snuff?
For post-and-crosswire reticles, I think Ill stick with the 3-inch bulls in the future.
Through the 3X-power scope the 3-inch bull is easy to float over the point of post reticle.
The trigger breaks very cleanly, and the 12+ pound weight of the gun mitigates recoil.
The rifle would remain deadly out to normal sniping ranges, and is well within spec.
Then I tested the reproduction scope to see if it was even close to collimation.
I returned the original scope to the gun.
I switched to the Hornady 150-grain hunting load and shot a very nice group.
I stopped shooting then and there, thinking the scope had failed.
Wind arose precluding any diagnostic shooting, and I went home as a storm front moved in.
A couple of weeks later, I returned to the range.
I shot several 100-yard groups with the iron sights proving the gun had no issues.
Groups were in the 21/2-inch range.
Remounting the scope, I carefully ensured the parts were in alignment before tightening the thumb screws.
The rifle then delivered three shots into an inch right where it was supposed to.
Im not sure how, but somehow Id managed to tighten the scope improperly.
I was lucky recoil didnt break something.
For a minute, I was afraid the rifle was angry with me for mounting an imposter scope.
Theres another good reason to leave everything together, but not if you want to clean from the breech.
Just be sure you start the screws properly when mounting the scope.
Elite marksmen used the No.
4 Mk I (T) sniper with skill and cunning and quickly dominated the battlefield.
4 sniper rifle and how it was developed and used.
Go to forum thread
The Matchless Enfield .303 No.
4 MK I (T) Sniper
