BSA 1913 No1 MkIII.

[dromia]

When I retired six years ago I started selling off my collection of older rifles, I decided that it was time to move a lot of them on to new custodians and just keep a few selected ones for my own shooting pleasure.

One of these is an all matching original 1913 BSA SMLE in very good to excellent condition, in fact it is probably the nicest original SMLE I have ever seen and do treasure it. However the barrel was well worn so I decided to have it re-barrelled with an original un-issued barrel from my dwindling stock.

I needed a competent gunsmith with an understanding of these firearms do do the work as I couldn't risk this rifle being damaged or re-barrelled badly, so off it went to ovenpaa's care with the replacement barrel.

I got the finished job back just before Christmas last year and finally I got a cloudy day so I could put some rounds through the rifle to see how it shoots.

It was nice and still so I set up went to it.

Load was just a standard 303 of mine, NOE 316299 215gn GC boolit sized to .315" 2500 lube over 20 gns of Vihtavuori N110, CCI LR primer in an HXP 82 1 x fired case giving around 1800fps. Boolits were seated out to touch the lead other than that nothing else was done, I didn't even slug the bore. Just wanting to get some rounds through it to break in the barrel for lead, all this rifle will now shoot, before getting down to some load development.

Took me 5 rounds to get zeroed onto the paper as it was shooting to the right, just used the windage on the rear sight, will adjust the foresight in due course.

I then shot 3 x 5 round groups, each one getting better as the barrel seasoned with the last one being 2 1/4" by 2 1/4", distance 100yrds. Had to pack in after the last one as the cloud was dispersing and the sun was through.

I'm pleased and expected to have to put more through it to get it to settle, will keep shooting it as the sun permits. Probably not going to do much better with the issue sights and my eyes though.

Photos of the targets:






The rifle:






















The ammunition:

[Outpost75]

Absolutely Lovely!

[atr]

very nice !
I have a similar rifle except mine was manufactured in 1917 by LITHGROW
I have the same limitation: (eyes / sights) with my #1 MKIII
keep shooting !
atr

[varifleman]

Nicest one I've seen; thanks for posting!

[leebuilder]

She is a beauty. Is this a repost? Love to see those windage adjustable sights, volley sights and magazine cutoffs. Really nice wood too!!!.
be well

[Scharfschuetze]

It's nice to see an original No I Mk III with the windage adjustable sight, magazine cutoff and volley sights.

I have a similar one with all the bells and whistles except for the volley sights. It is an NRF (National Rifle Factory?) produced rifle made in 1916. It's stock is not as nice as yours, but it has a good bore and metal with all matching parts.

[JeffinNZ]

The pre war LE's are beautiful.

[funnyjim014]

How dare you. Its pictures like that, that cause me to spend lots of money. Auesome piece of military shooting iron still out there banging out good groups

[gew98]

The pre war LE's are beautiful.

And super hard to comeby in original trim and matching. My matching 1911 enfield No1 MkIII shoots like a dream... but it's so original I have not shot it in some years !.The bore is cherry , and is th eearliest MkVII compliant as made SMLE I have yet seen - barrel is Mk VII and dated '11.