'New' SMLE Lithgow arrived. I won't keep this one - it's for my buddy.

[303Guy]

Nope. I won't keep it (but the temptation is there!) It's in good condition, matching numbers, rather cleverly if not roughly sporterized. Here the pictures. It didn't happen without pictures! :mrgreen:

http://i388.photobucket.com/albums/oo327/303Guy/1939LithgowSMLESporter006_zps3945a98d.jpg (http://s388.photobucket.com/user/303Guy/media/1939LithgowSMLESporter006_zps3945a98d.jpg.html)
http://i388.photobucket.com/albums/oo327/303Guy/1939LithgowSMLESporter013_zps44d2416b.jpg (http://s388.photobucket.com/user/303Guy/media/1939LithgowSMLESporter013_zps44d2416b.jpg.html)
http://i388.photobucket.com/albums/oo327/303Guy/1939LithgowSMLESporter015_zps44f098ed.jpg (http://s388.photobucket.com/user/303Guy/media/1939LithgowSMLESporter015_zps44f098ed.jpg.html)
http://i388.photobucket.com/albums/oo327/303Guy/1939LithgowSMLESporter002_zps1d81470f.jpg (http://s388.photobucket.com/user/303Guy/media/1939LithgowSMLESporter002_zps1d81470f.jpg.html)

I like it. The added comb is angled and gives a firm check weld. I'm amazed at how steady I can hold the sights on a 'target'.

The barrel is hard over to one side in the barrel channel with the barrel band touching the side. The barrel band screw is missing (no sign of the screw hole in the fore-end) so it moves if pressed. I wonder what that does to accuracy?

http://i388.photobucket.com/albums/oo327/303Guy/1939LithgowSMLESporter008_zpsd0b3b7ce.jpg (http://s388.photobucket.com/user/303Guy/media/1939LithgowSMLESporter008_zpsd0b3b7ce.jpg.html)

The foresight is set to the right which I would expect as the barrel would whip to the right on firing, I'd expect. I'll bed the fore-end before giving it to him. I think I'll also remove the magazine cut-off. I have a use for that and he doesn't (or does he?)

I bears on both locking lugs. It doesn't look like a rifle that has been through the trenches. Not much sign of wear. The bore is dark but good.

[Dan Cash]

By Golly, a fellow should have a pair of them. That rifle is down right charming.

[303Guy]

Yes it is. I love it. My buddy will love it too. Not like the first one I bought for him. That one is downright ugly but I love it anyway! (Which is why I found him this one).

[GhostHawk]

Hmmmm seems like that rifle would grow on a person, could be dangerous. Could be a variant of Mosinitis.

Danger, DANGER Will Robinson!

As much as I would love to get into SMLE's I can not afford to.

[Multigunner]

A sporterized SMLE belonging to a friend wasn't grouping well. It had the barrel band in place screwed down tight.
I put plastic washers under the band so that when tightened the barrel lay on the bottom of the inside of the band with some upwards pressure. The rifle then shot very nicely indeed with very tight groups.

Barrel bands on the old Remingtton Model 30 sporting rifle were often found to have an adverse effect on accuracy, the rifles grouping better if the band were removed. You don't see such bands on modern sporting rifles.

[1johnlb]

Nice lithgow, 303guy. Here's mine, which for the most part is a safe queen and I'm no safe queen collector. Been contemplating selling it. Dressed in that beautiful caochwood stock, matching #'s and mint bore, 1919 lithgow. She's a tacdriver with 15gr 2400 and lee 324 sized down to 314.
124844

[leebuilder]

Nice one 303 guy. See ones like that once and a while. If they could only talk.

[Duster340]

Hey 303, very cool find. I love the character the old rifle has. She looks like she's gotten some real use, not stuck in a gun case somewhere. Again, very cool. Your buddy should be geeked to own it.

[303Guy]

That rifle was someone's hunting arm and must have seen quite some hunting. I wonder what battle action it might have seen. It's not well used so maybe it never made it to the front lines. If only it could speak. The fellow I bought it from never fired it.


She's a tacdriver with 15gr 2400 and lee 324 sized down to 314.
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=124844&d=1419086004&thumb=1

I'd be very happy with her as my safe queen. I'd hang her above the fireplace! Or just take her out for a light rub down and look through the bore. But with accuracy like that, why doesn't she get used more often?

I used to find the NO4 to be more attractive (it is a handsome rifle) but I have developed a yearning for the full battle dress SMLE.

[1johnlb]

[/QUOTE] But with accuracy like that, why doesn't she get used more often?[/QUOTE]

Coachwood stocks are known for splitting. Just picked up a NOE 314 129gr for a lite weight round to shoot, hopefully it will save wear and tear on her. She's a real head turner at the range, just don't like to carry it there much because of all the flying cases.

[303Guy]

That I can understand. I wouldn't want to harm her either. I should find some well used wood for one of mine to restore to full battle dress. Well used so I can take it out without concern. I have a good one that should shoot well. Or I could turn it into a brush gun. A brush gun in FBD.

[JeffinNZ]

Peter, that is the UGLIEST SMLE I have ever seen.

[303Guy]

It's not uglier than my other purchase (which is not an SMLE but it is uglier :mrgreen:). That Schnabel fore-end has a slot in the middle of it! It also has a 'negative' Wundhummer swell. But it feels OK and would be pretty easy to build up with bog - can't make it look any worse.:roll: But yes, it is pretty ugly. Ugly but cool.

[303Guy]

So I fired two paper patched boolits through her. The bore really needs fire-lapping but I can't seem to find my compound! Anyway, the the patch gets cut through and the core skids just a little, leaving a little lead at the muzzle. That was with 4.4grs of shotgun powder! I think the muzzle will either need to be cut back some or the crown cut deeper. But first the fire-lapping.

Obviously I haven't given it to him yet.

[bullet maker 57]

303 guy, I have some of the wood you mentioned.125442

[gwpercle]

Nice one! I'm a sucker for "sporterized" Lee-Enfield's and that one has had some TLC put into it!
I like it !
Gary

[303Guy]

303 guy, I have some of the wood you mentioned.Yes, that top wood is the one.

Nice one! I'm a sucker for "sporterized" Lee-Enfield's and that one has had some TLC put into it!Lee Enfields can be made into interesting sporters.

[303Guy]

It turns out this rifle's bore is a little rough and oversize (.306 at the muzzle). Today I found a paper patched boolit that fits the throat just fine. It's a paper patch candidate but not so much jacketed. On the other hand I do have an SMLE with a rather tight bore which is also a lot smoother. So, I'm thinking of swapping the stocks around and giving that one to my buddy. Unless of course I can get him into paper patching! Even so, the barrel may need to cut back a little, not too much of an issue. Unless I want to restore the fore-end to original. Either way I need to get it sorted soon.