Scpoing the SMLE

[Texas by God]

Who has one with a good scope setup.
Mine is shooter grade so drilling and tapping is ok.
I've looked at old threads but nothing has jumped out as solid to me.

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[samari46]

Williams Gun Sight company sells a side mount plate that will fit the flat sided #4 style actions and there is another piece that fits the plate. Weaver may still sell a one piece base that fits on the charger guide and requires holes in the charger guide and front receiver ring. You can use either Weaver rings or Burris Zee rings that have the polymer inserts to prevent ring damage to the scope. And failing all that good old angle iron. Don't laugh as there are few threads showing how the angle iron was modified to fit on the #4 action body. Frank

[Thin Man]

S&K Scope Mounts makes "bolt on" bases for most of the SMLE patterns. Both of these replace the original rear sight with no alteration to the rifle. As the #1 has a barrel-mounted rear sight you will need an extended eye relief "scout" scope. I have used their bases on several of the #4 patterns and find them very satisfactory. Considering there is no alteration to the rifle, no machine work to be done, and the process can be reverted to original configuration, this may be your best bet.

[KCSO]

Go to the SMLE Collector site to see some that work including one made of angle iron. IMHO the screw on mounts hold zero better than the clamp on. The Weaver uses a tip off mount and 22 rings and is not as sturdy as the side mount.

[Der Gebirgsjager]

Here's the last one I did:

205485

First I tried an S&K mount, because I've always had good luck with them, but then changed it out for an ATI because the method of attachment seemed more solid. On the rifle both look very similar. There is no drilling/tapping involved, the charger guide is used. I just checked and the ATI is available from Walmart for just under $35.

[Texas by God]

Here's the last one I did:

205485

First I tried an S&K mount, because I've always had good luck with them, but then changed it out for an ATI because the method of attachment seemed more solid. On the rifle both look very similar. There is no drilling/tapping involved, the charger guide is used. I just checked and the ATI is available from Walmart for just under $35.I was thinking of the ATI mount but wasn't sure of the solidness of the clamping. I don't like the IER scope setups and thanks for the replies everyone but I did state it was a SMLE not a #4. Der Gebirgsjager; if it's good enough for you, it's good enough for me. Thanks all!

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[beemer]

I have used the Weaver TO-1 that fits the charger bridge and the receiver ring on several rifles with no problems, it will work on both the #1 and the #4. The rifle does have to be drilled and tapped. I added a piece to the butt stock similar to the sniper rifle.

It does use tip-off rings but it has a stop crimped in the rail. On one I added a stop to place the scope for proper eye relief. Just buy a set of quality rings.

I would just look at all options, not one size fits all and once those holes are bored, well you know. With a bit of tinkering and load work a good Enfield will do much better than most people think. Hope you find what works for you.

Dave

[Texas by God]

Thanks, Dave.I'll check into that one also.

[W.R.Buchanan]

Here's the last one I did:

205485

First I tried an S&K mount, because I've always had good luck with them, but then changed it out for an ATI because the method of attachment seemed more solid. On the rifle both look very similar. There is no drilling/tapping involved, the charger guide is used. I just checked and the ATI is available from Walmart for just under $35.

This is the way to mount a scope on a #4 Mk1

It is the easiest way and you can go back if you want to. Either S&K or ATI will do the same thing.

Randy

[John 242]

Who has one with a good scope setup.
Mine is shooter grade so drilling and tapping is ok.
I've looked at old threads but nothing has jumped out as solid to me.

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This is a Williams mount I installed a while ago on an SMLE. I've done a couple more since and have only used the Williams, so I can't comment on the others.
206361

206362

Although installing them is easy (using a mill), you must remove the charger guide.
The ring caps are a little thin, but serviceable. When installed, the mount is rigid.
What I don't like about this mount is that it is VERY high above the bore. You end up with a "chin weld" to the original Enfield buttstock, as opposed to a cheek weld. I suppose an aftermarket stock with a cheek rest would make the gun more shootable, but... the scope is very high.

Looking at Der Gebirgsjager's pictures, that scope looks high as well.

[Texas by God]

I have an idea to low mount a base on top of the front ring with the rear part inside & pinned to the charger bridge. Wheels are turning because I like low mounts too.

[Ballistics in Scotland]

The SMLE is less easy to scope with home-made mounts than the flat-sided No4.

On a rifle like this I would like the 1950s external adjustment Bausch and Lomb scopes, in which I have a great belief. They are suitably archaic and yet have good optical performance. They did make bases for both Lee-Enfield actions, but I would be wary of this firm, which I have heard was taken over by someone of uncertain reliability after a fire and the owner's retirement. It does give a good picture of the merchandise, though, and you might find the right mount on eBay if you put up a followed search with e-mailed notifications. That is how I got one for my Mannlicher-Schoenauer. They also used to be marketed under the name Kuharsky.

http://www.bauschandlombscopemounts.freeservers.com/index.htm

[Texas by God]

Thanks BiS. I've had a couple of B&L scopes over the years; they were optically perfect but in my youthful ignorance I sold or traded them because of the fine crosshairs. I do remember making profit on both however!

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[jsn]

This guy may have something of interest:

http://www.specialinterestarms.com/index.php?page=enfield_accessories

[StolzerandSons]

I built this for my wife many moons ago. The scout mount works very well.
206553

[Texas by God]

I love the stock on yours. What make/model of receiver sight is that?

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[StolzerandSons]

Williams but I don't remember the exact model, it's one of the flat sided ones though. That was one of the first projects I did when I was apprenticing as a gunsmith. Set the barrel back a thread, re-chambered, cut the bridge, reshaped the trigger guard, peep rear sight, scout base soldered on, polishing, rust blue, stocked(w/cross pin and ebony tip) from an almost exhibition grade piece of walnut that I got for cheap because it had a few small visible checks. I hand rubbed that stock a few drops at a time for more layers than I can remember till it felt like my fingertips fell off. Engraved the grip cap...it seems like an eternity ago now.

[Reverend Al]

Not sure how much you want to spend on the project, but if you want a high quality mount you might want to look into Addley Precision. He might have a US distributor that sells his mounts?

http://addleyprecision.com/

[longbow]

Here's another vote for the S&K no gunsmithing scope mounts. I have two and they work well.

Longbow

[Ballistics in Scotland]

I have an idea to low mount a base on top of the front ring with the rear part inside & pinned to the charger bridge. Wheels are turning because I like low mounts too.

That is an idea which has always appealed to me. It is a short receiver ring, but one that escaping gas can't get into as it can with a front locking action. I believe I would use Redfield-style mounts with the rotary part at the front end. Then you only need to get the rear mount level with it, as you have coarse windage adjustment in the mount.

I believe I would keep the charger guide, or something replacing it. Temporarily remove it, and you could silver solder the rear mount to it. I must admit I would prefer to keep anodised aluminium alloy away from a rifle like this. In the words of Gilbert and Sullivan, true love must be without alloy.

[Texas by God]

We are thinking along the same lines but I'm not opposed to the windage end being on the front if need be.

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[higgins]

If any of you Enfield tinkerers have one, I need a dark walnut forearm or cutoff forearm tip for a No.4 Mk1. I'm trying to restore a Long Branch No.4 that was sporterized by cutting the forearm just forward of the barrel band.

[Clark]

207278
This is a pic off the early internet ~~ 16 years ago.
Google search image... it was exactly 16 years ago
http://www.303british.com/id32.html

207279
Here is a pic of my early gunsmithing, trying to copy that pic. It works... but not as elegant.

[egg250]

I had used the ATI "friction" mount on my SMLE. I could not keep it from shifting. At one range session, after about 15 shots, the mount popped off the gun. I then dimpled the loading charger guide for the set screws to rest in, but still found it would not hold a zero. My SMLE is now just set up with open sights.

[CASTER OF LEAD]

207647 Not the best picture and I have no idea what base that is on it, or who might have done the work , but it is solid and it has some version of an Alpine scope on it. It belonged to my cousin who passed last year. I was fortunate enough to buy it before it went to the public market. Hope I helped you some. - CASTER

[Texas by God]

Caster I'm sorry anout your cousin. That sort of looks Weaver-ish. I like how low it sits.

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[CASTER OF LEAD]

Caster I'm sorry anout your cousin. That sort of looks Weaver-ish. I like how low it sits.

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Texas by God, i think your right about it being weaverish. It shoots jwords pretty well and when i first took possession of it my dad and I shot quite a few PP boolits through it. After a severe barrel scouring. Years of grunge built up in there. It still isn't like a mirror, but it looks WAY WAY better than it did and accuracy has improved dramatically with jwords. Looking forward to shooting some cast out of it(non PPthat is).- CASTER

[screwcutter]

TBG,
Checkout this thread, I posted pic of one I made for a No4, one similar could be fit to a SMLE.
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?290136-Scoping-a-No-4-Enfield

[303Guy]

https://s19.postimg.org/4mfj84qhb/MVC-814F.jpg (https://postimg.org/image/4mfj84qhb/)
https://s19.postimg.org/kffwazt73/MVC-843F.jpg (https://postimg.org/image/kffwazt73/)
https://s19.postimg.org/auw9o6gqn/MVC-845F.jpg (https://postimg.org/image/auw9o6gqn/)

I made this scope base from an alloy bicycle crank arm. It's keyed, glued and screwed onto the charger bridge and glued and screwed onto the receiver ring. You can see the receiver ring part has been turned to suit the radius of the ring. That thing is so solid it survived the drop test.

I machined the dovetails after mounting. It wasn't quite finished at that stage.

I happen to have a long neck so for me a high scope is better plus the butt fits me well. Recoil is no problem since the gun is fitted with a semi-suppressor.

[CASTER OF LEAD]

https://s19.postimg.org/4mfj84qhb/MVC-814F.jpg (https://postimg.org/image/4mfj84qhb/)
https://s19.postimg.org/kffwazt73/MVC-843F.jpg (https://postimg.org/image/kffwazt73/)
https://s19.postimg.org/auw9o6gqn/MVC-845F.jpg (https://postimg.org/image/auw9o6gqn/)

I made this scope base from an alloy bicycle crank arm. It's keyed, glued and screwed onto the charger bridge and glued and screwed onto the receiver ring. You can see the receiver ring part has been turned to suit the radius of the ring. That thing is so solid it survived the drop test.

I machined the dovetails after mounting. It wasn't quite finished at that stage.

I happen to have a long neck so for me a high scope is better plus the butt fits me well. Recoil is no problem since the gun is fitted with a semi-suppressor.

Nice work there 303guy. Looks good. Just goes to show how if ya have the will there is a way. Of course the proper tools make it a lot easier. Lol Thanks for sharing . - CASTER

[Texas by God]

I'm taking 303guy's lead sort of. I'm using a #82 (HandiRifle) Weaver base. Here I've glued it using ductseal and candle wax to keep the JBweld in place. I'll drill&tap the front and blind pin the back, then re paint the old girl.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20171213/448c7f829967ea5d5620432a3c93fbf4.jpg

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[Texas by God]

Every time I see my mis-typed title of this thread I envision a spring getting launched who knows where.....

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[HollowPoint]

You need a milling machine to make it but this is my version of mounting a scope on an Enfield. It's secured at the center with a small L-bracket and a screw and at the rear I used the same cross-pin that secured the factory peep site.

The very front is secured simply by a layer of two-sided tape. Since the recoil force is upward toward the underside of the scope mount, the two-sided tape serves both as a sort of vibration dampener and a semi permanent attachment point. I've had it in place for a few years now and it's held solid. This particular rifle is strictly a cast bullet shooter so the recoil is generally not that great.

HollowPoint

[Texas by God]

I've made notes of all the #4 mounts and thanks to all who showed them; but this thread is about a #1 mkIII SMLE- very different.

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[2152hq]

A couple of No1 rifles that I've had came to me w/scopes on them. They were both fitted with a Weaver base (#TO-1 I believe is the Weaver base number).
Simple 2 screws into the rec'vr ring and one into the charger bridge.
They held fine and shot accurately. They'd be simple to install. The SMLE recv'rs are not hard.
Bolt needs no alteration with any reasonable mount height, the manual Safety a non-issue of course.

Don't know about the #4 rifle,,never had any interest in those.

I did remove the scope and mounts on both and plugged the holes making them go away as the rifles were being restored.
But if I were to want a scope on one, that is what I would use. I'm not a fan of optics so it may never come to pass.
But age has a way of changing your mind sometimes..

[Duster340]

What are you all doing to raise the comb/cheek piece on the stock? I removed my scope and mount cause I just did not like having to lift my head to see through the scope. Thought about finding a cheap stock and add some wood, them shape to suit me. But would love hear about any other options. Be well all.

[Texas by God]

Duster, that's why I'm trying to get this mount as low as I can.
I can't stand high mounted scopes. I had a Romanian PSL and I had to bite the stock and use my left eye to use the scope.

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[Texas by God]

Here it is glued and screwed. I don't feel pinning is needed. I made anchor points in the mount and filled the stripper notches with JB weld. I hope it works, it looks as good as the gun does. In keeping with the economy theme my scope choice is a 4x I had in the cabinet. It's still higher than I wanted but hey.
Thomas https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20171217/da43022ea01dcaf2361b119cbaa0a38a.jpg

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[Clark]

Every time I see my mis-typed title of this thread I envision a spring getting launched who knows where.....

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My first No 4 Enfield scope base had an epoxy connection. That scope popped off with the first shot. That was ~ 17 years ago.

Since then I have epoxy in compression. The shear and tension forces in any center fire are countered with drilled and tapped holes in the receiver.
I could probably get away with an epoxy connection in rimfire, but I have not done it.

[Texas by God]

I plan on shooting 40 full power rounds on It's first outing. That should tell me something.

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[Texas by God]

This is at 40 yds, the targdot is 1".
Sierra 180 sp.
I may take it hunting tomorrow.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20171225/15cdb6a5e90970abad3925dbdcb0a713.jpg

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[leebuilder]

That's outstanding. Good luck!

[Texas by God]

One of my nephews has claimed it as his truck gun. He's going to use PPU 174gr sp ammo for the purpose. We sighted it in and as long as we let the barrel cool after every 3 shots it will keep it's shots under 2" at 100 yds.

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[Oily]

Sarco I believe had a repro add on wooden comb riser for the MK4 for the sniper configuration. I have the ATI mount which is great but the scope is too high for a cheek weld

[Texas by God]

I installed this mount low enough for me to use without a cheek pad but he may find he wants one.

[CamoWhamo]

Here in Australia, we get the Lynx scope bases and rings to suit No1 MkIII and No4's.

These need the action to be drilled and tapped.

The Australian supplier is www.lynxoptics.com.au but i believe the lynx brand is made in South Africa.

This is my No4 Mk1, custom chambered in .375/444 Marlin with a Lynx base and rings. Scope is a Leupold VX-3i 1.5-3x20.

212397

[725]

Welcome aboard. Love to hear how folks do various things to their rifles. I like the mount.