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Enfield No8

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AlanW View Drop Down
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    Posted: June 14 2015 at 2:52am
Hi,
I recently bought a 1951 dated, BSA purpose-made Enfield  No8, looks good, shoots well etc.
One thing I have noticed tho is it does not have the ejector screw hole on the left side of the action, bit of a pain as I was going to fit  Parker Hale sights and of course the PH front mount screw uses the ejector screw hole.
First thing I would like to know from knowledgeable members is, was this a common omission on No8s, I have other No4 Enfields and all have the ejector screw, was it just the modified No4 and 5 actions to No8s which retained them?
Secondly, is it a good idea to have my local gunsmith drill and tap the missing hole or it that committing the cardinal sin on this rifle?
Many thanks.  
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Zed View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Zed Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 15 2015 at 4:03am
Welcome to the Enfield Forum Alan.
I have  two No8's, one is a no4 receiver and the other is a No5. I'm sure at least one of them has the holes drilled and tapped for the PH sights, i will check and post photos when I get a minute (may be next weekend if I haven't got photos handy)
I have standard sights on both. They shoot really well; I would suggest considering keeping the original sights so you can shoot military small bore rifle competitions.
What I would suggest also is doing proper ammo tests with a variety of sub sonic rounds; the No8's seem to be very particular about what the shoot well. One of my rifles shoots Eley Team really well, in the other rifle it was the worst of 6 different makes. So it's worth experimenting!

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Shamu Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 15 2015 at 5:22am
There were 2 variants of the No8 IIRC. One had the P-H rearsight, but the other had the standard Enfield ladder.

http://rifleman.org.uk/Enfield_Rifle_No.8.html

Maybe only the "Match" rifles had the hole drilled but the "cadet" version didn't?

Even stranger, if you go to the link & scroll down there's a couple of shots of one fitted with a P-H No5 but its front bracket screw is NOT in the ejector hole, but up high on the charger bridge?
Stern SmileConfused
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Zed Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 15 2015 at 9:54am
Here's a photo of my two No8's and my no4  which is on the left.

The No8 based on the no5 receiver has the ejector screw hole and looks like it's had something fitted prior to my ownership. The no8 with the No4 receiver does not have the screw thread. This leads me to believe that this rifle was made from new parts made specifically for the No8; because if it was a converted No4 receiver the hole should be in it. It is a later number than the No5 receiver rifle.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Shamu Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 15 2015 at 1:15pm
Interesting, they both have the high up screw  hole & only one has the ejector screw hole.

Do they both have the "match foresight". I seem to remember the ones we had (with the standard micrometer sight) had blade front sights, but the ones with the P-H rear had the "doughnut in a tunnel" match sights.

(Quite possible my memory is "off" though. Its been decades.)
Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force)
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Zed Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 16 2015 at 4:17am
Both of these have the standard blade front sights with the protective ears. These are fitted into a dovetail section for easy replacement with a PH unit.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote A square 10 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 17 2015 at 9:44pm
lovely - can we see more of them ? 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Zed Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 18 2015 at 12:17pm
Any excuse for another photo! Here are both No8's after I had cleaned up and re-oiled the wood of the one with the No5 receiver. In the first photo above it was taken prior to the clean up.


They get regular use; much more than the .303's because my local club is only 50 metres.
I lent one of them to a friend at a competition a couple of weeks ago; when his rifle failed the trigger load check. He shot a 90/100 prone and 80/100 standing having only 5 practice shots. He beat me because I completely bummed the standing part; shooting 98/100 then 65/100. Needless to say I got a bit of stick about that!!Cry
But the up side is he may have got the Enfield bug!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Shamu Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 18 2015 at 12:24pm
I'm just drooling uncontrollably here.

They look the way I remember the "cadet" version looking. The "match" one had the PH rear (& probably) hooded match front.
Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force)
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote AlanW Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 19 2015 at 1:10am
Hi Zed, 
Sorry for the delay in replying thanks for the advice, again I've learned something new, I didn't know there were differences in the 2 variants, match and cadet (apart from the sights fitted).  Would the ejector screw hole be the only difference between them when they came from the factory?  I was tempted to have it drilled and tapped but if there are records somewhere showing mine was originally built as a cadet rifle maybe it's best to leave any alterations to the next owner and keep the ladder sights.
Love the photos, beautiful rifles, at what distance did you get your last competition scores?  I'm still trying to get consistent scores at 25yds with the American Eagle and Blazer ammo I was given and haven't shot out to 100 yet so as you say I'll give Ely a try.
What sling do you have fitted to yours, it doesn't look a standard Enfield one.
Thanks again, Alan
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Tony Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 20 2015 at 11:15am
Originally posted by Shamu Shamu wrote:

I'm just drooling uncontrollably here.

They look the way I remember the "cadet" version looking. The "match" one had the PH rear (& probably) hooded match front.


 It's an age thing like lack of bladder control!LOL
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Shamu Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 20 2015 at 3:07pm
Oohhh!Evil Smile
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Zed Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 22 2015 at 4:03am
Alan; our Competitions are at 50 metres. 10 rounds prone and 10 rounds standing on a C50 target.
Well spotted the the slings! They are not original to the No8. I got them from Charlie Surplus in Chicago (via their website); they advertise them as "snipper" slings. I'm not sure I believe their description but the extra web blocks prevent the slng from slipping and they are a good length.
 They appear original type manufacture with regard to the webbing and brass fittings etc; but I have not seen any other info on them apart from the seller's claim that they are for Enfield sniper rifles. But I am happy with them.
As for the ammo; stay subsonic and try lots of different types; obviously try and have a repeatable set up for comparison.

Zed.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote AlanW Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 22 2015 at 7:23am
Hi Zed, Tony and Shamu, thanks for the info, I'm going to take the advice and get a variety of ammo and start from there.  I was directed to the rifleman.org site which has a very informative article on the No8s.  I now know that my rifle was built as the cadet version and was never intended to have PH sights fitted, and so be it.
Zed, thanks for the sling site, they look ideal.  On the rifleman site there are photos showing shorter slings which are fixed between the trigger screw swivel and the butt swivel, do you know if these are universal target rifle slings?

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Zed Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 22 2015 at 12:02pm
The Rifleman site also has the original No8 handbook on PDF. So you can copy it. Lots of useful info including about fitting Match sights etc.

http://www.rifleman.org.uk/no8manual.html

Let me know what ammo works best for you.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Shamu Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 22 2015 at 12:45pm
"shorter slings which are fixed between the trigger screw swivel and the butt swivel"

The standard Khaki web sling will work that way.
Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force)
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