Notes on the No. 4 Mk 2 DCRA 7.62

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   I have my father’s friends DCRA 7.62, a 1950 PF No. 4 Mk 2 converted by Long Branch to 7.62 NATO (conversion serial number 590). It’s in exceptionally good condition, nicely finished Beech furniture.  Fitted with PH 5C rear sight. I suspect this was a rifle bought new in the wrap in the mid 1960’s. 

The barrel also looks exceptionally good, no pitting at all, no indication of any firecracking in the throat. As good as any modern match grade barrel I have seen. 

I also have his notebook and PH service rifle score book from the 1940’s thru 1960’s.  Norm was an officer in the Royal Canadian Artillery in WWII and a very accomplished Service Rifle shooter having shot with the DCRA for many years. He shot with the Canadian team to Bisley numerous times. His notebook contains an impressive list of trophies and medals. 

He was one of the early DCRA members who attempted to get the 7.62 conversions to shoot. His No. 4 has some interesting forend bedding modifications (allowed by the DCRA at that time). Reading his notes from 1966/67, the last configuration he worked on before he passed away was with the barrel nearly entirely bedded in the forend with polyester resin to the muzzle. He never got to shoot it in this final configuration.  Going thru his notebook and scorebook, he had only put about 200 rounds thru the barrel. 

Eventually, the UK NRA and DCRA figured out the problem with the DCRA conversions was poor quality of 7.62 service ammunition. This was true of UK and Canadian service ball ammunition. With a good match bullet and handloads, these are probably the best shooting No. 4 rifles. 

Here is my third 10 shot 200 yard group, shot prone in the sling with my handloads: 168 Sierra MatchKing, 40.0 grains of Varget.  First shot was low in the 10 ring, so held a bit higher on the front sight, remaining 9 shots all in the X ring but one, a 10.9. This rifle shoots, no question about it. 

At some point, I’ll bring this rifle back to the range and shoot it at 300, 600, 800 and 1000 yds. Curious how the forend bedding does at longer ranges. 

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britrifles Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: February 03 2018 Location: Georgia, USA Status: Offline Points: 8404	Post Options Post Reply Quote britrifles Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Notes on the No. 4 Mk 2 DCRA 7.62 Posted: December 01 2024 at 9:44am
	I have my father’s friends DCRA 7.62, a 1950 PF No. 4 Mk 2 converted by Long Branch to 7.62 NATO (conversion serial number 590). It’s in exceptionally good condition, nicely finished Beech furniture. Fitted with PH 5C rear sight. I suspect this was a rifle bought new in the wrap in the mid 1960’s. The barrel also looks exceptionally good, no pitting at all, no indication of any firecracking in the throat. As good as any modern match grade barrel I have seen. I also have his notebook and PH service rifle score book from the 1940’s thru 1960’s. Norm was an officer in the Royal Canadian Artillery in WWII and a very accomplished Service Rifle shooter having shot with the DCRA for many years. He shot with the Canadian team to Bisley numerous times. His notebook contains an impressive list of trophies and medals. He was one of the early DCRA members who attempted to get the 7.62 conversions to shoot. His No. 4 has some interesting forend bedding modifications (allowed by the DCRA at that time). Reading his notes from 1966/67, the last configuration he worked on before he passed away was with the barrel nearly entirely bedded in the forend with polyester resin to the muzzle. He never got to shoot it in this final configuration. Going thru his notebook and scorebook, he had only put about 200 rounds thru the barrel. Eventually, the UK NRA and DCRA figured out the problem with the DCRA conversions was poor quality of 7.62 service ammunition. This was true of UK and Canadian service ball ammunition. With a good match bullet and handloads, these are probably the best shooting No. 4 rifles. Here is my third 10 shot 200 yard group, shot prone in the sling with my handloads: 168 Sierra MatchKing, 40.0 grains of Varget. First shot was low in the 10 ring, so held a bit higher on the front sight, remaining 9 shots all in the X ring but one, a 10.9. This rifle shoots, no question about it. At some point, I’ll bring this rifle back to the range and shoot it at 300, 600, 800 and 1000 yds. Curious how the forend bedding does at longer ranges.

DarioPirovano Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: May 20 2023 Location: Italy Status: Offline Points: 219	Post Options Post Reply Quote DarioPirovano Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: December 01 2024 at 11:21am
	That’s a laser!!!

Canuck Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Special Member Donating Member Joined: January 17 2012 Location: Cochrane, AB Status: Offline Points: 4021	Post Options Post Reply Quote Canuck Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: December 01 2024 at 12:37pm
	That sir is awesome shooting! I aspire to duplicate this performance with my DCRA 7.62.
	Castles made of sand slip into the sea.....eventually

Mayhem Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: February 06 2016 Location: Australia Status: Offline Points: 335	Post Options Post Reply Quote Mayhem Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: December 01 2024 at 3:07pm
	Very impressive but I don't believe that is ALL the rifle.
	.303 - Helping Englishmen express their feelings since 1889

A square 10 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Special Member Donating Member Joined: December 12 2006 Location: MN , USA Status: Offline Points: 16997	Post Options Post Reply Quote A square 10 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: December 01 2024 at 5:50pm
	wow that is a brand new looking barrel

britrifles Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: February 03 2018 Location: Georgia, USA Status: Offline Points: 8404	Post Options Post Reply Quote britrifles Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: December 01 2024 at 6:14pm
	Yes, it is. I had to turn the borescope light intensity way town, the bore is so bright it reflected too much light into the camera. Except for the new CBI .303 barrel I installed on my Fulton 4 Mk I/3 earlier this year, this is the nicest barrel I have on any of my No. 4’s. Looking through my score book plot sheets, I found one 300 yard target I shot a few weeks after the one I posted above. Wished I had taken a photo of it. The group was even tighter, the vertical spread was less than 1 MOA for the ten shots. I’ll need to do some additional shooting with this rifle, I’m very curious how it will do at 600 yds, and perhaps try the 168 gr TMK as well at long range. I wished Dad’s friend Norm could have seen this. I also have my Dad’s DCRA 7.62, now with 2300 rounds thru it. I shoot it several times a year at long range (800 and 1000 yds) and have posted results on this forum. It shoots quite well, but now wonder if Norm’s DCRA will shoot even better.

Shamu Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group Logo Designer / Donating Member Joined: April 25 2007 Location: MD, USA. Status: Offline Points: 20510	Post Options Post Reply Quote Shamu Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: December 01 2024 at 7:32pm
	That is just sweeet!
	Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force)

Sapper740 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: July 15 2021 Location: Texas Status: Offline Points: 1737	Post Options Post Reply Quote Sapper740 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: December 02 2024 at 5:17am
	Wow! That is definitely a shooter you have there. It's funny how 40 grains of Varget seems to be the perfect load for Lee Enfield rifles whether you're shooting .303 or 7.62.

britrifles Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: February 03 2018 Location: Georgia, USA Status: Offline Points: 8404	Post Options Post Reply Quote britrifles Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: December 02 2024 at 7:46am
	Agree. Varget (ADI AR2208) just plain works in the No. 4 .303 and .308/7.62. They have pretty similar case capacities and very similar bullet weights. I've had mixed results with Varget in .30-06, possibly because of the low load densities (large airspace). H4895 is a better choice for the .30-06. For long range shooting (800 and 1000 yds) with my other (Dad's) DCRA, I've pumped up the load to 44 grains of Varget with the 168 grain Tipped MatchKing. It's a stout load for sure, about equivalent in pressure to the 7.62 NATO loads at the time (and a mid range load per the Hodgdon load tables for .308 Win). The critical variable here with this load is to NOT seat the TMK to magazine length, that will substantially increase pressures, it is a much longer bullet than the 168 grain SMK. I seat the TMK to within 0.020 inches from the lands, 2.95 inches in the Long Branch 7.62 barrel.

Rossfield Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: June 08 2024 Location: Nova Albion Status: Offline Points: 37	Post Options Post Reply Quote Rossfield Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: April 01 2025 at 11:37pm
	It's surprising how many of the conversion rifles have pristine barrels, and the barrels are found loose as well where a heavier barrel was fitted later, often an Enfield hammer-forged example. I suppose it reflects the relatively short period these barrels were used in compeition. I've probably seen a dozen and don't remember any that showed significant wear.