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 and finally I got cloud today 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.
I'll be fitting a PH5A to it when I get back south.
Many thanks David.
Photos of the targets:
The rifle:
The ammunition:
