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Who knows how to adjust SMLE sights for windage? I have acquired an Aussie 303 from 1944 and an Ishapore 308 from 1967. One hits left the other right. If I can get the sights centered 18" steel at 400 yards will be no problem. | ||
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One of Us |
IIRC, many SMLE's had the windage adjustment wheel pinned in place and they are not adjustable. But I would post your question on the milsurp forum. Mike Legistine actu quod scripsi? Never under estimate the internet community's ability to reply to your post with their personal rant about their tangentially related, single occurrence issue.  What I have learned on AR, since 2001: 1. The proper answer to: Where is the best place in town to get a steak dinner? is…You should go to Mel's Diner and get the fried chicken. 2. Big game animals can tell the difference between .015 of an inch in diameter, 15 grains of bullet weight, and 150 fps. 3. There is a difference in the performance of two identical projectiles launched at the same velocity if they came from different cartridges. 4. While a double rifle is the perfect DGR, every 375HH bolt gun needs to be modified to carry at least 5 down. 5. While a floor plate and detachable box magazine both use a mechanical latch, only the floor plate latch is reliable. Disregard the fact that every modern military rifle uses a detachable box magazine. 6. The Remington 700 is unreliable regardless of the fact it is the basis of the USMC M40 sniper rifle for 40+ years with no changes to the receiver or extractor and is the choice of more military and law enforcement sniper units than any other rifle. 7. PF actions are not suitable for a DGR and it is irrelevant that the M1, M14, M16, & AK47 which were designed for hunting men that can shoot back are all PF actions. 8. 95 deg F in Africa is different than 95 deg F in TX or CA and that is why you must worry about ammunition temperature in Africa (even though most safaris take place in winter) but not in TX or in CA. 9. The size of a ding in a gun's finish doesn't matter, what matters is whether it’s a safe ding or not. 10. 1 in a row is a trend, 2 in a row is statistically significant, and 3 in a row is an irrefutable fact. 11. Never buy a WSM or RCM cartridge for a safari rifle or your go to rifle in the USA because if they lose your ammo you can't find replacement ammo but don't worry 280 Rem, 338-06, 35 Whelen, and all Weatherby cartridges abound in Africa and back country stores. 12. A well hit animal can run 75 yds. in the open and suddenly drop with no initial blood trail, but the one I shot from 200 yds. away that ran 10 yds. and disappeared into a thicket and was not found was lost because the bullet penciled thru. I am 100% certain of this even though I have no physical evidence. 13. A 300 Win Mag is a 500 yard elk cartridge but a 308 Win is not a 300 yard elk cartridge even though the same bullet is travelling at the same velocity at those respective distances. | |||
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| One of Us |
On ALL Enfield rifles elevation AND windage adjustment is done on the foresight. So to zero each change of sight raises the impact of the shot so much at 100 yards. The sights are stamped with their height to do this. I once wrote an article on this. On the Mk III sight on the No4, that is the 300/600 two position sight zeroing was done WITH THE BAYONET FIXED. On the SMLE elevation is done on the foresight AND as every other Enfield windage adjustment is done on the foresight too. The windage adjustable backsight is there to correct for local consistent wind problems. Say shooting with an all the time blowing wind from left to right. Or a specific target where it is a better sight picture if you aim at that part. Say a hidden fire slit to the left or right of a clearly visible window. It is NOT there to correct for a poor relationship between foresight position and point of impact. Set BOTH rearsights to zero windage. Shoot one round at tewnty-five yards. Unscrew the front muzzle/foresight protector. Carefully drift the front sight in its groove. A specific tool is best, if not SUPPORT the foresight block on a piece of wood that takes up the gap between it and the barrel if laid side on on a tabletop. Adjust sight. Re-assemble muzzle/foresight protector. Test shoot. Repeat. And, yes, it is that bloody slow! SMLE sight adjusters can be bought of eBay and the like. | |||
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| One of Us |
Thanks for the replies. I ended up doing it the old fashioned way. Removed the muzzle cap/front sight protector and went to work with a hammer and punch. One of them drifted fairly easily, the other required a spray of WD-40 to soak in for a couple of hours. Now back to the range with tools and get them dialed in to center... | |||
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Id be tempted to knock the rear sight off and mount a peep or receiver sight on one of them..Sounds like a night mare, but Sagebrushes post of drifting the rear sight makes more since than anything else I read. Ray Atkinson Atkinson Hunting Adventures 10 Ward Lane, Filer, Idaho, 83328 208-731-4120 rayatkinsonhunting@gmail.com | |||
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| One of Us |
Looks like Ray was awake on this one. Have to agree. Elevation and windage adjustability off some form of a rear aperture sight makes waaay more sense. The Brits alway did things backwards. Hence, why they needed the U.S. to come save their asses in two world wars.  All The Best ... | |||
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| One of Us |
My efforts at drifting the front sights were successful. Luck as much as anything, but "whacking" to what seemed like a good spot worked. Been back to the range a couple of times and sights are very close to dead center for windage. Been hitting 18" round steel regularly at ranges out to 400 yards. It sure is fun to see the steel move and hear the impact! | |||
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