Thinking about doing a repro L42A1 build based on bubba'd Enfield No4Mk1. Need a recommendation for a gunsmith/barrel manufacturer who will do a custom contour and mount and headspace the barrel (As well as install modified front sight to mimic L42A1)
Need gunsmith recommendation to barrel L42A1 Clone
- Thread starter Recon_Scout
- Start date
He does smithing too the last account I had. Whether or not he'll take on the job is a different story. Last I talked to him he had a pretty good back log.
If you're going to do an L42 clone in 7.62 you will need a 19T proofed bolt body and bolt head.
Why not just buy a real original L42a1 and be done with it?
The correct scope and bracket will set you back 4k, IF you can find one.
If you're going to do an L42 clone in 7.62 you will need a 19T proofed bolt body and bolt head.
Why not just buy a real original L42a1 and be done with it?
The correct scope and bracket will set you back 4k, IF you can find one.
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Before you proceed, I recommend reading the book, The Matchless Enfield .303 No 4 Mk 1 (T) Sniper (2019), by Jeff John
Specifically the section on making a reproduction of the No 4 Mk 1 (T), pages 59-61:
"This is a difficult project requiring a skilled gunsmith with access to a mill and lathe. You face the same problems H&H did aligning the scope with the bore without the jigs and fixtures (which are cheap when making 25,000 rifles, and really expensive for making one). Thames Valley Guns in the UK is the gunsmith I've found who does these conversions. He doesn't export out of the UK, but he has written a tutorial about the problems, and it is well worth reading before expending the effort to acquire all the parts"
The author noted that he installed a reproduction No 32 scope on his original No 4 T sniper rifle:
"Sadly, it is nowhere near capable of zeroing without heroic effort. After seeing how far off it was (almost 16 inches low and 8 inches left at 100 yards), I better appreciated the work involved in fitting the pads initially, and why they were considered "married" and not interchangeable."
...My take is that a specialist on the Enfield platform who is experienced in mounting the two scope pads correctly, is a critical skill. My 2cts.
Specifically the section on making a reproduction of the No 4 Mk 1 (T), pages 59-61:
"This is a difficult project requiring a skilled gunsmith with access to a mill and lathe. You face the same problems H&H did aligning the scope with the bore without the jigs and fixtures (which are cheap when making 25,000 rifles, and really expensive for making one). Thames Valley Guns in the UK is the gunsmith I've found who does these conversions. He doesn't export out of the UK, but he has written a tutorial about the problems, and it is well worth reading before expending the effort to acquire all the parts"
The author noted that he installed a reproduction No 32 scope on his original No 4 T sniper rifle:
"Sadly, it is nowhere near capable of zeroing without heroic effort. After seeing how far off it was (almost 16 inches low and 8 inches left at 100 yards), I better appreciated the work involved in fitting the pads initially, and why they were considered "married" and not interchangeable."
...My take is that a specialist on the Enfield platform who is experienced in mounting the two scope pads correctly, is a critical skill. My 2cts.
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@Random Guy I have been able to install the pads without much problem on a No4Mi1(t) repro I did using another bubba'd Enfield by following Peter Laider's articles on milsurps:
https://www.milsurps.com/content.ph...r-Laidler)&s=c4ca16b6ac0978e35ce3432933101786
What I do not have at home is a lathe to install and profile the barrel, hence the need for a gunsmith. Unfortunately most gunsmiths today only want to work on R700 clones and Savage and installing and profiling a barrel on a relic is something they don't want to do.
I'm sure he could at least point you in the right direction, or maybe even source a proper barrel.
Ultimately decided to part with my L42 clone build desire, if any of you want to take this on its here:
