Milsurp After Hours

On the way to the Trafalgar meeting, we called at a gunshop where I bought this rifle. I have been wanting one of these for a while and I thought this was OK so I bought it. It is a 1966 dated 2A1 in 7.62mm. It shoots OK and I like it. It is painted black that has worn off in places but seems to be in quite good condition.

A few pics.
The sight marked to 800 yards or metres?
The square nose cap.
The butt markings. I wonder where numbers 1 to 59 are?
The socket stamps.
I am pleased to have this rifle.

Regards

Peter.

I got the 2A first and then the 2A1. The 2A1 has the 800 meter sight and the original 2A the longer, same as 303 ladder sight in yards. For a long while the 2A was considered C&R in the US but not the 2A1, although in the last year or two that changed.

I think all of the 2A's and 2A1's have painted rack numbers on the stock.

Both versions have been pretty available in the US recently because of a shipment in the last year or so. They should prove to be scarce before long as not all that many were made to start with. The 2A's are suspected to be more rare and made in the 50k or so number. It is really unknown exactly how many of either were made although you can find speculation online in a number of places.

Nice rifles boys.

I'd get one in Aussie only they want a premium for them for some reason. Probably aren't that many around. And I'll probably see one for a reasonable price now I've bought the Cadet and have no gun money.

I wonder if the rack number show a standardisation across India or they're all from the same source ?

I have #'s 885 & 125 both are 2A's and both have like new bores.

Nice looking rifle Peter, i could quite fancy one myself in that condition.

Do you shoot it often?

Joe

looks to be a keeper for sure , the one i used to have was a fairly good shooter , this should serve you well

Sometimes the barresl can be real tight and get hot fast with surplusammo.

I use lead in mine now, works real good.

Chris

I had been looking for the magazine that had this information in it for months and found it while looking for something else just a while ago.

From the Gibbs Military Collector Journal Inaugural Issue, and maybe only issue, Lt. Col. Robert W. Edwards, well known for being an authority on Indian Enfields states this opinion:

Finally, by the early 1980's, the Rifle 2A/2A1 had been completely replaced at all levels by the Rifle 1A and was retired to storage. Total production for the 2A and 2A1 between 1960 and 1974 amounted to about 400,000 weapons-- approximately 125,000 2A's and 275,000 2A1's.

Oops. I never answered your question Joe. I have shot it a couple of times and plan to take it on the next range day at Strensall next month when I should be able to go back to 600 yards with it. I have some South African and RG ball to try and also some MEN that I got when I bought the rifle. I shot it at Bisley and it shot OK. The first rounds I shot were hitting the snap target at 200 yards.

Regards

Peter

I updated this post to post the photos direct rather than by Photobucket link that no longer works.
Regards
Peter.