Milsurp After Hours

Here's a couple of AIA's offerings (usual disclaimer) I've handled some of them and they are good, even if they are a modern version of the No4 'Knuckle Buster'

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v174/Flaith/Enfields/AIAM10_A1.jpg[/pic]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v174/ ... No4Mk4.jpg[/pic]

Link:

http://www.australianinternationalarms.com.au/

Have a browse, there's some goodies in there.

PS. May have posted on these before, if so 'Sorry' but I did do a search and got 457 hits none of which (well the first page) mentioned them.

I had a look at one at Lawrance Ordnance years ago when they first came out. Thing that sticks in my memory was the weight.

I especially like the look of the L42A look-a-like. Although if I had the cash in kick to pay for one I'd probably spend it on something else.

They are a bit weighty; the beefed up body and the teak woodwork mostly.

If someone would give me one I reckon I could make a nice sporting rifle and with all the sharp edges filed off, pity they're not made in .303

There's a few around the ranges here in the UK, nice enough rifles but why bother when you can have a real one.

Nice to see the old action still being used though, the 7.62 x 39 is an interesting chambering, if I had the time I wouldn't mind a bit handloading play with one.

Shame they don't do them in .303" British.

Too many Rifles, too many loads, too little time.

Too many Rifles, too many loads, too little time.

Just not enough money

One of my pals here is lusting after a No:4 and keeps pestering the importers about non-mil calibers but he is probably pi**ing in the wind.

I think a Ak-mag version 7.62x39 would be very handy,I even ordered a chamber insert and did a mockup.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/ ... 0_1152.jpg[/pic]

Unfortunately the chamber adapter idea seems futile and the mag adapter would be a huge pita to align with the rails in the action.

And there are no US distributors listed on the website, I remember viewing these rifles at the '04 shot show and lusting after one even then. *sigh*

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v174/Flaith/Enfields/AIAM10_A1.jpg[/pic]

I've just acquired an M10A (the No5 clone) for my wife, as the 7.62x39 round is more to her liking than full-on .303".

The rifle itself is very solid and heavy, and it is very pleasant to shoot - very low recoil and quite a slick bolt action. Its also a comparatively cheap shooter, with Wolf 7.62x39 somewhere around £18/100.

This model is really quite a good girlie/novice gun. I haven't had a chance to try it at 200 & 300, but it also has the makings of being a handy little competition shooter on ETRs and other military practices.

I have found a few major glitches however:

1) The magazine well has too many false locations for the lip of the AK-type magazine (it accepts normal AK mags), so its too easy to get the mag jammed in a position where the magazine release catch is also locked. Only way out of this situation is to remove the triggerguard.

2) Windage adjustment is by drifting the foresight assembly across. Unfortunately, this is a very loose-fit dovetail where the only retention is by two coarse thread opposed screws. Slackening off one of these screws immediately gives a loose rattle fit to the foresight - thus making accurate adjustment impossible. Needs some sort of friction or click plate to control movement.

3) It appears impossible to zero the rifle within the sight adjustment range - looks like a factory design fault. The rearsight is similar to the Mk2 flip-sight as found on the No4. My rifle shoots off to the left, but there is insufficient travel in the foresight to correct this.

One saving grace of the M10 is that you can fit any of the Enfield No4 rearsights to it. I was going to use a Mk1 micrometer rearsight and re-mill the markings to match the 7.62x39 ballistics, but the rifle sighting error in (3) means that the sight would have to be ground on one side and shimmed on the other to get the windage correct. I've now dug out a PH4 adjustable rearsight, and this solves the sighting problem.

I did try emailing AIA to see if they had a PDF handbook, or some advice about the sighting error - but of course they never bother to reply. I don't know who the UK importer is.

For the sight if you slacken 1/2 a turn and then tighten the opposite screw half a turn that would make it more precise, its how the SLR rear sight was done!

I've just bought one of these from Fultons at Bisley. Paid £425, for a new one which seems quite a good price. I'm looking forward to shooting it .Haven't fired it yet as I'm waiting for FAC to be returned with the variation.