Range Report: .22 SMLE Trainer
Posted: Sat Aug 13, 2005 1:22 pm
Is everyone away on holiday this month? It's certainly quiet on the forum at the moment.
I have no exciting new purchases to share but thought that you might be interested to hear how I'm getting on with the new toy.
Here's a picture of one of this morning's targets shot at 50 yards from a sandbag on the bench. I was moaning about not being able to see where my bullets were striking through my binoculars when a mate who visits America regularly gave me a couple of Birchwood Casey Shoot N C targets to try. I stuck one in the centre of one of our standard targets and my first round cut the 9 ring. A slight adjustment in point of aim and I was in the middle.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/ ... G_0999.jpg[/pic]
The problem with the standard SMLE sights is that the foresight blade disappears when set against a black target. The bright green splashes on this target gave me a clear point of aim and any reservations I might have had about accuracy were immediately dispelled.
In my earlier post I showed the wooden insert in the magazine. I'm still not sure of its purpose as eight times out of ten, provided the bolt is worked vigorously, the used .22 case will separate from the extractor ready to fall into the empty magazine case as intended.
The ammunition I used was cheap-as-chips Sellier & Bellot Standard at £15 for 500. I could see no appreciable difference with Eley Tenex but will continue to try other brands until I find the one she likes best.
I could become really enthusiastic about .22 shooting. The accuracy of these inexpensive rounds is incredible. Hmmm, I wonder if I should start looking for a BSA International now?
Brian
I have no exciting new purchases to share but thought that you might be interested to hear how I'm getting on with the new toy.
Here's a picture of one of this morning's targets shot at 50 yards from a sandbag on the bench. I was moaning about not being able to see where my bullets were striking through my binoculars when a mate who visits America regularly gave me a couple of Birchwood Casey Shoot N C targets to try. I stuck one in the centre of one of our standard targets and my first round cut the 9 ring. A slight adjustment in point of aim and I was in the middle.
The problem with the standard SMLE sights is that the foresight blade disappears when set against a black target. The bright green splashes on this target gave me a clear point of aim and any reservations I might have had about accuracy were immediately dispelled.
In my earlier post I showed the wooden insert in the magazine. I'm still not sure of its purpose as eight times out of ten, provided the bolt is worked vigorously, the used .22 case will separate from the extractor ready to fall into the empty magazine case as intended.
The ammunition I used was cheap-as-chips Sellier & Bellot Standard at £15 for 500. I could see no appreciable difference with Eley Tenex but will continue to try other brands until I find the one she likes best.
I could become really enthusiastic about .22 shooting. The accuracy of these inexpensive rounds is incredible. Hmmm, I wonder if I should start looking for a BSA International now?
Brian