No.8 rifle

Rifle .22" No.8 Mk.1
Type Cadet training rifle (Target Shooting)
Place of origin  United Kingdom
Service history
In service late 1940s - present
Used by UK British Army as well as Cadets ACF CCF SCC
Wars None
Production history
Manufacturer Royal Ordnance Factory Fazakerley & BSA Ltd, Shirley
Produced 1947-1953
Variants Match (prototypes only), Infantry
Specifications
Length 41"
Barrel length 23.2"

Action Re-designed Lee bolt, hand fed, single shot
Muzzle velocity 330 m/s
Feed system Single shot - bolt action
Sights Blade foresight, aperture rearsight, adjustable for elevation between 25yds and 100yds

The Rifle, Number 8 (commonly referred to as the Number 8 Rifle) is a bolt-action .22 calibre version of the Lee–Enfield designed for British Army target shooting. They are simple hand-fed rifles and were originally designed to be used by military marksmen firing in civilian competitions, before being turned over to the cadet forces. Currently, the Number 8 is used by the British cadet services as a basic target rifle. Some examples are in civilian ownership worldwide, especially following the disposal by the New Zealand cadet forces of their Number 8 and Number 9 rifles at auction.[1]

Sight types

Typically fired at a range of 25 yards, the rearsight can be adjusted to allow fire at 50 and 100 yards. A harmonisation setting is also provided for firing at specially designed targets. The No 8 can also be fitted with two types of sight. The more common leaf sight, allowing adjustment for elevation only, is simpler to use and more robust, but the standard of accuracy that can be achieved with this sight is lower than can be achieved with the Parker Hale PH5D sight, which allows for windage adjustment as well as elevation, in 1/4 minute-of-angle clicks. It is also more delicate than the leaf-sight and not generally found in cadet service. The Parker-Hale 8/53 sight adaptor unit can also be fitted to the leaf rearsight, providing windage adjustment without the removal of the issued sighting system. It screws on through the sight aperture and therefore introduces a large elevation difference, rendering the range markings on the sight useless.

Replacement

In 2014 the replacement contract for the rifle was put out to tender.[2] In 2016 it was announced that a modified version of the Savage Arms FVT had been chosen for this role.[3]

Users

 United Kingdom

References

  1. http://rifleman.org.uk/Enfield_Rifle_No.8.html
  2. http://www.government-online.net/supply-number-8-replacement-rifle/
  3. https://ukshootingnews.wordpress.com/2016/03/23/savage-arms-fvt-will-replace-22-no-8-cadet-rifle/
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 11/25/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.