L8(T) Enfield: The British Army Fails to Make a Sniper

Cool Forgotten Weapons merch! We looked at the conversion of the No4 Enfield into Rifle L8 yesterday. Part of that program was an attempt to develop a new sniper rifle on the L8 platform. To this end, six good-quality No4(T) Lee Enfield sniper rifles were tested for accuracy, then made into L8 rifles and fitted with telescopic sights (the standard scope from the 303 days) and tested for accuracy again. Much to the chagrin of the Army, the new L8(T) rifles were barely able to match the performance of the .303 rifles they began as. The goal was to significantly improve on the No4(T) accuracy, and that was clearly not happening. However, at this same time, British civilian competition shooters were having excellent success making versions of the No4. It was only when Enfield was willing to collaborate with the British NRA and others that they were able to succe