No.8 rifle

Lore & Background

The No.8 rifle is a single-shot, hand-fed cadet rifle derived from the Lee–Enfield design, chambered in .22 calibre for target shooting. It was originally designed for British Army marksmen participating in civilian competitions. The rifle is typically fired at a range of 25 yards, but its rearsight can be adjusted to allow fire at 50 and 100 yards, and a harmonisation setting is provided for specially designed targets.

Two types of sight can be fitted. The more common leaf sight allows adjustment for elevation only; it is simpler and more robust but yields lower accuracy than the Parker Hale PH5D sight, which provides windage adjustment as well as elevation in 1/4 minute of angle clicks. The PH5D is more delicate and was not generally found in cadet service. A Parker-Hale 8/53 sight adaptor unit can also be fitted to the leaf rearsight, providing windage adjustment without removing the issued sighting system, though it screws on through the sight aperture and introduces a large elevation difference, rendering the range markings on the sight useless.

The No.8 is no longer used by the British cadet services as a basic target rifle, having been replaced by the L144 and air rifles. Some examples remain in civilian ownership worldwide, especially following the disposal by New Zealand cadet forces of their Number 8 and Number 9 rifles at auction.

Reader's Guide

The No.8 rifle served as the standard small-bore target rifle for British cadet forces, including the Army Cadet Force, Sea Cadet Corps, Combined Cadet Force, and Air Training Corps. Its significance lies in its role as a training and competition arm for military marksmen, bridging civilian target shooting and military practice. The rifle's design, a .22 calibre adaptation of the Lee–Enfield action, allowed cadets to develop marksmanship skills at reduced cost and range. The availability of multiple sighting systems—from the robust leaf sight to the more precise Parker Hale PH5D—reflected the balance between durability for cadet use and accuracy for competition. The eventual replacement of the No.8 by the L144 A1 Cadet Small Bore Target Rifle (CSBTR) in 2016 marked the end of its official service, but its legacy continues through civilian ownership, particularly after New Zealand cadet forces auctioned their stocks. The No.8 remains a notable example of a military-derived training rifle adapted for precision target shooting.

Did You Know?

• The No.8 rifle is a .22 calibre version of the Lee–Enfield rifle.
• It was originally designed for British Army marksmen firing in civilian competitions.
• The Parker Hale PH5D sight allows windage adjustment in 1/4 minute of angle clicks.