No5

[mcook]

Mine has remnants of green paint on it as well, and, as a milsurp, I think it should stay as is.

[phil441]

Don't forget ear protection.

[Tudorp]

Yeah, I found that out shooting my brother in law's .303 this past summer. Was every bit is loud as my Soviet M44. We were shooting his Enfield along side my Arsenal sp101, and it was a bit harsher sounding than the arsenal. But seemed about the same as my M44.

[JB White]

Louder beneath a corrugated tin roof! For nerve-wracking LOUD, try a 10" barreled TC Contender under that same roof in 223 Remington. Behind it wearing ear plugs under the muffs it wasn't too bad. They made me stop due to the flinching it caused down the rest of the line.

[mack]

I have four of these currently and have owned literally several dozen over the last fifty years from well-worn to brand new in original wrapping. That doesn't make me an expert, just a longtime observer. Take care removing the but plate. Put plenty of penetrating oil on the end of the screw and let it soak for several days. The threads are very fine and easily stripped. These WILL NOT restore and original but plates are non-existent, so once those threads are gone, you are phuqued. Proceed with caution.

[Tudorp]

Actually, I already took off the butt plate to check for rust or damage. I am always generally careful when taking apart guns I know little about, so I took that off with care, and found that it is fine threads, so now I know. Kind of like taking off the grips on a 1911 being careful not to mess up the inserts, or the treads on the frame. THOSE are very easy to mess up. The butt plate screw fortunatly came loose easily, but I put some oil in the threads to keep it free. I was lucky that there was no rust issues on the screws, threads or on the butt plate cup.