No.8 rifle
| Rifle .22" No.8 Mk.1 | |
|---|---|
| Type | Cadet rifle |
| Place of origin | United Kingdom |
| Service history | |
| In service | late 1940s – 2018 |
| Used by | United Kingdom British Army as well as cadets ACF CCF SCC ATC |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Royal Ordnance Factory Fazakerley & BSA Ltd, Shirley |
| Produced | 1947–1953 |
| Variants | Match (prototypes only), Infantry |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 41 in (1.04 m) |
| Barrel length | 23.2 in (0.59 m) |
| Cartridge | .22 Long Rifle |
| Calibre | .22 in (5.6 mm) |
| Action | Re-designed Lee bolt, hand fed, single shot |
| Muzzle velocity | 330 m/s (1,100 ft/s) |
| Effective firing range | 100 yd (91 m) |
| Feed system | Single shot – bolt action |
| Sights | Blade foresight, aperture rearsight, adjustable for elevation between 25 and 100 yd (23 and 91 m) |
The Rifle, Number 8 (commonly referred to as the "Number 8 Rifle" or the "Number 8 Cadet Rifle") is a bolt-action .22 calibre version of the Lee–Enfield rifle designed for British Army target shooting. They are simple single-shot, hand-fed cadet rifles and were originally designed to be used by military marksmen firing in civilian competitions. The Number 8 is no longer used by the British cadet services as a basic target rifle, replaced by the L144 and air rifles. 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.