What do ya do with a drunken Enfield?

[RexDart]

OK, not drunken, but well-used and sporterized. What I have is a No. 4 MkI* Enfield. The wood has been 'sporterized', so there's no collector value. Not that I mind, I'd really just like to target shoot with it.

The major defect is the chamber: it's worn past tolerances. Even with the largest bolt head I've been able to secure, I can close down on a no-go gauge far too easily.

So, what now? Short term, I'm going to pull the firing pin, put the original bolt and bolt head back in and have a wall-hanger.

Longer term, I keep hoping against hope that someone knows of a way to (economically) rehabilitate this rifle. I suppose I could always turn it into a Jawa Ion Gun... but that seems a pity.

Any thoughts?

 

[Ian]

Shave it's belly with a rusty razor?

Or maybe rebarrel it in 7.62x54R.

 

[mrmeval]

Lots of doors to choose from.

Rebarrel instructions http://www.surplusrifle.com/shooting2005/rebarrelno4/index.asp

Door A Opps wrong door it's for a No1Mk3

Door B out of stock
Or this http://www.northridgeinc.com/enfield_smle.htm


Make Unique
Door C

Specializes in Enfields
Door D

Actually lists rebarreling an Enfield.
Door E

And ***
Door F

I can't find the fellow that takes the old barrel and makes an adaptor out of it for a new barrel. I assume it's a mauser barrel or such.

Edit to close Door A and update Door B

 

[ArmedBear]

I think you can also get complete stock replacements. Here's another idea:

Rebarrel it and make it into a Jungle Carbine replica (without the wandering zero problem). For a couple hundred bucks, you can have a really nice, like-new carbine that's fun and accurate.

http://www.e-gunparts.com/DisplayAd.asp?chrProductSKU=527230&chrSuperSKU=&MC=

 

[mrmeval]

I've seen those carbines and they are nice. While I prefer keeping them as collectably correct as possible one that shot out is up for having fun with and I'd love to see what a high quality barrel would make an Enfield do.

 

[Diomed]

You can correct the headspace issue by getting a newer, longer bolt, or by getting someone who knows what they're doing to build the locking lugs back up on the original, if it is original. If it's the chamber that's actually the problem then you would actually need a new barrel. That seems an awfully unusual occurrence, though. Has it been rebarreled (badly) before? Or did Bubba do more than chop the wood, say try to get a ruptured case out with a drill of some kind?

You could restore it, since you didn't say the barrel was cut - wood isn't as rare for a No. 4 as it is for a SMLE.

Pulling the firing pin would make it a funny looking wallhanger, without a cocking piece. But I guess most folks wouldn't know the difference!

 

[enfield]

Put me to bed!

 

[deciple-of-keith]

From memory there are three sizes of bolt head for Enfields to correct headspace (I've used Enfields all of my life as their that common over here ) If you want a good Bush rifle . Rebarrel ! To bed the barrel there is a Old & trusted methord we Old Pro shooters have used for years!

Take a peice of Car inner tube rubber (about 4x4 ) & loosen the Fore end & slide the rubber under the barrel & tightern down . Fire a group ,then move the rubber along it's width along the bed & repeat the group.You do this until you find the place that the rifle shoots the best group & then just trim the edges of the rubber away to make it look tidy!

Dave

 

[MJ]

Breed them, it's easy when they are drunk. Or,,

Replace the bolt as mentioned but keep your original.



*MJ*

 

[DougW]

Rex Dart, keep in mind that a SAAMI No-Go is way out for an Enfield. You need at minimum a SAAMI Field gauge, but to accurately test the head space, you need a military gauge. The .303 headspaces on the case rim, and even those can vary between manufacurers of ammo. I have rifles that will not close on a SAAMI field gauge, but the case will streach too much to be reloaded for one of my other rifles without full length resizing.

If you are using the #3 bolt head, I would try the rifle before I go through the process of trying to rebarrel it. These are military rifles with military chambers. The case will streach. I have only one of 12 Enfields that does not require full lenght case resizing to use in other rifles. Your call though.

 

[M67]

Breed them, it's easy when they are drunk.

You have to get them drunk? I thought you just told them to close their eyes and think of England...

 

[deciple-of-keith]

www.lawranceordnance.com stock ex mil headspace guages for .303 as well as many other Enfield parts

Dave

 

[Diomed]

Rex Dart, keep in mind that a SAAMI No-Go is way out for an Enfield. You need at minimum a SAAMI Field gauge, but to accurately test the head space, you need a military gauge.

Very good point, as I recall the SAAMI no-go is .067", but the milspec reject is .074". It can even be used at greater spaces than that (emergency standard), but accuracy suffers, along with the brass.