My new Enfield, range report

Chevelle SS · Jul 24, 2012

This is my new sporter enfield that I swapped an older J.C. Higgins semi auto 22 for. I will say I'm questioning keeping it.

From the 50 yard line from a casual bench rest. In the pic is the first group I shot. POA was the bottom right hand corner square with the shots being from 3 1/2 to 7 1/2 inches. I had to load the rounds manually 1 by 1 because the bolt would not pickup rounds from the magazine. Also the extractor did not work. I had to cycle the bolt 2 or 3 times to eject each case.

Next set of 5 rounds were fired at bottom left square. Only one shot was on the paper while the others were high and to the left off of the paper.

1 round I had two misfires ( primer was not impacted) and then fired on the third attempt. Other four rounds fired as normal. Had the same extractor problems and loaded rounds one by one. Ammo was PPU 303 British FMT BT 174gr.

LJ-MosinFreak-Buck · Jul 24, 2012

Sounds like the recipient of your traded rifle ended up being better off through the deal than you did. Sorry about your luck.

I'm sure there's a way to fix it, others will be along shortly.

Gunner11 · Jul 24, 2012

Hi, can you put up a close up photo of the action open from the bolt handle side and also tell what model enfield and the type of sights that are fitted.

However lets start with the ammo, BT rounds dont in my experience shoot well in 303s, it's to do with the cordite in mil rounds burning out the throat. The mil rounds Mk 6 and 7 were all flat base bullets that seat better. Bt rounds were intended for machine guns and used smokeless powder.

Chevelle SS · Jul 24, 2012

Here are some pictures. Th sights are Savage 300 and 600 yard peep sights( which might explain why it shoots so high, or maybe my flinching

) If you need more pics just say so.

tahunua001 · Jul 24, 2012

I might be completely off my rocker but I think your ejector screw might be missing. was your problem a failure to extract or a failure to eject?

also could you post pics of the left side of the reciever and a pic of your magazine?
aftermarket mags or mags intended for NO1 rifles are usually to blame when it comes to feeding issues in no 4s.

Chevelle SS · Jul 24, 2012

failure to extract and when it did finally extract after 2 or 3 cycles of the bolt, it did not eject. receiver pics are here: http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=666248

tahunua001 · Jul 24, 2012

well your ejectors intact, I can't see anything wrong with your extractor and your magazine looks correct. I think your friend may have screwed you over just a little bit... I'm out of ideas.

rondog · Jul 24, 2012

I have a very nice Longbranch No.4 Mk.1 that I bought not long ago. Fired some handloads through it and the bullets hit the target at 110 yards completely flat! Absolutely sideways. Made bullet-shaped holes in the target, blew my mind. Needless to say, I wasn't too thrilled. I'm going to have to try it again with some regular old POF may-pop surplus that I have and see how it does.

If anybody knows or can recommend a good Enfield man in the Denver area, please let me know!!! I have five of them that I need to get looked over and checked out.

I like Enfields, but they seem to have caught more hell and got more use/abuse/wear than most of the Russian Mosin Nagants did. And it appears to be that Cordite ammo, from what I read.

35 Whelen · Jul 24, 2012

Sounds like the bullets don't fit the bore properly. Most Enfields, at least the several I've owned, have greatly oversized bores with one going as large as .316". I sold all my No.4's except one Savage that has a .312" bore. Hornady's bullets are .312", I'd try them first. If you cast your own bullets, you're in luck because finding a mould that drops .314" - .315" is easy. Lyman 314299 usually drops at .314" and a couple of old Lyman 311291's I own drop close to .315".
The extraction/ejectio prblem can be fixed.

35W

Gunner11 · Jul 24, 2012

Helpful pics, misfires may be due to slack firing pin spring or broken pin. With the bolt out of gun turn the cocking piece to the fired position, there should be 1-1.5 mm of rounded pin protruding from the hole. Push on the back of the cocking piece to see if there is any more forward movement then pull it back a bit and let it fly forwards. Any hesitation weak spring or gunge. Remove the bolthead and wash out the body with petrol, then reoil lightly.The photo shows the bolthead from my longbranch no4 mk1*with 1.5 mm of pin.
The 2nd photo shows how much rim should be over the mag lip, less and it wont feed. If thats ok and she doesn't pick up the round I suspect the mag catch or latch have worn or been ground back. Put the mag in, pull it downwards and then push up, there should be no movement. Good Luck

Chevelle SS · Jul 24, 2012

There is 2-3 mm of play in the magazine when pushing up. I'll work on the bolt head tomorrow.

LJ-MosinFreak-Buck · Jul 24, 2012

There is 2-3 mm of play in the magazine when pushing up. I'll work on the bolt head tomorrow.

Could be the feed issue.

303tom · Jul 25, 2012

Clean the bolt head & check the spring. Try another magazine, them bullet holes are round & they are not key-holeing so the problem there may be your sights & you.............Don`t just give up right away, try some 180gr. RN.............

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/22...tish-180-grain-core-lokt-soft-point-box-of-20

Ignition Override · Jul 25, 2012

All Savage, Longbranch and a small fraction of Enfield #4/Mk. 1s built in England have two-groove rifling.

My Longbranch had a really bright bore with good rifling. But it made all keyholes

at 100 yards with new Prvi BT ammo. That's why I traded it plus $25 for a typical #4 built in England (at a Southaven gun show). This rifle has either four or five grooves. The problem was solved, even though this bore is shiny, but not nearly as bright as that LB bore.

Have you guys noticed that almost all Prvi Partizan sold in the US appears to have boat tail bullets?
Is this more than ironic, with so many of our available #4s having been built in North America, and all with two-grooves?

Gunner11 · Jul 25, 2012

All enfields I have owned or seen weather 2, 4,or 5 groove have shot flat base projectiles best. The flat base bullet squashes up to fill the lead and then squeezes out into the grooves. Rifles that have seen service with cordite corrosive primed ammo all have erosion in the throat and lead that makes it "difficult" for boat tail bullets to seat properly.
Re missfires and poor extraction. Put a fired case in the chamber by hand pushing it hard home run a rod down the bore till it is on the case base. Close the bolt on it, and push the rod hard any movement and there is a headspace issue.

Jeff F · Jul 25, 2012

I'm going to say your ejection problems are probably a weak extractor spring and your feeding issues can be addressed by adjusting the feed lips on your magazine.

madcratebuilder · Jul 25, 2012

Go here and read the sticky's in the Lee Enfield section. They have articles on fixing mag lips and extractor springs. You need to do both. You need to check the head space also.

http://www.surplusrifleforum.com/index.php

Does your LE have a import mark? If not, that means it's been around in civilian hands since 1968 or earlier.

Most these older LE's need the fit between the action and the fore-end addressed.

Another good source of info is here.
http://www.milsurps.com/index.php

Fitting the fore-end well help accuracy and POI/POA. Evil bay is loaded with NOS parts for rebuilding the bolt.

Chevelle SS · Aug 14, 2012

It turns out it didn't have an extractor spring. I just ordered one from Midway. I messed with the mag a bit too and it is feeding a lot better. I'll gave another update when I get the new spring.

AK47TIM · Aug 14, 2012

Here is another good source of information http://www.enfieldresource.com/2012-complete-book-lee-enfield-accurizing
Also check out his YouTube channel.
Sent from my MB870 using Tapatalk 2

DougW · Aug 14, 2012

If that is a Savage, it is an early one with the British style bolt stop (for removing the bolt with the spring activated plunger behind the charger bridge).

Does the bolt pull the cartridge case from the chamber, or is the extractor not engaging the rim of the cartridge reliably?

The mag can be tweeked by bending SLIGHTLY the retaining lips on the back side to raise the rim of the cartridge into the channel. Also, if the mag doesn't fit tightly in the reciever, you may need a new mag, as that would keep the cartridge too low for the bolt to pick up. They were designed to be removed for cleaning only, and were not removed to fill.

Was the barrel cut and recrowned? A worn muzzle from incorrect cleaning can be a problem on the Enfields.

Chevelle SS · Aug 14, 2012

If that is a Savager, it is an early one with the British style bolt stop for removing the bolt with the spring activated plunger behind the charger bridge.

Does the bolt pull the cartridge case from the chamber, or is the extractor not engaging the rim of the cartridge?

The mag can be tweeked by bending SLIGHTLY the retaining lips on the back side. Also, if the mag doesn't fit tightly in the reciever, you may need a new mag. They were designed to be removed for cleaning only, and were not removed to fill.

Was the barrel cut and recrowned?

Sometimes it doesn't engage the rim of the cartridge. When it does I usually have to cycle the bolt 2 or 3 times to get it out of the chamber.

Whoops I didn't know about the not removing the mag part.

What do I look for to tell if the barrel has been cut?

My new Enfield, range report

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