Ishapore/enfield Mag question

[sawdeanz]

I'm already aware that the Ishapores are notorious for their mag problems. I think I have found and fixed the feeding issues which were related to the angle the mag was locked in the gun. But I have another minor issue but which I'm hoping someone can help with.

If you look at the pictures you will see that the stripper clip doesn't seem to insert all the way, and charging the mag is doable but often difficult. The problem is the clip (standard nato clip) contacts one of the rear mag lips. I can't really figure out whether the mag is crooked, the mag well is crooked, or the stripper guide was machined crooked. The feed lips themselves seem straight, and I didn't want to mess with them unless I was sure that was the problem.

What do you think? Suggestions for after market mag to try?

 

[27hand]

I'll have to check my mags and how the strippers function when I have more time but there is a difference in after markets. Just nor sure about how the clip contacts the mag

 

[Jim K]

FWIW, mine looks the same as the OP's and I have no problem loading from a clip. The clip is very loose. I have the impression that those rifles were not made especially well, probably because they were intended for police/paramilitary use, not for the Indian armed forces.

Jim

 

[desidog]

Yes, that and the charger bridge design on the No.1 Enfield was intended for rimmed .303's and their charger clip design....i don't believe it was re-engineered for 7.62 NATO.

 

[sawdeanz]

FWIW, mine looks the same as the OP's and I have no problem loading from a clip. The clip is very loose. I have the impression that those rifles were not made especially well, probably because they were intended for police/paramilitary use, not for the Indian armed forces.

Jim

Ok thanks for checking yours to compare. I'm getting better at charging with the stripper clips but I thought the way it fit in the rifle was wonky. I guess that is just another one of the idiosyncrasies with these things

 

[27hand]

Ishy charging clips

OK, sorry it took so long to respond.

The charging clip only contacts one side of the mag.

It looks like a small cutout in the bolt rail ( I don't know the actual name) allows one side of the clip to contact one side of the mag and stops it from traveling downward.
The other side has no cutout and is hidden from view.



In this first pic, you can see the small cutout at the base of the left part of the stripper clip and you can see the mag lip which limits the downward travel of the clip.

While very sloppy (probably per desidog's explanation) my Ishy is very easy to load by pushing down on the rearward portion of the round.



I'm not sure what nook or cranny my after market mag is in for comparison

 

[sawdeanz]

That is just how mine is. Thought it seemed strange it would be designed to contact just one side of the mag, let alone part of the mag at all

 

[27hand]

Ishy mag

Hard to say why but perhaps due to the width of the mag lips, the charging clip was made to only contact the one side.

How do you like that FR-8?

 

[sawdeanz]

Actually I don't have it anymore, I really did like it, pretty much all the features I wanted in a hog/battle rifle at a milsurp price. And the fit and finish was much better than the ishapore. My example seemed to be on the edge of safe headspace so I returned it. I would definitely buy another one.

 

[Jim K]

The clip guide on the RFI 2A an 2A1 is intended for the standard 7.62 NATO clip; it is much too small for the old .303 clip.

Jim