Lee Enfield Magazine

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Dr T

Dr T

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I recently acquired a Lee Enfield No. 4 Mk. 1 that had been nicely sporterized. The barrel is free floated, the gun is in "as new" condition.

However, somewhere along the lines the gun had been equipped with a 6 round magazine, either by shortening an original or as an after market item. There are not maker's marks on the magazine that I have been able to find.

The magazine will feed ok, but the magazine release is difficult. It is difficult to depress the release catch and difficult to remove the magazine. It seems to be canted.

Is it normal for the magazine release of a Lee Enfield to be very stiff?

Any suggestions on how I can smooth this out? (I have two Pro Mag magzines on order--a 5 round and a 10 round).

Thanks,
tds
 
The mag on my No1 MkIII is a little stiff but not at all difficult to remove. And the release is not at all difficult to depress. The body of the mag may be slightly bulged which might be cause some binding. Does the mag release depress "normally" with the mag out or is it still very stiff? I think that something maybe out of spec on that mag. I have never used Pro Mag and would be interested to hear how they fair.
 
If possible I would re-install the original bottom metal and solve the whole problem. IMO a detachable box magazine has no place on most hunting rifles. It only serves to be something to forget, loose in the woods, often can get in the way & snag, and they tend to be costly. Besides, how many rounds do you need anyway.

:)
 
You are aware that his rifle is a No4 MkI correct? It came from the factory with a 10 round removable box mag in 1940 whatever. This is not an aftermarket addition, it is a factory stock Enfield, in so far as the bottom metal goes. Over the year many, many people and companies have made sporters out of Enfield rifles. Most notably the Santa Fe Company. Often the stock 10 round mag was cut down and re welded into a smaller capacity. Smaller mags can also be bought aftermarket.
 
...that is why I was confused.
Click to expand...
Me too...apparently...got lost in the wrong "field". ;)

I haven't any experience with ProMag brand LE magazines (at least that I am aware of), but if their quality is similar to the AR pattern copies, I would hastily send them back from which they came. IME most magazine (and feeding) problems are a result of the magazine itself (either wear or poor workmanship), not the rifle or any part thereof.

:)
 
The No.4 MkI Enfield was designed to be reloaded from 5-round strippers, so "drop-free" magazines were probably not much of a concern. In my experience (with four Enfields), mags all had to be wrestled a bit to get them out...
 
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Cancell your order for the pro mags. I have been thru a bunch that a friend gave me. Out of 6 mags. I was finally able to get ONE to work most of the time. They are absolute garbage.
 
The only time I remove the mag on my Enfield is to clean the gun.
No real reason to, otherwise.
Denis
 
Note that while the rifle is a LE No. 4 Mk. 1, neither the rifle or the magazine is in original condition. Either the magazine is aftermarket or someone took a hacksaw, cut it off and re-braised the base.

In any case, after a generous application of gun oil and elbow grease, I have learned that this short magazine (which does not fit flush--but does stick about about an inch or so below the stock) is easy to remove if I hold it just right. To reinsert, I have to depress the release and get it at just the right angle to insert it. After doing this about 4 times, my thumb starts to get sore. The short length of this six round (and, yes, I loaded it and counted the number of rounds) magazine may be making it a bit more difficult. That magazine release seems awfully stiff, but it may loosen up after a few dozen cycles.

In regards box magazines on hunting rifles: I tend to prefer single shots and clips over the hinged floor plate bolt guns. There are two reasons.

1. It is easier and quieter to carry a loaded magazine to reload than to fish out cartridges and load by pushing in the rounds.

2. I plan to use the rifle for hunting as well as general pest control on our ranch in Texas. By definition, all of my rifles are truck rifles. We have two places that are about 12 miles apart on the highway. I prefer to have completely unloaded rifles while on public roads. It is a lot faster to pop in a loaded magazine for the ranch and pop it out when I go back on the public roads. Also, I can keep a the loaded magazine in the truck and take the rifle inside and put it to bed completely unloaded when I come into the town house.

I will see how the Pro Mags work when they get here.
 
M1key said:
The No.4 MkI Enfield was designed to be reloaded from 5-round strippers, so "drop-free" magazines were probably not much of a concern. In my experience (with four Enfields), mags all had to be wrestled a bit to get them out...
Click to expand...
+1

They are removeable magazine, the guns are not charged by swapping mags. They were often chained to the gun, right!?

Al
 
The Enfields mags. don't lend themselves to insertion when loaded. They top ctg. tends to come out of the mag. The mags were to stay in the rifles and removed only for cleaning/replacement.
 
+1 Mags stayed in the guns and were loaded via stripper-clips.

-1 for Promag...I got a five rd for my Santa Fe and it sucks hard.

I still haven't located a good source for a better magazine option, every now and then i look on gunbroker.
 
The mag is designed for removal for cleaning only. Otherwise, it stays in the rifle. Loading via chargers (5 rounds) or indvidual rounds.

Replacment can be had from Springfield Sporters. I have never found an aftermarket mag that works, besides the Sante Fe mags that were shipped withe the rifles.
 
Try and get an original magazine. The follower springs on pro mags are way too stiff and the innards aren't smooth - a bad combination. Save your money and find an original.
 
Be advised that SportsmansGuide does not include any negative or less than glowing reviews about their products.
I bought one of those ProMag Enfield magazines from them and gave it an honest review as to how it fit in my No. 4 Mk 1* (it isn't a perfect fit, rattles, etc.) To their credit, they contacted me about my review and asked if I wanted to return it. BUT they did not post my review on their site.
 
I agree that the mags are set up to be loaded by stripper clips. I have a .308 and you need to spend at least $40.00 for a reliable magazine. Even with a new magazine I needed to modify the lips of the magazine for a proper feed.
 
Please let us know how they feed. Please be advised that the mag. springs will be way too heavy and the feed lips will need adjusting. You may have to polish the follower and compress the spring. If you're real lucky you may get it to work. Be careful and don't cut yourslef. Been there/done that.
 
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