Lee-Enfield Magazines

[Phaethon]

There's something I've never understood about Lee-Enfields; their magazines, are they removable? Is it possible for one to just collect five or six magazines and keep them loaded with rounds like with any other modern magazine-fed rifle?

I know that the SVT-40 and Hakim/M42 rifles had detachable magazines (granted, they're semi-automatic), but that in practice they were loaded from the top with conventional stripper clips. I'm guessing this was to prevent wastage and save on raw materials. In any case, is this possible with the Lee-Enfield as well?

 

[Aren't we all]

They are removable, but they were meant to be recharged through the top of the action.

Early on there was even a short length of chain between the mag and reciever because they were afraid the mags would get lost.

 

[Phaethon]

Can they be kept loaded while removed?

 

[Float Pilot]

They were thinking of making it easier to clean, not rapid magazine changes.
The mags usually have to be tuned for the rifle.

 

[Robert]

Yes, they can be kept loaded while removed from the rifle. The mag was removable for cleaning purposes only, other wise it was loaded with chargers through the top of the action.

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

Due to their design they do not lend themselves to being kept loaded while the magazine is out of the rifle. They are very easily dislodged. Some of this is due to how the lips are adjusted and the strength of the magazine spring.

 

[Andrew Wyatt]

the sidewalls bow out when loaded and make it hard to put the magazine in the rifle with any speed.

 

[Phaethon]

What if one were to machine his own magazines? It seems like a fun project, especially if someone desired to vastly increase his speed on the "mad minute".

 

[Sistema1927]

...especially if someone desired to vastly increase his speed on the "mad minute".

It would be, IMHO, more productive to learn how to quickly recharge using stripper clips. The British "Tommy" could put lots of lead down range quickly using these rifles.

 

[Jeff F]

The magazine is the weakest part of the Enfield. They have to be tuned to each rifle to work properly. Taking a loaded magazine and slamming it home will bend the feed lips and eventually cause jams or mis-feeds. The magazine should only be removed for cleaning and should be reinstalled gently, never slammed home. As others have said Enfield's are supposed to be loaded from the top, either with loose rounds or with 5 round chargers.

 

[9mmepiphany]

especially if someone desired to vastly increase his speed on the "mad minute".

It wouldn't vastly increase your reload speed...it isn't a slam in like a AR mag or even a rock in like a AK mag.

The Enfield can be reloaded very quickly using stripper clips. If you really have machining skills, try coming up with reliable 10-round stripper clips for the Enfield

 

[madcratebuilder]

The feed lips on the No1&4 rifles are four small tabs. They are bent very easily and regular mag changes would lead to bending them. Changing Enfield mags is a two handed operation, one to depress the catch and the other to pull the mag out. Some rifles have a tight mag well and can be difficult to remove the mag quickly. It's not like an AR were you push a button and the mag pops out. Loading two charger clips goes very fast and is very reliable.