Shimming Barrel Band?

Fox

Fox

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I have a No 5 Lee Enfield that has a barrel band that pops off when shooting, it just wants to move forward.

I understand that the wood can shrink over time.

Any thought on a nice way to shim up the band to tighten things up?

Thanks
 
Hello Fox. We use to shim with strips of target paper glued lightly into the wood recess. If you
centre punch the band screw that should make it difficult to withdraw. Often the channel in the
fore of the wood and hand guard can be slightly compressed by the pressure of the sling moving
the band slightly to one side or tother. The same synopsis is consistent with all Lee Enfield rifles.
Always try to keep your band screw reasonably tight. JOHN
 
Blastattack said:
Are you sure it’s a No 5? The barrel bands are recessed, so it should be impossible for it to shift under any circumstance.
Click to expand...

When I first laid eyes on it I thought it was a cut down No 4 made to look like a No 5. There is a mark on the barrel lower where the stock would have been, and the bolt knob was not hollowed out. Due to this I got it for a song. When I started to look into it a little further I saw that the rear sight was the proper 800m sight. I took the handguard off and the lightening marks on the chamber area are there. The bolt is matched number to the rest of the gun, I also read that some were not hollowed out. The receiver also has the lightening marks, so this is definitely a No 5. Now, is the wood from a No 5 and just cut down a couple inches or is the fore end from a No 4 and cut to look like a No 5, I do not know that.

The band screw is tight, seems tight on the wood but when you shoot it the ring pops off.

jtaylor, you just use paper? I thought that this would just hold water and rot things. I was honestly thinking about stainless or aluminum shim stock between the band and the wood.
The screw on the band is clamped on all the way, the band is in contact with the other side.
 
Hi Fox. We never had a problem with paper. If it is glued on and greased over no water gets under a firm band. Pop can or
masking tape as beater suggests is also good. Doesn't really matter what material you use as long as it can be easily removed
to establish originality when sold. If the screw is tight and the band is on firmly and still pops off then you probably have a stripped thread
problem either with the screw or the band. These rifles are designed to take rough service abuse so you are right to expect durability. John
 
jtaylor said:
Hi Fox. We never had a problem with paper. If it is glued on and greased over no water gets under a firm band. Pop can or
masking tape as beater suggests is also good. Doesn't really matter what material you use as long as it can be easily removed
to establish originality when sold. If the screw is tight and the band is on firmly and still pops off then you probably have a stripped thread
problem either with the screw or the band. These rifles are designed to take rough service abuse so you are right to expect durability. John
Click to expand...

Ya, not exactly original though due to some idiot cutting that stock but that let me get it for cheap so you have to go with it.

I have access to shim stock at work, will probably go grab a few shims and give it a go, just need to check the width at home.

I looked at the screw, definitely not perfect but it does grab the band and pull, so not stripped, just not able to tighten it up any more.

2 Enfields to fix up, have to fit a nose cap on a No 1 that had a replacement hand guard put on it, fun times.
 
grind down the sides of the sling swivel where the screw goes through it,so the band will tighten more.
put some small dents in the front of the band so it will bite into the wood.
glue rough sandpaper on the inside of the band.
put a wide elastic band around the wood under the band.
 
Spend a few weeks applying thin coats of linseed oil on the wood and it will swell up again. make sure to remove metal parts first and wait at least a week after the last coat before reassembling.
 
gaff said:
grind down the sides of the sling swivel where the screw goes through it,so the band will tighten more.
put some small dents in the front of the band so it will bite into the wood.
glue rough sandpaper on the inside of the band.
put a wide elastic band around the wood under the band.
Click to expand...

No, not wanting to destroy it.

I grabbed some 0.005" shim stock, will give that a try under the band.
 
I have an H&R Trapdoor Cavalry Carbine that came with a loose barrel band.

Solution: a strip of electrical tape applied to the inside of the barrel band.

No loose no more.
 
Your rifle must have had the forestock sanded.. When original, the front band is inset into the forestock and handguard. If it's been modified, shim it as mentioned.

British-Lee-Enfield-No.png
 
Pblatzz said:
Your rifle must have had the forestock sanded.. When original, the front band is inset into the forestock and handguard. If it's been modified, shim it as mentioned.
Click to expand...

It does look like it has been sanded down some, part of me wants to find a No 4 fore end and make another one to the proper length, but not at the moment.

I will try putting the brass shim in there, I do not want to modify the band at all if I can get away with it, may have to put in some pins or something like that into the handguard.
 
Beater said:
post up a pic or 2 lets have a look
Click to expand...

Who do you use for hosting gun photos now? I have photobucket but now that is all a waste.

Anyway, it was sanded for sure, looks like the guy tried to make a sporter stock then decided to put the band back on.

I filed a groove back into the fore wood then shimmed on the handguard and things seem to be tight, used 15 thou of brass. I have not shot it yet but the band sits into the groove in the wood.

I wanted to ask, is the No 5 wood just a No 4 fore end cut down and shaped? If that is as simple as it is then I can keep my eyes open for a No 4 fore end.

I also wanted to ask, does the upper hand guard on the No 5 have metal attached to it like the No 4? I have a savage lend lease No 4 that is mint, it has metal attached to both upper wood pieces that sit under the band, yet this No 5 does not have that. Maybe the No 5 front wood is just all wrong.
 
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