Long lee barrel swap

870pumplover

870pumplover

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Hello

I'm in southern Ontario, Niagara to be exact.

I'm hoping to build a mix master 1901 outta two 1901 long Lee's I've purchased.

Need to swap barrels (the one on the mint action has been cut down unfortunately) and looking for a correct barrel wrench to borrow or a local gun Smith that might be able to help me out.

Willing to pay for the loan of an action wrench if possible or any recommendations.

Cheers,
Mike
 
Select Shooting Supplies in Cambridge have a gunsmith with the correct Enfield tools. Give him a call and see if he's willing to do it.
Swapping barrels may also require a different bolt head depending on the head space.
 
870pumplover said:
Hello

I'm in southern Ontario, Niagara to be exact.

I'm hoping to build a mix master 1901 outta two 1901 long Lee's I've purchased.

Need to swap barrels (the one on the mint action has been cut down unfortunately) and looking for a correct barrel wrench to borrow or a local gun Smith that might be able to help me out.

Willing to pay for the loan of an action wrench if possible or any recommendations.

Cheers,
Mike
Click to expand...

Mike, swapping barrels on a Lee Enfield, especially the early models, requires some very specialized tooling. Those receivers are quite maleable and easily deformed/twisted.

Some of those barrels are original and getting them to break free of the threads can be a reall chore.

I had a fellow that didn't know what he was up against bring me in a No1 MkIII barreled action that he had tried to take apart without the proper tooling.

He wanted me to ''fix'' the galled and twisted receiver and the twisted barrel.

I pulled a barrel from a bubbaed No1 MkIII* receiver a few months ago and it was a very difficult task indeed. There was some sort of black "glue" all around the threads and it needed to be dipped in boiling water for 20 minutes to soften enough to let it break free.

This isn't the first time I've had to do this and luckily I had an idea this might be the issue.

Indexing will be the biggest issue, to get the knox at 180 degrees. Then you have to worry about headspace.

I mentioned ''indexing'' because if it isn't right, you're going to have issues getting the sights at 180 degrees as well.

Rebarreling a Lee Enfield or similar action isn't something that should be taken on, if you haven't had a mentor or done a lot of online research, with videos and instruction on what to do and why you do it.
 
So are you able to swap the barrels, I'm looking for a proper source. Unfortunately shooting supplies gun Smith isn't talking on any new work.

Anyone else I've emailed haven't answered me back.

Cheers
 
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