pulling an enfield barrel

[45ACPKING]

okay, have barrel vice and suitable bushings.... have done loads of rebarrels on m1a and m14 rifles but never a .303

before i start reefin away.... any tips from the experts out there?
it's a no3shtle

 

[tiriaq]

Usually SMLE barrels come off without problems. No. 4s can be a pig.

 

[Dogleg]

Aren't some Enfield barrels left-hand thread?

 

[tiriaq]

Lee Enfields aren't, neither are P14 and M1917 Enfields.

 

[Dogleg]

Maybe I was thinking about left hand twist rifling?

 

[kell2784]

Do the Lee Enfields have acme threads like the M17, P14 enfields?

 

[sunray]

Got a proper action wrench? Anything else will likely twist the receiver into an odd shaped paperweight.

 

[woodchopper]

Do the Lee Enfields have acme threads like the M17, P14 enfields?

no but its whitworth ?? thread, 55deg not 60deg

 

[gunasauras]

Maybe I was thinking about left hand twist rifling?

You were indeed...

 

[m39a2]

If a No 1, these were pretty well hand fitted before WWII. They actually touch 2 places, the front of the reciever and the inside of the reciever where the barrel comes into contact with the inside of the reciever ring....our forfathers were very fine machinests indeed!!! A No 4 can be done and I have never had a real problem, the odd one needs to need to be relieved as do most of the No 5 actions (P-14) M-17's in .30-06 usually have to be relieved as well. Gigantic bucking machines I hope put these together, if not, I do not want to meet the 300lb gorillia that torqued these pipes on!!!

Scott

 

[John Y Cannuck]

I've done one SMLE, a III*.
I did it without a proper action wrench, using a large padded adjustable, in a home made barrel vise, with a slight amount of heat from a propane torch.
It was tight, but, not exceptionally so, and with the heat was no big problem. Just take it easy, and go slow, with lots of penetrating oil.
Headspacing the replacement barrel was accomplished through a rather crude filing operation. Worked out ok though.