5.56 enfield N0 4 conversion .... where can i find a barrel ?
- Thread starter britinbc
- Start date
Blastattack
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Winnipeg MB
Where did you get 5.56 conversion parts for a Lee Enfield?
Blastattack
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Winnipeg MB
That’s a bad idea. A .22 RF barrel is not suitable for a high pressure centerfire round, and it’s going to have a .220 groove diameter, giving that .224 bullet a lot of squish. Get a proper barrel made, there are numerous manufacturers that can contour a proper blank to whatever spec you would like.
Lee Enfield
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Republic of Alberta
Remington 700 barrels are an easy rethread.
A fine No. 7 barrel would be too valuable to use for a project like this. There are still those receivers in the grease waiting for barrels.
The No. 4 shank is 1"-14. As mentioned, the Remington 700 can be easily adapted. These are 1 1/16" - 16. Face off the counterbore, reduce the shank diameter, and cut the new threads. Adjust shank length. The breech can be brought back to almost touch the bolt face (the .303 barrel stopped about a sixteenth short, to allow for rimmed headspace). An extractor cut will be needed.
Try to find a barrel with a faster twist, unless you are OK with being limited to the lighter bullets.
There is also the option of starting with a new barrel blank. This will be much more expensive, but you will be able to choose the contour and rifling twist.
The No. 4 shank is 1"-14. As mentioned, the Remington 700 can be easily adapted. These are 1 1/16" - 16. Face off the counterbore, reduce the shank diameter, and cut the new threads. Adjust shank length. The breech can be brought back to almost touch the bolt face (the .303 barrel stopped about a sixteenth short, to allow for rimmed headspace). An extractor cut will be needed.
Try to find a barrel with a faster twist, unless you are OK with being limited to the lighter bullets.
There is also the option of starting with a new barrel blank. This will be much more expensive, but you will be able to choose the contour and rifling twist.
With that bolthead, an extractor cut in the barrel breech isn't required. Makes fitting a new barrel that much easier. Adapting a suitable take-off barrel would be least expensive, while using a new blank would be the premium solution. It is even possible to use a Savage style locking collar, rather than a shouldered barrel.
5.56/.223 No. 4 rifles have a reputation of shooting very well.
5.56/.223 No. 4 rifles have a reputation of shooting very well.
What was the cost of the kit? Is it just the bolt head? You could contact one of the Canadian barrel markers for a 5.56/223 barrel and have profiled. are you making full military configuration? or sporter? If sporter a 233 take of barrel can be reworked.
This conversion is not a new idea. Jim Dugan from Saskatchewan did these conversions in the early 1990's and competed in DCRA matches. Was very successful - few articles around. Bill Wyldea built Jim's DCRA winning Enfield in 223 on a No7 receiver with a 28" heavy profile Kreiger barrel; bolt headed was collared; single shot platform and an Anschutz style stock. Very "nice" looking and deadly accurate rifle. For those that remember Paul Bawden (d. July 2017) he set up Wentworth Arms and sold 7.62 and 5.56 rifles in a similar Anschutz configuration. They also manufactured prototype 5.56 No4's for a spec DND order that never went into production. Bolt head is very similar to the one posted. Ellwood Epps sold one in 2017 from a DCRA Shooters Estate here a couple years ago. I've seen 2 others.
Interesting build - keep us posted.
Ron
This conversion is not a new idea. Jim Dugan from Saskatchewan did these conversions in the early 1990's and competed in DCRA matches. Was very successful - few articles around. Bill Wyldea built Jim's DCRA winning Enfield in 223 on a No7 receiver with a 28" heavy profile Kreiger barrel; bolt headed was collared; single shot platform and an Anschutz style stock. Very "nice" looking and deadly accurate rifle. For those that remember Paul Bawden (d. July 2017) he set up Wentworth Arms and sold 7.62 and 5.56 rifles in a similar Anschutz configuration. They also manufactured prototype 5.56 No4's for a spec DND order that never went into production. Bolt head is very similar to the one posted. Ellwood Epps sold one in 2017 from a DCRA Shooters Estate here a couple years ago. I've seen 2 others.
Interesting build - keep us posted.
Ron
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maple_leaf_eh
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
As always Mouse, you make sense.
maple_leaf_eh
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
I was thinking specifically of Jim's 5.56 target rifle when I commented about using a No.7 barrel. I forget what he used, but remarked on his choice of actions.
I've talked to both Jim Dugan and Bill Wylde over the years. Purchased a few interesting items from them. Have a couple of Bill's stock sets that Jim had turned by Paul Reibin. Bill told me that when he was up to a DCRA Match (Connaught) he ran into a chap selling a package of CNo7 actions. I don't recall these being remarked - got a couple pictures of Jim 223 somewhere as well as Bill correspondence describing the build. Bill made the winning rifle and Jim produced several after his win in 1994.
Ron
Ron
I know that this is not exactly what you are trying to do, but I'll show you what I did one afternoon with a rescue that I did on an sad orphaned sporter Sht.22 Mk.IV*.
It is now a single shot in 222 Remington.
No fancy bolt head with poppet ejector, I kept it really simple. The case extracts and falls off the bolt face and down the mag well. I fit an empty mag body as a brass catcher.
The barrel was originally made as a solid unit, not a 303 barrel sleeved to 22. A new chamber cut in 222 Rem and the bolt was refitted with a center fire bolt head and rim fire extractor. That is it. It was a fun project. It works like a charm.
I cant see why similar would not work with the No.4 rifle. Perhaps the higher pressure 223 would be of concern?
The rifle is now my varmint rifle. I use light hollow point bullets in hand loads. The rim fire .224 dia barrel with a 1:14 twist barrel will stabilise the bullet of light factory ammo too.
There is a clever lad on this forum who I bet could fit just about any barrel to a LE receiver. Evanguy, where are you?
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