Feeding issues long branch no4mki 303
- Thread starter WhelanLad
- Start date
- Location
- Western Manitoba
The "lips" on the magazine need to be "tweeted" in or out to get a different profile of bullet to feed - this alters the "approach angle" of the bullet ogive so it is happy as it hits the feed ramp on the receiver. Very good reason to not slam in those mags as if they were made to do so - they were not! I have a pair of magazines for one of the No. 4's - one set up for FMJ and one set up for 180 W-W Soft Points. Start with right side cartridges - slightly bend feed lip out until right side feeds correctly; then repeat on left side. Might need more fussing to get last cartridges to work as good as the first ones in a magazine full.
The couple that I have owned over the years, one was very finicky and never loaded worth a sh!t. I could never get it to load consistently I tried several magazines, very poor manufacturing back in the day, I guess with the war everything was manufactured quick and fast and the fact these rifles would have had a short service life with the war, they only had to work only so good. I wonder how many guys die when they mag changed and the firearm would not load quickly or at all because of these issues.
Tweaking a mag on the battlefield was probably not a very good option, for the lifespan of a common soldier.
Tweaking a mag on the battlefield was probably not a very good option, for the lifespan of a common soldier.
- Location
- Western Manitoba
The Lee Enfields (No. 1's, No.4's and No.5's) never had a "mag change" during battle - those magazine stayed fixed in the rifle unless/until the rifle was taken down for cleaning. During use, the magazine was filled using "chargers", or "stripper clips" as some call them - five rounds in a metal strap - the strap went flying away when slamming the bolt forward. WWI basic training for ordinary foot soldier in British Army was 15 rounds per minute minimum hitting a generous target. When set up and used as designed, they worked, and still work, just fine.
Blastattack
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Winnipeg MB
There are no missing numbers. The No. 2 was a .22 conversion of the No. 1, and the Pattern 1914 was renamed the No. 3 MKI in 1926.
- Location
- Western Manitoba
I have never handled a No. 2, but I believe they were single shot - I am sure my cousins were using them, or a similar conversion to a No. 4, in the Canadian Army Cadets in the 1960's. My No. 3 uses the same chargers as are used in the No.1, 4 and 5. Apparently, there were .22 conversions of the No. 5, then a No. 6, 7, and 8 - all of those being .22 conversions for cadets / training / target shooting competitions. The No.'s 1, 3, 4 and 5 were battle rifles chambered for .303 British. So far as I know, the Pattern 1913 (P13), in .276 Enfield, did not survive long enough to earn a "No." designation.
