How to determine head space on a Lee-Enfield?

Thror

Thror

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Hi!
Can the head space of a Lee-Enfield No.1 MkIII be adjusted by changing the lenght of the bolt head? How do I determine the right lenght my rifle needs?

Thanks!
Simon
 
Unlike the No. 4, No. 1 boltheads were not made in a uniform range of sizes. About the only thing that you can do is use a trial and error approach, until a head is found that will reject a .074 NO GO at the very least. Some people have reported facing boltheads to lengthen them, but I have no experience with this.
 
On that note I have noticed that my No4 bolt head unscrews abit...is this some sort of head space adjustment?

Sorry to hyjack your thread Thror.
 
Calum said:
On that note I have noticed that my No4 bolt head unscrews abit...is this some sort of head space adjustment?

Sorry to hyjack your thread Thror.
Click to expand...

Nope, the bolt head must be screwed in all the way to work properly.....if you were to unscrew it one turn, that would amount to a gross amount of headspace anyway....
 
"...How do I determine the right length my rifle needs?..." You check it with proper guages. Headspace guages don't measure anything. They just check for tolerance.
To adjust the headspace you change bolt heads until the action doesn't close on a No-Go guage preferably. If it closes on the No-Go you then try it with a Field guage. If it closes on that you need another bolt head. The sad part is that No. 1 bolt heads are not numbered like they are on the No. 4 bolt heads. It's a trial and error thing. Bolt heads run $10.75US each from Gunparts. $20Cdn from Marstar and you need a handful to try with the guages.
"...this some sort of head space adjustment?..." Nope. You''ve likely noticed that the bolt head bottoms out with the lug on the head slightly past the lug on the bolt. Screw it all the way in, but with the lugs matching. Moving parts need a bit of space so they don't bind.
 
A very easy and surprisingly accurate method of measuring how much change you need to adjust for is to simply fire a fully sized empty primed case. The primer will back out of the case the amount you need.
 
guntech said:
A very easy and surprisingly accurate method of measuring how much change you need to adjust for is to simply fire a fully sized empty primed case. The primer will back out of the case the amount you need.
Click to expand...

Sweet trick !!!
 
guntech said:
A very easy and surprisingly accurate method of measuring how much change you need to adjust for is to simply fire a fully sized empty primed case. The primer will back out of the case the amount you need.
Click to expand...

Now that is a neat trick!
:D
 
NEAT TRICK INDEED, but can you tell me why the primer will back out on an empty case and not on a full loaded case?
just trying to learn.
 
It does back out in both instances, but with the loaded case, the powder creates enough pressure to stretch the walls of the case until the head of the case contacts the boltface, thus reseating the primer in this instance. Regards, Eagleye.
 
Eagleye said:
It does back out in both instances, but with the loaded case, the powder creates enough pressure to stretch the walls of the case until the head of the case contacts the boltface, thus reseating the primer in this instance. Regards, Eagleye.
Click to expand...


and sometimes the primer flattens out from this.... also if you have headspace, looking at a primer for pressure indications is not reliable.
 
Thror,
If you come in Quebec city, go to Magazin Latulippe, ask for Alain Bolduc at the repair shop he has a lot of heads for the no 1 and also for the # 4.
I had to replace a head on both of these model and after trying a few I found the right one, there is no # or size on the no 1 but the heads are not all of the same length.
 
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