Lee Enfield Bolt Problem

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gerardjohnson

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I have had my No.4 long Branch for several years now and have never had a problem removing the bolt until now. Once the bolt head face is even with the back of the charger bridge, it will go no further. I removed the safety but that doesn't appear to be the problem. Any advice will be appreciated.
 
gerardjohnson said:
I have had my No.4 long Branch for several years now and have never had a problem removing the bolt until now. Once the bolt head face is even with the back of the charger bridge, it will go no further. I removed the safety but that doesn't appear to be the problem. Any advice will be appreciated.
Click to expand...

The safety has to be timed...there are several possible ways to put it back together, only one of them is right.

Try removing the safety right out of the rifle, then can you remove the bolt?
 
Perhaps download a complete set of manuals for the Lee Enfield, which includes operating and armourer's maintenance instructions.

The manuals may be found in the Technical Articles for Milsurp Collectors and Re-loaders (click here)http://www.milsurps.com/content.php...esearch-for-milsurp-collectors-and-re-loaders


2002 No.4 (All Marks) .303 Rifle Manuals (click here)http://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=3314

Complete Set includes:

- 2002 No.4 (All Marks) .303 Rifle Data Summary
- 2002 No.4 (All Marks) .303 Rifle Parts Identification List
- 2002 No.4 (All Marks) .303 Rifle Operating Instructions
- 2002 No.4 (All Marks) .303 Rifle Equipment Description
- 2002 No.4 (All Marks) .303 Rifle Maintenance Instructions


1991 No.4 (All Marks) .303 Rifle Manuals (click here)http://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=3322

Complete Set includes:

- 1991 No.4 (All Marks) .303 Rifle Operating Instructions
- 1991 No.4 (All Marks) .303 Rifle Maintenance Instructions

Note: The difference between the 1991 set of No.4 Manuals and 2002 No.4 (All Marks) .303 Rifle Manuals, is that the 1991 manual contains armourer's information on how to properly "bed" the No.4 rifle, whereas the newer 2002 manual does not.

Hope this helps... :)

Regards,
Doug
 
Bolt problem

cantom said:
The safety has to be timed...there are several possible ways to put it back together, only one of them is right.

Try removing the safety right out of the rifle, then can you remove the bolt?
Click to expand...

If you use the search function, I posted some pix on how to time the lee enfield safety in this forum.

This might sound silly, but most Long Branch Lee Enfields were No.4MkI* models. In these, the release slot for the bolt head is a slot cut into the guide rib and you only have to move the bolt one inch back to flip the bolt head over to take the bolt out. The older LB No.4 rifles were to the original pattern, and have a bolt release near the rear that must be pushed down to release the bolt head.

Or, do you mean that you can release the bolt head, and attempt to withdraw the bolt, but can not get the bolt back past the charger bridge? If this is the case, the bolt head is catching on the charger guide. Is the extractor screw fully down? Is there a burr or projection on the bolt head or charger bridge?

Because the Lee Enfield locks up at the rear, there is also a remote possibility that an overloaded cartridge fired in one can bend the receiver.

Perhaps post a couple of pictures.
 
The bolt is out. I used a rubber hammer and tapped on the bolt handle until it came out. I tried it in my No.5 and it fit perfectly, even the headspace was OK. I removed the bolt head and the bolt went in without a problem. I took a file to a few rough edges in the receiver but could find nothing else that might be causing the problem. It still sticks in the same place when trying to put it back in. I tried the bolt from the No. 5 and it sticks as well. It looks like the problem is with the rifle, not the bolt. I cleaned the bolt then blackened it with a felt marker. I put it back (using the rubber hammer) and removed it again but could find no unusual marks on the bolt.
 
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