Lee Enfield No.5 MK1(Jungle Carbine )

[Lucite]

Got this in the mail yesterday from Elwood Epps and I must say they are handy little rifles. So I took it to the range today to see how it shoots and I found out there are issues with head space. So I'm wondering, assuming that the bolt heads are interchangeable with the No.4 could I then get a No.1 or No.2 bolt head to remedy the head space issue?











First test shot.


Second test shot

 

[Mr_Raw]

your spent brass looks like mine. Not really a head space problem, more chamber dimensions.

 

[CanadaCollector]

Brass from both my LB No4Mk1 and No1Mk3 both look like yours. They have both fired hundreds of rounds accurately with no issues... I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[CanadaCollector]

I wouldn't say your cases are bulged either. Here's a good article explaining everything.
http://parallaxscurioandrelicfirearmsforums.yuku.com/topic/3361/Headspace-101-for-30339s

 

[rgg_7]

You can use No4 bolt heads to correct headspace.

 

[D-BOMB]

Yup, looks normal for for a .303 firing SAAMI spec ammo.

 

[TheTooner]

The No.4 and No. 5 bolts are interchangeable, not just the bolt head. The No.5's should have a hollowed out knob on the bolt handle but some like that were also used on some No.4s (because the bolts are interchangeable) and a No.5 in need of repair while in service could get a No.4 bolt as a replacement (because the bolts are interchangeable.)

 

[dieseldawg]

May I ask how much you paid?

 

[Donny Fenn1]

Try the "o-ring" trick if you want to reload the brass? If not just shoot away.

 

[sunray]

How did you determine the headspace is bad? I doubt Epp's would sell an unsafe rifle, but a phone call will tell you if the headspace was checked by them. However, just changing the bolt head without headspace gauges will not necessarily fix anything.
'O' rings do absolutely nothing.

 

[Lucite]

How did you determine the headspace is bad? I doubt Epp's would sell an unsafe rifle, but a phone call will tell you if the headspace was checked by them. However, just changing the bolt head without headspace gauges will not necessarily fix anything.

I should have said by looking at the brass I came to the conclusion that the head space was off because compared to my No.4 that I was also shooting that day the brass had a more significant bulge to it where the walls of the case meet the head so I decided to err on the side of caution and not risk a case rupture or head separation , I also have a set a head space gauges on order.

 

[Lucite]

So I ordered a No1. bolt head from marstar swapped it out and checked the headspace and everything checks out, I also did a chamber cast and everything is within what SAAMI lists for chamber dimensions.

 

[bushwhacker]

How did you determine the headspace is bad? I doubt Epp's would sell an unsafe rifle, but a phone call will tell you if the headspace was checked by them. However, just changing the bolt head without headspace gauges will not necessarily fix anything.
'O' rings do absolutely nothing.

I respectfully disagree with the above. The stretching of brass in military .303 chambers can take place if the headspace is perfect. This is because the case headspaces on the RIM. This does not address the issue if the chamber is large (which most are) and the commercial ammunition is on the small side with thinner brass than military issue (which most are). The rifle manufacturers were not concerned about reloading commercial brass. If you fire commercial brass in an oversize chamber, it will stretch forward to fill the chamber. This produces a thin spot near the base of the case. The purpose of the o-ring is to space the cartridge forward into the shoulder of the chamber so the once-fired case is form-fitted to the chamber of that particular rifle to minimize weakening the case so it can be reloaded multiple times. Wiser people than me with much more experience have advocated the o-ring method, and I believe them.