Need some help

lummox

lummox

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So I bought a Lee Enfield yesterday at a gun show. I was going to try it out today but when I tried to chamber a round it won't go in completely for me. When the chamber is empty it works fine and the bolt cycles fine but when trying to chamber a round the bolt goes full ahead but it won't go the whole way down and engage.

Any ideas as to what the problem would be?
 
Have you tried with other rounds? What were you using, new factory rounds or old milsurp?

I wonder if technically it could be a headspace that would be to short.
 
I tried some winchester super x that i picked up today. I will have to take it out to a gunsmith tomorrow if I'm not working to get the headspace checked.
 
Stevo said:
Is the bolt head screwed in tight?
Click to expand...

:D Exactly what I was thinking. Keep the bolt head as tightly screwed in as possible, if it's unscrewed a turn when you chamber it may close empty, but most certainly not when loaded. It's easy for it to inscrew on you if you don't watch it while moving it around.

Could be headspace also.

P.S. - chamber and breech clear of crud? Most of my milsurps usually look like a rat died in the lug recesses before I clean em.
 
Well don't I feel stupid now. I tried screwing in the bolt head and thats what the problem was. Now to get it out to the range today and give it a try. Thanks for the help guys. I'll try to get some pictures taken if I can find my camera.
 
"...out to the range today and give it a try..." Check the headspace first.
"...Sht. LE and then has III..." That makes it a Short Lee-Enfield No. 1 Mk III. The rifle used by British Empire forces during W.W. I and part of W.W II. If the headspace is bad you or your smithy will need a handful of pricey bolt heads to try with proper headspace guages to fix it.
 
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