No.4 barrel on a MLE

englishman_ca

englishman_ca

CGN frequent flyer
EE Expired
Rating - 100%
156   0   2
Location
Ontario's Near North, not far from west side of Al
I am considering rebarreling a Long Lee Enfield with a No.4 barrel. The reason for this exercise is that a No.4 barrel is a heck of alot easier to source here in Canada than a heavy No.1 barrel.

Threads are the same but breeching up is different. Essentialy the indexing will be out exactly 180 degrees. The barrel shoulder will need to be taken back half a thread, the breech face and extractor slot recut and the chamber deepened.

Sounds straight forward don't it? :)

I have access to a lathe and can buy a chamber reamer. Hopefully I won't screw up too many barrels trying to get it right ( I usualy bugger up twice before I have success at something).

I know that it can be done, so am fishing for ideas and input. Has anybody tried this before?
 
Why not just breech up the barrel and recut the extractor grove? This would eliminate the shortening and rechambering.
 
green said:
Why not just breech up the barrel and recut the extractor grove? This would eliminate the shortening and rechambering.
Click to expand...

That would do as long as you don't mind the sights being on the bottom of the barrel instead of the top. :redface: Read the original thread. This will cause the barrel to be out of index by 180 degrees (1/2 turn)...;)
 
gunasauras said:
That would do as long as you don't mind the sights being on the bottom of the barrel instead of the top. :redface: Read the original thread. This will cause the barrel to be out of index by 180 degrees (1/2 turn)...;)
Click to expand...

The sight thing won't be that big a deal. You just have to cut the groove in the barrel 180 from the original. A small round file could be used through the #4 site base... the site would already be indexed through the barrel lugs which are present at that point.

The #4 sight base will not allow you too many options...it is either straight up or straight down. That is, unless you are going to turn the lugs off altogether and install the Long Lee sights. In that case a small level across the top of the front and rear sight bases will allow reasonable indexing.
 
If by "breeching up" you are talking about adding a breeching washer or shim to make up the 180 degrees, wouldn't this add a large amount of headspace? If Englishman has the access to the lathe, then for the cost of the reamer he should be OK. Besides, you never go wrong buying tools.

With a bit of care he could even get it right the first time, and not have to go through 3 barrels.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom