No. 4 Lee-Enfield -> Magazine Adjustment and/or Replacement?

grayrc

grayrc

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Recently bought a No.4 Enfield on the EE. Seller neglected to mention a couple of issues (no front site post for example...), but the most significant one appears to be that the magazine won't feed properly (at least, I assume the issue is with the magazine...). It may just be a question of adjusting the feed lips (I'm guessing they're too wide as rounds are popping out on their own accord). Unfortunately I don't have a working magazine to base adjustments on.

If anyone could suggest (1) a source for a replacement, and/or (2) a source for 'magazine calibration' data, I'd appreciate it.

I'm in Ottawa btw.

Thanks in advance -
Gray.
 
tiriaq said:
Contact Gunco in Nepean. He has magazines from time to time.
Click to expand...

Thanks for that suggestion - he had one... $25 and 30 minutes later and I've got it (thought I'd have to order one from somewhere so that was relatively painless).

I inquired about the front post sight while I was there - apparently the ramp is an old Parker-Hale style with an a-typical dove-tail (3/8" top, 7/16" bottom). Jason suggested I'd have more luck ordering a whole new ramp, but that I wouldn't find one drilled to fit the barrel as tapped (i.e. nothing I can install myself).

Apparently I still have a ways to go to get the purchase into state 'as described by seller' (no bitterness here ;) )

cheers,
Gray.
 
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woodchopper said:
normaly poor feeding just requires a mag lip tweeking session
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That's what I was hoping - If all goes well I'll have two working when I'm done.

woodchopper said:
I'm scratching my head on the front site issue, Pics ??

I'm guessing that its not original and some sort of sporter
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BUSTED! ;)
Yes - this is a 'professionally' sporterized Enfield. I'll get a photo up.

/gc
 
The PH ramps on the rifles that PH sported use standard LE sights, at least on the ones that I've seen.
 
I'm charging my camera battery (!) to get a close up of the ramp, but here's a photo of a different gun sporterized by the same company (i.e. same sight ramp): http://www.hunt101.com/img/432835-big.JPG

There is a 'shield' over the sight post - I thought it all looked pretty standard. If I understand correctly, it's the size of the 'dovetail' that had my gunsmith suggest it wouldn't be easy to find a 'standard' part - but I'm sure I've seen these same ramps on a number of sporterized Enfields.

/gc
 
The standard dovetail is nominally 3/8". If yours is smaller, it likely takes an issue sight. Of course, on a sported rifle, anything is possible.
 
Calum said:
How are you loading the Box Mag...With Chargers, or by hand?
You know about staggering the cartridges right?
Click to expand...

Appreciate you checking - it wasn't 'operator error' though. I've compared the feed lips of the non-feeding mag to the newly purchased mag and they were 'significantly' out of spec - I don't think it will be an issue to get the magazine working.

woodchopper said:
normaly poor feeding just requires a mag lip tweeking session
Click to expand...

Any suggestions - calipers/micrometer (for comparison), pliers and trial & error until it works - should I be 'heating' the lips at all?

tiriaq said:
The standard dovetail is nominally 3/8".
Click to expand...

At the risk of going too far out of the scope for 'milsurp' (already feel I'm pushing it talking about a sporterized Enfield), when we describe a 'dovetail' in this context, is the 'nominal size' the width of the widest or narrowest point and is the angle/other width assumed to be 'standard' (understanding there could also be variations depending on country of manufacture and dozens of other factors). I've been looking for sights online and see suppliers referring to "Fits any standard 3/8" dovetail."

grayrc said:
<according to the gunsmith> the ramp *may be* an old Parker-Hale style with an a-typical dove-tail size (<I've measured it as> 3/8" top, 7/16" bottom). <The Gunsmith> suggested I'd have more luck ordering a whole new ramp, but that I wouldn't find one drilled to fit the barrel as tapped (i.e. there's nothing readily available that I could install myself).
Click to expand...


I'm getting the sense that my site ramp DOES have a standard dovetail, and it may just be that it wasn't worth my gunsmith's time/interest to attempt to source a replacement (or that he'd have preferred to start from scratch by tapping and installing the whole ramp). He's never given me the impression he's a big fan of 'bubba'd' Lee Enfields or that they'd be worth spending any money on.

/gc
 
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grayrc said:
He's never given me the impression he's a big fan of 'bubba'd' Lee Enfields or that they'd be worth spending any money on.

/gc
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Well define worth?

Depending on your abilities your Enfield will put any North American Game in your freezer, and it is a battle proven design that works. :)

Also with re-used brass my reloads are down to $10 for 20 rnds...compare that to some of the other hunting rifle cartridges out there. :eek: :runaway:
 
I adjust the two small front "lips" on a Lee-Enfield's magazine so that a cartridge (when chambering) will feed the bullet directly into the chamber, from both "sides" of the magazine.
Tighter is better than too loose. Operating the bolt smoothly helps a lot too. Although a Lee-Enfield is legendary for being a fast cycling bolt action, you can cause cartidge jamming by going too fast.
 
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