The controlled feed of the #4
- Thread starter snowhunter
- Start date
Just a in the manner of Mauser rifles, the LE # 4 and #5 extractor will engage and lock itself into the rim of the cartridge, as the bolt is pushed forward from the rear, towards the chamber.
I will agree, that the LE # 4 and # 5 have the added advantage over the Mauser, that it also can, without the risk of breaking the extractor claw, have a single round loaded into the chamber, and the extractor slipping over it.
I will agree, that the LE # 4 and # 5 have the added advantage over the Mauser, that it also can, without the risk of breaking the extractor claw, have a single round loaded into the chamber, and the extractor slipping over it.
tiriaq, do you have any pictures of a Cooey model 60 ?
Also, the loading process of the LE# 4 is aided by the halfmoon raceway, in which the rim of the cartridge is firmly locked between this halfmoon raceway and the force of the spring pressure of extractor hook, while the cartridge travels from the clip to the chamber.
The whole action of the LE# 4, is custom build around the dimensions of the 303 british cartridge.
Also, the loading process of the LE# 4 is aided by the halfmoon raceway, in which the rim of the cartridge is firmly locked between this halfmoon raceway and the force of the spring pressure of extractor hook, while the cartridge travels from the clip to the chamber.
The whole action of the LE# 4, is custom build around the dimensions of the 303 british cartridge.
This must be one of the best keep secrets of the British Empire 
As mentioned in an earlier post in these fine pages, the cutout on the halfmoon raceway which are used to relieve the pressure of the cartridge rim when extracting a spend case, which then makes the extractor springs and hook alone, eject the spend case, also functions as the beginning point for the loaded cartridge rim, to start its travel along the halfmoon raceway, on its way towards the chamber, at which points, the extractor hook also go over the rim of the case, thus locking the loaded cartridige between the halfmoon raceway and the extractor hook, in an controlled feed manner, in which the cartridge and bolt becomes one, thus avoiding any accidental "double charging" or jamming of the loading and unloading process of the LE #4 and #5.
As mentioned in an earlier post in these fine pages, the cutout on the halfmoon raceway which are used to relieve the pressure of the cartridge rim when extracting a spend case, which then makes the extractor springs and hook alone, eject the spend case, also functions as the beginning point for the loaded cartridge rim, to start its travel along the halfmoon raceway, on its way towards the chamber, at which points, the extractor hook also go over the rim of the case, thus locking the loaded cartridige between the halfmoon raceway and the extractor hook, in an controlled feed manner, in which the cartridge and bolt becomes one, thus avoiding any accidental "double charging" or jamming of the loading and unloading process of the LE #4 and #5.
Last edited:
Crf
All Lee-Enfields from the MLE Mk.I right to the No.4 Mk.2 had controlled feed. I would imagine the Lee-Metford had it, too, and the Ishapore 2A. Having never owned one, I can't verify that. Many rifle besides the vaunted Mauser had controlled feed. Like the Mannlicher M95, and the Carcano. The fact that the Lee is a controlled feed action is almost never mentioned, and the lack of knowledge of its existence is the main reason for broken Lee extractor springs. Constantly dropping single rounds into the chamber strains the extractor spring, causing eventual breakage. If you always feed from the mag, the extractor spring hardly gets compressed at all.
All Lee-Enfields from the MLE Mk.I right to the No.4 Mk.2 had controlled feed. I would imagine the Lee-Metford had it, too, and the Ishapore 2A. Having never owned one, I can't verify that. Many rifle besides the vaunted Mauser had controlled feed. Like the Mannlicher M95, and the Carcano. The fact that the Lee is a controlled feed action is almost never mentioned, and the lack of knowledge of its existence is the main reason for broken Lee extractor springs. Constantly dropping single rounds into the chamber strains the extractor spring, causing eventual breakage. If you always feed from the mag, the extractor spring hardly gets compressed at all.
Bushman79, I only suspected that all models of the Lee-Enfield rifle had the controlled feed system. Thanks for informing about that rather another unknown fact among us gunnutz who have owned LE rifles for years
Also thanks for informing of not to let the extractor hook of the LE "slip over the rim" after chambering the single round into the chamber by hand, and thus avoiding any possible stress to the extractor spring, that can cause any breakage. Therefore, "Always load a LE from the clip".
The extractor hook of the LE do works very much in the same manner as the "famous", claw extractor spring of the Mauser: When the bolt is pushed forward, the rim of the 303 british cartridge slides up into the extractor hook without any strain on the extractor spring.
Why is that this significant reliable controlled feed system of the LE has been generally unknown to most LE users and owners for over a centrury, but the same controlled feed system has always been commonly known to Mauser rifles users, to a point that most of these Mauser rifle owner and others, belived that only Mauser rifles had this controlled feed system ?
Also thanks for informing of not to let the extractor hook of the LE "slip over the rim" after chambering the single round into the chamber by hand, and thus avoiding any possible stress to the extractor spring, that can cause any breakage. Therefore, "Always load a LE from the clip".
The extractor hook of the LE do works very much in the same manner as the "famous", claw extractor spring of the Mauser: When the bolt is pushed forward, the rim of the 303 british cartridge slides up into the extractor hook without any strain on the extractor spring.
Why is that this significant reliable controlled feed system of the LE has been generally unknown to most LE users and owners for over a centrury, but the same controlled feed system has always been commonly known to Mauser rifles users, to a point that most of these Mauser rifle owner and others, belived that only Mauser rifles had this controlled feed system ?
I think it is because Mausers were sold all over the world, so they would have been very well advertised. Lee-Enfields were mostly used within the British Empire, so there was really no need to make a fuss about the merits of the Lee action. The Lee had controlled feed and gas escape holes long before Mausers did. And as anyone who has inadvertently dropped a cartridge straight into a Mauser 1898 chamber and tried to close the bolt will tell you, the 98 design has a dangerous flaw! At least the Lee extractor will snap over the rim if you close the bolt on a loaded chamber.
