Where's a good place to start looking......

joe-nwt

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
72   0   0
Location
home
......for a bolt for this old piece of junk I just came across.....


DSC01062.jpg
 
Try Ellwood Epps - on their website, 'This n That', then 'Misc Gun Parts.' About half way down they list Lee Enfield parts incl 'several' complete No 4 bolts. If they have a range of different boltheads, you might consider visiting them with the rifle to make sure you get the right fit. I bought a virtually unused LB 1943 serial no bolt off them a few months ago, a real beauty which now slides happily back and forth on my recently put-together 22 No 7 rifle.

Epps actually have in stock what they list on their website and apparently update it every couple of days or so, unlike some Canadian based parts suppliers on the web who have impressive looking lists of No 4 and even No 7 parts, but when you call them up there's nothing there ...

Another good bet is Springfield Sporters (you'll find them on the web), who are a very good supplier, but you have to contend with customs dues and now who knows what else with all the recent nonsense about US gun part import/export restrictions.
 
Just a bolt won't help. You'll need headspace guages as well.
Yeah, visit Epps. Snicker.

I think I'll start with a bolt and then worry about the headspace guages/gunsmith later.

Yeah, it's just a short hop to Epps from here.....:p
 
NWT - yeah, Epps might be a bit of an expedition!

One thought is to find others with LEs, and try their bolts and boltheads to see how they fit. That could give you a ballpark idea of what head size you need, then you could order it and one size either side, along with a bolt. Then have a local gunsmith who knows LEs well do a headspace check. It would cost you a few 10s extra to get a few bolthead sizes but cheaper than a very long car trek ...
 
You know, I was told years ago. Poor headspacing is always something a CSI looks for. The impact makes for good firing pin impressions.... Unfortunately, not so good for the health of the shooter or those around.

I had the bolt of a C1A1 puncture my arm, the bolt carrier whizzed past the right side of my head. The head of a rifle case was pulled from my hands along with bits of brass. The nerves in my right hand still do not feel properly. It’s been 15 yrs now. Headspace is important….

Or, if you are lucky, you should buy a .303 ruptured case extractor, your cartridge casing will rip apart with bad headspacing.

-----

Go to Epps, Don't screw around with other rifle bolts, The Lee Enfield will close on a "0" or a "1" or a "2" or a "3". You cannot get any idea of what to buy. Without headspacing gauges you can't tell or measure the headspace.

Here’s some info on the .303 British

http://www3.sympatico.ca/shooters/equip.htm

http://72.249.61.58/~surplus/viewtopic.php?t=23116

Peter
 
Last edited:
Back
Top Bottom