[basspastor]

Hi, I just purchased a Lee Enfield 4 Mk1 and 5 Mk1. I cleaned the guns up and went out to the range to try them. I don't have stripper clips so I thought I read you could just load them one shell at a time pushing them down into the receiver with the mag. attached to the rifle. Well, I put a few shells in{pri. 303} and they seem to go in ok, but when I went to push the bolt into the receiver , it would go in but I could not seem to get the bolt to go in correctly on both rifles and when I went to pull the bolt handle or push it, it didn't seem to push in correct{couldn't get the bolt to turn down all the way, it seemed} . It seemed like it didn't want to go all the way down and when I got it down, and I pulled the trigger with the ammo in the bore, there was just a click and the ammo wouldn't detonate. I know I am really doing something wrong. Also, that little cube like thing at the end of the bolt that you adjust to get the bolt out, didn't seem to sit right when I pushed the bolt in. It's doesn't seem to sit correctly but I could be wrong since I don't know how it should sit when the rifle is properly cocked. I tried to look at some youtube videos on how to load an enfield 4, Mk1* , but they were all just on using the stripper clips and not a technical discussion of what the receiver should and should not do when loading. Anyway, I think my problem is that I am loading it wrong because the bolt on both guns doesn't seem to be going in correctly and I get a click and that is all when I pull the trigger with the Bullet in the bore because I can see it go in. I hope this makes sense. Sorry for being long-winded but just trying pathetically to describe my problem, Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[krinko]

If you took the bolts out of these rifles, there is a chance you might have inadvertently unscrewed the boltheads by one revolution.
When the heads are on properly, they should turn just a little past the guide rib to get dead tight. Then back them off to line up with the rib and reinstall.
-----krinko

 

[buffdog]

Rim ahead of rim when loading cartridges singly in the magazine otherwise they will jam. Tighten the bolt head down fully then back off a bit to line it up with the guide rib. Insert the bolt and line it up with the slot in the rail, then push the bolt head to the right until it clicks into the slot.

The slot in the bolt head has to ride in the rail in the receiver. Make sure you have the correct bolt in the correct rifle.
.

 

[basspastor]

I was just cocking the bolt forward without a shell in it and the bolt seems to pull forward in cocked position just fine. I don't have strong hands{arthritis}. Is it possible that I didn't push the bolt forward enough at the range or with enough strength going forward? Would it be harder to push with the bullet in and I somehow didn't cock the bolt correctly? I ask that because as I do it now at home without a shell, it seems to cock fine and neatly in place with that little cube box thing at the end of the bolt laying flat to the right. I couldn't get that little metal box at the end of the bolt to lie flat to the very right bottom in line with that straight metal rail at the range. I don't know the names of all the parts so I hope this makes sense. Trying to learn them with a diagram. I never took the bolts apart.

 

[basspastor]

bolt

"Rim ahead of rim when loading cartridges singly in the magazine otherwise they will jam".

OK, this means placing each shell's rim ahead of the previous one. I didn't know that. Great

"Tighten the bolt head down fully then back off a bit to line it up with the guide rib".

I have not taken this bolt apart{but have a mosin}. This means simply tighten the bolt head to the right as it sits on the bolt? right?


"Insert the bolt and line it up with the slot in the rail, then push the bolt head to the right until it clicks into the slot."

OK, When it clicks{ and it does click at home with the ammo out} that little metal cube should be all the way down to the right and I assume, in line with the guide rial which is also all the down to the right?

 

[muffett.2008]

Yep, you've got it, it sounds like you did not have the bolthead locked into the rail, good luck next time.

 

[buffdog]

.
As far as disassembling the bolt goes, you need a special tool to take the firing pin and spring out. In 99.9% of the cases, you do not really need to disassemble the bolt other than taking the bolt head off to clean and lightly lubricate the firing pin and spring. Thus, you have two pieces --the bolt head, and the rest of the bolt assembly.

In the other .1% of the cases, it is usually to replace a broken firing pin. There really is no need to disassemble the bolt further than the above. The British made it simple for maintenance. There is an old saying, "The Germans make a hunting rifle, the Americans make a target rifle, and the British make a rifle to wage war with."

Go to a website called "Milsurps.com" where you will find the "Knowledge Library." Click on it and find the copy of "Shoot to Live." It is the Canadian Instructors Manual by Johnson on the teaching of Recruits to shoot with the Lee Enfield, starting with the .22 version and going to the .303. It is in "Cartoon" type form, very easy to read, and will give you a wealth of information on using the Lee Enfield Rifle. It can be downloaded onto your computer.
.

 

[basspastor]

Go to a website called "Milsurps.com" where you will find the "Knowledge Library.


Yes, will do that. That is exactly what I needed, Thanks so very much.