Enfield No. 4 Mk 1 follower keeps popping out

[peppermintman]

Was enjoying the day Sunday at Lytle Creek with my Enfield No. 4 Mk 1. Everything was good hitting the gong every once in a while then I had a jam. Looked into the receiver and seen 3 rounds popping up. I had to drop the mag to be safe and sure ‘nuff the rounds fell out.

I tried pushing the follower down and it keeps popping out. Got home cleaned it well and the narrow end of the follower keeps popping out , won’t hold any ammo.

Is the follower worn out and need replacing? I ran out of ideas trying to figure this one out. Ideas ?

[SVT-40]

Your magazine and follower should look like this... Is your magazine missing the tabs at the front which retain the follower? Same with the sheet metal bulges at the rear of the magazine.

It could also be a broken or very weak spring not pushing up enough on the follower. Take the magazine apart and see how everything works without and ammo in the mag. The spring should push the follower up firmly against the tabs and retainer bumps.

[peppermintman]

I think i gotta learn that app again.

[peppermintman]

https://imgur.com/gallery/D2UwPOC
https://imgur.com/gallery/GU1yBS3
https://imgur.com/gallery/oWt6fRb
https://imgur.com/gallery/4o41fAo.

I’m trying but I can’t tell the difference. I’m thinking the front two tabs that holds the bullet down?

[dfletcher]

I had the same issue with an Enfield magazine. The trick is to bend the front tabs in enough to hold ammo in place and feed properly, but not so much as to pinch the body of the cartridge during feeding. The metal is pliable, to a point.

[peppermintman]

Originally Posted by dfletcher

I had the same issue with an Enfield magazine. The trick is to bend the front tabs in enough to hold ammo in place and feed properly, but not so much as to pinch the body of the cartridge during feeding. The metal is pliable, to a point.

Yes I tried that. Seems now the ammo keeps slipping off the front tab. It’s an all matching rifle and I’d like to keep it that way but if I have to buy a surplus magazine I’ll do it but of course I’d prefer to have the original fixed. I’ll try bending some more.

[MajorSideburns]

This is a common issue with Enfields. You need to bend the magazine tabs as mentioned, they need to be shaped in a way that hold the rounds in but still guide them straight into the chamber. What happens over time is people continuously removing the magazine and reinserting it, usually up against a closed bolt. The rifle was not designed for this and with the overtravel you will often times bend the tabs inadvertently. Also dropping the mag can bend them out of alignment. It's not a hard task but it takes some patience and finesse. Get a pair of needle nose pliers and make very small adjustments. Adjust it for the round you intend to use the most, different bullets have different ogive profiles that will be held in position differently by the tab. I probably should have stated that first. What round were you shooting when you experienced the issue? Did you try another type of bullet to see if the tabs work to hold it in? For example, if you have it adjusted for the light 150gr FMJ spitzer, and then try to load a heavy long 174gr round nose, you can have issues. In my personal experience at least.

[peppermintman]

Originally Posted by MajorSideburns

This is a common issue with Enfields. You need to bend the magazine tabs as mentioned, they need to be shaped in a way that hold the rounds in but still guide them straight into the chamber. What happens over time is people continuously removing the magazine and reinserting it, usually up against a closed bolt. The rifle was not designed for this and with the overtravel you will often times bend the tabs inadvertently. Also dropping the mag can bend them out of alignment. It's not a hard task but it takes some patience and finesse. Get a pair of needle nose pliers and make very small adjustments. Adjust it for the round you intend to use the most, different bullets have different ogive profiles that will be held in position differently by the tab. I probably should have stated that first. What round were you shooting when you experienced the issue? Did you try another type of bullet to see if the tabs work to hold it in? For example, if you have it adjusted for the light 150gr FMJ spitzer, and then try to load a heavy long 174gr round nose, you can have issues. In my personal experience at least.

I tried bending the tabs a tiny bit more and the rounds will pop up at the bullet side like 3 of them. The only time I removed the magazine was when I had that jam.
I was lucky enough to buy the rifle with a lot of ammo. Had the Paki, Indian surplus. Sold the corrosive ammo and kept the HXP. That’s all I’ve shot out of the rifle.
Don’t want to ruin the mag so I’m being very careful and so far no success. eBay has them but I ain’t paying what they’re asking.