Enfield not feeding properly

[trfcrugby]

I just picked up a No. 4 MK 1, and it went out to the range for the first time on Thursday. I loaded up the mag, and the bolt would not pickup a round from the mag. I had to push up on the magazine in order for the bolt to catch the round as I cycled it. Does this indicate that maybe I have the wrong magazine for this rifle, or is there something else I am missing?

[taloft]

Barring an incorrect magazine try the following: Inspect the components that interact with the magazine. Maybe the magazine catch is bad or maybe the magazine catch screw is loose. Is there excessive play between the mag and the rifle? Any of these might cause the mag to sit a little low. This would be my 1st guess, since you can correct the problem by applying pressure to the bottom of the magazine. If it was a bad spring it would likely feed the first couple of rounds then fail to feed. Is it happening on all the rounds? Failing this, you might want to hit up some of the milsurp forums for advice.

[trfcrugby]

The mag spring is OK, it will feed all of the rounds if I hold the mag in tight. I will check the other items.

Thanks.

[Michael303]

Sounds like the problem might be in the lips of the magazine being out of whack. If the magazine is firmly inserted (it should click when pushed in), when loading, the bolthead catches the rim of the round and as it moves forward and the pushes it up the feed ramp. If the lips are not set right, can cause the bolt to move forward but not grab the round and push it out of the magazine. You may consider bending the lips a bit.

[rjf]

Load your ammo one rim in front of the other or they will hang.

l
l
l

Picked up up a No 4 for $80 because of this. Didn't know the reason then. Just that it didn't feed properly.

[Blademan21]

Enfield ammo

The ammo must be staggered in the mag for it too feed. If you have stripper clips,the tips of the bullets have to be,every other one higher than the one before. The stripper clips hold 5-rounds,the mag 10. E-mail me at Blademan21@netzero.net for a photo. Hope that helps.


Blademan21

[Sampachi]

Some mags just aren't up to snuff. Have you tried other mags in your N0.4? I've heard that there are slight diffrences between older Mk.III mags and the newer ones for the No.4.

[bigthaiboy]

The correct way to load a .303 stripper clip is : if you a looking at the base of the sripper clip and round, the five rounds are inserted staggered - up (towards you), down, up, down, up.

Probably clearer in this picture -

.303 stripper.JPG

[bigthaiboy]

Although the magazine on No.1 and No.4 Lee Enfields are detachable, in military use, the magazine was rarely detached in actual use. British soldiers were issued with the one magazine that came with the rifle. The rifles were loaded from the open bolt by 5rd stripper clips. The magazine could take 10 rounds, but in training, soldiers were advised not to load it to capacity, as the tension on the mag spring made the rifle more likely to misfeed and cause a jam.

Otherwise, the Enfield action is reputed to be one of the most reliable in the world.