Enfield repair?

[jakeboyjim]

I have a newly purchased Enfield (picked it up yesterday from the store) that is fail-to-fire. I suspect the firing pin may need replacing. Is this an easy procedure to do? Does anyone have any recommendations on a gunsmith who can look at this? I'm in San Francisco and prefer someone local.

[trapshot68]

try reading through this: http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/edu51.htm First half is on the enfield.

[Mssr. Eleganté]

You can also check out http://www.surplusrifle.com/

They have detailed bolt disassembly instructions for both the SMLE and the No.4 rifles. You can see for yourself if the striker is broken on your rifle. No need to go to a gunsmith yet.

Do the rounds have a dent in the primer after you try and fire them?

[jakeboyjim]

Yes, I have checked out the striker and it looks fine to me. After attempting to fire, the primer is dimpled and clearly has been struck. One thing I did find out, is the bolt comes from a different rifle -- the serial numbers do not match. Is it possible the striker on this particular bolt is not hitting hard enough (which I have read about while researching POF ammunition problems, people replace the spring and have no more issues) or there might be some headspace issues?

--Jim

You can also check out http://www.surplusrifle.com/

They have detailed bolt disassembly instructions for both the SMLE and the No.4 rifles. You can see for yourself if the striker is broken on your rifle. No need to go to a gunsmith yet.

Do the rounds have a dent in the primer after you try and fire them?

[-hanko]

Is it possible the striker on this particular bolt is not hitting hard enough (which I have read about while researching POF ammunition problems, people replace the spring and have no more issues) or there might be some headspace issues?

--Jim

You WANT to have headspaced checked BEFORE you shoot; the mismatched bolt demands it.

-hanko

[smle-man]

Buy a can of spray electric motor degreaser. Unscrew the bolt head from the bolt. Douse the interior of the bolt head and the inside of the bolt with the cleaner until all of the dried grease and crud gets washed out. reassemble and try again. I bet it fires.

[AJAX22]

Seriously check the headspace on the enfield.

They are the easiest WWII rifle to headspace (different bolt heads are available and can be fitted without tools)

And there can be serious problems which result from having too much headspace.

Don't play around with this stuff

[berg]

You sure it's your rifle? Maybe the ammo is bad. What's on the headstamp?

[jakeboyjim]

I went cheap and started with some POF -- Yes, I know it's Bad Stuff, but that's all that was available at the time.

However, there were a few other people shooting SMLEs. We traded some ammo and my POF worked fine in their rifle. However, their ammo (both surplus AND new) FTF for me. Each fired round had a mark in the primer, but they did not look very deep. I'm looking for some headspace checking rounds, but they don't appear to be common in the Bay Area.

[smle-man]

I went cheap and started with some POF -- Yes, I know it's Bad Stuff, but that's all that was available at the time.

However, there were a few other people shooting SMLEs. We traded some ammo and my POF worked fine in their rifle. However, their ammo (both surplus AND new) FTF for me. Each fired round had a mark in the primer, but they did not look very deep. I'm looking for some headspace checking rounds, but they don't appear to be common in the Bay Area.

You've got gunk in the bolt is my bet. Clean it out and it will fire. Folks get wound around the headspace axle when the solution is usually much easier.

[Nodda Duma]

You've got gunk in the bolt is my bet. Clean it out and it will fire. Folks get wound around the headspace axle when the solution is usually much easier.

+1. Easier to degrease, anyways.

-Jason

[Czechsix]

Dang, check that headspace first. Like's been said, with the ease these bolt heads swap out, there's a good chance someone's screwed with it, and more than definitely with the mismatched numbers. That'd be the first step, but while you're at it, open it up and clean the crap out.

I'd definitely be suspicious of the HS...