.308 Ishapore Enfield bolt problem

[Koblenz]

I bought an Indian Ishapore Enfield at a gun show in Atlanta on Saturday. It was a rifle I had been wanting for a long time. It looked to be in good shape, but I could not work the bolt at the show because the seller had a plastic tie around it.

I cut off the tie today and found that it is not possible to fully close the bolt. This happens with or without the magazine inserted. I can push the bolt forward to the chamber, and then turn down the handle, but it will not lock and the handle will pop back up an inch or two.

I am assuming there is something wrong with the bolt, but I am not familiar with their contstruction so I really don't know how to investigate it.

 

[mxbob]

The bolt head is a seperate piece that screws on and off, if not fully screwed on you will have the problem you describe. Remove the bolt and check it by pulling the bolt as far to the rear as far is it will go then lift the bolt head up till it stops. Remove the bolt to the rear. Screw the bolt head in till it stops which will probably a bit past up, back it off till it will go back in the gun. Put it bak till it stops and turn the head down to the right. Should work if that is the problem.
Bob Ray

 

[Koblenz]

Thanks, mxbob, for the advice. I think the bolt head is screwed on tight enough. Last night I discovered that if I pull the trigger and push in the bolt, it will in that case close and stay closed. I am now wondering if there is something wrong with the sear or other part of the trigger mechanism. If I try to push and lock the bolt without holding back the trigger, the bolt will not stay closed and spring back open. So there seems to be some connection to the trigger mechanism and this problem. If the sear is broken, would this cause the locking to fail? I am guessing the spring on the cocking piece is what is causing the bolt to unlock and fly back.

 

[Chawbaccer]

Have you removed all the cosmoline? It can be kind of dry and will interfere with proper operation. Lots of times sellers will just wipe off the obvious and not get into the internals.

 

[DnPRK]

The Enfield action cocks on closing. You have to push the bolt handle forward hard to cock the 20 lb main spring before turning the bolt handle down to lock the action.

 

[Koblenz]

I guess the cosmoline could be a problem. There is plenty on the gun. The gun does cock when I push the bolt forward without holding in the trigger, but that is the point where it springs back open once I have rotated the bold down and tried to lock it in place. It is the main spring that causes the bolt to fly back. That is why I am wondering if the sear is broken and not holding the bolt forward

 

[gb6491]

Hi,
Did you actually take the bolt out and try what mxbob suggested?
The reason I ask is the the difference in locking shut and not is one turn on my No.4.
Will not stay closed:

One extra turn in; stays closed:


Will it stay shut chambering an empty casing?

The No.4s had different length bolt heads available to help them headspace correctly. I don't know about the Ishapores.

Regardless, I'd have the head space checked.

Regards,
Greg

 

[wrinkles]

mxbob's suggestion is a good place to start. The first time I took my bolt apart and reassembled it, I had the same problem your describing. Turns out I didn't have the bolt head fully screwed.