A Lee Enfield Ishapore 2A1 .308 followed me home today...

[boom boom]

I usually use Pledge on my stocks, but if I can get the stock separated from the receiver with that band that's pinned in place without damaging it I was thinking about working this stock over with some Murphy's Oil Soap to try and clean it up & get some of this black crud off of it because the front of the stock has a really nice cherry color to it but the further back you go the more it fades into a black on to the butt stock

Agree with Murphy's oil soap to start--helps get surface grime off. After dismounting the stock, then try odorless mineral spirits to more thoroughly clean the stock. Turpentine is a bit stronger cleaner but much more flammable. Neither solvent damages or swells the wood which is why I use them but they may remove any ersatz finishes applied. Depending on the degree of cosmolene soak, you may have to sweat the stock either chemically using a solvent and whiting or through heat (classic way is to put in a black sealed trashbag inside a car on a sunny day (in a warm climate).

Be careful removing the stock as the critical part most damaged in the Enfield series is that area just in front of Gunny's pix. These are the draws where the rear base of the receiver rests and are critical to avoid stock damage and inaccuracy. This area is often damaged through excessive oil seepage and improper stock mounting and subsequent recoil. This is also why YOU FOLLOW Gunny's pictures and instructions on how to dismount the forend--never try to lever it off. Don't ask me how I know--fortunately it was a sportered front end I was removing anyway.

Peter Laidler has a whole set of stickies on the subject of care and fitting of Enfields on milsurps.com in the Enfield subforum https://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=16948 or Gunny, I'm sure has similar pictures from his stock restorations.

You may also find some damage at the front screw (king screw) of the receiver. A lot of times, the relatively thin area of wood between the king screw and magazine is damaged or missing.

 

[GunnyUSMC]

Here is a link to the restoration of the No4 Mk1 I did last year. For more details on the cleaning the stock you can check out the post I did cleaning and repairing 5he M1 Garands that I did back in April.
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/restoring-a-no4-mk1-enfield.825379/

 

[theotherwaldo]

I like to pack and wrap a cosmo'd stock in butcher paper, with paper stuffed in the greasy cracks and hollows before wrapping it up in black plastic and dropping it in the SUV.
It gives the cosmo some place to go beside the rest of the stock.

 

[GunnyUSMC]

I use Murphy's as well and it does the job without damage to the stock. Gunny, the No. 1 has some bits under the fore stock to watch out for - did they eliminate these in the 2A? I remember a spring and plunger or something. It is been a while since I have had one of mine apart.

There is a spring and pressure plate at the front of the stock. When you remove the nose cap you will see a spring sticking out of the stock.


It’s attached to a pressure plate that pushes up on the barrel.


To remove it from the stock, push the spring up into the stock and it will come out. If it is stuck, use a small punch that will fit inside the spring and tap it out.

 

[HankC]

May wish to check the headspace if you haven't. India Enfield 2A typically have generous chamber, I had one, headspace was a bit over the 308 max which means within 7.62NATO max headspace. I only shot 7.62NATO surplus ammo with it. Accurate and fun to shoot. I would keep it if not because headspace while 7.62NATO surplus is not abundant anymore.

 

[gsbuickman]

May wish to check the headspace if you haven't. India Enfield 2A typically have generous chamber, I had one, headspace was a bit over the 308 max which means within 7.62NATO max headspace. I only shot 7.62NATO surplus ammo with it. Accurate and fun to shoot. I would keep it if not because headspace while 7.62NATO surplus is not abundant anymore.

Thanks for the heads up, I was already planning on getting the headspacing checked just because. As far as the ammo goes a friend just ordered almost 1,000 rounds of 200 yard reloadable brass cased 7.62 NATO practice ammo for just over $200 for his 308's

 

[gillmeister692]

Thanks for posting the outstanding video about the L-E Ishapore 2A1. I must have one of these to complement my No.1 and No.4 in .303 British.