Enfield Magazine interchangability

[Waveski]

This has probably been hashed out before , but I'll ask anyway :

The subject rifle is an Enfield No4 Mk1.
The question is - Are there any other Enfield magazines that are interchangeable and can be used in that rifle , or are the mags strictly No4 Mk1 specific?

Thank you.

 

[Leadbutt]

As far as I know, mag's are specific to the rifle. No-3 will not work, the only other mag for the Mk-4 are the ones for the sniper versions in 308. you mite try 303.com site to see if they can give you a firm answer

 

[lysanderxiii]

This has probably been hashed out before , but I'll ask anyway :

The subject rifle is an Enfield No4 Mk1.
The question is - Are there any other Enfield magazines that are interchangeable and can be used in that rifle , or are the mags strictly No4 Mk1 specific?

Thank you.

The No 1, Mk I, the No 4, Mk I*, the No 4, Mk 2, and the No 5, Mk 1, all share a common magazine.

None of the other Lee-Enfields magazines will work in them.

And, by the way, the Rifle, No 3 is the P-14. It does not have a detachable magazine.

 

[1KPerDay]

Note that the magazine for one identical rifle may not feed properly in another rifle. The lips/tabs often need to be tweaked. They were not meant to be used as a replaceable, universal source of ammo. They were meant to be fed with stripper clips.

 

[lysanderxiii]

As far as I know, mag's are specific to the rifle. No-3 will not work, the only other mag for the Mk-4 are the ones for the sniper versions in 308. you mite try 303.com site to see if they can give you a firm answer

There are two different types of .308/7.62mm Enfield magazine (ignoring the Indians) the RSAF version and the Sterling version. These two are not quite compatible, and neither will work with .303.

Oh, and the 7.62mm Enfield magazines, in any flavor, are as rare as unicorn poop. Let me know if you find one....

 

[Old Stumpy]

I can concur from experience that a No. 4 magazine and a SMLE magazine won't interchange.

 

[792mauser]

Yup.
#1 ----> #1
#4 ----> #4
They dont interchange.
The indian #1 mags are a crapshoot. Some do most dont, and the 7.62 indian #1mk3 mags usually don't feed in other #1mk3

 

[boom boom]

You can make a few alterations and fit a No. 1 Mk 3 magazine into a No. 4 series but not vice versa. Brits converted some as an emergency measure during WWII. See pictures and discussion.
https://forums.gunboards.com/showthread.php?219554-Enfield-mags-how-do-they-differ

 

[Waveski]

Seems that the straightforward approach is to stick with No4 Mk1 or No4 Mk2.

One more thing --- I have issues feeding the last round ; the bullet tip wants to kick to the left and miss the chamber. It happens with different magazines. I can usually prevent that ftf is by chambering the round quite quickly - it seems that if I move the round forward fast enough it does not have time to deviate too far left.
Is this common? Is cycling the bolt "briskly" (like one must do with the slide of a PPK) a standard procedure?

As you can guess , I am just learning the nuances of this old rifle.

 

[Old Stumpy]

One more thing --- I have issues feeding the last round ; the bullet tip wants to kick to the left and miss the chamber. It happens with different magazines.

As I recall, you can adjust this by bending one of the two forward little tabs that are ahead of the feed lips inward slightly. Whichever one is on the side with the problem.

 

[Englishmn]

https://www.apexgunparts.com/ishapore-a2-308-10rd.html

https://www.gunpartscorp.com/products/376330

Edit, Then I read ignoring the indians...

 

[boom boom]

Seems that the straightforward approach is to stick with No4 Mk1 or No4 Mk2.

One more thing --- I have issues feeding the last round ; the bullet tip wants to kick to the left and miss the chamber. It happens with different magazines. I can usually prevent that ftf is by chambering the round quite quickly - it seems that if I move the round forward fast enough it does not have time to deviate too far left.
Is this common? Is cycling the bolt "briskly" (like one must do with the slide of a PPK) a standard procedure?

As you can guess , I am just learning the nuances of this old rifle.

It might have feed lips issue but then again--it could be a tired magazine spring. It can also happen when a magazine is not original to the rifle as they can seat a bit different depending on the magwell and mag release of a particular rifle.

The Brits spent the time and money on the essentials like the receiver, barrel, bolt, singer type sights, and got those AOK. However, some parts were considered expendable--like magazines as the U.S. did on M1 carbine magazines. With a spot of practice, a skilled armorer can tweak the lips so that it will feed in a particular rifle in a jiffy, replace the mainspring if needed, or scrap the magazine shell as unserviceable.

Having consistent problems, there are some new repro magazines that do a pretty good job but sometimes they have to be fitted a bit to a rifle.

 

[Waveski]

I have a period original and a correct configuration reproduction, tweaked lips several times. I’m thinking more and more that this particular rifle needs a quick handed cycling , and tweaking isn’t going to change that.

I’m 68 and my system has it’s idiosyncrasies ; the Enfield is pushing 100 - it’s entitled.

 

[boom boom]

I have a period original and a correct configuration reproduction, tweaked lips several times. I’m thinking more and more that this particular rifle needs a quick handed cycling , and tweaking isn’t going to change that.

I’m 68 and my system has it’s idiosyncrasies ; the Enfield is pushing 100 - it’s entitled.

Since you've tried the feed lips and two different magazines. These two things might be worth a shot. 1) Try using dry lube inside the repro magazine--some of the repro's that I have seen have parkerized finishes that are a bit rough. Original magazines need thorough cosmolene cleansing for a similar reason but are usually worn smooth inside. 2) Try loading your mags in place with the original stripper clips. If you load them correctly in the stripper clips (to avoid rimlock), it usually puts them exactly where they should be in the magazine versus individual cartridge loading.