Help with Lee Enfield MK4 No1

[Belgiboy]

The bolt on my 1943 Lee Enfield MK4 No1 will not close when i try to chamber a round. Do any of you gunsmiths or talented tinkerers have any ideas on this. My guess it may be a headspace issue, the bolt and receiver do not have matching numbers. If it is that, what would be the best solution? The ammo i have is Sellier and Bellot .303 british.

 

[oneshooter]

Have the headspace checked. The end of the Enfield bolt is removable and is made in several lenghts.

Oneshooter
Livin in Texas

 

[DougW]

Is the rifle a Brit or N. American? Is the bolt head riding in the little track properly? How far from closing is it? Does it close OK on an empty chamber? Is the chamber clean?

Miss matched numbers are not an issue from a shooter point ov view, only a collectors. The bolt head has a number (0,1,2,3) on the side with the little groove for the guide rail. What is the number? Can you take and post pics? I have a rifle that has a tight headspace, but it will close on new unfired and full length resixed ammo. Remember, the Enfield headspaces on the rim, not the case neck.

 

[lee n. field]

The bolt on my 1943 Lee Enfield MK4 No1 will not close when i try to chamber a round.

Did it ever? If it did, what changed from when it worked to when it didn't?

The bolt head screws into the bolt. Does yours need to be screwed in an extra turn?

 

[Niner]

You might also check the spring in the extractor. I had a problem much as you mention once because of a broken extractor spring.

 

[Belgiboy]

Thank you guys

Mr Lee N. Field,

You hit the nail on the head, i didn't know about the screw-in bolthead. I removed the bolt and gave the bolthead one more turn and all is well now. Thanks again, this was really easy. For the record, Doug, it is a Brit (Maltby) and it did close well on an empty chamber. The number on the bolthead is '0' and there is also a 'B' stamped in there