Help for newbie with closing bolt issues

[raidfc]

So - finally got the gun. Had the headspace checked by a gunsmith - thank you, Dean - and cleaned thoroughly when I got home. Bought some 7.62 x 51 ammo and placed one into the gun - still no joy. Moved the bullet into the mag and LO it worked. Seems like it will indeed only allow the bolt to be closed when collected from the mag. Seeing it in front of me it looks bloody obvious now :-) it collects it up in the right position DOH.
So all seems ready now for me to take to the range on the 24th. It will be my 'virgin' trip with an Enfield and I hope it doesn't hurt, ha, ha!
Thank you to all of you for the advice - most appreciated.

[WarPig1976]

Try feeding the round from the magazine - all Enfields are designed to feed this way, and single-loading into the chamber can cause extractor binding or even spring breakage over time
Good call...

[RobD]

"...all Enfields are designed to feed this way" - except those with magazine cutoffs, I guess.

[Peter Laidler]

I was just going to add something along those lines Rob. Indeed, the snipers were TOLD and certainly taught to feed rounds singly! Raidfc....., take it from me...... If your rifle fails to feed singly even though it feeds from a magazine, then it's defective in some way. After all, Armourers since the year dot have NEVER fed a CHS gauge in from a magazine

[Steve H. in N.Y.]

Raidfc, I wonder if the front face of your extractor has some ridges and/or small burrs. It should have a very smooth, almost polished surface. You may be surprised how much more force is needed to make a rough extractor snap over a cartridge rim.