Armourers Help Required

I have a very nice 1950 LB No 4 that the magazine has always been extremely hard to get out. I know it should only be taken out to clean except over here they have to be taken out and a chamber flag inserted every bloody 5 minutes, stupid range rules. So stripped it and found that there was some roughness in side the mag well in the Guard Trigger. Carefully stoned the rough spots down and the mag now slides in and out. Re-asssembled the rifle and the magazine is still extremely hard to remove, stripped and checked the stocking up which was spot on. Left the Guard Trigger off and can see that the Catch Magazine doesn't come out far enough (only by a tad). Question should I stone a few thou off the Catch or off the magazine?

What would an Armourer do in this situation, just junk it I presume.

Dick

Dick ~ Badger posted the manuals to the No.4 the other day @6 of them in the 1991 versions which have more info on them I looked up fitting the mag as it may be the backstrap that is the issue it goes into some detail about adjustments if you cannot locate the files PM me with your e mail and I will e mail the 1991 versions to you they are in .pdf others may chime in but if you want the files let me know.

Perhaps download a complete set of manuals for the Lee Enfield from the MKL, which includes operating and armourer's maintenance instructions.

The manuals may be found in the Technical Articles for Milsurp Collectors and Re-loaders (click here)


2002 No.4 (All Marks) .303 Rifle Manuals (click here)

Complete Set includes:

- 2002 No.4 (All Marks) .303 Rifle Data Summary
- 2002 No.4 (All Marks) .303 Rifle Parts Identification List
- 2002 No.4 (All Marks) .303 Rifle Operating Instructions
- 2002 No.4 (All Marks) .303 Rifle Equipment Description
- 2002 No.4 (All Marks) .303 Rifle Maintenance Instructions


1991 No.4 (All Marks) .303 Rifle Manuals (click here)

Complete Set includes:

- 1991 No.4 (All Marks) .303 Rifle Operating Instructions
- 1991 No.4 (All Marks) .303 Rifle Maintenance Instructions

Note: The difference between the 1991 set of No.4 Manuals and 2002 No.4 (All Marks) .303 Rifle Manuals, is that the 1991 manual contains armourer's information on how to properly "bed" the No.4 rifle, whereas the newer 2002 manual does not.

Hope this helps... :)

Regards,
Doug

This problem is all about the process of elimination! Find out where it is binding and that's really the end of the problem. Slide a piece of thin paper or foil up between the sides of the mag and mag well. If it's clear there - as it should be then the problem MUST be the front or back ends. It really is as simple as that! Then investigate further.

The problem with EMER's and the like is that they don't include workbench experience passed down from Armourers who first plied their trade when Hadrian was here.......

Thanks very much Badger and Peter. Have done exactly as you described Peter and after stoning inside the Trigger Guard to remove the bumps, the magazine will now slip in without any binding. I have found that the release catch simply needs to move another say 3-4 thou to clear the magazine backstrap, that will solve my problem but am loath to stone the magazine catch itself or the magazine backstrap. Could the sear spring be simply too strong and replacing it might fix my problem.

Dick

One of those lamentable fabricated trigger guards?

Hi Surpmil being a Longbranch yes, well problem solved, after reading the manuals Badger so kindly uploaded "don't file the magazine backstrap" so I went with my gut feeling or as Peter L would say "look for the bleeding obvious" and changed out the Trigger Sear Spring and all is how it should be.

Thanks again to one and all for your help and guidance.

Dick