Lee Enfield jungle carbine won't feed from magazine

I recently picked up a Jungle carbine with matching serial numbers even with the armory number painted on the stock, the magazine matches as well. Mine will not feed from the magazine, the bolt doesn't pick up the rim, it just slides over the top. I've tried factory rounds and handloads to no avail. Before I try adjusting the magazine lips I think I'd like to see if there is anybody here that can give me some guidance on how to go about proceeding with a fix, if possible. Can anyone on the forum help with some tips? Thanks in advance.

I would say it's the magazine, maybe too low or loose? The lips are usually at fault...unless the whole follower has been changed. The rims are too low and there lies the problem, you have to look at that to start. Adjusting mag lips isn't hard at all as they're soft. That's why the mag is to go in and stay in, be loaded from above. Rear mag lips...

Well, first I'd replace the mag spring and be sure the follower moves freely and the inside is cleaned and lightly rubbed with oil. Next check the fit and lips/edges of the mag.

I thought it might be low as well but there's no sign of wear to the latching areas and it fits tight in the magwell with no play. I bought an after market no 4 magazine but it doesn't make any difference although from what I've read the magazines were "tuned" to each weapon at the factory when manufactured. I've given some thought to dressing the rear mag lips area to remove some metal and possibly allow the rims to sit high enough to engage the bolt but I really don't want to experiment with the original mag, might try it with the after market one though. The spring and follower are good and the entire assembly is clean. I have been told that a no 1 magazine will not work.

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Originally Posted by manykids

from what I've read the magazines were "tuned" to each weapon

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The mag needs to be fitted. Even if they "Fit" the might not be right.

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Originally Posted by manykids

I have been told that a no 1 magazine will not work.

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Look at the back side of the #4 mag and the #1 mag, you'll see they are vastly different. A #1 mag can be altered to fit but it's not an emergency so why...

Careful with dressing the lips as you suggest. It might just need a slight tweek upwards in both lips to allow rims up.

Thanks Jim, I'll tread lightly. I think I'll practice on the after market model first.

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Originally Posted by manykids

the after market model

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Like a promag or something? They aren't the same. Anyway, they are a bit forgiving, so if you have to bend back a bit it will. If you go too far it won't go into the rifle.

This old post may help. 2 pages
https://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=45781&page=2

I don't know who made it, got it from Numrich.

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Originally Posted by 72 usmc

This old post may help.

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Very much to the point.

PL has warned playing with the lips you must be gentle as they are very soft/thin and apt to snapping off you are then in a whole world of O F's.

Get an original magazine from BRP Guns or APEX. I just replaced two repro SMLE extractor springs with nos originals as they were no good either. The moral of the story, (my opinion of course), is steer clear of repro parts. They are never as good as the originals.

before you do much else, load the mag out of the gun alternately with both 3 and 4 cartridges, press down on the top cartridge with each number of shells a few times. See if the back of the follower fails to push the rounds up into contact with the rear feed lips. Sometimes the followers can stick in the mags - there can be a few causes - a compressed mag spring that's not providing enough force, a mag body that's compressed too narrow, a deformed follower, or a missing front cartridge guide clip.