Scratched Chamber

[GeeOwn]

Hey, all. I purchased a No4 mkI in pretty good condition but I found there's 2 scratches in the chamber... Ive taken it to the range and noticed it was a bit sticky but not overly. I sent it off to a smith to have the chamber polished. When I went to pick it up he said the scratches were still there but they've been smoothed out so the rifle should funtion easier.

My questions are, other that having a sticky action will these scratches cause any accuracy issues, and can anything be done to fix this aside from spending $300+ on a new barrel?

I'll try to upload a photo or 2 in a bit.

Information

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[browningautorifle]

Shouldn't have anything to do with accuracy of that rifle. It's not exactly a match rifle...mostly will be inside your head whether it affects it or not.

[Sunray]

Enfield barrels can have slightly oversized chambers anyway. Follow Rule Number One. If it works, don't fix it.
Like browningautorifle say, scratches in the chamber have nothing to do with accuracy. Barrel ID does though.
You need to slug the barrel. Enfield barrel diameters are rarely the nominal .311". They can measure from that to .315" and be considered ok. The issue is that factory ammo and reloading bullets are .311" or .312" with Montana Bullets making cast .314" bullets(for reasonable money), only.
And check the headspace. Thousands of Lee-Enfields have been assembled out of parts bins with zero QC.

[GeeOwn]

Sunray and browningautorifle, thanks for the info. Until now, I've never had to deal with a rifle that had any issues with the chamber. I haven't had a chance to shoot it but I will take it to the range and see what's up before deciding to do anything else to it.

Here's a photo in case anyone was interested.

There's another scratch similar to that at the 9 o' clock position a bit further down the chamber, too.

[Bruce_in_Oz]

It gets more exciting.

From data lifted from original drawing, .303 GROOVE diameter can run out to .319 and still be in "spec".

Never fear, because it worked fine for the entire Empire / Commonwealth for over a century in various roles.

The only caveat is that this was with BALL, flat / open-based bullets, not slinky, solid-based boat-tails

[Paul S.]

Sunray and browningautorifle, thanks for the info. Until now, I've never had to deal with a rifle that had any issues with the chamber. I haven't had a chance to shoot it but I will take it to the range and see what's up before deciding to do anything else to it.

Here's a photo in case anyone was interested.

There's another scratch similar to that at the 9 o' clock position a bit further down the chamber, too.

In my opinion, that scratch and another like it are no big deal - particularly in an ~70 year old service rifle. They shouldn't affect chambering or ballistics.

[browningautorifle]

that scratch and another like it are no big deal

I agree, I doubt they would have affected anything at all.

[GeeOwn]

Okay, this is good. From all the feedback, it sounds like everything should be fine. As long as my range session goes well this weekend, all I'll have to get over are the scratches and scuffs on my reloads.

Thanks again!

[Merle]

Sunray and browningautorifle, thanks for the info. Until now, I've never had to deal with a rifle that had any issues with the chamber. I haven't had a chance to shoot it but I will take it to the range and see what's up before deciding to do anything else to it.

Here's a photo in case anyone was interested.

There's another scratch similar to that at the 9 o' clock position a bit further down the chamber, too.

I would not expect that to cause any accuracy issues, and probably not any extraction issues.