No 4 Barrel Replacements

[muffett.2008]

Just what I had in mind Bruce. Apologies to all for mixing "Americanese" with "Britishese" terminology. Us poor Canucks are always in the middle of these things!

.....and us Aussies just don't give a toss.

[Surpmil]

Good idea Surpmill but the Lee Enfield owning fraternity can't even get anyone to gear up to reproduce the in-demand and popular 7.62mm magazines - let alone other calibres

Peter, I though you had that in hand, more or less? Who's got the original dies from Enfield?

Surpmil,

not to take away from the No 4 barrels that Centurion is organising....

Late last year I contacted Peter Sarony at Armalon in the UK.

Armalon have the ex-Parker Hale hammer forged barrel manufacuring plant.

Peter is prepared to make a batch of "L42" profile hammer forged barrels in 7.62. They would have conventional rifling (not chordial)

Peter also proposed a barrel locking mechanism to enable the setting of CHS and postioing of the extractor slot.

Cost of one or two barrels is a bit pricey but the cost would come down with a larger batch.

Perhaps Armalon could also make a batch of SMLE H barrels if the demand is strong enough.

Paul

Sounds interesting! In my hignorance I wasn't aware that PH had such equipment, or is it ex-RSAF(E)? IRRC some of the after-market 7.62mm target barrels had the extractor bevel cut 360° around the breech? That would solve the locating of the slot issue.

Wouldn't the best option be to use the Enfield washer system like the 7.62 barrels and have a set supplied with the barrel?

I like that system, but it doesn't solve the headspace issues, or allow barrel fitting without special vises etc.

It has been mentioned a few times.,

Surpmil,s idea is good I,ve used this system on a barrel for No1 Mk V, I converted and also a No4 in .45 ACP, am Just in the process of doing the same for a heavy barrel in .22 for a No4 action, dont know what it would be like in a bigger Calibre, due to the 14 TPI, but I guess there is only one way to find out.

The Locking system on the No1 MkV below, (in .30M1 carbine shoots like a dream) but not one for the purist.....

Don't feel bad, I defaced my sporterized No1 MkV by fitting a brand new H barrel...couldn't resist! If your collar was made with the same profile as the standard Nock's form, would there be enough metal to support the barrel properly, or would the diameter need to be reduced ahead of the breech threads to make the locking ring thicker? It would be handy if one could keep the standard profile as it would allow use of the handguard retaining ring and standard stock and handguards. Would mean a special wrench of course, but something investment cast would be strong enough?

Surpmil:

Your idea of a "Savage style" breeching system is exactly the tack I took with the AIA M-10 series. The barrels also have no extractor notch per se, but a counterbore that accepts the bolt head shroud.

The bolt head itself has a small extractor and a spring-loaded ejector plunger fitted into it and a collar that protrudes forward of the face proper to provide cartridge retention and allow clearance for the ejector.

At the front end of the barrel there is a threaded section that acts as the seat for the fully adjustable front sight assembly.

Thus, to set one up, you simply insert a bolt assembly, screw the barrel back until it stops on the "GO" gauge and then torque up the lock collar, exactly as per a Savage 110. Wind on the front sight assembly, level it, gently cinch up the clamping screws and apply the specified wicking Loctite. (I mention "gently cinch up" because if someone went "white knuckle" tight with the hex key on the high-tensile M4 cap screws, the bore could be measurably constricted at that point.)

I never got the "Mk2" mods into production as I have had no connection with AIA for quite a few years now.

Very interesting Bruce. So the threading on of the front sight base to prevent it slipping forward due to recoil? Definitely more user friendly than cross pins, though these barrels might sell better if they accept the standard sight bases?

[paulseamus]

Surpmil

In relation to the ex-Parker Hale equiipment at Armalon, below is a link to the relevant part of the Armalon website.


Armalon - Hammer Forged Barrels

They are very specific about both the plant and some staff being ex-Parker Hale.

Paul

[Surpmil]

Thanks Paul. Nice to see someone keeping that skill set and machinery going in the UK. Makes me wonder once again why PH failed with all that at their disposal.

The Armalon AL42 5.56mm conversions look very impressive. Anyone shot one?

[Centurion]

There's a US Company (Promag) that is making replacement .303 mags. I've suggested to them that they might sell a few more if they made some up to handle .308 Cartridges. Even better if the follower were modified to eject! Probably just a pipedream!

[Dr. Strangelove]

The Armalon AL42 5.56mm conversions look very impressive. Anyone shot one?

I fired one last month, it was lovely. Very accurate, although the cock-on-opening mechanism took a bit of getting used to. I ended up placing my thumb on the stock to aid cocking. Other than that, it was a lovely rifle and I'm seriously contemplating getting one myself!

[Roger Payne]

I was informed recently that the ex-proprietor of Charnwood (who retained the tooling for the repro EFD 7.62mm mags) is in the process of getting another batch of mags done. No idea on when exactly they'll be available as yet, nor on price. However, they're on their way....

ATB

[Brian Dick]

Hopefully the ejectors will stay on the new batch! I just got 3 of them back from the welder so if anyone needs one that works, I should have them available shortly. I have to refinish them with phosphate and baked Suncorite 259 first.