Block off plate

[Beerhunter]

In my opinion, the real issue with the cut-off (which I only ever see raised by me) is that of the extractor and extractor spring damage that it causes. When the cut-off is used as a loading platform, instead of the rim of the cartridge sliding up into the extractor claw, as is does when fed from the magazine, the claw is forced to cam its way over the rim. Loading single rounds in this fashion cannot be good for the extractor and must put more strain on the extractor spring than if the round is fed from the magazine.

Even when firing single rounds, I make a point of always loading the round into the magazine first and then letting the bolt feed to round up from there.

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[Thunderbox]

In my opinion, the real issue with the cut-off (which I only ever see raised by me) is that of the extractor and extractor spring damage that it causes. When the cut-off is used as a loading platform, instead of the rim of the cartridge sliding up into the extractor claw, as is does when fed from the magazine, the claw is forced to cam its way over the rim. Loading single rounds in this fashion cannot be good for the extractor and must put more strain on the extractor spring than if the round is fed from the magazine.

Even when firing single rounds, I make a point of always loading the round into the magazine first and then letting the bolt feed to round up from there.

Thats of course true of all Enfields from the Long Lee onwards, but I think by then the use of the cut-off had moved away from single-loading and onto a safety function. In the (very short) era of single loading, the Lee Metford had both a fairly soft extractor spring and the rounds itself had a rounder case rim. We'll probably never know, but single-loading was probably abandoned at the same time they changed the extractor and cartridge case - possibly they wanted to achieve a more positive extraction, and the realised that a harder extraction spring would necessitate magazine feeding of the round?

I think its quite fascinating how the upgrade from Lee Metford to Lee Enfield reflects the combat experience with the (then) revolutionary magazine rifle - its clear that after Sudan and NW Frontier conflicts, the Army suddenly comprehended the rapid fire potential of the rifle, and the effect that would have on tactics.