Enfield in .223

[newcastle]

I started it in the first place and did not make any progress. Largely because I don't have anything further than the basic tool bag of a homeowner, and I have the budget of a homeowner with a wife and kids - ie pretty much nil. This doesn't mean that I wouldn't jump upon a 223 Enfield, especially a NO.4 conversion, if I found one or found someone to make one though.

[Big Ball Bag]

303 to .223?

Heres what a fellow 'twist to open' mate did in the early '70s when the armalite had just arrived.

The barrel extension on the '16 measures 1", the No4 barrel thread is 1"x14, so he threads the ar barrel complete with extension into his No4.

Then grind the lugs off the '16 bolt head and attaches it (can't remember how, brazed, pinned whatever) into the No4 bolt body. That's the extractor/ejector/etc sorted without any great effort.

Proceeds to shoot a vast quantity of M193 as its very 'available'. Plus he had the first .223 in these parts as it was ages before the commercial .233 arrived here in the 1970s.

Anyone remember Barney W from 3 Field, he was one guy who could think from well outside the box!!!

[Hrafknel]

The American Precision Shooting, May 1994 on page 69, had an article titled "Shooting Old Ugly" where a Frank Randall had a No.4 MK 2 with a 16" barrel re-barreled to .30-40 Krag. Included in the story was a .223 C#7 Lee Enfield that a "Jim Dugan" won the Canadian (?) Connaught match in August of 1991. Good article if you can find a copy.

Hrafknel

[Surpmil]

Some very interesting posts in this thread I must say; thanks to all.

A gent in this area was doing some very systematic testing of No.1's in .223 and had proved to his satisfaction that the old 'compensation' phenomenon was still present. He actually chose the No.1 over the No.4 for its greater flexibility in anticipation of this. Sadly it doesn't look like health will permit him to continue with his research.

I don't understand why no one has yet produced a conversion kit for 7.62x39mm, using a barrel with a threaded collar and a 360° extractor shoulder, a mag with the same externals as the old .303 mag and the ejector built into a new bolt head. A No.5 flash hider & sight base would be ideal. With a PH4 or No.5 type backsight suitably graduated and you're away to the races - or rather the ranges.

[bigduke6]

I don't understand why no one has yet produced a conversion kit for 7.62x39mm, using a barrel with a threaded collar and a 360° extractor shoulder, a mag with the same externals as the old .303 mag and the ejector built into a new bolt head. A No.5 flash hider & sight base would be ideal. With a PH4 or No.5 type backsight suitably graduated and you're away to the races - or rather the ranges.

They are about, but I,m sure they are made in batches so not always in stock,

Rhineland arms were the first to produce the conversion with a threaded collar but was only .45 ACP, they made these for the Mauser also, Imported 3 kits for the Enfield, only sorry I didnt import more at the time, the price of the mag adapter and barrel come to around $120, I cant even get a Barrel blank for that price !!!!!

Special Interest Arms produce the conversion for the 7.62 X 39mm, looking at there site they produce a De-Lisle replica now and nice to see the barrel and Silencer produced to the original, spec. see link below.

Special Interest Arms


My mistake They did supply the 7.62 X 39mm kit but dont produce them anymore.

[tbonesmith]

If anyone is interested, I'm in the process of making a .223 bolthead presently: No4 Bolthead for .223 Work in Progress

[newcastle]

I'm sure there will be many people interested as that seems to be the most complex piece of the puzzle in terms of engineering. Magazine fit and feeding I think most could manage with the right tools and trial and error and fitting new barrel would be something that a smith would do anyway. I don't know but would the extraction of 223 require a cut out of the barrel like 303? if so I assume the barrel is fitted and indexed then removed and cut accordingly?

[K7USC]

[QUOTE=Bruce_in_Oz;185750]Been there, done that.

Question Sir,
Dear Sir,

I am building a 7.62x39mm lee-enflield and I have need of advice in the direction of the bolt head modification:
1. take stock bolt, counter bore .100 deep and .010 of an inch over rim size and cut a groove in the bolt for an spring-loaded ejector, shorten firing pin (striker)?
2. Silver solder a .125 ring on, bore true and clean bolt face, drill for a spring and plunger, hold with roll pin through side of bolt? What type of spring and plunger assembly?

Cheer,
D.B.

[newcastle]

Hi all many years on and I am still looking at the 223 No.4 project every now and then. Current situation is that I have a rebarrelled No.4 Mk2 in 223. The rifle was in great condition - hadn't seen much use at all BUT the barrel was toast because it had apparently not been cleaned after putting some nasty ammo through it, so no healthy Enfields were hurt in the manufacture.

We used a Douglas Barrels No.4 profile chambered blank and it was cut and threaded etc to original profile. A new front sight base had to be affixed and the rifle is now dressed back in full military furniture, it fires accurately and extracts and ejects perfectly.

Per Peter Laidlers prediction the feeding is the main issue. Initially we tried a magazine block which fitted inside the well and accepted a Ruger mini 14 10 round magazine. This is as used in the UK by Craig Whitsey, the smith who sold me the bolthead.

After many shenanigans I have dispensed with that as that mag is a double stack and both sides never fed evenly. I have got it to feed for 2 or 3 rounds with a CZ single stack 5 round magazine held by set screws inside a No.4 magazine body. The CZ mag moves after a couple of rounds so it will need to be epoxied in place for the long term. Last one I tried it moved and I epoxied it in the WRONG place - bugger!!!! At $30 per mag this will get pricey. Also if anyone has some No.4 magazine bodies they will never use I will take them off your hands.

[tiriaq]

Could an AICS .223 magazine be adapted? Double stack, single position feed, 10 shot. I have a couple for another rifle. Will see if a No. 4 adaptation would be possible.