Why I appreciate the Lee Enfield.

[Richard Hare]

Evening Gents,

Something today made me appreciate the Lee Enfield a bit more!

I had just finished checking over an old neighbours P 17, and tried out a few shots on target to make sure it worked correctly.

The only rounds I had were one old .30-03, and 5 newer 150 gr loads.
Two of the newer rounds had a patch of corrosion on the cases, one on the neck and one near the rim. These patches were small and white, but you could fee where they had eaten into the brass to some degree.
Thought I'd fire them off anyhow;
All went well until the last round, which gave me a smart blast of gas in my face.
I thought I'd hit myself in the eye with my hand for a start.
On extracting the case, it was the one with the verdigris near the base, and it had opened a small crack, maybe 1/4" long running towards the neck.

My own fault for firing off iffy ammo But! Anyone who has reloaded lots of .303 for the No 1 Mk 111 and the No 4 rifles, will have had complete head separation more than a time or two. I know I have had it happen a good few times over the years, and (Here's my point)
I have Never had any gas in my face with these actions.
It impressed upon me once again, how well designed the Lee Enfield action is.

All the best,
Richard.

Information

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[butlersrangers]

Richard - The 'gas seal' in the event of a complete head separation is more a virtue of the rimmed .303 cartridge case than the Lee-Enfield action design.

There is a similar benefit shown by the .30-40 'Army' cartridge in the U.S. Krag-Jorgensen.

[cprher]

When I was a kid my first real hunting rifle was a customized 1903 Springfield. My Grandfather did the reloading for me as he was the expert back then. When hunting one day the firing pin punctured the primer and a jet of hot gas went into my shooting eye. It hurt so bad I was positive I'd been blinded. I got myself back to my camp so my parents could look my eye over and we went immediately to the doctors. A piece of powder had penetrated the top layer of my cornea but was easily removed by the doctor. I wore a patch for what seemed weeks until it healed but I could feel the scar every time I blinked for years thereafter. It finally felt normal but only after a long, long time. Fortunately, my vision returned to normal after a time. Since then I NEVER shoot without shooting glasses. I recall that my rifle retained the mushroom firing pin knob at the back that was supposed to help prevent this from happening. Oh, and I began to reload for myself after that incident.

As for Lee Enfields and Krags...I shoot them both and never feel under gunned, especially with my No. 4 Mk 2. Just tested it this last weekend at 200 yards using the battle sight and ladder sight both and was left very impressed with how they compared. It may not be a very pretty rifle, but it is a very elegant design from an engineering, mechanical and ergonomic point of view.

Keith

[5thBatt]

I once had the misfortune of being to the left of a guy whos cases were spltting at the neck, it was like being hit by a mini sandstorm, he had no idea it was happening until i stopped him & we looked at his cases

[CINDERS]

Wonder if the chamber was damaged in the process of that 5thBatt as those gasses would have been like a mini plasma cutter depends on how many rounds he let go whilst suffering that condition.

[Richard Hare]

Hello Butlersrangers, Fancy meeting you here.

You are very likely right about the rimmed case rather than the action blocking gases, and whether by happy coincidence or design, the fact remains it's a wonderful combination and very nice to know that it works so well!

Keith,
I too never feel under-gunned with the .303, and think you hit on a key point when you mentioned Ergonomic!

All the best,
Richard.

[Richard Hare]

ButlersRangers,

In the above I wasn't meaning to come over sarky, I was just surprised to "meet" you here after we have shared discussions on arms of an earlier period in another forum for a long while. (Brit. Mil. Forums)
Had no idea we shared an interest in the Lee Enfiled as well!

I apologise for not putting it in a clearer manner.

Best regards,
Richard. (Pukka B. in t'other forum)

[butlersrangers]

Richard/Pukka, your knowledge and contributions are always enjoyed. I'm 'bilingual' now!

[Parashooter]

It's not just the rimmed case that helps prevent gas reaching the firer. Unlike Mauser types, the Lee, Krag, and others have no left lug raceway serving as a gas conduit from breech toward eyeball. Consequently, gas from a failed case is vented only at the front of the receiver. Here's a demonstration -

This case had been reloaded with heavy loads enough times so it was stretched near breaking.



I loaded it with a 180-grain bullet and 40 grains of 4895 - a reasonably stiff charge about 2 grains under "maximum" - and fired it in a much-abused Savage No.4 with a clean sheet of typing paper wrapped around the receiver.



When I opened the bolt, the separated head extracted. (The front piece of the case fell out when I turned the rifle muzzle-up.)



The sooty paper shows where some gas escaped. No rips or holes, just a little soot - and only where the bolt head meets the receiver ring. Had I been shooting from the shoulder and wearing glasses, I probably wouldn't have felt the leak at all.

[Richard Hare]

That's very interesting, Para. Never seen that experiment before.

I too have had a good number of cases come out looking like the one above, (in two pieces) and though I don't wear shooting glasses, (yes I Know I should) I've never felt the slightest bit of gas on my eyes or face.

It's still a grand rifle. :-)

B's Rangers, :-)