7.62X51 bolt head ID

[MJ1]

Sorting through my bolt head collection for a restoration and conversion of a 5/49 [PF] #4 MK2. (F) with a 1 bolt head very low round count from the looks of it. Someone lopped off the front three inches of the barrel.

I don't recall how the 19 ton 7.62 heads were marked.Anyone have a decent photo I can reference ? I do notice there is not a reference slash under the knox form as the #4T has.





At the same time I'm bringing back at 1945 #4T with an O bolt head with a NOS barrel. this will be a more conventional restoration.





Thanks for looking.

..MJ..

Information

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[Peter Laidler]

The 7.62mm bolt heads were simply engraved very lightly with 19T on the top visible surface of the bolthead. Just quickly looking, those extractors don't look like the factory extractors that I recognise.......

[Frederick303]

I have seen some .303 extractors modified to work with the 7.62 case and the existing ejector, especially on 7.62 target conversions. since they do not have to work that well, if they even flip the case up they are adequate for the rifle range.

[smle addict]

Bolt head pic and rear of bolt body stamp, from my L42A1. I have an L39 that is marked exactly as the L42, but it's at the back of the gun-safe and inaccessible.

[Peter Laidler]

The problem with using s converted .303 extractor on a 7.62 rifle is one of geometry. There is a greater space between the bolt face of a .303 than the 7.62 and the start of primary extraction takes place later during the lifting of the bolt cycle. This is also a primary cause of hard extraction in civilian home conversions. That's why the extractors differ.

[Alan de Enfield]

Bolt head pic and rear of bolt body stamp, from my L42A1. I have an L39 that is marked exactly as the L42, but it's at the back of the gun-safe and inaccessible.

Very similar on my Enforcer :

[Bruce_in_Oz]

If you can find one, an extractor for the Indian 2A1 is a good place to start. Being designed to work with the 7.62 NATO sized rim, albeit originally in a No1 style bolt-head, is an advantage.

[Frederick303]

The problem with using s converted .303 extractor on a 7.62 rifle is one of geometry. There is a greater space between the bolt face of a .303 than the 7.62 and the start of primary extraction takes place later during the lifting of the bolt cycle. This is also a primary cause of hard extraction in civilian home conversions. That's why the extractors differ.

No doubt about that, but on the 7.62 conversions, the modified 303 extractors seem to work. Now these rifles are being used slow fire, with generally a minute between rounds if one fires UK style and maybe 30 seconds if US style. Taking them apart it seems like the main modification is to thin the top of the extractor, so that the extractor pushed the case over enough to cause it to eject with the original ejector. Not all that reliable, but sufficient to tip up the case in all cases to make the case easy to remove when shooting a prone slow fire string.

[Brian Dick]

You'll need an original or repro 7.62 extractor if you intend to use a 7.62 magazine. The regular .303 extractor was retained on the majority of Canadian DCRA target rifles but those rifles as Frederick303 says were only used as single shot platforms utilizing the original .303 magazine as a loading platform. I do have one of the 200 "factory specials" that were Bisonite bedded, drilled for the P-H front scope base and equipped with an original Enfield 7.62 extractor and magazine.

[MJ1]

I hope I have it covered.