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picked up an Enfield 2A1 "Carbine"
Last edited by crowtalks; 01-06-2023 at 12:52 AM.
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01-06-2023 12:49 AM
# ADS
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Originally Posted by
crowtalks
That is of concern as these rifles barely passed factory proof testing - the bodies can warp if loads hotter than it was designed for are used. It was designed for the old 7.62 M80 50gr round and as many folks seem to think that all 7.62 is the same and that 308 Win is the same as 7.62 the rifle could have easily become overstressed by a previous owner.
If home-loading then use 7.62 cases or if using 303 win cases then download by 1gr. as the case specification is different and the volume on the 308 is greater.
Mine are not the best, but they are not too bad. I can think of lots of Enfields I'd rather have but instead of constantly striving for more, sometimes it's good to be satisfied with what one has...
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Originally Posted by
Alan de Enfield
That is of concern as these rifles barely passed factory proof testing - the bodies can warp if loads hotter than it was designed for are used. It was designed for the old 7.62 M80 50gr round and as many folks seem to think that all 7.62 is the same and that 308 Win is the same as 7.62 the rifle could have easily become overstressed by a previous owner.
If home-loading then use 7.62 cases or if using 303 win cases then download by 1gr. as the case specification is different and the volume on the 308 is greater.
I was planning on starting with mild loads and maybe working up to maybe midrange, but no hotter...I know I have to work up hot loads for my M1A to cycle well, but for the most part, I'm not a fan of hot loads.
The action is smooth as butter, its just tighter than I expected rotating the bolt home against the spring tension when its cocked.
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Nice rifle! I have one of these made by Gibbs and it's been fine with M80. Stick to light handloads and it'll last forever.
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If it is chambered for 7.62 NATO, it may well have a shorter throat than a SAAMI-spec .308 Win has. Having a competent gun-plumber extend the length of the throat (leade) will reduce The "peak" of the pressure curve and extend its duration slightly. In the "trade" this is known as "free-boring".
Roy Weatherby was a big fan of the concept, for what that is worth.. If the bolt is "stiff" on closing on a factory cartridge, is it still stiff when closing on an empty chamber?
A set of Brownells / Forster "one-thou" incremental headspace gauges (1.630" to 1.638", inclusive) will quickly establish the true headspace state of affairs. One thing about Lee Enfield actions: When subject to serious over-pressure, they do not explode like grenades, but stretch and distort laterally. Not pleasant, but not usually fatal to the firer and colleagues. May you never go there!
Who knows what other indignities these rifles endured at the hands of the "converters"?
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Originally Posted by
Bruce_in_Oz
If it is chambered for 7.62 NATO, it may well have a shorter throat than a SAAMI-spec .308 Win has. Having a competent gun-plumber extend the length of the throat (leade) will reduce The "peak" of the pressure curve and extend its duration slightly. In the "trade" this is known as "free-boring".
Roy Weatherby was a big fan of the concept, for what that is worth.. If the bolt is "stiff" on closing on a factory cartridge, is it still stiff when closing on an empty chamber?
A set of Brownells / Forster "one-thou" incremental headspace gauges (1.630" to 1.638", inclusive) will quickly establish the true headspace state of affairs. One thing about Lee Enfield actions: When subject to serious over-pressure, they do not explode like grenades, but stretch and distort laterally. Not pleasant, but not usually fatal to the firer and colleagues. May you never go there!
Who knows what other indignities these rifles endured at the hands of the "converters"?
Thanks for the info.
One thing that's interesting is the bolt is smooth but seems tight when closing empty...but, when I load ammo, then it closes a lot easier...more like I would expect.
I have shot light reloads through it and it fires and cycles fine. I inspected the bolt pretty closely for any defects and I didn't see anything.
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