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Thread: Finally! An SMLE (Ishapore)

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  1. #1
    Advisory Panel browningautorifle's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Peter Laidlericon View Post
    a specially modified bolt that looked as though it was used to rotate the rifle in the specially reduced speed lathe
    That stuff would be interesting to watch. I expect they'd remove the butt and place on a live center...love to watch.

    Again, the mag should go in with a snap and then try to pull it out. Also, maybe the mag catch/sear spring is wonkey? Maybe out of place?
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    Regards, Jim

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    It was interesting BAR. I had seen the rifles rotated and wire bound during the early 70's when the EY's were being refurbished for deep war reserve storage. The odd thing was that there was only one EY cup!

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    Quote Originally Posted by Peter Laidlericon View Post
    one EY cup
    Sounds like they had spec to do them for the rodded grenade, out of service by some time I should think. The plot thickens...
    Regards, Jim

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    They were for EY cups and we had one for test fitting but nobody knew if any others even existed at Ordnance. We used to laugh that one group of blanket stackers had sent the rifles to be rebuilt for deep preservation while another group of them had sent the cups for scrap!

    The rifles had come in as EY's but they had to be taken apart and old wire OFF to strip and re-grease etc etc

  5. #5
    Advisory Panel browningautorifle's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Peter Laidlericon View Post
    We used to laugh that one group of blanket stackers had sent the rifles to be rebuilt for deep preservation while another group of them had sent the cups for scrap!
    Stranger things, as one hand never seemed to know what the other did.
    Regards, Jim

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    Finally got to dealing with this again. Opened the ammo and shot some. Wish I hadn't, to be honest. Some light to moderate tarnish/film on all of it, one or two of the 15 may have been barely perceivable hang fires. Accurate but not the best preserved. I may throw some in the tumbler and see if it cleans up but it's not reliable enough to be anything more than plinking ammo. Maybe stuff near the bottom of the case will be better.

    Mag is still hopping out after every shot. I found that if, when fully locked in, I can grab the mag and pull it down and towards the front, unlocking it. Is the spring weak or just an ill-fitting mag? With a little CLP action is wonderfully smooth, got about a 3" group at 100 yards with the SA ammo.

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    Advisory Panel browningautorifle's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by cipherk98 View Post
    I may throw some in the tumbler and see if it cleans up
    I'm not sure that's a good idea. We discussed that at some length here and although we didn't come to a consensus that it was dangerous, most agreed it wouldn't be a good idea. I don't think I'D do it...

    Quote Originally Posted by cipherk98 View Post
    Is the spring weak or just an ill-fitting mag
    Peter or a couple others here will know for sure, they'll be along soon...it shouldn't be doing that.
    Regards, Jim

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    Yeah, I recall some debate... specifically concern over breaking up the cordite strands inside moreso than piercing a primer, correct? If it's not a good idea that's how it goes, it's not rotting, just a bit green.

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    Quote Originally Posted by cipherk98 View Post
    breaking up the cordite strands inside moreso than piercing a primer,
    Something about distressing the components...why not just give the cartridges a wipe with a rag and some break cleaner? Out in the air and let air dry? Then they're just dark cases.
    Regards, Jim

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    Sounds like a weak mag catch spring to me or the catch not engaging fully. Just refit the mag making sure that the rear isn't bowed inwards slightly. Easy fix

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