+ Reply to Thread
Results 1 to 8 of 8

Thread: Bolt head/headspacing issue

Click here to increase the font size Click here to reduce the font size
  1. #1
    FREE MEMBER
    NO Posting or PM's Allowed
    Ribby1310's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Last On
    07-04-2012 @ 12:45 PM
    Location
    Fort Worth, TX
    Posts
    2
    Local Date
    10-31-2024
    Local Time
    06:55 PM

    Bolt head/headspacing issue

    Greetings all.

    Recently acquired a No 4 Mk II. Was concerned about what appears to be scorching on the face of the bolt head. First thing I did was order a field gauge from Okie Gauges. Have some resistance JUST before the bolt fully closes but would have to say at the end of the day it fails. Is this a headspace issue that caused the scorching? A new bolt head in order? The bolt head is a #1 that measures 631,5.

    Information
    Warning: This is a relatively older thread
    This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

  2. # ADS
    Friends and Sponsors
    Join Date
    October 2006
    Location
    Milsurps.Com
    Posts
    All Threads
    A Collector's View - The SMLE Short Magazine Lee Enfield 1903-1989. It is 300 8.5x11 inch pages with 1,000+ photo’s, most in color, and each book is serial-numbered.  Covering the SMLE from 1903 to the end of production in India in 1989 it looks at how each model differs and manufacturer differences from a collecting point of view along with the major accessories that could be attached to the rifle. For the record this is not a moneymaker, I hope just to break even, eventually, at $80/book plus shipping.  In the USA shipping is $5.00 for media mail.  I will accept PayPal, Zelle, MO and good old checks (and cash if you want to stop by for a tour!).  CLICK BANNER to send me a PM for International pricing and shipping. Manufacturer of various vintage rifle scopes for the 1903 such as our M73G4 (reproduction of the Weaver 330C) and Malcolm 8X Gen II (Unertl reproduction). Several of our scopes are used in the CMP Vintage Sniper competition on top of 1903 rifles. Brian Dick ... BDL Ltd. - Specializing in British and Commonwealth weapons Specializing in premium ammunition and reloading components. Your source for the finest in High Power Competition Gear. Here at T-bones Shipwrighting we specialise in vintage service rifle: re-barrelling, bedding, repairs, modifications and accurizing. We also provide importation services for firearms, parts and weapons, for both private or commercial businesses.
     

  3. #2
    Legacy Member ActionYobbo's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Last On
    10-11-2024 @ 11:03 AM
    Location
    Flippin Arky
    Posts
    417
    Local Date
    10-31-2024
    Local Time
    07:55 PM
    That bolt head looks normal to me
    All of the bolt heads on all the rifles I have had look like that or worse
    I have said this alot. head space on the 303 is dependant on the rim and as rim thickness varies between brands and batches of brass so the head space will vary accordingly. Head space the rifle to the brand of ammo you are using. The measurement for military head spacing allows for various rim thicknesses and an allowance for dirt.

    I have owned close to 80 303 rifles and never had a head space issue with any of them except 2 which 1 had a mismatched bolt and for that I had to change the bolt body for alonger body to get it right.
    Last edited by ActionYobbo; 06-09-2012 at 05:54 PM.

  4. Avoid Ads - Become a Contributing Member - Click HERE
  5. #3
    Administrator

    Site Owner
    Badger's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Last On
    @
    Location
    Toronto, Canada
    Age
    76
    Posts
    12,967
    Real Name
    Doug
    Local Date
    10-31-2024
    Local Time
    07:55 PM
    My Videos in Video Club
    12
    Check the MKLicon for a nice article by Parashooter on head spacing ..

    Headspace 101 for .303's (click here)

    Regards,
    Doug

  6. Thank You to Badger For This Useful Post:


  7. #4
    FREE MEMBER
    NO Posting or PM's Allowed
    Ribby1310's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Last On
    07-04-2012 @ 12:45 PM
    Location
    Fort Worth, TX
    Posts
    2
    Local Date
    10-31-2024
    Local Time
    06:55 PM
    Thread Starter
    Good article, thanks Doug. I had seen that but wasn't sure if what I was seeing on the bolt face correlated to a headspacing issue, especially after it failed the field gauge. Guess I expected the bolt to offer more resistance well before it did since it is a relatively 'new', all matching '55. I have some Mosin's that haven't come close to where I got the bolt on the gauge so there was some initial panic. After doing a little more reading I have a couple of boxes of Prvi that I feel pretty confident running through it.

    Thank you both for the quick responses!

  8. #5
    Legacy Member tincansailor1's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2012
    Last On
    04-13-2021 @ 10:28 AM
    Location
    Lynden WA
    Posts
    21
    Local Date
    10-31-2024
    Local Time
    06:55 PM
    Have the same ring on my No4 mark2, always thought someone didn't clean the bolt head properly after shooting corrosive ammo.

  9. #6
    Advisory Panel Brian Dick's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Last On
    09-25-2024 @ 03:05 PM
    Location
    Edgefield, SC USA
    Posts
    4,090
    Local Date
    10-31-2024
    Local Time
    07:55 PM
    If it's a .074 gauge and it's got resistance before closing, I'd guess it's probably OK and I'd keep the screws tight and just enjoy it. Remember that emergency use standard was .084. The ring on the face where the primer gas hits is normal.

  10. #7
    Advisory Panel browningautorifle's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Last On
    Today @ 06:59 PM
    Location
    Victoria BC
    Posts
    30,402
    Real Name
    Jim
    Local Date
    10-31-2024
    Local Time
    04:55 PM
    Are you sure you're not getting pierced primers? It looks like excessive firing protrusion on this bolt...
    Regards, Jim

  11. #8
    Legacy Member ActionYobbo's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Last On
    10-11-2024 @ 11:03 AM
    Location
    Flippin Arky
    Posts
    417
    Local Date
    10-31-2024
    Local Time
    07:55 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by browningautorifleicon View Post
    Are you sure you're not getting pierced primers? It looks like excessive firing protrusion on this bolt...
    pierced primers would burn the riring pin and around the firing pin hole in the bolt head
    the ring on this bolt head is normal for gas leak around the .250 berdan primer found in cordite surplus ammo

  12. Thank You to ActionYobbo For This Useful Post:


+ Reply to Thread

Similar Threads

  1. No4 bolt head size 3
    By Bearclaw in forum The Lee Enfield Knowledge Library Collectors Forum
    Replies: 9
    Last Post: 11-07-2010, 06:50 AM
  2. Removing bolt head
    By mattra in forum The Lee Enfield Knowledge Library Collectors Forum
    Replies: 16
    Last Post: 01-05-2010, 03:54 PM
  3. Bolt Release lever or do you rotate the bolt head?
    By Williamb in forum The Lee Enfield Knowledge Library Collectors Forum
    Replies: 12
    Last Post: 06-05-2009, 01:04 PM
  4. Looking for No8 bolt head.
    By Hal O'Peridol in forum The Lee Enfield Knowledge Library Collectors Forum
    Replies: 13
    Last Post: 05-19-2009, 08:14 PM
  5. Bolt head #0
    By sdh1911 in forum The Lee Enfield Knowledge Library Collectors Forum
    Replies: 9
    Last Post: 02-28-2007, 01:41 AM

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts