L42 Minutiae

[Bruce_in_Oz]

I do not own a "real" L42 and probably never will.

However, I have a technical question for those who can put their hands on one fairly easily.

Given that the proper extractor for the L42A1 and stable-mates is somewhat more chunky than your basic .303 No4 type, is there a "relief-cut" in the body, at the rear of the breech ring, to accommodate this, or, is the extractor cut in the rear of the barrel tenon significantly different; (not just a bit wider)?

Or BOTH?

Information

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[Brian Dick]

Bruce,

I just compared the breech end of a surplus L39A1 barrel to a standard No.4 barrel and can see no difference in the extractor grooves including width. The bodies aren't modified either. You have to average in the breeching washer which is standard on the 7.62 barrel but the depth of the cut is the same.

Brian

[Roger Payne]

I might be stating the obvious but there is also a marked chamfer on the top edge of the 7.62mm extractor claw. I don't know if this may be relevant to Bruce's original question.

[Alan de Enfield]

I might be stating the obvious but there is also a marked chamfer on the top edge of the 7.62mm extractor claw. I don't know if this may be relevant to Bruce's original question.

Something like this ?

[Bruce_in_Oz]

I was wondering because I have a couple of the Lithgow-made 7.62 No. 4 barrels (the ones without bayonet lugs) here and they appear to also use breeching washers and the "ramp' of the extractor cut is set in "deeper" than on a .303 barrel. The 7.62 NATO extractors for the Ishapore 2A1 etc. seem to have an extractor looking much like a .303 one but with a slightly enlarged claw.

Tossing up whether to off-load those 7.62 Lithgow barrels and the last remaining Lithgow No.1 "H" barrel still here; This "confined to barracks" caper is starting to pinch. Lots of time to sort and catalogue parts, ( funny what turns up when you do a thorough sort), service workshop machinery, finish odd projects, load ammo just in case we and ever get back on the ranges, etc., but none of that puts bread on the table.

Also have a bite at a 2A1 mag that appears to actually be a commercial, aftermarket version, possibly as sold by Sarco. Any thoughts on these?

[Surpmil]

Have never seen a Lithgow 7.62mm barrel AFAIK; standard No.4 profile?

The Lithgow H barrel in .303: a late or early one?

Extractor: someone should have some of these made up...

[Bruce_in_Oz]

Lithgow "H" barrel? Not sure of vintage, probably post WW2 as it is still greased up and in a long plastic bag.

The No4 7.62 barrels are marked "A W", an inch or so forward of the Knox Form. and a lightly-struck "crown over crossed pennants" on the left side of the Knox Form. They are a dark grey Parkerized finish, and have foresight mounting lugs, but NO bayonet lugs. Thus, not L8 /"military" barrels and probably made in the early 1960's, specifically for the Civilian range trade.. Definitely 1:12", 6-groove, RH twist, with narrow lands like an L1A1 barrel and the extractor "notch" is cut a couple of millimeters further forward than on a .303 barrel.

I scored them over twenty years ago and, by the minor scuff marks on the outer surface, they had been rattling around, out of any possible "factory" plastic bag and preservative coating for quite a while before I got them.

I have seen another with a different code; "A X", I think. That may indicate a "year code" as stamped on L1A1 barrels, but I do not know for certain.

Just checked my notes: If you have a "real" Oz L1A1 barrel that is marked BCF: the "B" indicates six-groove rifling and the CF indicates "Cold" (Hammer) Forging". That's all I have at the moment.

[Roger Payne]

Charnwood Ordnance had a lot made, just as they did the 7.62mm Enfield magazines, though no doubt all long since sold.

[Surpmil]

Wasn't there a problem with the ejectors on their L8 mags coming off?

Where there were dies, there still may be?

[Roger Payne]

There's more than dies surpmil. The son of the owner of Charnwood was having another run of mags made, & mindful of the previous problems encountered with the first batch, the ejector plates were to be much more solidly welded to the rear left mag lip. The mag followers on the last lot were genuine, & I suspect they will be again. I helped him with a couple of the prototypes, so I know at least two exist! Hopefully they will be available on a commercial basis in due course. I believe they are largely finished but need assembly, or such was the situation when I last heard some months ago.