A question about danger...

[am1958]

I found an SMLE III* that had been "sporterized" for a good price, ($200), made in 1918 at the Lee Enfield factory. Since it's the first firearm I ever fired, (back in the CCF at school in England) and quite possibly the firearm my great grandfather carried at the battle of Paschendaele I went ahead and bought it. For another $200 I returned it to it's original state, (OK, the wood I bought has DP stamped on it, but it looks as it should now).

The rifle came with some ammunition. Much of it was Priv Partizan .303 Brit and there were 5 or 10 rounds of round headed bullets with the lead showing through the front with an EMP mark at the rear of the case. In order to be able to fire it I found 200 rounds of some Portuguese ammunition at a good price and recently went to fire it.

The concern I have is that the bolt runs smoothly during dry firing but when I fire live rounds through it is very inconsistent. Sometimes, after a round is fired, the bold still cycles quite smoothly but sometimes I have to literally hit the bolt with the heel of my hand to unlock it so I can recock the rifle.

I'm concerned that this is dangerous in that the bolt is coming slightly out of battery and therefore could signal a potential future failure that could be quite dangerous.

Any advice on this would be much appreciated and if there's a fix that would be similarly appreciated.

Thanking you in anticipation.

Information

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[browningautorifle]

Welcome to the forum...the bolt handle may lift a slight bit when fired. That's not so unusual. It's hard to gauge how hard you're hitting the handle of the bolt from here. They can be tight when fired and it's probably OK. You could take it to a qualified gunsmith that knows these rifles and see what he says.

[mrclark303]

As Jim said, probably fine, but get her checked over by a gunsmith, preferably one that understands Enfields.

[am1958]

Thanks for the replies.

The bolt is more difficult to lift each time I fire, (as opposed to dry firing), though the amount of force required to lift it varies from shot to shot. Most of the time I just exert a small amount of effort to open the action but once in every 5-10 shots I am cannot accomplish that from a normal firing position so I have to hit the ball of the cocking handle upwards to "break it free"". It doesn't require very much force at all but when keeping the rifle in my shoulder getting the action moving requires that little "thump", after that it's smooth.

It's been about 44 years since I last fired one but I don't recall that happening with the several old rifles I fired back then.

I'll get it looked at but I fear finding a gunsmith with knowledge of Lee Enfields here in Michigan, USA might be a little difficult.

Thanks again...

[Richard Hare]

Are your cases nice and clean, AM?
Sometimes old cases with a bit of discoloration will stick a bit, causing the problem you mention.

Was using some old Greek ammo recently, and the cases looked a bit poxy and caused the same thing in my No 4.

[am1958]

Richard:

Ahhh... You may have it. This Portuguese ammunition is more of a dull tan colour than even a dull brassy colour. Next time I fire I'll try some of the shiny new Priv Partizan and I'll take some Brasso to a few of the Portuguese stuff and see if the issue goes away...

[Parashooter]

. . . and I'll take some Brasso to a few of the Portuguese stuff and see if the issue goes away...

Hope you're kidding about the Brasso! (Ingredients not healthy for cartridge brass.)

[am1958]

Parashooter:

Thanks for that. Does it matter that I'd probably shine them up right before firing them of is there something else I should consider using.

[englishman_ca]

Try some fine steel wool to polish them up.

[JerryEAL]

Safety spring every time. Tension goes out of them and the safety moves slighty binding the bolt.