#5 Enfield Barrel Band

[redsteve56]

Any one know where to find a front barrel band for a #5 Enfield? Or maybe a tip on how to repair one that is striped out. The threads in the band are striped but the screw threads appear good. Any help is appreciated.

Information

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[tbonesmith]

I'd drill out and bush the hole securing it with either soft or silver solder, whatever you can do more easily. Then just drill and tap it out again. Alternatively, I think they're the same as No4 centre bands, which I'm sure you can turn up from someone/somewhere.

[redsteve56]

tbonesmith thanks for the reply. I had thought about that option but I need to find out what thread the band screw has, if it is different than that of common U.S. taps. That is a good tip to solder the bushing into the band.

[tbonesmith]

I just looked it up, and the thread is 2BA for the band. Also the no5 band differs from that of a no4 as it is positioned slightly closer to the action than on a No4.
I suppose an easier option is to tap it out to a more locally common thread and pick the closest looking head you can find. I did this recently on a different part which was stripped out: Picked an available tap with a minor diameter close to the major diameter of the stripped part, drilled and tapped the stripped part, then bought the screw/metal thread I needed with a hex head, then turned that down and faced that to the correct screw head dimentions, and cut the slot req'd neatly with a hack saw and needle file, then cold blued the part.You couldn't tell it wasn't original.
But the correct taps and dies are available from hobby engineers stores quite cheaply, even if they have to come from England.

[rondog]

I need to fix mine too. Bubba put a self-tapping Phillips screw in it.

[madcratebuilder]

I need to fix mine too. Bubba put a self-tapping Phillips screw in it.

[redsteve56]

A year has past from starting this thread and I've come up with a solution for my No. 5 with the stripped barrel band. I had ordered a set of 2BA taps from England only to find out the diameter of the tap is larger than that of my barrel band screw. Recently I ordered a No. 4 barrel band knowing it would be larger, I had already compared the bands on my No.5s with those on my No. 4s. The screw fron the No. 5 band fit the No. 4 band perfectly. I cut an aluminum strip, .030" thick, and placed it around the No. 5 stock and handguard under the No. 4 barrel band. This made the new band fit tight when the band screw was thightened. Now only with close inspection can one tell this not the correct barrel band for the No.5. Now this No. 5 can be handled and shot without worry. But, my search for the proper barrel band continues.