Need help on replacing an enfield No8 barrel

[303sniper]

Hi,

I found an little while ago an very nice example of an no8. There was only one problem, some $$$*&^#%#&* drillled 6 holes in the barrel and welded the chamber.

I replaced an lot of No 4 barrels but when I tried to unscrew this one it didn't give in.

So my question is: is the barrel of an No8 screwed into the reciever or did they use another way to install the barrel.

Many thanks upfront!!

Information

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[Alan de Enfield]

Just a thought - is it possible the barrel was drilled and the chamber welded up for a reason ?

If the problem was just barrel related then surely "they" would just have done what you are trying to do.

Proceed with caution - even a little .22 can give a nasty bite.

[Peter Laidler]

I have only ever replaced about 2 or 3 No8 barrels and they were for bulges (3 were the max acceptable on condition that the .218" gauge ran freely) They unbreech and breech up exactly the same as the No4 and the breeching up kit is the same as I remember.

They 'load' up the same so I would suspect that as your has been sort of deactivated, the barrel has been pinned to the body somewhere.

We always had to wait ages for new barrels so I don't know how readily available they will be in civilian circles. I last saw a few about 2 years ago but they were good/part used

[Patrick Chadwick]

There was only one problem, some $$$*&^#%#&* drillled 6 holes in the barrel and welded the chamber.

Sounds like it was de-acted by a gunsmith. I don't know how it is in the UK or Canada, but that is what is done in Germany. And it has to be done by a licensed gunsmith for the work to be recognized.

One question: where on earth are you going to find a No. 8 barrel? I found a No. 8 that had been "sporterized" - yeuch - but I would not plan my shooting career on finding another.

Nevertheless - good luck in your search!

Patrick

[Brian Dick]

Welding the chamber may well have distorted the threads from the heat making it a bugger to unbreech. I've had this problem with SKN rifles I imported that had to be unbreeched and then rebarelled with 16" barrels here in the USA for legality. I still have one fighting me. We milled out a spot weld on them and managed to get the barrel out but the threads are distorted badly. I keep filing but......

[303sniper]

Hi All,

First of all many thanks for your advices!!!

You are correct in the assumption that the rifle was welded shut in Germany. It is now an so called "deko waffe". Its free to have in Germany.

I have found me an donor rifle, an very good Russian buildt Vostok with an very heavy .22 barrel. I also found an very skilled machine man who can make me an copy of the No8 Barrel.

I tried to unscrew the barrel with my homebuild Vice but it wouldn't work... so before I screw the rifle up some more I had to contact you all.

After the rebareling I will have to do some paperwork to get the rifle back on the list so its an legal repair. That won't be easy though.....

I will give it another try in my Christmas vacation and let you know what came out......

[Peter Laidler]

No8 rifles were/are very sensitive to CHS as there are about 8 different size bolt heads. Have you got these? Have you got the CHS gauges? I personally think that you've take on a bit more than you think.......

Just thinking out aloud as I'm want to do during this freezing cold weather. Have you considered boring out the now firmly fixed barrel to the diameter of the diameter that intrudes into the boltway and making a new parallel length of chambered barrel that you can insert into the original barrel. Then tin, flux and soft solder in place, adjusting the CHS as you do so while it cools.

I'll lend you my set of calibrated gauges if you need them later

[Bearclaw]

I would go with Peter's way, It keeps as much of the gun orginal. I have been looking into this method for relining a No4 barrel in .22. You don't need to go down the soldering path for the liner, you can use epoxy. You will still need to solder the chamber insert in though. Brownell's has a good instructions for this.

Myles

[Peter Laidler]

If you've got to solder the chamber insert in place, isn't it just as well to go the whole hog and solder the complete barrel in place. Just a thought. Being brought up in the era of soft solder, it just seems the way to go to me

[Bearclaw]

Peter, the answer experience!! and not enough hands, for me soldering an insert that is 12mm dia and 65mm long is much easier than a 5/16 x 25 1/4" long bit of hollow tube. Not that I am not going to give soldering a go but intially not with a $160 liner.

Myles