Parker Hale M85

[Lee Enfield]

Even a picture through the mag well and ejection port would be helpful.

An M87, not quite what you asked for, but you can see some major differences between the M87 and M85:
Attachment 63454

I'm sure you've seen this:

Parker-Hale M85 sniper rifle receiver casting : Small Rifle Parts at GunBroker.com


Viewpoint - British Army Contract for L96A1 Sniper Rifle (by Gil Boyd B.E.M)
Parker Hale M85 Serial Number Checks Provenance on Manufacture (Records)

[Rwsgunsmithing]

The casting is not finished machined so I'm willing to bet the feedrails and ramp are not 100% correct. So I don't want to rely on that image, was hoping to see a image of a complete rifle or at least a finished machined receiver.

[Bruce_in_Oz]

From the manual:

An "exploded" view.

The full manual is floating around the internet somewhere.

[Bruce_in_Oz]

One source:

Here.

If you have anything to "upload" to Steve, as a "trade", please share it.


Cheers,
Bruce

[jmoore]

Pretty much all of the cartridge guidance is by way of the magazine feed lips on the M14 type mags. About the only contact with the receiver body is up front. So, what you see on the raw casting is pretty much it, except maybe a bit of polishing of the short feed ramps just behind the locking recess. I've found that many M14 mags will work "as is", 5, 10, or 20 rounders. But used mags may need some minor widening of the feed lips at the rear particularly or the bolt will ride over the round without picking it up. Even "tweaked" they still wwork in M14 type rifles, so it's the M85 that's more "sensitive".

[Gil Boyd]

Pretty much all of the cartridge guidance is by way of the magazine feed lips on the M14 type mags. About the only contact with the receiver body is up front. So, what you see on the raw casting is pretty much it, except maybe a bit of polishing of the short feed ramps just behind the locking recess. I've found that many M14 mags will work "as is", 5, 10, or 20 rounders. But used mags may need some minor widening of the feed lips at the rear particularly or the bolt will ride over the round without picking it up. Even "tweaked" they still wwork in M14 type rifles, so it's the M85 that's more "sensitive".

I probably have to agree with that last statement, as I to had issues with consistant feeding until I ditched using the M14 mags which I then got rid of. Wish I had kept them as I could have taken some detailed photos as a comparison for you. I am fairly sure from speaking to Bill Smallwood ex PH technician of many years standing who worked on the M85 and rest of the series, that the M14 mags work perfectly well with their rifles, and only in a few cases require tweaking at the lips, which could on inspection clearly be seen to be damaged or slightly indented through operational wear, thus causing feed issues on the pick up of the round rim!

[jmoore]

Only photos I have currently of the areas in question. Not too helpful, methinks. But until such time as I do another pullapart, that's likely all there will be!:

[Rwsgunsmithing]

Only photos I have currently of the areas in question. Not too helpful, methinks. But until such time as I do another pullapart, that's likely all there will be!:


https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...stuff037-1.jpg


https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...stuff060-1.jpg

Actually picture 2 is exactly what I need, now if it were a little brighter it would be perfect.

From what I can see , it really doesn't have much for any feed rails on the side. Because if you look at this picture of the casting for sale on GB there is a very pronounced rail section that would need to be removed for proper feeding.







I kind of figured there shouldn't be much of a side feed rail with a magazine fed gun such as the M85 as it uses the feed lips of the mag for proper round retention and feeding.

[blurrededge]

Hello Robert, been into the safe tonight and dug out the M85, these may be of help to you.
ATB

[Rwsgunsmithing]

Bingo!

hello robert, been into the safe tonight and dug out the m85, these may be of help to you.
Atb