Question about 22 cal No4 Mk1's

[dasa2131]

Hello,

My name is Dave Andrews, and this is my first post on milsurps. I recently purchased a Long Branch No4 Mk1 that I want to convert to 22lr. This rifle is a DP rifle with a slight barrel bulge about 4" from the muzzle, so I think it's a good candidate for a conversion. I'd like to talk with someone that has a converted No4 Mk1 in 22 - I'd really like to see what the bolt head looks like and the firing pin. Or alternatively, if anyone can point me in the direction of a good article. I apologize in advance if this has already been covered in the forums - I searched but my computer skills aren't all that great.
I have previously done a conversion on another DP rifle - this one was a No1 Mk3. I converted it into a Delisle, and it actually works!

Any help you can offer is greatly appreciated!

Dave Andrews

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[Alan de Enfield]

This may help - pictures of all the different bolt / bolt heads used on No4 .22rf training rifles.

Lee-Enfield Rifle No.8 for the British Forces

It may also be interesting if you scroll down to the bottom of the page and click the link to the main "Enfield Training Rifles" page.

[CINDERS]

Welcome to milsurps Dave

[Peter Laidler]

Bit of advice first. Keep it simple, so I suggest that you look up info on the UK spec No9 rifle as used by the Navy

[fjruple]

Hi Dave--

First, welcome to the forum. From your post it sounds that you are capable of doing some light machining and metal work. I have converted a battered No 4. MK2 to a single shot .22 Long Rifle. Like Peter said I would keep it simple. If you can find a Numrich .22 LR conversion kit I used the .22 LR barrel liner from the kit. The kit was originally for the No 1, MKIII Lee Enfield but the barrel liner will work in the No 4 series Lee Enfield Rifles. I also used a C No 4 MKI .22 complete bolt head assembly. You will also have to cut the firing pin tip off for the rear firing pin to properly engage the new .22 firing pin in the C No 4. MKI .22 bolt head assembly. You can either strip out the magazine follower and spring or leave it in. I found a C No 4 MKI .22 follower which has hole for the spent cases to fall through.

After you obtain all of the parts, assembly and headspacing is quite easy. Thoroughly clean and degrease the barrel and chamber, and the .22 LR barrel liner. Plug the end of .22 LR barrel liner to prevent cement from getting into the .22 liner bore. Also coat any part of your rifle with a epoxy releasing agent that you don't glued. Using a slow setting epoxy based cement (Can be found at Brownells) lightly coat the .22 LR liner. At first slowly push the .22 LR liner into the .303 barrel approximately lining where the extractor groove would be located until you can place the complete .22 bolt into the gun with the bolt head engaged into it groove in the receiver. You did not indicate if you had a No4 MKI or No 4 MKI* Rifle. When you place the complete bolt the rifle make sure the bolt extractor is lined up with the extractor groove on the .22LR liner. Make doubly sure that the bolt and bolt head assembly has epoxy releasing agent on them. There is nothing like gluing the bolt into the gun. Very slowly push the .22 LR liner into the chamber and barrel with the bolt until the bolt fully seats locks into the receiver. This action will set your headspacing. Excess expoxy will come out as you pushing the .22 LR and bolt into the .303 barrel. Do not pull back on the .22 LR barrel liner at anytime during this process. May sure no epoxy gets in between the bolt head and the .22 LR barrel liner as this will throw off your headspacing. Do not remove any excess epoxy at this point. After several hours when the epoxy has semi-harden you can remove the bolt and clean out the excess epoxy in the chamber area. I would wait until the epoxy has completely hardened before you do anything at the muzzle end as you can possibly move the barrel liner at the muzzle. When the epoxy has hardened you cut the excess barrel liner at the muzzle and properly crown the barrel.

If you can't find a Numrich Lee Enfield 22LR barrel liner. You will have get one made up from a .22 LR barrel liner and .303 British cartridge adapter and chamber the .22 liner for .22 LR. But assembly will be basically the same. I hope you found this helpful. Sorry for being a little long winded. If you have any questions please let me know.

--fjruple

[Seaspriter]

Welcome to Milsurps Dave,
Here you will find the most knowledgeable Lee Enfield enthusiasts and armourers who have taught me a great deal. Not everyone agrees, but we all learn the pros and cons about "why" "what" and "how."

You did not indicate if you had a No4 MKI or No 4 MKI* Rifle

The rifle is a 1942 No 4 MKI* Long Branch.

Dave, I'm sure everyone would be really interested in the De Lisle Carbine -- you did a beautiful job with it. We've had some other posts on this type of gun, but showing your craftsmanship is something we would all appreciate.

Best Wishes, Robert

[bigduke6]

Dave,

The easiest method is think outside the box, I,ve in the past used a blank from Lothar Walther, these are produced from 10mm -12mm Diameter IIRC

My preferred method is, machine the original chamber parallel, in my case it was 12mm and approx 80mm in length, after this drill the bore, (think Its about 9 mm I use)

Then its a matter of turning the blank to size, obvious the 12mm is already done, just the rest to turn to 9mm or greater depending on what size you drill the bore.
With this method you have two parallels the chamber part and the barrel. Lot easier than turning a .303 profile.

The last one I did I counter bored the barrel from the muzzle, then made a liner to the above but only 16-18 inches in length, the reason for the short size is I've read that this is the point were the .22 LR is at its peak..... works fine.

Turning a blank between centres to the original bore size and length is time consuming and slow, its the reason I open up the bore.


Heres one I did earlier,






Forgot to mention if anyone is interested in any SMLE or No4 profiled barrels in .22RF then please PM.

[dasa2131]

I want to thank everyone who responded to my original question. Mr. Fjruple - thank you for your thorough response. I think I understand most of what you're trying to tell me. Mr. Robert Lynch - thank you again! Bigduke6 - you have the exact rifle that I want to build!

I'm very new to the Lee-Enfields. I know very little about them. Here is my first project working on a No1 Mk3:









There are several aspects of my rifle that are blatantly different from the real Delisle. Please understand this is my first attempt at a Delisle (and probably my last) and I'm happy with it so far. I had no idea how difficult this was going to be.

[browningautorifle]

All I get are black x boxes.

[Alan de Enfield]

All I get are black x boxes.

Bad-Luck.
You are missing out on some very nice gun-porn.