tuff ejecting britt.

landlord · February 13, 2012, 01:18 PM

I has a 303 Britt that shoots wonderful but ejects very hard, I have to hit the bolt with my palm to get it to open. it cycles silky smooth empty, could it be just a case of old ammo? I have put any new through it yet just what I got with it.

Destructo6 · February 13, 2012, 01:49 PM

Headspace could be off.

Have it checked by a competent gunsmith.

Headspace on an Enfield is easy to adjust. What number bolt head does it have now?

Mk VII · February 13, 2012, 07:14 PM

Rusty or pitted chamber? Soft brass?

madcratebuilder · February 14, 2012, 11:43 AM

Inspect the back of the bolt where the cocking piece fit. When you first start to lift the bolt handle you are rotating the bolt body around the cocking piece, any burrs or lack of lube can cause resistance.

Have the head space checked with a .303 BRIT gauge, not a sammi gauge.

You could have a rough chamber wall, close inspection with a light should tell what's up with that.

A remote possibility it's ammo related, try some new ammo.

landlord · February 14, 2012, 07:37 PM

the shells shot were kind of greenish tinned, and at the high power end of store bought. chamber looks good, how do you tell the bolt number? I have oiled it well after cleaning but have not reshot. will try to get appointment with gunsmith.

Fullboar · February 14, 2012, 09:15 PM

Yep I would have it checked for headspace. When the Lee-Enfields were built they just headspaced them with a different length bolt. Off the top of my head they had 5 or 6 different length bolts (I think they are marked 0 to 5 or something like that with the number 0 being the shortest and the number 5 being the longest, number 1 being longer then 0 and number 2 being longer then number 1 and so forth all the way up to number 5) they did this as it was faster and cheaper to make.

I see you said you have been oiling it well, just mark sure when you go to shoot it that you have removed all the oil from the bore and chamber (especially the chamber) so it is dry that way when you shoot it the case expands and grips the chamber walls (when you have to much oil in the chamber it cant do this).

Also get some new ammo for it and see how it goes.

Mr_Raw · February 15, 2012, 12:30 AM

When you say "I have to hit the bolt with my palm to get it to open" is that to unlock the bolt, or to extract the spent case?

If it's to unlock the bolt it may be the head space, or you may need to do some polishing on the lugs. Do not use a file.
Only use steel wool grade 0 or 00 and oil.

If it's just to extract the spent case check the chamber for signs of corrosion if it's good have a smith check the head space.

"Have the head space checked with a .303 BRIT gauge, not a sammi gauge."
madcratebuilder

If thats good take the thing home and clean it, and clean it good.

I have a SMLE and a Mosin-Nagant both of which had this problem, and I spent about 6 hours cleaning each one.

February 13, 2012, 01:18 PM	#1
landlord Member Join Date: February 4, 2012 Posts: 71	tuff ejecting britt. I has a 303 Britt that shoots wonderful but ejects very hard, I have to hit the bolt with my palm to get it to open. it cycles silky smooth empty, could it be just a case of old ammo? I have put any new through it yet just what I got with it.

February 13, 2012, 01:49 PM	#2
Destructo6 Senior Member Join Date: March 18, 1999 Location: Nogales, AZ USA Posts: 4,016	Headspace could be off. Have it checked by a competent gunsmith. Headspace on an Enfield is easy to adjust. What number bolt head does it have now? __________________ God gave you a soul. Your parents, a body. Your country, a rifle. Keep all of them clean.

February 15, 2012, 12:30 AM	#7
Mr_Raw Member Join Date: January 20, 2012 Posts: 51	When you say "I have to hit the bolt with my palm to get it to open" is that to unlock the bolt, or to extract the spent case? If it's to unlock the bolt it may be the head space, or you may need to do some polishing on the lugs. Do not use a file. Only use steel wool grade 0 or 00 and oil. If it's just to extract the spent case check the chamber for signs of corrosion if it's good have a smith check the head space. "Have the head space checked with a .303 BRIT gauge, not a sammi gauge." madcratebuilder If thats good take the thing home and clean it, and clean it good. I have a SMLE and a Mosin-Nagant both of which had this problem, and I spent about 6 hours cleaning each one. Last edited by Mr_Raw; February 15, 2012 at 12:39 AM.

February 13, 2012, 07:14 PM	#3
Mk VII Senior Member Join Date: November 23, 2000 Location: England Posts: 457	Rusty or pitted chamber? Soft brass?

February 14, 2012, 11:43 AM	#4
madcratebuilder Senior Member Join Date: November 2, 2007 Location: Northern Orygun Posts: 4,923	Inspect the back of the bolt where the cocking piece fit. When you first start to lift the bolt handle you are rotating the bolt body around the cocking piece, any burrs or lack of lube can cause resistance. Have the head space checked with a .303 BRIT gauge, not a sammi gauge. You could have a rough chamber wall, close inspection with a light should tell what's up with that. A remote possibility it's ammo related, try some new ammo.

February 14, 2012, 07:37 PM	#5
landlord Member Join Date: February 4, 2012 Posts: 71	the shells shot were kind of greenish tinned, and at the high power end of store bought. chamber looks good, how do you tell the bolt number? I have oiled it well after cleaning but have not reshot. will try to get appointment with gunsmith.

February 14, 2012, 09:15 PM	#6
Fullboar Senior Member Join Date: January 4, 2011 Location: North Queensland, Australia Posts: 218	Yep I would have it checked for headspace. When the Lee-Enfields were built they just headspaced them with a different length bolt. Off the top of my head they had 5 or 6 different length bolts (I think they are marked 0 to 5 or something like that with the number 0 being the shortest and the number 5 being the longest, number 1 being longer then 0 and number 2 being longer then number 1 and so forth all the way up to number 5) they did this as it was faster and cheaper to make. I see you said you have been oiling it well, just mark sure when you go to shoot it that you have removed all the oil from the bore and chamber (especially the chamber) so it is dry that way when you shoot it the case expands and grips the chamber walls (when you have to much oil in the chamber it cant do this). Also get some new ammo for it and see how it goes.