Problems With Lee-Enfield Ishapore Model 2A

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ElGene

Inactive
I have a 1965 version of this rifle, the only 7.62 version of the justifiably famous Lee-Enfield design. It shoots very accurately, but there is a problem in which, as the bolt is actuated, the rounds tend to chamber off-center and require hand adjustment on almost every shot. I suspect the magazine, but have no idea of how to disassemble it for troubleshooting (added to my relative ignorance on how to go about it), or if the mag is really even the source of the problem.

I am seeking advice from knowledgeable owners of this weapon who have had expeience with similar issues.

Thanks All,
ElGene
 
Do a search here, Enfield Forum; http://parallaxscurioandrelicfirearmsforums.yuku.com/bparallaxscurioandrelicfirearmsforums

And, or PM Tikirocker, in the curios and relics forum here at TFL. Maybe ask about this problem in the C&R forum here, too.

I haven't experienced this problem with my 2A but in some of my other Enfields I have. The magazine has two wings on each side that feed/guide the nose of the bullet into the chamber. They can be "carefully bent" to properly guide the round into the chamber, it doesn't take much and requires trial and error and patience, use snap caps or dummy rounds. The wing on the left is typically a little bit higher than the right.

? to remove the magazine from the rifle you depress a small lever in front of the trigger, reinsert with authority.

The back, the rim of the cartridges are on, of the follower can be tilted way down so the nose can be "wagled " out behind those ears. Then the follower and spring can be removed to clean the cosmoline and grunge(crapy black paint) out of the mag.

Search is your friend. :) Welcome to the world of Enfields. The 2A is what caused me to get a C&R license. They are good shooters, especially with handloads.

Hope this helps.
 
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FWIW, there is no need to "waggle" anything to take down a 2A magazine. Just push in on the button in the base and push (tap) the floorplate forward.

Jim
 
Ti Jim Keenan

Jim,
in an apparent attempt to preserve the rifle, it was packed in cosmoline, and may of the exposed metal surfaces were painted with a heavy black, almost japanned, paint. I think that I cleaned out the cosmoline pretty well, but unfortunately, the mag was one of the parts that received the heavy paint treatment. I was shown how to depress the tab on the bottom of the mag to disassemble it, but the paint was too solid to break...I tried separating the painted-together parts using a razot blade with very little luck.

My guess is that paint this old ond heavy requires some kind of paint stripper that bonds directly to one's cells, and can cause you to throw pups with nine eyes and a webbed liver. Any clues about dissolving this old, gnarly painr?

Thanks, ElGene
 
ElG, the paint stripper doesn't bond to your cells, but it does some serious liver damage if you're not careful (it's breathing the methylene chloride that gets you, and the NMP carries a lot of crap through your skin if you get it on you). That said, get some heavy duty polyethylene trash bags and test them for resistance against the paint stripper (can use thick PE foil like used in construction too). Outside, paint the rifle parts thick with the stripper and put it in the bags/ wrap the foil around it to keep the stuff on (otherwise outside the important stuff evaporates off so fast you never get the paint soaked). When the paint is soft, wear good nitrile based gloves while scraping the stuff off (again outside). Let the gun dry off and you and your descendants are safe.
 
To remove the crapy black paint(cbp), when AIM brought these guns in in 06" this was an endless topic on the mil-surp forums, you can use hot water and soap, simple green was highly recomended and oven cleaner and the various solvents.

I took mine completely apart and used hot water and soap on the wood. When the wood dried I put on a few coats of Boiled Linseed Oil(BLO) with fine steel wool. The metal bits I soaked in No.1 heating oil/kerosene, over night, and used elbow grease and bronze bristle brushes, worked for me.

Citristrip is another excelent cbp remover, had to check out some old posts.
 
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The black paint was not just for preservation in storage, it is the original finish, and the British and French also painted rifles and other weapons.

I think maybe the cosmoline interacted with the paint to turn what should have been a smooth finish into the mess you describe.

I have used paint stripper (with precautions) with good results, but remember that there is no finish underneath, so if you remove the paint entirely you will have to refinish.

Jim
 
trisodium phosphate to remove the grease, to remove the paint before I had mine parkerized, I soaked it in caustic soda and hot water, 20 minutesm no paint
 
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