Lee Enfield bolt face

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Lee Enfield bolt face

Post by 6878mm » 19 May 2024, 7:51 am

WHERE??? could I look for information about.223 size on a 303 rimmed bolt face??
I want info, I dont want to talk to gunsmith ,,,,I want to read about it first
Please no referrals to a business
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Re: Lee Enfield bolt face

Post by bladeracer » 19 May 2024, 9:06 am

6878mm wrote:WHERE??? could I look for information about.223 size on a 303 rimmed bolt face??
I want info, I dont want to talk to gunsmith ,,,,I want to read about it first
Please no referrals to a business


Not sure what you mean by size.
The .303 has a rim of .540" so the bolt face is a little larger than that. The .223 has a rim of .378" so the bolt face would want to be reduced to that size to fully support the case head and allow the extractor to work. Would it be fine to shoot with the standard boltface? Probably, as long as the case walls are fully supported within the chamber, but the extractor wouldn't reach the case head. I would think the simplest would be to make a new bolt head for it with its own extractor. Tom at T-Bone would know the best way to go about it. Otherwise talk to in2anity as I think he has a No.4 Rifle in .223Rem.
Last edited by bladeracer on 19 May 2024, 6:51 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Lee Enfield bolt face

Post by 6878mm » 19 May 2024, 10:25 am

thankyou
i will tryand talk to that bloke

cheers
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Re: Lee Enfield bolt face

Post by 6878mm » 19 May 2024, 10:26 am

Do you know of anywhere that I could read about it??
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Re: Lee Enfield bolt face

Post by bladeracer » 19 May 2024, 11:09 am

6878mm wrote:Do you know of anywhere that I could read about it??


Nothing comes to mind. There are a number of forums dedicated to the SMLE's so there may be threads to be found. I vaguely recall one of the LERAA guys mentioned having a .223Rem conversion as well but can't recall who off the top of my head. Tom (T-Bone) made a batch of .22LR bolt heads a few months ago that he posted about on his FB page. If I were wanting something non-standard on an SMLE he's the guy I'd be bouncing ideas off.
Last edited by bladeracer on 19 May 2024, 6:50 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Lee Enfield bolt face

Post by No1Mk3 » 19 May 2024, 11:29 am

Just google 223 Enfield, plenty of articles and videos, here are some pics of a rifle converted in Qld
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Re: Lee Enfield bolt face

Post by bigrich » 19 May 2024, 6:21 pm

tom at t bone shipwright has done many conversions on enfeilds to all sorts of calibers . i've seen his work first hand . give him a call and explain what you want .
i know you said you didn't want referrals , but go straight to the source for answers . cheers
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Re: Lee Enfield bolt face

Post by Oldbloke » 19 May 2024, 10:17 pm

I guess it's horses for courses.

IMO easier to just buy a 223. And not a lot more.
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Re: Lee Enfield bolt face

Post by bigrich » 20 May 2024, 7:39 am

Oldbloke wrote:I guess it's horses for courses.

IMO easier to just buy a 223. And not a lot more.


A brand new T3 is probably cheaper than the cost of converting a Enfield. You’d really have to love Enfield’s
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