Interesting Day At The Range.

[AJ]

Took my Grandson to the range today. We were shooting Lithgow manufactured Lee Enfield No. 2 Mk IV* Trainer in .22 LR. Shot about 50 rounds between the two of us. He was shooting and I was standing beside him when I was hit in the side of the face with hot gas. He was hit with it on left hand (supporting hand) and his forehead. After making sure he was OK, I checked the rifle. Shell ejected properly and ran a cleaning rod down the bore. No real evidence of what had happened. Tried another round and it fired normally. Noticed the leaf spring for the extractor was sticking out a bit and pulled on it and out it came. Packed up and went home. Once I was home tore down the rifle. The only thing I can see wrong is the extractor spring will not stay in place. Ordered one from Numrich. The empty cases fall into the magazine in this rifle. Dumped them on the bench and sorted through them. Found one with the casing (Blown out) just above the base. Would say that was the problem.

 

[Fishinfool]

Yea, that will do it. I am glad neither of you were injured. A lot of people don't realize a simple .22 lr operates at almost twice the pressure of a typical shotgun shell.

Is the cartridge fully supported by the chamber in that rifle? Is it possible to fire it if the bolt is not fully closed with the cartridge fully in the chamber? I lost the extractor and blew a case head in an old Marlin bolt action when the gun fired while working the bolt to chamber a round that had not yet fully chambered. Scary.

Larry

 

[AJ]

Yea, that will do it. I am glad neither of you were injured. A lot of people don't realize a simple .22 lr operates at almost twice the pressure of a typical shotgun shell.

Is the cartridge fully supported by the chamber in that rifle? Is it possible to fire it if the bolt is not fully closed with the cartridge fully in the chamber?

Larry

The rifle started life as a MK III* in .303 British. The chamber is not recessed for the case head. The bolt has to be completely closed for it to fire.