Enfields, bolt head overturn and washers

[Gaz]

This might be a silly question. In fact, it probably is to the experienced folk on here...

My "new" SMLE's bolt head overturns rather more than the supposed 20 degree max permissible. Provided I can keep the headspace within limits, is there a reason I shouldn't have a washer made up to fit between the bolt head and the bolt body to reduce or eliminate the overturn?

I ask because one of Peter Laider's numerous guides mentions that it is a good thing if the shock of recoil is taken directly down the bolt body and square to the locking lugs, rather than on the threads holding the bolt head to the bolt body.

[WelshShooter]

This might be a silly question. In fact, it probably is to the experienced folk on here...

My "new" SMLE's bolt head overturns rather more than the supposed 20 degree max permissible. Provided I can keep the headspace within limits, is there a reason I shouldn't have a washer made up to fit between the bolt head and the bolt body to reduce or eliminate the overturn?

I ask because one of Peter Laider's numerous guides mentions that it is a good thing if the shock of recoil is taken directly down the bolt body and square to the locking lugs, rather than on the threads holding the bolt head to the bolt body.

Not qualified to make that call, but I couldn't see why not. Would this need to be physically attached to the bolt head is another thing.

[Charlie Muggins]

How much overturn are we talking about? The bolt head thread is 20TPI (one full rotation of the bolt head screws it out 1/20" or 0.05") so if we're talking an overturn excess of say 10 degrees (1/36 of a rotation) a washer fitted between the bolt head and body would have to be a shade under 1.4thou. Even a ridiculously high overturn excess of 45 degrees would require a washer 6 thou thick. For comparison, the wall of a coke can is about 4 thou. If these dimensions seem tiny, that's because they are -- they are the manufacturing tolerances of the state ordnance factories of the nation which invented the concepts and practices of accurate measurements.

I'm no gun plumber but would not consider a free-floating washer to be a feasible solution; they could be made to the required thickness but would be distorted or torn very easily. Perhaps a washer cut from shim stock glued or soft soldered to the back of the bolt head would suffice?

[Rearlugs]

Take the rifle to an Enfield specialist and get a proper replacement bolt head fitted and the rest of the action checked over. If the bolt head grossly overturns, then it is likely that the rifle was poorly assembled by whoever last rebuilt it. The bolt head, bolt body, firing pin, cocking piece all need to complement each other.

FWIW, I don't think an over-turn will actually harm the rifle in any way. No civilian shooter is likely to get through the tens of thousands of rounds that might eventually cause flattening of the bolt body threads and, even if this does happen, it will only cause a tiny increase in head space at worst. Frankly, there is so much rattle fit and movement in an SMLE action that minor spec variations will have negligible overall effect!

[huntervixen]

Morning Gas, would this SMLE be one of the new build examples utilising NOS parts by a well known RFD? I agree with Rearlugs, get it checked over by an Enfield specialist. Its always better to have a rifle that's set up correctly by someone who knows the type well.