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lithgow and 22 trainer help

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englishman_ca View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote englishman_ca Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 09 2015 at 3:52pm
I downloaded your pic of the bolt and zoomed in and could see that there is a slot at the back of the bolt body. This leads me to believe that the bolt once was a Lee Metford bolt modified by removing the dust cover lugs, so it could actually be a Charger Loading Lee Metford bolt body. Cool!

Also looking at the bolt head, I can see where the bolt face has been machined and a face plate added, possibly to restore headspace. The position of the pivot screw is as per a 303 bolt head (factory .22 bolt head mounts the extractor slightly more inboard) , so it is likely a modified 303 unit. 
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evanguy View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote evanguy Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 09 2015 at 5:10pm
the second bolt being shown is a 1911 no1mk3 bolt just for comparison. also the pic of the 22 barrel is the bottom of it . I added more pics of the bolt. Let me know what you think. That would be cool if it was a lee metford bolt.



















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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote evanguy Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 09 2015 at 5:12pm


http://i776.photobucket.com/albums/yy44/Evanguy/DSC01678_zps8fex8aea.jpg

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englishman_ca View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote englishman_ca Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 10 2015 at 6:14am
The bolt body that you have assembled for the .22 trainer was certainly once a Lee Metford Mk.II unit. The dust cover lugs have been removed leaving the groove for the back of the cover as evidence. Not much difference between it and one for a Sht.LE other than the shape of the bolt handle, which has a bit more of a curve and upturn to the knob. It looks to be well done, the rib shows no evidence of the lugs, possibly machined off and the height of the lug reduced. This could have been done for a conversion to Charger Loading Lee Metford fitted with the charger bridge. the dust cover lugs had to go to provide clearance under the bridge.

The markings on it could be a renumber on the top of the handle. I don't see any numbers on the back, although there looks to be what could be factory inspector view marks. The number underneath on the handle is an assembly number applied as the reciever and bolt went through the production line. Serial numbers would have been added later along in the assembly of the rifle.

The bolt head is a purpose made unit for the Sht.22 Mk.II., III and IV. The marking on the head .22No.2 tells me it is of the model of bolt head introduced in 1912. The marking is interesting in that it appears to have an additional number. Not seen that before. The obvious difference between it and a 303 bolt head is the offset striker hole and corresponding drilled hole for the seperate striker. The extractor claw pivot screw is also drilled slightly more inboard to help the geometry of the claw grabbing a smaller rim.

You might get it extracting with that claw, but the claw isn't the right one for this model.

The BSA made barrel does not appear to have any martial markings, inspector or govt acceptance, which would make it a civilian barrel sold on the commercial market. How it ended up on this receiver we will never know.
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evanguy View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote evanguy Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 17 2015 at 3:32pm
Thanks for all the help and info englishman_ca. so it seems i have a lee metford bolt body and no2 rimfire bolt head in a no1mk3* receiver with a civilian/commercial 22 barrel made from BSA.

well thats quite the story with this old rifle.

so i ended up filing down the extractor claw just enough so a 22 rim would fin under neath it with out actually touching the claw, before i had to  open the claw a bit to fin the rim under. anyway it works now just fine, ive fired 20 shots of 4 different types of ammo and a few shorts, all fired and extracted just fine.  so now i need a wood set for this gun and ill be one happy camper

so on to the lithgow, i really like this rifle and the trigger feels really good compared to all of my guns, i used the none matching bolt that i got with this gun to makeup the rimfire bolt. so where i never had the matching bolt i feel ill never find it lol so i need to find a replacement. i now have 2 extra bolt heads 5 thou different length so i hope i can make the bolt work with those.

there is a guy selling a few no1 bolt heads for 50$ each, complete, it seems a good deal but its the same guy i bought the guns off of, and at the time if i had 50 more dollars (200$ total) i could have bought the 20 bolt heads and like 5 extra bolts off him when i got the guns as a package deal, but i only had 150 on me, so i got what i showed in this thread now he wants 50 a bolt  since he knows i need one.......lame....


i may buy a 150$ no1 thats for sale in a used gun store then use the wood for my 22 and the bolt for my lithgow and then just have a bsa  barrel,receiver and trigger assembly for parts or for a future build. but if i see the 303 has matching bolt and barrel i wont be able to take them apart lol and ill be in the same boat but with an extra 303,(witch i wouldnt mind lol)
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote englishman_ca Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 31 2015 at 12:33pm
Evanguy. Have you made any progress with your .22 trainer rebuild?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote evanguy Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 31 2015 at 3:20pm
well, yes and no, i made a new firing pin, the smaller floating end. its a few thou wider and a few longer so it now will fire any ammo i put in it and isn't picky anymore.

i also made a new sear spring for it, the other one was weak and would sometimes miss the bolt when closing it, new one works well and catches every time, so the action is now complete.

i had and extra rear butt stock from my no4 mk1/2 from when i changed the wood set on that, so i used that no4 butt stock and chiseled a little wood away and fitted it to the no1 action.

i shoot it all the time and even today i was at the range, ive put probably 1000 rounds though it so far since i got it , a lot of .22 short and a few hundred LR, shooting off hand it hits a 8x11 SS plate at 100m, 24 out of 25 times. shoots about 9" low at 100m with LR and 26" low with shorts, but can be made up for with the site

the only thing im still missing is a no1 fore stock to give me more then the barrel to hold on to when shooting. ill post some pics tonight, also once i get a front stock, ill be happy with the gun, this and my model 39 cooey are my favorite 22's i own, i have 5 lol, 10/22 is least favorite
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote evanguy Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 03 2016 at 4:58pm
Englishman_ca, in case youre wondering about this .22 trainer, i now have it finished the way i like it, i do want to get a front swivel and out a strap on it still but that day will come after a few other projects

i honestly shoot this gun all the time, (a few times a week) ill bet at minimum 100 rounds a week for the last few months, i love shooting 22 shorts in it, at 100m i have to set the sight at 875m to hit dead on, and using 22 LF it 750m setting to shoot 100m

here are a few pics of it, its hard to believe i paid 60$ can for the barreled action then pieced everything else together over the last year. so total cost is still 60$, i couldn't buy a better nicer 22 for a few times that price in my eyes, it is my favorite lee enfield i own (well up until this LEC fell into my hands, now they are tied),
 well.. my few single shot cooey model 39's i have sit high on my list too, i do have a soft spot for them.

i have no pics of the targets but i shoot at 8"x11" stainless steel plates 3/16 thick. spaced off the back board an inch so there is a really nice ring to it, the .22 trainer has no issue hitting that with 22 shorts for as many shots at you shoot at it









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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote A square 10 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 03 2016 at 8:15pm
im so pleased you got where you wanted to go with this one , and use is a huge bit oof my thinking - the ones that languish in a safe without attention are the ones im  troubled over these days , that said i do like to see them in original nick whenever possible , glad your happy and using the rifle regularly , 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote evanguy Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 25 2016 at 9:52am
so after doing a bit of thinking and looking around, i plan on adding the rear site protector, and also a rear hand guard, if i ever had a complete uncut stock id put it on a different matching numbers rifle

this is my favorite rifle i own at this point, but when the LEC is finished, it may change, or they will be very different rifles they will both be on the top on my list.

i do want to get another bolt head for it, a little longer one, its a bit lose on head space but with the actions strength it doesnt concern me but some of the higher FPS 22 rounds will round the end of the case. (if it was center fire it would have backed out primers)


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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote englishman_ca Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 25 2016 at 11:04am
Just to stir the pot, it is possible to rebuild your .22 and put it into carbine style furniture and make a .22 clone carbine. Or put it back to its original full wood battle rifle style. Or put nice sporter wood, maybe a schnabel deer stalker style or a full length stocked to the muzzle? 

The LE action is versatile and was very popular for sporting use at the turn of the 20th century. There were some 'high end' Lee Metford/Enfields built or set up by bespoke gunsmiths. Do a search on 'Lee Speed' sporting rifles.

These are three of my favourite .22s

Sht.22 Mk.I

Sht.22 Mk.II
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote evanguy Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 25 2016 at 3:21pm
wow man, they look good. i want to acquire an mkI and mkII to go with my mkIII i plan to restore some day. and you have them in .22's! thats pretty cool, i like that mk1 with the lee metford looking wood.

i could see me doing a LEC clone with it, seeing how its a commercial rebarrel and none matching bolt. that would be pretty need, but id have a hard time cutting the barrel, being full length and the gun functions great. shoot 6 inch groups at 100m with the iron sights. 25 shot groups.

definitely something to think about, i built LEC clone would be nice........ well now to find a .22 barrel,  i already have the nose cap lol
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote englishman_ca Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 25 2016 at 3:49pm
These are Sht.22 trainers. A  Sht.22 Mk.I isn't the same beast as a Sht.LE Mk.I.


Hmmm, I wasn't thinking of cutting down the barrel. In my imagination I can see it, just make the carbine forearm and handguard another four inches longer. The muzzle diameter on a Sht.LE is the same as a carbine, so a nosecap would fit the barrel. Now wouldn't that get some funny looks at the range?!

A 'long carbine'. If I knew how to use photoshop, I'd show you!

Since , as you say, it is a commercial rebarrel with mismatched bolt, it isn't really of collectable significance. I used to think that all sporters were potential restoration projects or parts donors. My mind has now changed over the years. Not every sporter needs to be converted back to mil spec. Some sporters are great just for what they are. Clean it up and enjoy it as it is. 

I have some pretty rough looking sporters or 'truck guns' that are my 'go to' gun when a rifle is needed. They never miss a beat and have never let me down in a crisis.
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