![]() |
Enfield Safety |
Post Reply
|
Page 12> |
| Author | |
RangerJohn
Newbie
Joined: June 09 2024 Location: Tampa Status: Offline Points: 9 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Topic: Enfield SafetyPosted: June 09 2024 at 3:58am |
|
Greetings Forum members. I am in the Scottish American Military Society in Tampa, FL. Our Post has two No.4 Mark III’s for ceremonial use. Actually, I have had both checked out by a local gunsmith, and both rifles are fully operational; checked headspace, bore-scoped, etc. I will post pics of them later. My question has to do with LE Blank ammunition. I ran across this posting (see attached) from the American Legion which highlighted the danger of “Granada Launcher” ammunition vs. “Blank” ammunition. I see that the Enfield did have a grenade launcher capability like the M1 Garand. Does anyone know if there is a specific Enfield grenade ammunition which should not be used as ceremonial blank ammo?
![]() ![]() |
|
|
John S. Campbell
|
|
![]() |
|
Mayhem
Senior Member
Joined: February 06 2016 Location: Australia Status: Offline Points: 335 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: June 09 2024 at 4:22pm |
|
Commonwealth issued ammunition will include a L in the headstamp if it is blank and a H if it is grenade/line throwing. However, a large number of rejected cases were turned into blanks during the war, so you will find blanks made from ball, trace, AP and incendiary rounds.
The grenade/line throwing blanks generally (but not always) have open case mouths, with a cardboard disc and are stained.
Non-commonwealth cartridges sometimes followed the case staining (FN is one manufacturer that comes to mind). However, unless they are marked in such a way, there is no way to distinguish unmarked crimped blanks without seeing the box they came out of. The easiest way to ensure that you are using safe blanks is to make them yourself (or have a reloader make them for you). |
|
|
.303 - Helping Englishmen express their feelings since 1889
|
|
![]() |
|
RangerJohn
Newbie
Joined: June 09 2024 Location: Tampa Status: Offline Points: 9 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: June 09 2024 at 4:34pm |
|
Thanks for the valuable information. I did find these at blankammo.com…..very expensive. My organization is forming a funeral rifle honor guard and we will need to find some. Might reach out to some reloaders in the area. Once I take the No. 4s to the range to zero, I’ll save the brass for reloading. http://https://blankammo.com/products/military-ammo-blanks-303-british
|
|
|
John S. Campbell
|
|
![]() |
|
SW28fan
Special Member
Donating Member Joined: July 02 2007 Location: Texas Status: Offline Points: 3388 |
Post Options
Thanks(1)
Quote Reply
Posted: June 09 2024 at 4:50pm |
|
The issue can be resolved by using New Commercial Privi Blanks made for Reenactors; instead of ancient sometimes mystery surplus
|
|
|
Have a Nice Day
If already having a nice day please disregard |
|
![]() |
|
RangerJohn
Newbie
Joined: June 09 2024 Location: Tampa Status: Offline Points: 9 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: June 09 2024 at 4:51pm |
|
Concur. Lots of “sketchy” stuff out there indeed.
|
|
|
John S. Campbell
|
|
![]() |
|
britrifles
Senior Member
Joined: February 03 2018 Location: Georgia, USA Status: Offline Points: 8404 |
Post Options
Thanks(1)
Quote Reply
Posted: June 09 2024 at 5:31pm |
|
Never heard of a No. 4 Mk III, that’s a new one to me!
|
|
![]() |
|
RangerJohn
Newbie
Joined: June 09 2024 Location: Tampa Status: Offline Points: 9 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: June 09 2024 at 5:39pm |
|
Ooops….brain cramp you are correct. We have two Enfield rifles, a No. 4 Mk I and a No. 4 Mk I* both 1942. One is stamped U.K on the front barrel, and the other is marked Canada.
|
|
|
John S. Campbell
|
|
![]() |
|
Zed
Special Member
Donating Member Joined: May 01 2012 Location: France Status: Online Points: 6460 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: June 10 2024 at 3:51am |
|
Interesting post.
I am surprised that a grenade launcher cartridge would destroy a rifle! Do you know if the parade rifles concerned have been modified to partially block the barrel? To prevent live rounds being fired! Seems odd that an unobstructed barrel would allow enough pressure to blow the rifle apart.
|
|
|
It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice!
|
|
![]() |
|
hoadie
Moderator Group
Joined: March 16 2006 Location: Niagara/Canada Status: Offline Points: 9680 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: June 10 2024 at 4:06am |
|
Rhino has a couple grenade t**sers..he could probobly offer some insight.
|
|
|
Loose wimmen tightened here
|
|
![]() |
|
RangerJohn
Newbie
Joined: June 09 2024 Location: Tampa Status: Offline Points: 9 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: June 10 2024 at 4:23am |
|
I thought the same thing. I can only surmise that the M1 blank firing adapters they used, coupled with the pressure generated from the grenade launcher rounds, created too much back pressure. I have no data on pressure measurements between a normal blank round and grenade launcher round. In any case, I thought it was an interesting safety tip to pass along. Cheers.
|
|
|
John S. Campbell
|
|
![]() |
|
Sapper740
Senior Member
Joined: July 15 2021 Location: Texas Status: Offline Points: 1737 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: June 10 2024 at 4:57am |
I was just about to say that.
|
|
![]() |
|
Sapper740
Senior Member
Joined: July 15 2021 Location: Texas Status: Offline Points: 1737 |
Post Options
Thanks(1)
Quote Reply
Posted: June 10 2024 at 5:03am |
|
Reenactors in Texas have been using Atlantic Wall .303 British blanks for decades with good results. The long blank cycles perfectly through the magazine while the short blank sometimes hangs up.
|
|
![]() |
|
Shamu
Admin Group
Logo Designer / Donating Member Joined: April 25 2007 Location: MD, USA. Status: Offline Points: 20510 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: June 10 2024 at 1:47pm |
|
I think it was a case of using "salute" (noisemaker) blanks with rifle grenades, not the other way round. The salute blanks are designed with a really fast powder so they will go bang, rather than phut. If you put a couple of pounds of grenade in front of that & fire it its like a bore obstruction/powder overload.
|
|
|
Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force)
|
|
![]() |
|
paddyofurniture
Senior Member
Joined: December 26 2011 Location: NC Status: Online Points: 7942 |
Post Options
Thanks(1)
Quote Reply
Posted: June 10 2024 at 3:55pm |
|
Back years ago in the 60's on Canada Day one of my Uncles would use a grenade on a SMLE and shoot tennis ball soaked in lighter fluid over the farm pond. Looked like a mini comet flying by.
|
|
|
Always looking for military manuals, Dodge M37 items,books on Berlin Germany, old atlases ( before 1946) , military maps of Scotland. English and Canadian gun parts.
|
|
![]() |
|
Shamu
Admin Group
Logo Designer / Donating Member Joined: April 25 2007 Location: MD, USA. Status: Offline Points: 20510 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: June 11 2024 at 1:21pm |
|
Good times!
|
|
|
Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force)
|
|
![]() |
|
paddyofurniture
Senior Member
Joined: December 26 2011 Location: NC Status: Online Points: 7942 |
Post Options
Thanks(1)
Quote Reply
Posted: June 11 2024 at 1:38pm |
|
I would try it in North Carolina but my pond is not big enough.
If I miss I would set the woods on fire and with that the North Carolina Zoo How do you want your elephant?
|
|
|
Always looking for military manuals, Dodge M37 items,books on Berlin Germany, old atlases ( before 1946) , military maps of Scotland. English and Canadian gun parts.
|
|
![]() |
|
Post Reply
|
Page 12> |
| Tweet |
| Forum Jump | Forum Permissions ![]() You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot create polls in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum |