Magazine Follower Too Long
Printed From: Enfield-Rifles.com
Category: Enfields
Forum Name: Enfield Rifles
Forum Description: Anything that has to do with the great Enfield rifles!
URL: http://www.enfield-rifles.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=10295
Printed Date: March 26 2026 at 7:59pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.07 - https://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Magazine Follower Too Long
Posted By: 105GunGrunt
Subject: Magazine Follower Too Long
Date Posted: February 08 2020 at 10:25am
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I am new to Enfield rifles so this will be the first of MANY new questions about a recently acquired No 4, Mk 1. The magazine follower would appear to be to long for the magazine. When I first got the rifle I loaded 5 dummy rounds. The first 2 loaded fine, then the follower hung up. I have disassembled the mag and cleaned the follower. I polished all the mating surfaces. Now it won’t depress enough to even load a round. The original serial number has been X’d out and replaced by a number that matches serial number of rifle.
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Replies:
Posted By: 105GunGrunt
Date Posted: February 08 2020 at 9:03pm
| Just to follow up on the original post - if the follower comes up at an angle so the front of the follower rides up and over the front of the magazine box all is ok. If, however, the follower comes up level then it jams in the magazine and won’t go up or down. |
Posted By: Bear43
Date Posted: February 09 2020 at 4:18am
| It sounds to me like your magazine is bent in on the side. That's what my first thought is since it binds up the follower so bad when coming up level. |
Posted By: britrifles
Date Posted: February 09 2020 at 4:25am
The follower should be at an angle tipping up as you described. It is longer than the magazine. Make sure the front lip of the follower is angled as shown below.   |
Posted By: rewster
Date Posted: February 09 2020 at 6:25am
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Great pics ! Thanks, britrifles !!! regards....roger ------------- The only time I ever said "no" to a drink was when I misunderstood the question. Will Sinclair |
Posted By: Shamu
Date Posted: February 09 2020 at 7:15am
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Might it be a No1 follower in a no4 magazine box? ------------- Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force) |
Posted By: A square 10
Date Posted: February 09 2020 at 6:33pm
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if the box has been force matched to the rifle it would seem that would have been done at FTR and should be fine , these were not meant as interchangeable but were tuned to the rifle its fitted to , a bent box or misshaped follower could well be the result of after use and may need a fix , is it a full ten round box or was it refitted with a five round at sporting ?
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Posted By: 105GunGrunt
Date Posted: February 13 2020 at 9:09pm
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First, thanks to all that responded. With your help I discovered I have a lot to learn about Enfield No 4s (1903s and M1917s load much easier) and I might have a weak magazine spring. From YouTube I learned about the benefits of polishing the inside of the charger. Works wonders! I also learned to push down as far back on the cartridge as possible so that I forced the rear of the follower to angle downward. Last I learned to check that the bullet of the last cartridge loaded was caught under the forward lip of the magazine. As to the possible weak magazine spring, I found that if I first loaded 4 SnapCap dummy rounds before loading 5 live rounds via the charger I had no problems at all with the rounds jumping in position for the bolt to catch the next round. Again, thanks to all that responded. Off to my next issue - headspace.
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