.303 British Trigger

[Rafiki]

I have a .303 British No4 MKI that has been my go-to rifle for hunting Whitetails. Love the handy little rifle except for trigger, it sucks! I don't know if it is the same for all of these rifles but is is the sloppiest thing you can imagine. Mine literally flops back and forth in the triggers guard. It has a VERY long creep and over-travel. I probably shouldn't complain since it's done such a good job of filling the freezer for over 50-years.

I've periodically searched for replacement triggers and thus far have come up empty. I'd like to get this fixed; have others had the same problem with their British Enfield? Have any solutions to share?

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I have a .303 British No4 MKI that has been my go-to rifle for hunting Whitetails. Love the handy little rifle except for trigger, it sucks! I don't know if it is the same for all of these rifles but is is the sloppiest thing you can imagine. Mine literally flops back and forth in the triggers guard. It has a VERY long creep and over-travel. I probably shouldn't complain since it's done such a good job of filling the freezer for over 50-years.

I've periodically searched for replacement triggers and thus far have come up empty. I'd like to get this fixed; have others had the same problem with their British Enfield? Have any solutions to share?


View attachment 594975

@Rafiki
The best replacement trigger for the SMLE is the HUBER CONCEPTS TRIGGER. I have had two of them and fitted them for others. It converts the old crap trigger into a nice single stage trigger that can be adjusted down to two pound. Easy to install.
The only way to fix the over travel is to drill a hole in the rear of the trigger guard and install a fine bolt that you can adjust to suit the amount of over travel.
John Huber the designer of the trigger is a great bloke to deal with and talk to. Google his triggers to find out more
Bob

 

[Grumpy gumpy]

have you had the barreled action out of the stock, if the trigger is "floppy" the spring could be broken. The huber triggers are good if you can find one.
gumpy

 

[Sarg]

Very nice No4 @Rafiki is that a early Bishop stock, I remember they had some fancy stocks for exmilitary rifles back in the day, has it the two groove barrel or five ?

Trigger should not be too floppy, but if the spring that tensions the sear (it has pressure on the trigger sear also) is broken it should also effect the magazine catch as the one spring does both jobs ?

It would explain the floppy trigger & the over travel to a degree as the sear pushes back - has resistance on the trigger .

 

[Rafiki]

@Rafiki
The best replacement trigger for the SMLE is the HUBER CONCEPTS TRIGGER. I have had two of them and fitted them for others. It converts the old crap trigger into a nice single stage trigger that can be adjusted down to two pound. Easy to install.
The only way to fix the over travel is to drill a hole in the rear of the trigger guard and install a fine bolt that you can adjust to suit the amount of over travel.
John Huber the designer of the trigger is a great bloke to deal with and talk to. Google his triggers to find out more
Bob

Thanks, I'll check it out. This is the kind of thing that makes AH such a great site.

 

[Rafiki]

have you had the barreled action out of the stock, if the trigger is "floppy" the spring could be broken. The huber triggers are good if you can find one.
gumpy

The rifle is functionally ok, the spring is not broken.

 

[Rafiki]

Very nice No4 @Rafiki is that a early Bishop stock, I remember they had some fancy stocks for exmilitary rifles back in the day,

It has a Fajen "Aristocrat" stock; Pre-dates when Bishop bought Fajen. I bought that semi-finished in the late 60's for $59. Nice wood.

has it the two groove barrel or five ?

I think 5 but not 100% sure. Shoots really nice.

Trigger should not be too floppy, but if the spring that tensions the sear (it has pressure on the trigger sear also) is broken it should also effect the magazine catch as the one spring does both jobs ?
It would explain the floppy trigger & the over travel to a degree as the sear pushes back - has resistance on the trigger .

The spring is definitely good. there's this looseness, no tension, then a loooong creep 'til I feel the sear; then sear release and looong over-travel. It's always been this way. I assume it can only got together one way and still work.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

have you had the barreled action out of the stock, if the trigger is "floppy" the spring could be broken. The huber triggers are good if you can find one.
gumpy

@Grumpy gumpy
SMLE triggers flop around like a sunny door in a cyclone all the time unless the rifle is cocked.
The easiest way to get a Huber trigger is ring John direct, he's a nice bloke to deal with
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Thanks, I'll check it out. This is the kind of thing that makes AH such a great site.

@Rafiki
Hope this helps. If you are having trouble getting one just rung John direct he is a nice bloke. Very knowledgeable
Bob

 

[Grumpy gumpy]

@Grumpy gumpy
SMLE triggers flop around like a sunny door in a cyclone all the time unless the rifle is cocked.
The easiest way to get a Huber trigger is ring John direct, he's a nice bloke to deal with
Bob

Umm, my smle trigger doesn’t. But with a sample size of one, I cannot say defiantly eithèr way
gumpy

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Umm, my smle trigger doesn’t. But with a sample size of one, I cannot say defiantly eithèr way
gumpy

@Grumpy gumpy
With a sample size of a shit ton I can safely say they do. Just checked mine and it wobbles around a bit until the rifle is cocked.
Bob

 

[Rafiki]

I got sidetracked from the trigger issue, I'll look into some of these suggestions.

There was another issue that has been with it since I put this together in high school shop class, the magazine. I had cut the 10-round flush with the bottom metal and made a non-removable floorplate. Looked nice but I did something wrong so that it didn't feed the last round. Fortunately it was never needed.

Recently I stumbled on an outfit in the UK that focuses on magazines; they had a 5-round one for my No 4 MK 1. The quality is very good.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Where in the UK mate
Bob

I got sidetracked from the trigger issue, I'll look into some of these suggestions.

There was another issue that has been with it since I put this together in high school shop class, the magazine. I had cut the 10-round flush with the bottom metal and made a non-removable floorplate. Looked nice but I did something wrong so that it didn't feed the last round. Fortunately it was never needed.

Recently I stumbled on an outfit in the UK that focuses on magazines; they had a 5-round one for my No 4 MK 1. The quality is very good.

View attachment 612784View attachment 612785

 

[Rafiki]

Where in the UK mate
Bob

RifleMags.co.uk

 

[Josh P]

@Grumpy gumpy
With a sample size of a shit ton I can safely say they do. Just checked mine and it wobbles around a bit until the rifle is cocked.
Bob

Everyone likes to jab Bob for his heart’s soft spot for the 35W, but I like to siphon as much of the combined knowledge of the 303/Enfields he and his father have put together. (Although I do wish he were closer so I could send him a box of 243 for Christmas.)

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

@Josh P
Thanks mate the old three O is a grand cartridge
BUT
Thanks for the kind offer for a Xmas present but you can keep them unless they have been necked up to 35 cal
Bob

Everyone likes to jab Bob for his heart’s soft spot for the 35W, but I like to siphon as much of the combined knowledge of the 303/Enfields he and his father have put together. (Although I do wish he were closer so I could send him a box of 243 for Christmas.)

 

[Josh P]

…you can keep them unless they have been necked up to 35 cal

I had never even seen a 243 till I moved to Indiana. Regionally it’s a popular caliber, but has never appealed to me even when a deal or two presented itself.

 

[Grumpy gumpy]

I prefer a 6-08…….tends to confuse people
Gumpy