Last time I shot and cleaned my Enfield, I did something to the bolt and now I can't close it. It used to function perfectly, but now when I try to close the bolt, the striker in the bolt seems like it is being pushed way too far back. When I try to push down on the bolt handle and let go, the bolt handle rotates back up under the increased pressure of the cocker spring.

I won't have access to the gun until next weekend, so I can't try anything different right now. I can't remember if I tried pulling back on the trigger when reinstalling the bolt. Anyway, any help would be appreciated.

Did you rotate the bolt head back into place when re-installing the bolt?. Did you screw it in completely upon re-assembling the bolt?

Here is a link that may help. Jim
http://www.surplusrifle.com/no4/boltdisassembly/index.asp

Did you rotate the bolt head back into place when re-installing the bolt?. Did you screw it in completely upon re-assembling the bolt?

Here is a link that may help. Jim
http://www.surplusrifle.com/no4/boltdisassembly/index.asp

I've never actually unscrewed the bolt head. When reinserting the bolt, the bolt head is lined up with the bolt body, then I rotate it down and into the slot before pushing the bolt closed. But the striker is already extended before I try to close the bolt and doing so makes it stick even farther back from the bolt body. It's like the striker is already cocked, and is catching on the trigger release and being pushed beyond normal range. Like I said, maybe I should try pulling the trigger when inserting the bolt. I can't remember if I've already tried that, but I usually do depress the trigger when rotating the bolt, so the gun won't be cocked during storage.

The cocking piece should be fully forward until you close the bolt. It sounds like it is turned and is catching on the receiver instead of enterring its slot as it should. It the safety ON?? It must be off to install the bolt.

The answer is extremely simple.

Detail strip and reassemble per the manual.

You DO have a manual for your rifle, right?

gvi

The answer is extremely simple.

Detail strip and reassemble per the manual.

You DO have a manual for your rifle, right?

gvi

A manual... what's that? I ain't got no manual. I don't need no stink'n manual. Just kidding. I've got the Radocy takedown guides for all my guns and I had even downloaded the more detailed Enfield take down guide from the internet.

I was able to fix my problem this weekend thanks to Shooters Forum. I feel so foolish. The bolt head was not screwed all the way in and wasn't allowing the bolt to go forward enough to fully seat. I didn't think that was the problem because I had never disassembled the bolt, and I guess that the head had accidentally rotated one full turn clockwise last time I had the bolt out without my noticing it. I must admit that it has been almost 6 years since I'd last shot the rifle. It's just been sitting in the back of my safe, with a bolt that wouldn't close. One day when I was surfing this site, I said... Hey... these guys can help me figure out what the problem is with my Enfield. Sure enough, y'all did. Thanks.

Now my functioning Enfield is back in the back of the safe where it'll stay. My 98Ks are much better guns and much simpler to work on.

Mike, I did it myself once! :)