I was out having fun shooting very reduced loads in my .500 A-Square (P-14 action), this afternoon when I experienced an interesting situation. I palmed the bolt open and bumped the safety lever with the edge of my hand, it swung into a straight up postition, and when I closed the bolt: BLAMMO! Good thing it wasn't a full power load, it would have hurt.

So: is there any way to easily make the safety lever not move so easily? Or am I just going to have to not be so ham-handed?

Any suggestions appreciated

The P14 & P17 safety, if original, is a lever with a detent cam at the axis. Behind the cam is a spring and follower, or detent ball, that snap over the cam lobe as the safety is operated. I can only assume that the safety may have been modified in some way when your rifle was converted, i.e. the spring tension was reduced, the cam was rounded. The words that you used in your question, "convenient", "easy", really don't apply. You'll just have to disassemble the safety and see what is going on.

I would be just as, if not more, concerned with why the rifle slam fired when you closed the bolt. The trigger has issues that need to be addressed.

Trust me, I was not being flippant . I too am concerned, and disappointed with this. But it too is the first time I have ever noticed it, and I have owned this rifle since 1996. I will disassemble the rifle to take a look at it and see why it is doing this.

Thank you for the reply.

With most of these rifles if you put the safety on, and pull the trigger the rifle will have a either a hair trigger or fire when the safety is disengaged.Moral; Never rely on a safety.
Good Luck!

quote:

Originally posted by hawkins:
With most of these rifles if you put the safety on, and pull the trigger the rifle will have a either a hair trigger or fire when the safety is disengaged.Moral; Never rely on a safety.
Good Luck!

Moral; get the trigger and safety in sync!

Taking the safety out of an Enfield takes some doin'. Behind the safety lever is a cover held on by a screw. Remove it. Put the safety in the "on" position. Use a small punch or screw driver to reach in past the safety lever to depress the spring and follower so that you can remove the safety. It's easier to explain it than it is to do it. That spring can be a bear to push in and hold.

So I played with it a little this morning. With the bolt cocked, the safety feels very positive. You can feel the ball and detent, the lever is not very easily moved out of position. This is with the lever in the "fire" and "safe" positions.

With the firing pin down as if the rifle had been fired, and with the bolt open (like you are reloading), the safety lever is a limp noodle. It will pretty easily move out of position.

I will break out my small brass punches, safety glasses, and magnet (for the springs don'tcha know). Let the fun begin!

Sounds like, to me, the spring has worn/broken in the safety. Wolf offers an enfield tune up kit for like 9 bucks.

(doyou have a cock on opn conversion?>_)

so, take the bolt out of the rifle and work the safety ..notice how it feels. Look down in the bolt way as you move the safety back. you'll see a little cam roll up. this engages the cocking piece on the bolt.

Now, WITH AN EMPTY GUN
put the bolt back in and try. you should notice a great deal more resistance when you pull the safety back, as well and the cocking piece moves slightly to the rear. when you roll it forward, it should rengage the trigger sear. THIS IS A CRITICAL ISSUE -- timney triggers, I have seen 2 so far, can be overly lightned and allow for a "slam" fire when the enfield safety is disengaged


WARNING - safety work is not for the amature!!
WARNING - enfield safeties are a PITA to put back together.

replace the safety spring

jeffe