I have a No 5.. bolt head appears stripped. the stock has a crack. I wanted to remove it. Former owner did a job on it. Tried a few tricks. Finally found replacement buttstock. This buttstock may still have value to someone so I would prefer not to destroy it.

I also have a No 4. Screw head is fine.. But dang I just don't have the strength to remove the dang thing. With that one, I am debating cutting the stock off and replacing since it has an ugly crack too and those stocks are still plentiful.

Thoughts and recommendations?

Update:

The Number 4 just took a little more leverage. Thanks for tips.


I figured out the issue with the Enfield No 5.

The previous owner had already tried to drill the bolt out. Problem was he didn't have a bit that was big enough. So, I got a larger bit and head came off with easy.

I put a no bolt on but the threads go fairly deep into the receiver. The wood below the bolt head is a bit worn. I am baking the stock now in the sun hoping to sweat out any bad oils. I wondering if I should put some washers in the stock? Leather washer even?

How far can the threads go into the receiver without causing too much interference or would the threads going so deep be a sign that the stock is unsafe?

Tried freezing it?

no. not sure the wife would approve.

I can certainly try if the rifle fits.

EDIT: N4 is in the box now... will check in a couple hours?

I remember taking mine off, I had a giant screwdriver from harbor freight that had a square shank and I put a crescent wrench on it for leverage. Put the muzzle on the ground, preferably something soft like carpet or cardboard and press down on the screwdriver to help keep it from slipping.

Give it a shot in a couple hours, if no joy, leave it in overnight.  What you're hoping is the screw will shrink more than the hole.  If no joy tomorrow, then you'll have to try some penetrating oil, then sweat it back out of the stock later.

get the biggest screw driver you can find preferably with square shank so you cant attach pliers to it. use your body weight as pressure downward and turn with much more torque. If that doesn't work hit the end of the screw driver with a hammer fairly hard. It took a month for me to get a screw out but it did eventually come out.

You'll need a couple of more hands than you were issued.
As suggested above a screw driver with a square shank and a proper sized wrench to add leverage. Your helper takes a hammer and strikes the handle of while you turn.
Shocking like an impact wrench.

Thanks guys. I built a "screw driver" with a socket wrench for leverage. Between freezing and the extra might, I got the No 4 out.

The No 5 might be impossible. The head is really stripped. I wonder if it can be drilled out safely?

Something that hasn't been mentioned yet...

Be sure to remove the forestock before attempting to remove the buttstock.  Many Enfield forestocks are cracked by folks who are attempting to unscrew the buttstock screw without first removing the forestock.

As RogueJSK said, make sure to remove the forestock to prevent damaging it.



Also check to see if the receiver was peened into the indents on the front of the bolt to lock it in place. If so you'll need to remove those punched spots before you'll have any chance of removing the bolt.



You can see the peening cuts in the bolt here:







After that, if the screwdriver slot is too messed up, you'll want to look at getting a stripped bolt socket to grab the outside of the head.





The bolt extractor sockets are best used with a breaker bar, I can't remember what size goes to the stock bolt but when I get home I'll see which one fits a spare bolt I have in the tool box.

wow. Please do. thanks so much for tips, everyone

I dont see any peen marks and it actually appears that the bolt is moving when I twist the stock. Reason I want to remove and maybe replace is that the stock twists a little (loose) in receiver. At first I thought it needed to be tightened but that wasnt possible.

Well, I figured out the issue with the Enfield No 5.

The previous owner had already tried to drill the bolt out. Problem was he didn't have a bit that was big enough. So, I got a larger bit and head came off with easy.

I put a no bolt on but the threads go fairly deep into the receiver. The wood below the bolt head is a bit worn. I am baking the stock now in the sun hoping to sweat out any bad oils. I wondering if I should put some washers in the stock? Leather washer even?

How far can the threads go into the receiver without causing too much interference or would the threads going so deep be a sign that the stock is unsafe?

Do you have a spring washer under the head of your new stock bolt?

If it is missing, that could be part of your problem.

None came out... But also, there doesn't seem to be one on the other Enfield I removed the bolt from. I have an order in to get a couple. However, even with that, there is still quite a bit of protrusion... probably 1/2". Certainly the spring washer isn't that thick?

If you can find a replacement #5 stock and bolts set up you can cut the stock and bolt off and start over. The key is leverage. I traded wood on 2 #4's this evening, and aI have a flat head screw driver for a 3/8" ratchet with a long extension to remove and install the stocks. The idea of a square shank screw driver and vice grips is a good one. The #4 and #5 bolts are not peened like the #1, and there is really not a clearance issue with the bolt. But you can't access the bolt from the receiver side. Drilling out is not a very good solution, so you have very few choices if the bolt head is jacked up. Try Numrich or Springfield Sporters for parts. Good luck.