As in the rear sight of the Enfield of 1914, the rear sight on the United States Enfield will not be provided to compensate for windage.

Bolt, Chamber and Magazine
The bolt on the United States Enfield will be the same as that of the Enfield of 1914, with a modification of the ejector to handle rimless cartridges. The statement has been made that the Enfield bolt is not as strong as that of the Springfield. As a matter of fact, many experts regard the Enfield bolt as being stronger, since it has practically the same dimensions as the Springfield, has two safety lugs, and is made of nickel steel. Both the Springfield and the Enfield are modified Mausers, but in the United States Enfield the bolt action will be slightly different from that of the Springfield.

In the Springfield the piece is cocked when the bolt is drawn back, the mainspring being entirely compressed by this action. In the United States Enfield, the compression of the mainspring is only begun when the bolt is drawn back; final compression results when the bolt is closing again and the cocking-piece engages with its sear.

The chamber of the United States Enfield will, of course, be bored for the .30 calibre service ammunition. In addition it will be reinforced so that there will be no possible danger from the greater pressure that the Springfield cartridge exerts. It is pointed out that the receiver, as designed for the Enfield of 1914, was only required to resist a pressure of 42,000 pounds, yet, in fact, is strong enough, being also made of nickel steel, to resist the pressure of the Springfield ammunition. To make assurance doubly sure, however, and to forestall any criticism on the part of those not willing to accept the high resistance of the original receiver as a fact, the reinforcement of receiver and barrel was ordered.

The magazine feed in the British Enfield in principle is not greatly different from the Springfield, and the magazine feed of the United States Enfield will follow that of the British arm, with a modified magazine follower to feed the rimless .30-calibre ammunition. The magazine, while provided with safety lock, has no cut-off.

Rifling
The rifling in the United States Enfield will be quite different from that of the Springfield. In the Springfield there are four grooves, one turn in 10 inches, right hand. The United States Enfield will have an equal number of grooves and lands—five each. The rifling will be one turn in 10 inches, left hand. The diameter of the bore will, of course, be .30.