That's the rifle's way of telling a panicky infantryman in the middle of a firefight "You're empty- - - - -feed me!" Military issue Mausers do the same thing. You can grind a taper on the back of the follower if you want the bolt to close on an empty chamber. BTW, it's a "US 1917"- - - - - -P-14 Enfields were chambered in .303 British.
Jerry
