Thread: lee speed copy

hey everyone. I'm slowly accumulating bits for a lee-speed type 303. Setting up for 215 grainers close bush stuff
Know of a very affordable rifle vintage 1906ish I think. before the charger bridge.
Needs a trigger guard/mag assembly (don't ask but really bubba'd), but I have one of those. Was out at Gunworks and found a cheap barrelled action that had of all things a bsa cape type express sight. Fixed front sight for 100, two folding leaves for 2-300 and a flip up ladder/elevator for way out. $25 bucks wheeeee.
real happy with that. have to get an honest opinion on what barrel is best but I think the whole rifle's barrel is a little better.
Thinking about a dust guard-any of these around?
also have a spare bolt with the safety on the striker. Been reading they are a bitch to make fit properly? there is no side safety on any of my bits or the rifle so would be nice to have something.
Plus need a mag. Would like to do a shortened fishbelly type but need one to start with.
Some of these bits would probably be better getting in one go from a complete scrap rifle maybe?
Thoughts everyone?
pics to come

The Lee Enfield actions pre- the charger bridge with the old thumb lever safety looks pretty, a bit steampunk, nice lines. Good luck with the project. I recall @Carlsen Highway posted some pics of an old lee speed from his safe in an old exchange.

If you want to shoot 215 grainers get some cast boolits from @shooternz, they may go fine even in a worn barrel.

@Tertle

here is a pic of the sights for the project.
Just for shitz and giggles did the old school trick of trying a round in the muzzle to check for wear. not good.
at best may need some chopped off and it definitely needs a new front sight but suspect its pood.
Still to try the rifle in question but the rifling did look ok from memory. Pics to come form that later
Tried my P14 model E barrel and it comparatively has way more. It still shot like crap the other day.
Got some other projectiles to try for that but still have to get some powder, but that's another thing.

@csmiffy don't trust the bullet down the bore trick, how it shoots in practice trumps that test, definitely with flat based spitzers, but don't give up on it till you tried lead boolits.

Counterboring a couple inches is better than chopping, gives you a well protected crown and you retain your sight radius.

Here is the link to @Carlsen Highway's Lee Speed:

https://www.nzhuntingandshooting.co....95/index4.html

And the images in that posting:

@Cordite yup that's a nice one and a proper one too. Mine will always be a clone and I doubt I will ever get stocks for it as nice as that.
Never had the holes in the side for the safety nor volley sights so never military. It has the same bolt head as the project rifle.
The one with the sights I like are on the donor action so that barrel is only a get out of jail one. I have another I need to clean up that may be alright also if I have to go that way.
I am considering having a crack at a tang safety. I have a destroyed U/O action I could maybe burgle the tang off but it is bent from the destroying so have to think about that one.
Don't have access to the metal working stuff anymore

csmiffy,

Lee Speeds were made on both the Lee Metford and Enfield actions. They were produced in many variants of metal work and stock work. Some quite plain and others ornate, engraved and with fully ribbed barrels. Originally they all seem to have had light forends with long barrels for balance and for a decent sight radius I suspect. I had a H version Lithgow target barrel on mine. Balanced well. These would be about a 3 contour in modern profiles. I reckon you need a bit of steel here particularly if you want less than the std 26”? .303 length.

Something to think about anyway.

@Dicko yeah been reading up a bit on them lately. Much of the same stuff popped up when I was looking at smaller mags and express sights.
Id have to measure the barrel on the rifle itself but doubt its over 26".
I need to get myself a tig welder for some of the fiddly fabricating and welding. Cant see that happening anytime soon.

Originally Posted by csmiffy

@Dicko yeah been reading up a bit on them lately. Much of the same stuff popped up when I was looking at smaller mags and express sights.
Id have to measure the barrel on the rifle itself but doubt its over 26".
I need to get myself a tig welder for some of the fiddly fabricating and welding. Cant see that happening anytime soon.

Lee Enfields are as modular as an AR15, just get an assorted pile of SMLE Lego bricks and start putting it together... As @Dicko rightly says, hardly anyone can see if it's original or not as the Speeds were so variable. (-: Only thing I'll stand by is they are prettier without the charger bridge though I'd never chop a bridge off, you just don't do that...

@Cordite I hear you although things like the tang safety and fish belly mag i'll have to make myself. The rest are just swapsies with maybe some drilling and tapping here and there.
Strangely enough I've seen on a forum where a guy cut a charger bridge off. Its only riveted on there so if its what you had to work with you only have to fill in a couple of holes. Done well you'd never see it.
Mine eventually will just be a useable honest distant cousin to a proper one.

I had a metford long Tom action original with the thumb safety. It had a early Enfield 10 shot mag. Originally probably was a flush 5 shorter though. In my opinion the 5 shot mags do not look right.

Originally Posted by Dicko

I had a metford long Tom action original with the thumb safety. It had a early Enfield 10 shot mag. Originally probably was a flush 5 shorter though. In my opinion the 5 shot mags do not look right.

Agree. Yet I hate to say the 10rd magazine is a pest when you shoot standing unsupported, lean back but then find you'd prefer to slide your supporting hand further back than the protruding mag allows.

not really a fan of the flush type magazine although it does smooth it out. that's why I think I like the fish belly shape.

@csmiffy do you have the woodwork?
I have a butt from a No 1 here, if you want it ?

@Frogfeatures Yup. The rifle itself is only missing the magazine.
Although I will admit the butt has been ahem...customized with some engraving/carving on the side. It certainly wont worry me if I ever get around to a tang safety and I have to inlet it.
How much do you want for it?