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Shooting & Reloading - Mausers, Big Bores and others >> Lee Speed Forum & Archive

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2152hq
.300 member


Reged: 20/05/12
Posts: 125
Loc: USA
Lee Sporter (kind of) in a 450 caliber. (?)
      #384575 - 29/04/24 11:22 PM

I picked this up at a local GunSHow for $225.
The action is commercial BSA marked. The action and bolt are matching ser#
The bbl has a row of British military inspectors marks underneath the forend wood.
The caliber looks indv hand stamped .450 Exp on the left side

Recv'r ring is Birmingham Nitro Proof marked.
No proof mark on bbl.

BBl is much smaller in dia than normal Enfield or SMLE bbl. No taper from the rev'r and no KnoxForm.

Forend has been glass bedded to fill in the bbl inlet from what was a much heavier contour bbl to take this bbl.

Holes and placement on bbl for what looks like were orig Military type rear vernier rifle sight.
Maybe a bbl from a Martini ?. It has been shortened to approx 26" and no has a Remington adj rear sight and a Williams commercial ramp on the front.

Bore is excl. Chamber visually looks like a slightly tapered case,,no visible 'neck' to it.

Left side of action marked 'Cartridge...then someone filed away what was originally next and stamped
450 H w x.
I'm not sure if the 2 1/8 marking is part of the restamp or was there originally.

No dust cover, no lugs for one on the bolt.
Enfield Safety on striker.

Magazine is a straightline feed and doesn't look to be a bubba put-together. The follower is
nicely made. Brit markings on the magazine spine.

Stock and forend I think are commercial Sporter offerings.
Refinished of course. There are some small stamped markings on both that appear as circles with gear teeth(?) around the outside of the circle and a letter inside the circle.
A same marking appears on one of the trigger or magazine catch parts inside as well.

Butt plate a steel checkered slightly curved plate with a blank shield in the center. Looks well fitted but maybe done aftermarket. The screws are not of gun screw quality. More like hardware store type.
Sling loop eyes front and back..

I have to do a chamber cast to really ID the cartridge.
I thought when buying it maybe a 45-70 caliber. But we will see.

I have a Lee/Speed Sporter butt stock at hand. An orphan stock I picked up at another show a few yrs ago for $50. No one knew what it fit. It'll go nicely on this rifle I think.
The existing FE will do with a refinish, slight reshaping, recheckering, ect..\
I have some Cut-Off plates, so one will occupy the empty spot on the rifle.
Sights,,I have a lot of sights..


Some pics...







Some markings









..and few more..






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DarylS
.700 member


Reged: 10/08/05
Posts: 26546
Loc: Beautiful British Columbia, Ca...
Re: Lee Sporter (kind of) in a 450 caliber. (?) [Re: 2152hq]
      #384582 - 30/04/24 01:11 AM

Now THAT'S interesting. 2 1/8" appears by the stamp to be the case length. .45/70, of course is 2.1" but, should chamber.
Just wondering if the .45/70 case is too small in the base.

You should be able to get the tines of a caliper into the breech well enough to measure it. A .45/70 should have a .500" to .508" chamber base diameter, whereas the .450 Ex. case is .544", but could be as small as .533".

--------------------
Daryl


"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V


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Huvius
.416 member


Reged: 04/11/07
Posts: 3530
Loc: Colorado
Re: Lee Sporter (kind of) in a 450 caliber. (?) [Re: DarylS]
      #384585 - 30/04/24 03:16 AM

What type is the rifling?
If the barrel was from a Martini, it will be Henry rifling. If that is what was done, I could see much of the breech - 2-3” being cut off to thread and chamber for a cartridge such as a 45-70. That would explain the lack of Knox form and the smaller breech diameter of the barrel as well as the lack of proofs.
The nitro stamp is on the action which makes sense for a 303 which it undoubtedly was.
What about the bolt face? Will the extractor fit over a 45-70 rim?
One of these chambered in 45-70 would be pretty fun indeed.

--------------------
He who lives in the past is doomed to enjoy it.


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lancaster
.470 member


Reged: 06/05/08
Posts: 8765
Loc: There's a lighthouse in the mi...
Re: Lee Sporter (kind of) in a 450 caliber. (?) [Re: Huvius]
      #384587 - 30/04/24 05:41 AM

thats a good find, wonder what it will be

--------------------
Norwegian hunter misses moose, shoots man on toilet
.
bringing civilisation to the barbarians


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