G/Day folks

I have a soft spot for Lee Enfield's. I had a lovely 1943 No1 Mk3 unissued Lithgow that I shot at the range and occasionly hunted with for many years but recently sold it to a mate to help finance this project Rifle. I thought it best not to polute the Lee Speed forum with this thread as I'm not trying to reproduce a Lee Speed - some folks

you know

Things are slowly starting to happen with conversion to 303.35 / 35 Territory. I've been plagued with delays, mostly with Shipping. The cost has been mounting also but I have this covered, should not be any surprises now. This build is adding up to an indecent amount of money to spend on a 1942 Lithgow Sporter. Not concerned as I have wanted a customised Wildcat cartridge SMLE for over 20 years.

I'm quickly learning to halve the delivery time I'm originally told, add 5 then double it for delivery.

I ordered my barrel from a local Aussie company, Total Solution Engineering in early september - it arrived this week.

Recknagel Iron Sights where ordered in early September - they where backordered and dispatched in 3 shipments, received the last of the order this week

Ordered my scope mount in late September, it seems to have been lost in transit. I'd like to thank Richard from Special Interest Arms for despatching another no questions asked. If the US postal and Australian service's do their job it will be here late next week.

I can't afford a decent scope and quick detatch scope rings right now but wanted the scope mount fitted when the rest of the rifle is being done. What I like about the SIA mount is that it's grooved to allow use of Iron sights in the mean while. Plan is to have the Rifle set up for when my ageing eyes no longer allow me to hunt with open sights.

I am using a No1 Mk3 action that I swapped in exchange for some of my custom leatherwork off a mate who was using this bubbered 1942 Lithgow as a knock about scrub rifle. The bore was black, quite amaazing it shot as well as it did.

I've picked up an as new never fitted ATI synthetic stock real cheap that will suffice until I can afford a nicely figured / checkered timber stock along the lines of a Lee Speed.

I have used a set of .358 Winchester dies that have a tapered expander to neck up some Remington brass, they all necked up fine. The cases shortened as expected when I necked them up and I have settled on a trim to length of 55.60mm / 2.188" The OAL 76.90mm / 3.027" I'll mess about with this once I have the finished rifle. As you can see in the photo there's not much shoulder left after necking up but I expect the shoulder to be more defined after fireforming.

I'm pretty disappointed in the quality of the .303 brass on the market, seems very thin. I have 40 once fired Highland .303 cases that I've necked up also - it is quite a deal thicker and seems higher quality. I wish I could buy this Highland unprimed brass locally but it is not available in Australia. I have supplied my Gunsmith with several Remington brass dummy cartridges for him to set up the neck and throat on.

I have supplied the Gunsmith with a set of Lee RGB dies that will be reamed when my chamber is done and the 35 cal fittings from the .358 Win dies will be swapped across. I need to get a neck only sizing die, again I'm thinking a .358 Winchester die could be used with no modification and carefull adjustment

I am using 225grain Sierra Gamekings for the initial load development. I've found some old load data using IMR 3031, 41 gn under a 208 gr cast bullet for 2150fps and have been supplied load data a couple of other fella's I've tracked down that have 303.35's are using. ADI AR2208 seems to be the powder of choice and 42 gr should give me about 2200fps.

I've also researched some .303 220grain bullet loads for cross reference. I'll be backing the Data off a little and looking for safe accurate loads. Not interested in hot rodding.

My Gunsmith tells me I should have it in 8 weeks , so applying my new rule 8 - 4 + 5 = 9 x 2 = 18 so I'll have it March next year. - I hope not, I'll kid myself and say I'll have it mid January 2011.

regards Jacko