Quote:
Carpetsahib:
A technical question about your beautifully reworked SMLE if I may: Did the action squeeze together or open up slightly at the rear when you cut the clip-loading bridge off? I was always cautioned not to remove the bridge in my younger days of zealous 'hack-saw gunsmithing', for fear of the action closing slightly and binding the bolt. Any evidence of this in your case?
Very nice job, BTW. Congratulations. I get a lot of pleasure from seeing the old three-oh getting the attention and respect it so richly deserves! 
Nice Lee Speed from MacNaughton too. Marvellous stuff!
Thanks for those kind words. I really like the Lees and think they are underappreciated. I reworked a No.4 MkI Long Branch along the same lines as the No.1. Neither rifle had any bolt binding issues. A slicked up Lee is a marvelous instrument. And I love the old Westley Richards pattern. I use it for everything, from Mausers to Trapdoor Springfields.
The only problem I have with these rifles is that the Point of Impact varies with the weather. I think the solution may be to bind the forend to the barrel out near the tip with a barrel band or something of that sort. The next one I build will have either a barrel band or cross pin.
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Re: Lee Speed Sporter