| Lee440 |
| (.224 member) |
| 03/05/20 01:15 AM |
Lee-Speed .375 Question
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I have converted a shot out LS from 303 to 375 flanged. Looking at many pictures here, I have not seen a 375 that had the magazine cutoff. Did 375 chambered LS's not come with this?
| rgg_7 |
| (.275 member) |
| 03/05/20 11:18 AM |
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Re: Lee-Speed .375 Question
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I've not seen a 375 Flg'd Lee Speed sporting rifle with a mag cutoff. Were you able to get your mag to feed reliably? Ron (Canada)
| yumastepside |
| (.333 member) |
| 03/05/20 01:00 PM |
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Re: Lee-Speed .375 Question
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It appears the sliding gates were removed for conversion to sporters.
I have just sent you a PDF on the 375's....let me know if it works...
Roger
| Lee440 |
| (.224 member) |
| 04/05/20 12:22 AM |
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Re: Lee-Speed .375 Question
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I am still working on the mag feeding issue. Yuma, I did not receive a PDF? My other 303 LS all have the mag cutout.
| yumastepside |
| (.333 member) |
| 04/05/20 01:16 AM |
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Re: Lee-Speed .375 Question
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Did you get an email from me?
Roger
| Juglansregia |
| (.275 member) |
| 04/05/20 08:59 AM |
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Re: Lee-Speed .375 Question
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I've seen maybe half a dozen in the flesh over the years. Of these not one of them was fitted with a mag cut-off, nor was the RHS receiver rail milled for fitting one.
| Lee440 |
| (.224 member) |
| 04/05/20 01:08 PM |
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Re: Lee-Speed .375 Question
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Roger,I got the email, thanks! Juglens, that is good to know. I will restock this rifle, so by removing the gate, the restocking should cover the slot. Thanks!
| Juglansregia |
| (.275 member) |
| 04/05/20 05:05 PM |
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Re: Lee-Speed .375 Question
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Lee440, I've re-stocked them either way. I think rifles restocked with no cut-off not only look better but are nicer to handle without the cut-off projecting out into space. On a serious hunting rifle I wouldn't want the damn thing potentially interfering with function anyway.
There is no real need to fill the slot if the mag cut-off is removed. As you suggest the wood is simply bought up higher to cover the slot and maintain the one "top deck" line on the RHS action area.
If you keep the cut-off it's not like it can be converted back later on. However, they look like a bucket full of bush oysters when the forend has been inlet for the cut-off, but with the mag cut-off subsequently removed.
It seems to me they ditched the cut-off on most if not all 375's. I'm surprised the sporting 303's got them.
| yumastepside |
| (.333 member) |
| 04/05/20 07:04 PM |
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Re: Lee-Speed .375 Question
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Some extracts from......
...hope this is of some help
Roger
| Hendo |
| (.224 member) |
| 05/05/20 12:48 PM |
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Re: Lee-Speed .375 Question
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I have a .375x2.5 made from a shot out .303 by the late Mr Neil Speed. I acquired it together with a couple of other Lee Speeds from his estate auction. It shoots to the original sights point of aim and is a delight to shoot and very accurate. Whilst it is not an original .375 I am very pleased to be its caretaker, given its history.
You won't be disappointed with with your .375, once you get it going.
The LS original 10 shot .303 magazine that Mr Speed modified can, on occasion, load and feed nicely but I have to position the cartridges perfectly. As my intention was to take it hunting on occasion, this is not very satisfactory so, 18 months ago I ordered and received a single stack magazine from Darryl in South Australia, he is a member on this forum , he also made me a beautiful fish belly mag for another rifle. whilst the single stack loads and feed 4 rounds perfectly, it does not look like a genuine .375 magazine, so I was pleasantly surprised to learn that Darryl has recently modified a no 1 mk 3 mag to look like the real thing,double stack 6 rounds and he has figured out how to modify the tabs so that it feeds properly. so I have ordered one of these from him.
I plan to spend some time on my computer getting to understand things like loading photo's to this forum. once I do, I will post some photo's of all the lee Speeds.
| jc5 |
| (.300 member) |
| 06/05/20 03:28 AM |
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Re: Lee-Speed .375 Question
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The link to the HBSA article that Roger quoted from above is here:
http://www.hbsa-uk.org/knowledge-and-research/journal-summaries/hbsa-journal-volume-4-2009---2018
The article on the .375 Lee can be found in issue Vol. 4, No.10 (2018). The full article is 19 pages. The material is taken from part of the chapter on the .375 that will be part of the upcoming Lee Speed book. Since the article was published, a few more things have been learned on the matter, but they tended to affirm what was surmised. For example, further evidence has confirmed the theory that it was gunmaker C.W. Andrews who introduced the .375 model, though this was in 1905, not 1906 (off by one year!)
Back to the magazines... Hendo, thanks for the info about the magazine reproductions. I'm eager to see you or Darryl share some detailed photos when the .375 mag is done. Any plans to make more? I know several people who would be interested. Congrats on this project.
How about a repro 8x50 Lee Speed magazine? There is a definite need for a few of those among collectors.
| Ausy |
| (.224 member) |
| 07/05/20 04:34 PM |
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Re: Lee-Speed .375 Question
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This is a reply to jc5 question about the 375 Lee reproduction magazines, I am Darryl who Hendo
refers to in his post about the person in South Australia who makes repro magazines, I am afraid
I am hopeless on the computer and as far as sending photos well not at this stage but if some kind person out there who can post photos would like to send me their email address then I can send the photos that way, as far as the magazines go I make them on request I mainly make the fish belly style along with the Lee 375 style but if the magazine is made from a No1 Mk3 host then I can make any shape required as long as I have dimensions and a photo if possible, the way I make the magazines is different than the way Blue Noser described in a previous post I shape the bottom to fit inside the magazine the way they were originally made the only difference is that I Tig weld the bottom instead of silver soldering it on the reason being that the silver solder kills my hot bluing salts.
jc5 I would love to see a picture of a 8x50 magazine if you have one.
cheers
Ausy
| rgg_7 |
| (.275 member) |
| 08/05/20 11:23 AM |
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Re: Lee-Speed .375 Question
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Ausy - what are you using for a follower?
| Ausy |
| (.224 member) |
| 08/05/20 04:14 PM |
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Re: Lee-Speed .375 Question
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I am using the original 'Z'spring and follower you could use the Lee Metford 'C' spring and follower but that would reduce the rounds the mag would hold, the photo of the 375 mag with the movable front tabs in the picture above looks to me like it has a 'C' spring and follower.
Hope this helps
Darryl
| rgg_7 |
| (.275 member) |
| 12/05/20 10:34 AM |
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Re: Lee-Speed .375 Question
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Have Ausy's pictures however I can't post them for some unknown reason. If somebody else wants to try pls PM their email and I'll forward the info. Thanks. Ron (Canada)
| yumastepside |
| (.333 member) |
| 16/05/20 05:05 PM |
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Re: Lee-Speed .375 Question
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After a lot of to and fro emails, we have pics....from rrg7
....enjoy....
Roger
| Ausy |
| (.224 member) |
| 17/05/20 09:58 AM |
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Re: Lee-Speed .375 Question
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Thanks Roger
much appreciated there was a description for each photo but I suppose it got lost but the photos
are self explanatory
cheers
Ausy
| yumastepside |
| (.333 member) |
| 17/05/20 10:38 AM |
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Re: Lee-Speed .375 Question
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.....sorry, pics were all I got....feel free to add comments for each pic...
Roger