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

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Deutsche_Vortrekker
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Reged: 27/04/08
Posts: 449
Loc: From the Kalahari to the USA

Lee Speed handloads for hunting Cal. 303
#180685 - 04/05/11 04:57 AM

Just aquired my first Lee Speed 303 rifle .Would like to use it to hunt with occasionaly and want some input on reloading for it .Thanks for your time!

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darwinmauser
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Posts: 217
Loc: Darwin NT

Re: Lee Speed handloads for hunting Cal. 303 [Re: Deutsche_Vortrekker]
#180792 - 05/05/11 08:16 AM

The loads for a Lee Speed are the same as for any rifle chambered for 303 Brit , Your loads would depend on what components you have available to you so... tell us what powder and projectiles you have or can get a hold of and we can go from there.

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Huvius
.416 member

Reged: 04/11/07
Posts: 3522
Loc: Colorado

Re: Lee Speed handloads for hunting Cal. 303 [Re: darwinmauser]
#180846 - 05/05/11 10:59 PM

Quote:

The loads for a Lee Speed are the same as for any rifle chambered for 303 Brit

Yep, nothing special as far as loading goes.
My Speed has an uncanny ability to shoot anything I have put through it with remarkable accuracy.

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

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Deutsche_Vortrekker
.333 member

Reged: 27/04/08
Posts: 449
Loc: From the Kalahari to the USA

Re: Lee Speed handloads for hunting Cal. 303 [Re: Huvius]
#180883 - 06/05/11 08:04 AM

I have many powders and bullets available to me .I was looking more to duplicate the original hunting bullet weight and velocity of original Lee Speed loadings.Also any other loads that Lee Speed users have found rewarding.

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Sarg
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Reged: 20/01/07
Posts: 1365
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Re: Lee Speed handloads for hunting Cal. 303 [Re: Deutsche_Vortrekker]
#180928 - 06/05/11 06:46 PM

I suppose you mean a load using the 215Gr slug or what ever your express sights were regulated with ?

Be great to see some pic's & hear some details of your rifle D_V !

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Deutsche_Vortrekker
.333 member

Reged: 27/04/08
Posts: 449
Loc: From the Kalahari to the USA

Re: Lee Speed handloads for hunting Cal. 303 [Re: Sarg]
#181028 - 08/05/11 04:44 AM

Any tried and accomplished loads will help .

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CptCurl
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Reged: 01/05/04
Posts: 5269
Loc: Fincastle, Botetourt County, V...

Re: Lee Speed handloads for hunting Cal. 303 [Re: Deutsche_Vortrekker]
#181411 - 12/05/11 09:18 PM

Maybe this will help:

I posted this scan on the thread about my Purdey .303. This old Lyman manual has some of the great classic loads.

Curl

--------------------
RoscoeStephenson.com

YOUR DOUBLE RIFLE IS YOUR BEST FRIEND.

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Deutsche_Vortrekker
.333 member

Reged: 27/04/08
Posts: 449
Loc: From the Kalahari to the USA

Re: Lee Speed handloads for hunting Cal. 303 [Re: CptCurl]
#181412 - 12/05/11 10:00 PM

Thanks ! It looks as 4895 powder works very well in the 180-215 grain loadings.I will attempt to regulate the sights with the larger bullets .The Lee speed is an earlier action with the dust jacket ect. so I am fairly sure the larger bullets will match up .Looks like a trip to the bush in the Land Rover will soon be in order!

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DarylS
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Re: Lee Speed handloads for hunting Cal. 303 [Re: Deutsche_Vortrekker]
#181421 - 13/05/11 01:20 AM

This Lyman #45 Manual also has data on many of the older, obsolete NAmerican rounds.

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

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

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CptCurl
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Reged: 01/05/04
Posts: 5269
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Re: Lee Speed handloads for hunting Cal. 303 [Re: DarylS]
#181445 - 13/05/11 10:39 AM

Daryl,

You are showing your age now. However, you are just off the mark. The scan is from the Lyman 44th Edition, 1967, which was my first loading manual. It still ranks with the best.

Curl

--------------------
RoscoeStephenson.com

YOUR DOUBLE RIFLE IS YOUR BEST FRIEND.

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DarylS
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Re: Lee Speed handloads for hunting Cal. 303 [Re: CptCurl]
#181457 - 13/05/11 12:02 PM

Yes it is - I checked mine as well and #44. When I got the Lyman #44 from my cousin in his estate books, I gave my Lyman #45 (must have been 68 or 69) and in better shape, to my brother - memories - fleeting at best - sometimes.

He still has 1/2 pound of #5 pistol powder that I gave him to load in his .45 Colt, Reminton 1885 HA!

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

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

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Bindi2
.275 member

Reged: 03/03/11
Posts: 80
Loc: WA, Aust

Re: Lee Speed handloads for hunting Cal. 303 [Re: DarylS]
#181479 - 13/05/11 10:02 PM

ADI 2208 known as Varget is the best powder for the 303

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Deutsche_Vortrekker
.333 member

Reged: 27/04/08
Posts: 449
Loc: From the Kalahari to the USA

Re: Lee Speed handloads for hunting Cal. 303 [Re: Bindi2]
#181612 - 15/05/11 01:56 AM

My cape sight also is missing the long range slide bar and tiny set screw on top . Took it to a local gunsmith and showed him some original pictures and he said no problem in making it .The flip up front sight hood is really nice

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Deutsche_Vortrekker
.333 member

Reged: 27/04/08
Posts: 449
Loc: From the Kalahari to the USA

Re: Lee Speed handloads for hunting Cal. 303 [Re: Deutsche_Vortrekker]
#181826 - 17/05/11 11:35 PM

Well it was all for naught.a trip to the range showed me the barrel is totally gone.Everything I tried keyholed and groups were all over the place. No problem!Looks like a reboring project .Any suggestions on the caliber.I am looking at 338/303 .Any suggestions?I would hate to rebarrel as I would lose all the commercial markings on the barrel

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Huvius
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Reged: 04/11/07
Posts: 3522
Loc: Colorado

Re: Lee Speed handloads for hunting Cal. 303 [Re: Deutsche_Vortrekker]
#181844 - 18/05/11 04:17 AM

Just throwing this out...
I know some of the early 303s were Metford rifled but I suspect this was done prior to the advent of the Lee Speed.
I have heared more than one story of a rifle sold with a " worn out bore" which actually has Metford rifling.
Is the rifling visibly worn out?

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

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Deutsche_Vortrekker
.333 member

Reged: 27/04/08
Posts: 449
Loc: From the Kalahari to the USA

Re: Lee Speed handloads for hunting Cal. 303 [Re: Huvius]
#181907 - 18/05/11 10:17 PM

The rifling is almost totally gone from shooting : a .303 /.312 diameter bullet will drop right down the barrel . The rifle was owned by an old Boer and was given to me by his family . It has been immaculately kept but the bore has been shot out . I plan to have it rebored and chambered to 338/303 unless someone has a better idea . I can use my .303 resizing die with a 338 expander ball . I want to retain all the BSA proofs on the barrel . I plan to rechecker the grip as the original is almost totally worn off . Bolt and trigger work well and headspace is still good. Any sugestions greatly apprieciated!

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Sarg
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Re: Lee Speed handloads for hunting Cal. 303 [Re: Deutsche_Vortrekker]
#181913 - 19/05/11 12:24 AM

Here is some thing you could try , I have a old Lee Speed/BSA sporter , the barrel is shot out & bullets tumbled badly at 25yds , I also had a Cape Gun - 303X12Ga SXS , it's barrel was shot/rusted out , I was going to rebore to 9.3X74 or 375 of some kind , any way some one on one of these forums said to try 8mm/318 bullets in that , I got some , but the Cape gun was too buggered all over so I shelved the slugs.

On shooting the Lee Speed & seeing the massive group/pattern of Key holed bullets I remembered the 318 bullets , made sure the were a loss fit in a fired case (so neck can release bullet in chamber when fired) loaded them up and shot this group below !

You will want some thing better no doubt , but you can try this to get the old girl hunting again ?

Cheers !

Oh! Could you share some photos of her please ?

Edited by CptCurl (30/06/11 11:35 AM)

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Huvius
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Posts: 3522
Loc: Colorado

Re: Lee Speed handloads for hunting Cal. 303 [Re: Sarg]
#181920 - 19/05/11 12:51 AM

Wow Sarg! What a difference!
Definitely that is what I would try first - rebores are not cheap you know...

If the rebore route is the only way, I would go with a .375 if there is enough meat in the barrel just to keep it in an originally offered chambering.

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

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Deutsche_Vortrekker
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Re: Lee Speed handloads for hunting Cal. 303 [Re: Huvius]
#181922 - 19/05/11 01:06 AM

.375 ??? Which one ?

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lancaster
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Re: Lee Speed handloads for hunting Cal. 303 [Re: Deutsche_Vortrekker]
#181941 - 19/05/11 03:34 AM

375 NE 2 1/2 flanged

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

Edited by CptCurl (30/06/11 11:35 AM)

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Oldbrit
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Re: Lee Speed handloads for hunting Cal. 303 [Re: Deutsche_Vortrekker]
#181942 - 19/05/11 03:36 AM

Try .375 X 2 1/2" for an authentic calibre in which Lee Speeds were originally chambered. 270 grs at just short of 2,000 fps. You can get cases from Bertram and Horneber. Yes, I know Horneber doesn't list them but he does draw them, just make sure he has them in stock because mine took two years to arrive.

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Deutsche_Vortrekker
.333 member

Reged: 27/04/08
Posts: 449
Loc: From the Kalahari to the USA

Re: Lee Speed handloads for hunting Cal. 303 [Re: Oldbrit]
#181949 - 19/05/11 05:47 AM

Very nice and Vielen Dank! My only question would be fitting that round into the .303 box magazine and also feeding modifications

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lancaster
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Re: Lee Speed handloads for hunting Cal. 303 [Re: Deutsche_Vortrekker]
#182011 - 20/05/11 03:03 AM

something the lee speed experts have to answer. new kynoch ammo is 2 mm to long to fit into the magazin of my Mannlicher so I must handload. Kynoch told me that they use the common oal for this round from old times but there must have been also a special load for Mannlicher rifles then.
because the 375 flanged have the same basic diameter as the 303 service cartridge I understand that it works into the magazin without problems.

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

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Deutsche_Vortrekker
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Reged: 27/04/08
Posts: 449
Loc: From the Kalahari to the USA

Re: Lee Speed handloads for hunting Cal. 303 [Re: lancaster]
#182020 - 20/05/11 06:03 AM

I have an old edition of Cartridges of the world and it lists the OAL of the .375 2-1/2" Flanged Nitro Express at 3.10" and the .303 British round at 3.07" Is this correct?

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Sarg
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Re: Lee Speed handloads for hunting Cal. 303 [Re: Deutsche_Vortrekker]
#182033 - 20/05/11 11:19 AM

I will be making one of mine into a 375 2 1/2 & from what I have seen , the 375 Lee Speeds had a different mag shape ?

8mm was also a Lee Speed Cal , you could try I think 8X57 Rimmed , I was going to try that to , I think that would feed from mag ?

I will be looking into it more .

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