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Shooting & Reloading - Mausers, Big Bores and others >> Lee Speed Forum & Archive
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VonGruff
.400 member


Reged: 08/02/09
Posts: 1119
Loc: South Otago, New Zealand.
Re: A 400 Lee Speed. [Re: DarylS]
      #261467 - 02/03/15 09:37 AM

The barrel for the 375-303 turned up so the forestock could be finish inletted and given some shape. Sitting at 150grtit sandpaper finish for now but I do like the balance and swing this one has.





The 405 Winchester reamer to lengthen my chamber from 2.2 out to 2.41 is still a few weeks away so there is a bit of a stall on progress at the moment.

--------------------
Von Gruff.

Exodus 20:1-17

Acts 4:10-12

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VonGruff
.400 member


Reged: 08/02/09
Posts: 1119
Loc: South Otago, New Zealand.
Re: A 400 Lee Speed. [Re: VonGruff]
      #261899 - 08/03/15 12:11 PM

After seeing the trigger guard with the waist ground into it on the recent thread I decided I needed that for my 400 so a short spell on the grinder and with some polishing it looks a bit better to my eye, so I did the same for the one on my 303 as well. Slightly less waist on the 400 but it does take away from the solid square look quite nicely.



I had been having trouble sourcing ebony here in NZ which was partially why the grip cap had simply been walnut but a friend had got onto a small block that will do 3 tips so I decided to remove the walnut grip cap and used the last small piece of ebony I had and cut a grip blank that will replace the present walnut one



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Von Gruff.

Exodus 20:1-17

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VonGruff
.400 member


Reged: 08/02/09
Posts: 1119
Loc: South Otago, New Zealand.
Re: A 400 Lee Speed. [Re: VonGruff]
      #261907 - 08/03/15 02:27 PM

With that in mind I sorted through the router bits and by changing the end bearing to a smaller size and being just a bit careful I was able to sit the router in the vise and by holding the cap with a piece of dowel only had it thrown out of my hand a couple of times but goterdid. Will shave the top down when it is installed.







--------------------
Von Gruff.

Exodus 20:1-17

Acts 4:10-12

Edited by VonGruff (08/03/15 02:39 PM)

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VonGruff
.400 member


Reged: 08/02/09
Posts: 1119
Loc: South Otago, New Zealand.
Re: A 400 Lee Speed. [Re: VonGruff]
      #261916 - 08/03/15 04:39 PM

I was a little concerned about the fingers so for when I do any more of them made a helping tool using a light piece of scrap metal I marked the two holes of my pattern (that I use to pin the cap to the stock with 1/8 in brazing rod) and tapering the end added a pair of pins that would locate on the base of the cap so it could be held securely.



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Von Gruff.

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VonGruff
.400 member


Reged: 08/02/09
Posts: 1119
Loc: South Otago, New Zealand.
Re: A 400 Lee Speed. [Re: VonGruff]
      #261960 - 09/03/15 03:44 PM

I had got the 375-303 finished as far as I am going with it so it can be returned to its home base for sights and blue. The blank didn't have a lot of grain definition but the alkanet oil has bought a subtle tone that has made it rather nice


--------------------
Von Gruff.

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VonGruff
.400 member


Reged: 08/02/09
Posts: 1119
Loc: South Otago, New Zealand.
Re: A 400 Lee Speed. [Re: VonGruff]
      #261961 - 09/03/15 03:45 PM

Having got the new ebony grip cap made for my 400 I had to cut the walnut one off.


It took a little time to file the saw cut back to the stock wood and make it flat for the new cap but once that was done I made new brass dowels and got it epoxied into place.


A trim up of the stock wood with needle files and fine paper had things reconciled again. I had made the new cap a couple of thou smaller so the stockwood could be blended back into the cap dimensions.





Am pleased I decided to change things as I like the contrast of the new cap. The plain caps had been used initially because the original BSA 375x2 1/2 had a grade of finish without a cap but I had wanted to protect the end grain and had done the 400 the same but being able to get the ebony changed my mind before I had gone too far.

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Von Gruff.

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Ash
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Reged: 10/05/11
Posts: 1653
Loc: Australia
Re: A 400 Lee Speed. [Re: VonGruff]
      #264270 - 27/04/15 04:19 PM

Enjoying this! How's it coming along?

--------------------
.

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VonGruff
.400 member


Reged: 08/02/09
Posts: 1119
Loc: South Otago, New Zealand.
Re: A 400 Lee Speed. [Re: Ash]
      #264306 - 28/04/15 07:33 AM

Been progress Ash.
After the grip cap was done I added an ebony tip to the forestock



The trigger guard anchor lugs had the edges radiused as that is the part that the inside of the finger rests on. It has a much better feel this way


The dies and a 405 reamer arrived from the US and a box of 405 win brass (thanks Sarg) so I was able to get that side of the project sorted.
I did the arithmetic and cut the case length back to 2.410 and seated a bullet for an OAL of 3.052



--------------------
Von Gruff.

Exodus 20:1-17

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VonGruff
.400 member


Reged: 08/02/09
Posts: 1119
Loc: South Otago, New Zealand.
Re: A 400 Lee Speed. [Re: VonGruff]
      #264307 - 28/04/15 07:43 AM

With a case at the 2.410 length, it showed the chamber that had been cut for the 405 x 2 1/4 needed attention and because I had to time the barrel to my action this was not a concern. The barrel (being a take-off) had been sleeved to within a 1/16 of a turn to a friends action before the barrel was sent to me so in short order it was timed to mine and removed for the chamber work



Slow and with plenty of cutting fluid (ok, I used ATF)and with many checks for depth and to clear the sludge from the cutting flutes



Finished



Filing in the extractor groove


Breaking the mouth of the chamber



--------------------
Von Gruff.

Exodus 20:1-17

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VonGruff
.400 member


Reged: 08/02/09
Posts: 1119
Loc: South Otago, New Zealand.
Re: A 400 Lee Speed. [Re: VonGruff]
      #264308 - 28/04/15 08:03 AM

The cartridges would not feed from the magazine or hold themselves in it for more than one so that required a little though and a remedy.
A piece from an old vehicle roof rack support made a dandy cartridge follower so I could save to original one unmolested.The follower needed to be narrower at the rear so I made it to exactly the width of the spring. With the turn up at the front and the turn down at the rear it was a perfect fit for the rimmed cartridge
I used some .040 stainless and made up an insert for the mag that would be held down by the spring and shaped the top to make it center feed and after a few trial re-shapes of the feed lips and the spacer folds down the back edge I finally got it to hold and feed






click on this short vid of it feeding. There was one hiccup but I found that I was occasionally running into the feed ramp so I opened the front of the lips a smidgeon to let the nose rise a fraction sooner and it fixed the problem. I didn't take another vid after the fix
[IMG]http://i667.photobucket.com/albums/vv39/VonGruff/405%20Krag%20Enfield/th_Video0001_zpsvtmvhkzm.mp4[/IMG]

--------------------
Von Gruff.

Exodus 20:1-17

Acts 4:10-12

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VonGruff
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Reged: 08/02/09
Posts: 1119
Loc: South Otago, New Zealand.
Re: A 400 Lee Speed. [Re: VonGruff]
      #264309 - 28/04/15 08:43 AM

About this time it was apparent I would need a front sight so A Lee Enfield military sight looked like it would do the job with a little work

The part I couldn't do myself was to open up the inside of the band. I don't have a lathe (or a mill) so it was down to the local garage where he has a small lathe and he opened it up for me.
The locating lug recess's were almost completely removed so there was no visible remainder when I tapped it onto the barrel.
I went and fired a few shots and with the aperture sight at the lowest setting where I wanted it to be, the shots hit 22 1/2 inches low at 50 yds. With a 31in sighting radius, I needed to lower the front sight by .3875 and if I filed the ramp down and cut a new dovetail that would have cut through the hole at the top of the band that was there for locating purposes, and would have dramatically weakened the hold on the divetail. This led me to file the ramp down and split it lengthwise deep enough to take a blade I made from a piece of .125 thick steel. (just a square I cut from a piece of 3x2 box steel) The blades for the LE sights are only .05 thick and my eyes can not see them clearly enough as they fuzz up badly but I have found that the thicker blade is a usable sight and I have split more of these blades and fit them over the thin blades on some of my other open sighted rifles.
The sight was over about .785 from the band to the top of the blade as the LE offering and when I got it "sorted" with the new blade so it would print on aim it was down to .306

I did start with plenty of blade height


This will do


Edited by VonGruff (28/04/15 09:06 AM)

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VonGruff
.400 member


Reged: 08/02/09
Posts: 1119
Loc: South Otago, New Zealand.
Re: A 400 Lee Speed. [Re: VonGruff]
      #264311 - 28/04/15 08:52 AM

So with most things taken car of and a little cold blue splashed around, the stock was the centre of attention for a couple of weeks and after some alkanet/blo and tung oil I think I can just about call it done.





I have only just used a plinking load to date with the 320gn cast bullet over 18gn Blue Dot for about 1450fps to semi regulate the sights but have 3031 set aside to do some serious work-up with as Ql tell me that 2300fps is comfortably attainable



Even the 400gn Woodleigh bullet should get to 2150fps and that is no mean performance, having been recognised as a decent load for --oh about a 100years or so

--------------------
Von Gruff.

Exodus 20:1-17

Acts 4:10-12

Edited by VonGruff (28/04/15 09:08 AM)

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VonGruff
.400 member


Reged: 08/02/09
Posts: 1119
Loc: South Otago, New Zealand.
Re: A 400 Lee Speed. [Re: VonGruff]
      #264313 - 28/04/15 08:56 AM

I think that paired with the 303 I did a while back and recently refinished I have the means to go most places and be reasonably comfortable with what ever might come across my path.



--------------------
Von Gruff.

Exodus 20:1-17

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CHAPUISARMES
.416 member


Reged: 16/01/08
Posts: 2908
Loc: DUBBO, NSW, AUSTRALIA
Re: A 400 Lee Speed. [Re: VonGruff]
      #264314 - 28/04/15 09:04 AM

I have been following your thread and all I can say is your a very talented man Von Gruff, well done



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Bidgee
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Reged: 08/04/15
Posts: 711
Loc: Northern Rivers, NSW
Re: A 400 Lee Speed. [Re: CHAPUISARMES]
      #264315 - 28/04/15 10:48 AM

Dear Von Gruff,

I have followed your thread as well and have thourghly enjoyed the creation of your latest work. Very well done!

Cheers

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VonGruff
.400 member


Reged: 08/02/09
Posts: 1119
Loc: South Otago, New Zealand.
Re: A 400 Lee Speed. [Re: Bidgee]
      #264317 - 28/04/15 11:22 AM

Thanks guys. Just an enthusiastic amateur with needs/wants and more time than money.

--------------------
Von Gruff.

Exodus 20:1-17

Acts 4:10-12

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Iowa_303s
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Reged: 22/03/13
Posts: 1014
Loc: Iowa, USA
Re: A 400 Lee Speed. [Re: VonGruff]
      #264323 - 28/04/15 01:42 PM

Well done Von Gruff!
Love the heavy cast bullets. I can't wait to get my son graduated from college and moved to his first real job so I can get back to my 9.3 cast bullet project.

--------------------
Matt

formerly known as Iowa_303

"Once your reputation is ruined you can live your life quite freely."

"Enkelkinder über alles"

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stug
.275 member


Reged: 20/08/14
Posts: 69
Loc: Canterbury, New Zealand
Re: A 400 Lee Speed. [Re: Iowa_303s]
      #264324 - 28/04/15 02:28 PM

Beautiful work. I never really new about Lee Speeds until I came across this site. I can see one sitting in firearms cabinet one day.

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DarylS
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Reged: 10/08/05
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Re: A 400 Lee Speed. [Re: stug]
      #264340 - 29/04/15 01:03 AM

Nicely done.

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


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

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93x64mm
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Reged: 07/12/11
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Loc: Nth QLD Australia
Re: A 400 Lee Speed. [Re: DarylS]
      #264348 - 29/04/15 06:18 AM

I reckon some deer or goats will be in for a rude shock soon ol' mate
Will be good to see how she goes in the field
As always keep up the good work
cheers
93x64mm

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Sarg
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Re: A 400 Lee Speed. [Re: VonGruff]
      #264351 - 29/04/15 06:41 AM

Two projects in a row used the cases I helped with, I'm honoured !

Glade I could contribute to this project VonGruff & see the action & cases put to good use, funny how you modified the trigger guard & I spend hours rebuilding one of those Lee Speeds that some one had done that to, I wish I had left it now .

Thank you also for doing your magic on my old girls to, just need to get my rebored .375 & .40 barrels from the US & get my others done !

Great work & write up thank you !

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lancaster
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Reged: 06/05/08
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Re: A 400 Lee Speed. [Re: Sarg]
      #264432 - 01/05/15 02:22 PM

very nice rifle in the end, excellent

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

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Pretorius
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Reged: 22/04/15
Posts: 37
Loc: Sweden
Re: A 400 Lee Speed. [Re: lancaster]
      #266791 - 22/06/15 08:50 AM

Yes, very nice indeed, but.....the screws holding the peep sight don't match in the photo, did you fix it? Sorry , I can be a tit about these little things. Perfect work tho, all you need now is a pith helmet and steamer to africa.

Mr P

--------------------
Mr P

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Viking338
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Reged: 11/08/11
Posts: 480
Loc: Queensland Australia
Re: A 400 Lee Speed. [Re: Pretorius]
      #266794 - 22/06/15 10:48 AM

Beautiful work mate, it's a credit to your talent. I have thoroughly enjoyed keeping up with it. Now you can go enjoy!!!

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Old_Glass
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Reged: 17/03/10
Posts: 113
Loc: BC, Canada
Re: A 400 Lee Speed. [Re: Viking338]
      #266809 - 22/06/15 02:57 PM

If ebony is hard to find from suppliers, you can usually pick up some of those grotesque African carved busts etc. at flea markets or "junque" shops. There is often a good chunk of wood left in the heads. Every time I see those things I lament over the fine, rare and slow-growing wood that is wasted in making them.

I'm sure you can learn to chequer too! ;-)

If you want a peep sight, I would consider mounting one on the cocking piece.

The rifles look very nice indeed. A silk purse from a pig's ear.

Edited by Old_Glass (22/06/15 03:00 PM)

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