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

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Clark
.275 member

Reged: 25/11/08
Posts: 84
Loc: Sweden

BSA Lee Speed
#253090 - 03/09/14 02:42 AM

Hello,

I have now received my Lee Speed that I won at the Widforss auction in May. I will post more pictures soon, but I have some questions. It is in excellent shape, probably reblued some time ago though.

- The rifle is marked with "LEE-SPEED PATENTS B.S.A & M.CO", but no number. There is a serial number below the Bolt handle saying "232 S".

- There are no "Nitro Proof" marks, "FOR CORDITE ONLY" or anything else on the barrel, except a few cross marks and possibly a crown with a B under it.

- The barrel is Metford rifled, but in good shape and with no visible rust, looks clean and bright.

So from what I can gather it is a very early one meant to be used for a Blackpowder load as it has never been Nitro Proofed. Can I still use a modern, soft hand load with a 180 grain bullet?

Link to picture: https://d3c67tt2e11gmk.cloudfront.net/uploads/item_136958_4f33b00568.jpg

Thanks!

/L

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Sarg
.400 member

Reged: 20/01/07
Posts: 1365
Loc: Nil

Re: BSA Lee Speed [Re: Clark]
#253097 - 03/09/14 08:13 AM

I'm sure it has been proofed in its life for Nitro loads & modern loads will be Ok .

It sounds like it may have been rebarreled with a take off ex Mill barrel, unusually for it to be Metford rifling but it might be, I think you should have it checked before shooting it if you are not up on the working of the older 303 rifles !

Crosses normally are from sold out of service marks !

Nice rifle to .

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Nailcreek
.300 member

Reged: 13/08/08
Posts: 150
Loc: Saukville, WI, USA

Re: BSA Lee Speed [Re: Sarg]
#253100 - 03/09/14 11:31 AM

Nice rifle ... interesting front and rear sights. The barrel seems to be a Metford or early Lee, per the Knocks form. Please take a lot of pictures and post them! Very nice find!

--------------------
Veni, Vedici, Veggie ... I came, I saw, I had a salad.

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Clark
.275 member

Reged: 25/11/08
Posts: 84
Loc: Sweden

Re: BSA Lee Speed [Re: Nailcreek]
#253109 - 03/09/14 06:57 PM

As promised, pictures:

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Clark
.275 member

Reged: 25/11/08
Posts: 84
Loc: Sweden

Re: BSA Lee Speed [Re: Clark]
#253110 - 03/09/14 07:02 PM

Thanks for the answers!

@Sarg; yes it might been rebarreled, but this rifle which is very similar also have Metford rifling, but it does have proof marks:

http://www.highwoodclassicarms.co.uk/Firerms%20For%20Sale/smlec.htm

I'll let a gunsmith look at it this weekend before shooting it.

@Nailcreek; From what I can see the front and rear sight looks to be standard Lee Speed but I might be wrong?

Cheers,
Lars

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lancaster
.470 member

Reged: 06/05/08
Posts: 9034
Loc: There's a lighthouse in the mi...

Re: BSA Lee Speed [Re: Clark]
#253131 - 04/09/14 04:29 AM

very nice rifle, no doubt

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

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VonGruff
.400 member

Reged: 08/02/09
Posts: 1119
Loc: South Otago, New Zealand.

Re: BSA Lee Speed [Re: lancaster]
#253145 - 04/09/14 08:21 AM

I have nothing technical to add but do appreciate seeing this LS in such good shape.

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

Exodus 20:1-17

Acts 4:10-12

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Nailcreek
.300 member

Reged: 13/08/08
Posts: 150
Loc: Saukville, WI, USA

Re: BSA Lee Speed [Re: VonGruff]
#253149 - 04/09/14 08:47 AM

Great rifle ... please let us know how it shoots! Those are certainly Lee Speed sights - I was wrong!

--------------------
Veni, Vedici, Veggie ... I came, I saw, I had a salad.

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Clark
.275 member

Reged: 25/11/08
Posts: 84
Loc: Sweden

Re: BSA Lee Speed [Re: Nailcreek]
#253163 - 04/09/14 09:31 PM

Thanks!

Except for the butt trap door it is really in excellent shape after ~120 years.

If the gunsmith thinks everything it is OK I'll shoot it this weekend with a very moderate load. If it doesn't blow up I'll post the results here

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Michael
.275 member

Reged: 28/07/05
Posts: 69
Loc: Darwin, Northern Territory

Re: BSA Lee Speed [Re: Clark]
#253168 - 04/09/14 11:15 PM

Love the Lee Speed!!!

Definitely has the right sights and everything looks in very good order as well.

What loads are you looking to run?

Might be interesting to try some 215gr round-nose if you can get your hands on some. The hunting load that made the 303 a legend in Africa.

Thanks for sharing.

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Clark
.275 member

Reged: 25/11/08
Posts: 84
Loc: Sweden

Re: BSA Lee Speed [Re: Michael]
#253176 - 05/09/14 12:37 AM

Then only classic round nose bullets I've been able to find is Speer 180 grains. I will try a minimum load with Norma 204 powder, which is about 42 grains (I only have load data from Norma for the Hornady 174 grain bullet).

I think it is possible to get the Woodleigh 215 grns bullet in Sweden, will try to find it even though 180 grain will be more than enough for what I intend to use it for.

/L

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Clark
.275 member

Reged: 25/11/08
Posts: 84
Loc: Sweden

Re: BSA Lee Speed [Re: Clark]
#253181 - 05/09/14 01:25 AM

Bonus pic, everyone should have a M98, a M-S and a Lee Speed

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Sarg
.400 member

Reged: 20/01/07
Posts: 1365
Loc: Nil

Re: BSA Lee Speed [Re: Clark]
#253200 - 05/09/14 07:47 AM

Great !

Very nice set, yes I have to, many Speeders & a few of the others , (sold my A type how ever

)

That looks like all factory, barrel & sights, only need to check head space & fire away I would say !

If it is very early model it may well have sights regulated for the 215Gr slug .

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Waidmannsheil
.400 member

Reged: 19/04/13
Posts: 2443
Loc: Melbourne Australia

Re: BSA Lee Speed [Re: Clark]
#253204 - 05/09/14 09:25 AM

Quote:

Bonus pic, everyone should have a M98, a M-S and a Lee Speed

Very nice looking trio, however there needs to be a Model 70 Winchester as well to make it complete.

Waidmannsheil.

--------------------
There is nothing wrong with vegetarian food, so long as there is meat with it.

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Igorrock
.400 member

Reged: 01/03/07
Posts: 1649
Loc: Finland

Re: BSA Lee Speed [Re: Waidmannsheil]
#253215 - 05/09/14 02:32 PM

IMO those three rifles are typical british hunters rifles so Winchester Mod 70 do not fit in that category...

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http://promaakari.wordpress.com/

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Claydog
.375 member

Reged: 17/08/12
Posts: 934
Loc: Katherine, Northern Territory ...

Re: BSA Lee Speed [Re: Igorrock]
#253216 - 05/09/14 02:46 PM

I would have to agree. I have the 98, the MS and the Speed and reckon I will get buy without the M70

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Clark
.275 member

Reged: 25/11/08
Posts: 84
Loc: Sweden

Re: BSA Lee Speed [Re: Claydog]
#253247 - 06/09/14 04:15 AM

My gunsmith, mr Nyhuus, was very impressed with the rifle especially the excellent condition, it's like new. The head space was also like new, about 0.08 mm.

We have now slugged a lead bullet through and it measures 0.309", which is good but the bullets I have is Speer 180 which are .311". Is that too much to safely fire? I guess so which means I need to use a normal .30 bullet.

/C

Edited by Clark (06/09/14 04:19 AM)

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Waidmannsheil
.400 member

Reged: 19/04/13
Posts: 2443
Loc: Melbourne Australia

Re: BSA Lee Speed [Re: Clark]
#253248 - 06/09/14 05:44 AM

What I was trying to say is that the Model 70 makes up the final of the four classic commercial hunting rifles that have been used to hunt game all around the world. I wasn't trying to say it was British in any way, just a deservedly famous hunting rifle like the other three. By the way that Lee-Speed is a beauty, I never used to like them much before but they are really starting to grow on me lately. Really nice.

Waidmannsheil.

--------------------
There is nothing wrong with vegetarian food, so long as there is meat with it.

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Sarg
.400 member

Reged: 20/01/07
Posts: 1365
Loc: Nil

Re: BSA Lee Speed [Re: Clark]
#253257 - 06/09/14 10:14 AM

The rifle will be fine with standard .311, just make sure a projectile can be inserted into a case fired in that chamber (use a factory load if you have one) I have fired up to .318-8MM projectiles in a worn barrel !

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tinker
.416 member

Reged: 12/03/05
Posts: 4835
Loc: Nevada

Re: BSA Lee Speed [Re: Sarg]
#253259 - 06/09/14 11:18 AM

Regarding the photo of the muzzle - has that barrel been re-lined, or is that a crafty stepped crown job?

--------------------
--Self-Appointed Colonel, DRSS--

"It IS a dangerous game, and so named for a reason, and you can't play from the keyboard. " --Some Old Texan...

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Huvius
.416 member

Reged: 04/11/07
Posts: 3556
Loc: Colorado

Re: BSA Lee Speed [Re: Waidmannsheil]
#253260 - 06/09/14 11:47 AM

Quote:

What I was trying to say is that the Model 70 makes up the final of the four classic commercial hunting rifles that have been used to hunt game all around the world. I wasn't trying to say it was British in any way, just a deservedly famous hunting rifle like the other three. By the way that Lee-Speed is a beauty, I never used to like them much before but they are really starting to grow on me lately. Really nice.

Waidmannsheil.

You need to shoot one. You will be hooked then for sure!

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

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Huvius
.416 member

Reged: 04/11/07
Posts: 3556
Loc: Colorado

Re: BSA Lee Speed [Re: Sarg]
#253261 - 06/09/14 12:08 PM

Quote:

The rifle will be fine with standard .311, just make sure a projectile can be inserted into a case fired in that chamber (use a factory load if you have one) I have fired up to .318-8MM projectiles in a worn barrel !

I agree, should be just fine.
Just think, probably 95% of buyers of a rifle such as your BSA would just load up any modern 303Brit. ammo they could get and go on their merry way.
Obviously, you are a more educated shooter (you are here on NE after all) so if you are really concerned, I would suggest that you could shoot with a .308" bullet and then measure the ID of your brass and come up with an optimal bullet diameter for which your chamber will allow.
You will probably find that the standard .311" will work out just fine.
Super nice rifle BTW.
Gungadoug pipped me on a Westley retailed Lee Speed just last week which Tinker advertised right here on NE.
Now... I bet Doug will just LOVE that rifle and it will never leave his collection although I have caught him in a weak moment before...

Once you get that Speed running, I bet it will become one of your favorite rifles.

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

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Clark
.275 member

Reged: 25/11/08
Posts: 84
Loc: Sweden

Re: BSA Lee Speed [Re: Huvius]
#253280 - 07/09/14 04:53 AM

Thanks for the help!

I've now shot it and it worked perfectly. I only fired 5 rounds, the first one more or less blindly in case it would blow up

. The other 4 made an quite acceptable group but a bit low, will try it out a bit more when I have more time. It is really great to shoot.

Thanks again!

@tinker, no it hasn't been relined, everything seem to be original.

/L

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