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

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fallingblock
.224 member

Reged: 16/06/05
Posts: 32
Loc: Western Wisc.

Loads for Lee Speed
#289896 - 06/11/16 03:25 AM

Having finally gotten a 1896 Army & Navy BSA Lee Speed. To say the barrel was copper fouled would be an under statement I don't know if it was cleaned in the last 100 years. Riffling looks good but a bit worn but have shot much worse with reasonable accuracy.

I have a question about what loads to use I do have a good supply of the newer greek ammo which shoots very well in my P14. I also have a good supply of Kynoch 215 gr bullets and lots of brass. Looking for a good place to start for hand loading. My normal load for the 215 gr is 36 hrs of 4895, 4064 or Hy Vel #2.

Any advice?

Cheers,
Laurie

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DarylS
.700 member

Reged: 10/08/05
Posts: 27000
Loc: Beautiful British Columbia, Ca...

Re: Loads for Lee Speed [Re: fallingblock]
#289897 - 06/11/16 04:08 AM

Since most books today cover only what bullets are made by the manufacturer, you may have to look through old loading books. Most "modern" manuals in NAmerica deal with only up to 180gr. in the .303.
My old Lyman books use the normal range of IMR powders of course.

215gr. STARTING loads - 32.0 3031 @ 1,840fps, 35.0 4064 @ 1,698fps, 36.0gr 4895 @ 2,000fps and 37.0gr. 4320 @ 2,008fps.

Your 36.0gr. 4895 and 4064 may be reasonable, but actually seems a bit light, to me, even for an old Lee Speed.

Maximums listed by Lyman are 36.0gr. 3031 @ 2,057fps, 39.0gr. 4064 @ 1,996fps, 40.0gr. 4895 @ 2,217fps and 41.0gr. 4320 @ 2,217fps - all from Lyman #44 (1967)

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

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

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Iowa_303s
.400 member

Reged: 22/03/13
Posts: 1016
Loc: Iowa, USA

Re: Loads for Lee Speed [Re: DarylS]
#289905 - 06/11/16 02:00 PM

Hi Laurie,
I have Woodleigh data for their 215 grain rnsn bullet
Powder: Varget
Starting charge: 36.0 grains
Velocity:2130 fps

Max charge: 39.5 grains
Velocity: 2265 fps

My Lyman 42nd edition (1960) shows the following for 215 grain jacketed softpoint bullet.

IMR 4895
Start: 37 grains
2170 fps
Max: 42.0 grains
2420 fps

IMR 4064
Start: 36.0 grains
2180 fps
Max: 41.0 grains
2430 fps

Hi -Vel
32.0 grains
2000 fps
Max: 37.0 grains
2250 fps

Hope this helps.

--------------------
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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fallingblock
.224 member

Reged: 16/06/05
Posts: 32
Loc: Western Wisc.

Re: Loads for Lee Speed [Re: Iowa_303s]
#289925 - 07/11/16 05:22 PM

Thanks for the information. Having no experience with the Lee speed I just wanted to be on the safe side. I was not sure if they were like the early Schmidt Rubens. I was just checking things out I use the 36 gr loads of in an 1896 Rigby 303 rising bite double with the 215 gr Kynoch bullets. and the Lee speed was also made in 1896 an interesting coincidence.
Cheers,
Laurie

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TexasJohn
.300 member

Reged: 06/04/10
Posts: 167
Loc: Texas

Re: Loads for Lee Speed [Re: fallingblock]
#289929 - 08/11/16 03:01 AM

My Lee likes 33.0 Grains of IMR 3031 with 180 grain Sierra bullets. Shoots very nice groups and dead on with the irons - out as far as I tried them..............

JC

--------------------
John

"In the Texas Oilfield, everything that does not kill me today, gets another chance tomorrow."

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