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After following the forum for a few years, I'd like to try my hand at building a Lee Speed facsimile.

I've a couple of SMLEs which have been "bubba'd", so I think they'd work as a baseline. I'd welcome some suggestions or thoughts from the great denizens of the board however :-).

1. I'd like to keep the caliber as issued, 303. Any suggestions on how to tell the condition of the bore? One is was used as a grenade launcher, but the rifling still looks good. The other is a standard 1916 rifle.

2. Can the charger guides be cut/filed off without harming the strength of the receiver?

3. I think the front and rear sights are fit on and then pinned. Can the pins be driven out and the sights pushed forward off the barrel? I'd like to replace the issued sights with express sights.

4. Is anyone making stock wood that might work as a starting point?

5. How were the rifles finished? High gloss blue or something less?

Thoughts? Has anyone done something similar?

Thanks,

Kerry Brunner
Saukville, WI
nailcreek@hotmail.com

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1. The best way to check the condition of the bore is to shoot a few groups with it, you'll soon know if it's any good.

2. The charger guide is shrink riveted on, just carefully drill out the rivets and remove the bridge, you'll probably want to fill the holes ,I'd thread them and make a screw to fit flush with the existing metal or if your any good with a tig welder you could weld them up.

3. yes the original sights on the #1 mk3 were pinned into position , just drift them out in the normal manner, the front sight has a slot milled under it, you'll find it when the sight comes off.

4. Boyds make a stock you could use, they're available for not a lot of money. If you want to use open sights the comb might be a bit high, but that's what belt sanders were invented for.

5. Two words "Rust Blue"

Yep I'm building one in 375 at the moment, so far I have a barrelled action ,next step is a stock from boyds . My barrel is a bit heavier than the original Lee speed barrel but being a 375 I'm inclined to leave it that way to tame the recoil a bit.

cheers
Pete

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