Building a Classic Sporting rifle

My only Lee Speed is a BSA Model 4 sporting rifle. Army & Navy engraving on the dust cover. This was a less expensive rifle and was stocked up with a MLE contoured butt stock. Unfortunately, mine has a replacement butt, an actual MLE unit. It has the classic Lee Speed rear sight - fixed leaf, two flip up leaves and a ladder - and front sight with flip over hood.
Have a couple of boxes of Woodleigh 215gr round nosed bullets. Should really make up some Mk. VI equivalent loads for it.
 
Nice gun

Always wanted a nice Lee speed and Ross sporter pair. All things in time. I was eyeing up that gun at great north but I’m trying to be good and stick to my “plan” for the gun safe

Love the classics but some perfectionist part of me wants the “factory bore” of modern rifles. That’s why this build appeals to me so much maybe?

Would love to see more info on the tang safety
 
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I saw one example of a tang safety when a Lee Speed rifle was dismantled for rebarreling.
There is the top plate. The thumb piece runs in a slot. Below the plate, there is a detent spring which engages a cross pin in the lower tang of the thumb piece. Just like a shotgun safety.
The movement of the thumb piece causes forward and backward movement of a thin rectangular bar, which projects through a hole in the upper part of the web of the butt socket. When the bar is forward, it blocks downward movement of the sear, holding it in engagement with the cocking piece. Withdrawn, the sear is free move when the trigger is pressed.
 
Thanks

Would like to see how Evan makes his work/does his conversion

I wish more bolt guns had tang safeties, such an elegant solution especially in the era of scopes

I can’t imagine how much it would cost to have a gunsmith build a gun like this

Not my favourite look but I think it’s cool how you have the modern technique with the barrel nut and the oldschool case hardening of it
 
conor_90 said:
I was eyeing up that gun at great north but I’m trying to be good and stick to my “plan” for the gun safe
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Saw it, same conundrum.

In the end it looked well priced compared to the work and time Evan’s put in, and admittedly it won’t be to near the same standard. But look forward to seeing how it points / shoots / cycles, have yet to give them appropriate heed. Always rushed past them to the Mausers.
 
If it’s in good shape; and it appears to be I believe the price was right.

The temptation to send it to the Lee enfield smith here in SK and have its headspace set to current standards would have increased the cost for me though…

I have dreams of a safe full of all the “classics” built on commercial versions of military actions from the early 20th century; but being “practical” and other expenses seem to prevail for now
 
I love where this thread is going. If I can convert even one person to the ole classic English built rifles I'll be happy.

Ardent, I'm not going to say I'm jealous of that rifle but I will say that is awesome and I would love to own something like that. The original fish belly mag and that rear sight. I wish I had that for this build. That is a solid example is a Lee speed. I'm glad that's what you are using to see what they are about. Nice man.


And the tang safety. Tiriaq explained it very well. Wow I couldn't have done it I so few words. Thanks.

I'm doing it the same way Tiriaq described as seen in this pic

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Yes. It's a factory engraved BSA dust cover. Then I polished it and had it CCH'ed. Pics of it polished on post 34 post 52 has it CCH'ed but crappy lighting. It looks the same as the receiver.

The rifle is clearly made at Enfield due to it being an LEC but the BSA dust cover looks good and fits as BSA built some very fine sporting rifle.
 
Ardent said:
Saw it, same conundrum.

In the end it looked well priced compared to the work and time Evan’s put in, and admittedly it won’t be to near the same standard. But look forward to seeing how it points / shoots / cycles, have yet to give them appropriate heed. Always rushed past them to the Mausers.
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Be very interested in your/review thoughts. Especially with regards to fit and handling...

R.
 
fingers284 said:
The bolt handle is very "eye appealing" now and Im sure it meets your approval...however if I may have an opinion of the "done" result. "Sporting Rifle" would indicate to me that the rifle is intended to be used in the field, not just a bench rifle. The first thing i noticed is that the knob is super smooth now and the flat spot is sloped back, both would limit the gription of the thumb for bolt retraction and closing, especially with "#### on closing" of the Lee's. the second thing is how tight the bolt head is tucked into and close to the action. Hunting seasons in Canada are mostly cold weather, gloves required operations and I think the tucked in bolt head will be "missable" with gloves in a hurried situation as hunting often is.
Don't take this as anything more than an observation on my part .
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Thinking more about this over a year later, I may get the bolt engraved and actually put a fine checker on the flat of the bolt knob to aid in grip and looks.
 
Rman said:
Be very interested in your/review thoughts. Especially with regards to fit and handling...

R.
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I agree I'm excited to read the thoughts honestly. And he has a solid example so there will be no doubt it was the rifles fault.

Good or bad. I don't get offended and he's an experienced riflemen.
 
Nice the dust cover is a cool touch

I’m glad Ardent bought it; when I went back to great north justifying potentially purchasing it as an “investment” it was gone
 
With respect to the tang safety - excellent illustration of the patent - the part indicated at "m" is flat and rectangular. It passes smoothly, but closely, through the slot in the web of the butt socket. A good fit is needed, along with the cross pin "m" so the sear is positively blocked. If the tip of the bar has vertical wobble, the safety isn't going to be positive. Note that when the safety is pushed forward the sear is blocked; slid back to release. Opposite of a shotgun safety. Pull the safety back - like cocking a hammer - to disengage it.
.303 sporting rifles of the period had the standard sight. Fixed leaf, two folders and the standing ladder. I have seen this same sight on Lee Speeds, single shots and a .303 double rifle. I am sure it was a standard made for the trade. I wonder what the chances are of sights like this turning up in the UK? There must have been a quantity made to a standard pattern by one sight maker. Might be worth emails to British gunshops to see what might be tucked away in parts drawers.
 
Thanks I'm going to look them up and see if I can find one. I have sent one for sale on a complete barrel before for 350 and it sold before I got it.

Right now I have 2 different 3 leaf NEC rear sights, a reproduction 4 leaf Winchester rear sight but none are really what I want
I do want a ladder on the sight. I had though about trimming down a long lee ladder and using that with the 3 leaf. But really I think I'm just going to find one of those "cape" sights

also the barrel will have a full rib and its a very thin profile (LEC profile) so I don't need a base for the sight as I can dove tail it right into the rib but the barrel is 20" long a 3-4" rear sight may be large on the little barrel. ill have to get one in hand before I can decide

the top one on this link would be awesome, i guess they are also called a "tangent sight"
http://www.hallowellco.com/tangent_sight.htm


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the one in the first picture appears messed with also, with the rear ground off. If you take the center sight pictured, solder it to a base, and add a ladder at the front you will be in business. If you want, pm me an email address. I can send pics of mine, it has the correct sight and rib with the correct front sight. also, tang safety.
 
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