If any Lee doesn't shoot, the very first thing you do is check The Damned Crack (right at the rear end of the fore-end where it butts against the butt socket). The "Dreaded Ishy Screw" happens to be a factory pre-repair for The Damned Crack.
NEXT thing you do is check that the action and chamber are bedded properly. Should be tight.
Number 4 and Number 5 barrels were supposed to float, more or less, but sometimes they wanted a bit of help. With a Number 4, a 1-inch pressure point at the very front of the forestock works medium-sized miracles. For a Number 5 (Carbine), I would suggest measuring a little forward of HALFWAY between the chamber and the muzzle, and installing a removable pressurepoint there, one you can increase/descrease/move around. Give that a try.
Really nice group that one rifle shot (group in picture). Bean bags can really help, same as wheat bags: lighter than sand, just as steady.
Number 5s are famous for the "Wandering Zero", supposedly caused by either the ligtening cuts in the frame, or by the kiln-dried wartime wood. Some rifles have it, some do not, which doesn't make sense. I am beginning to think that there is more wandering zero out there than can be traced to the rifles!
Your Number 4 buttstock is Canadian Maple, the rest of your wood is quite nice Black Walnut. It looks like this when it's been cleaned down.
It's a "project gun" in many ways, but it sure will be a nice one, once you get the wood done and the fouling out of the barrel. When you're loading for it, try Hornady bullets: they make them to .312", which the British discovered ('way back about 1910) was the most accurate size to make 'em; anything else is not as accurate.
Most important point of all: have fun!
NEXT thing you do is check that the action and chamber are bedded properly. Should be tight.
Number 4 and Number 5 barrels were supposed to float, more or less, but sometimes they wanted a bit of help. With a Number 4, a 1-inch pressure point at the very front of the forestock works medium-sized miracles. For a Number 5 (Carbine), I would suggest measuring a little forward of HALFWAY between the chamber and the muzzle, and installing a removable pressurepoint there, one you can increase/descrease/move around. Give that a try.
Really nice group that one rifle shot (group in picture). Bean bags can really help, same as wheat bags: lighter than sand, just as steady.
Number 5s are famous for the "Wandering Zero", supposedly caused by either the ligtening cuts in the frame, or by the kiln-dried wartime wood. Some rifles have it, some do not, which doesn't make sense. I am beginning to think that there is more wandering zero out there than can be traced to the rifles!
Your Number 4 buttstock is Canadian Maple, the rest of your wood is quite nice Black Walnut. It looks like this when it's been cleaned down.
It's a "project gun" in many ways, but it sure will be a nice one, once you get the wood done and the fouling out of the barrel. When you're loading for it, try Hornady bullets: they make them to .312", which the British discovered ('way back about 1910) was the most accurate size to make 'em; anything else is not as accurate.
Most important point of all: have fun!
