Lee Speed
Printed From: Enfield-Rifles.com
Category: Reloading
Forum Name: Reloading .303 British
Forum Description: Enfield-Rifles.com accepts NO responsibility for any loads that may be used by persons reading this forum. USE CAUTION WHEN TRYING ANY NEW LOADS!!! ANY DATA DEEMED UNSAFE WILL BE REMOVED!!!
URL: http://www.enfield-rifles.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=10197
Printed Date: March 26 2026 at 6:03pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.07 - https://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Lee Speed
Posted By: Honkytonk
Subject: Lee Speed
Date Posted: January 03 2020 at 6:50am
| he!!o. I mentioned I may have lost my mind again and am considering purchasing a Lee Speed. As with most Lee's, my knowledge is just enough to realize I don't know much. My questions to members is this; can you shoot "modern" .303 British reloads? If so, would a heavier projectile be better? Lastly. Is the chance of a poor rifle bore greater because of the propellent originally used in these rifles? Thanks! |
Replies:
Posted By: englishman_ca
Date Posted: January 03 2020 at 2:51pm
|
Welcome to the nut house! Just like any rifle, it all depends upon how the rifle was maintained. Corrosive primers are the culprit and poor cleaning habits destroy bores, yes. But I find that with these sporters, the owners generally looked after them, probably due to their no small sum to purchase. But, who knows where they have been in past or recent years. You can find them in a number of calibers, they are nitro proofed, so yes, safe to use with modern commercial ammunition. I have my sights set on one chambered in .375 Flanged Nitro Express. Elephant gun! Like all rifles, there will be a sweet spot for charge and bullet. Part of the fun is hand loading for it to get maximum performance. They can be surprisingly accurate if the bedding is not messed with. ------------- . . Look to your front, mark your target when it comes! |
Posted By: Honkytonk
Date Posted: January 03 2020 at 3:23pm
| Would a .375 Calibre take a way a lot of the meat of the barrel walls? Or did they use a fatter barrel? I know so little about these rifles. |
Posted By: Pukka Bundook
Date Posted: January 04 2020 at 7:36am
|
Honks, The barrels are usually the same thickness as the L-M or Long Lee, so a tad heavier than the No 4 and a good deal thicker than than No 1 Mk 111. Load-wise, most I believe were set up for 215 grain pills.
|
Posted By: Honkytonk
Date Posted: January 04 2020 at 8:07am
| I'm still on the fence about getting a Lee Speed. Not because they aren't cool, but do I need another rifle? My oddessy in getting a No1 MkIII ended too late in the fall to shoot it alot at the range. I have 3 Range Queens that I shoot regularly, plus a No5 and two sporters I like to get limbered up in the fall. I feel one of them would get neglected if I got another. I say that now, but I'm guessing once Stuart sends me pics, that tune will change! |
Posted By: englishman_ca
Date Posted: January 04 2020 at 12:36pm
|
Yes. You need another rifle. ------------- . . Look to your front, mark your target when it comes! |
Posted By: englishman_ca
Date Posted: January 04 2020 at 12:38pm
|
Just one more. ------------- . . Look to your front, mark your target when it comes! |
Posted By: Shamu
Date Posted: January 04 2020 at 3:38pm
|
"Collectors Corner" In St James, MD is into that stuff & they're close by me. They usually seem to have a few of the older Lees in stock. If its any help & you can deal with importing into Canada I'd be glad to be your hands in the store if you get stuck. 17619 Lappans Rd, Ste C, Saint James, MD 21781 tel:301-223-1334" rel="nofollow - 301-223-1334 ------------- Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force) |
Posted By: Honkytonk
Date Posted: January 04 2020 at 5:15pm
| Shamu, that is most gracious! I used to get a huge book published by Gunpartscorp (I believe Numrich bought them) years ago. I ordered many older bits and pieces from them. I live in Canada and receiving parts wasn't an issue. Then for some change in the US political scene, that access dried up. I've tried to order several bits and pieces from Numrich in the last year. Nope. Can't imagine what trying to get a rifle legally shipped over the border would be like. Hopefully in time things may change. Thanks again for the offer. |
Posted By: Shamu
Date Posted: January 04 2020 at 7:25pm
|
Its a dealer-to dealer only thing. But these guys run a web business & do gun-shows so they could probably make it fairly painless. Fair disclosure these are a bit out of my specialty, I'm a SMLE No4/No5 kinda guy. Its an old time shop in the back of the general store!
 ------------- Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force) |
Posted By: Honkytonk
Date Posted: January 05 2020 at 5:30am
| In that case, it would be a pleasure to have you as a proxy! At least we both may learn more about these rifles. Thanks! |
Posted By: shiloh
Date Posted: January 05 2020 at 6:11am
|
If a fire arm is allowed in Canada and one has the appropriate license, for an added fee, there are import brokers who bring firearm across the boarder. I use Aztec armories. They do all the paper work a.nd once cleared its delivered to your door. Easy peezy, but costs. There are lee speeds, long lees and lec's here in Canada, you may find about the same cost here as it would be paying exchange and brokerage. What I've seen lately the price for decent antique LE's is around the $1500-$3000 mark, some cheaper ones but they're usually pretty rough or sported. |
Posted By: shiloh
Date Posted: January 05 2020 at 6:15am
| Theres a couple on gunpost.ca listed. |
Posted By: hoadie
Date Posted: January 05 2020 at 6:16am
|
'''seems to me that if it's classified as an "antique" (ie: over 100 yrs old) it may qualify for "hassel free importation? Gonna hafta look that up again  ------------- Loose wimmen tightened here |
Posted By: Honkytonk
Date Posted: January 05 2020 at 6:20am
| All good info for the Lee Speed project... although that price mentioned made me pucker! |
Posted By: Pukka Bundook
Date Posted: January 05 2020 at 6:56am
|
Somebody call my name?? :-) |
Posted By: shiloh
Date Posted: January 05 2020 at 8:49am
The only hassle free antique class I know of are any and all flintlocks new or antique. All others need licensed exporters unless prohibited for export out of the US or into Canada. Within Canada no pal is required for shotguns and rifles made prior to 1898. Pistols still require a PAL based on classification, because they`re still evil hand guns. Any antique firearm determined to be restricted or prohib, will require appropriate license. That`s the basics for Canada, so a LE made on or before 1898 located within Canada would not require a PAL or registration...., unless Trudeau F*&^% that up as well!!!
|
hoadie wrote:Posted By: Shamu
Date Posted: January 05 2020 at 10:44am
|
Obviously try within Canada first,but if all else fails its another string to the bow. Pukkah factor not excluded  ------------- Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force) |
Posted By: Honkytonk
Date Posted: January 05 2020 at 12:06pm
| I'm not familiar with the Pukka factor. I believe he is a fellow countryman, but other than that... could someone enlighten an old prairieboy? |
Posted By: englishman_ca
Date Posted: January 05 2020 at 1:55pm
|
EEK! Close Shilo, but not quite.
There are exclusions to the 1898 date. With long guns, Calibers below 9mm and repeating rifles dont count as antiques, nor do 12g and a bunch of other specified calibers. So a LE no matter how old, is small bore and repeater. Doesnt count as an antique. Licencing applies. ------------- . . Look to your front, mark your target when it comes! |
Posted By: Honkytonk
Date Posted: January 05 2020 at 2:57pm
| I was born in Pembroke, Ont. when my Dad was stationed in Petawawa until Dad got transferred to Shilo, Mb in '65. I was 5. He passed in '67 while still in the military. We had to move to Brandon, Mb. Since both my Mom and Dad's roots and family were in Alexander, Mb (10 miles west), that helped a lot. Long story short (too late, I know) several months after living on the farm, we moved to Brandon, where I still live. |
Posted By: shiloh
Date Posted: January 05 2020 at 3:00pm
|
Posted By: Shamu
Date Posted: January 05 2020 at 5:35pm
|
"Pukkah factor" is a play on words By Pukkah Bundhook & myself. It refers to "The rusty sheriffs badge" clenching extensively under stress.  ------------- Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force) |
Posted By: A square 10
Date Posted: January 06 2020 at 4:42pm
|
"....Somebody call my name?? :-)......." and here i thought you were just a gig cuddly bunny  |
Posted By: Pukka Bundook
Date Posted: January 07 2020 at 6:24am
|
Shilo, Matchlock, wheellock and as you said above, Flintlock, new long-arms need no licensing in Canada. A-Square, Funny thing is, I Never fancied wearing a bunny costume, and don't think I'd fill it out right if I did! LOL.
|
Posted By: hoadie
Date Posted: January 07 2020 at 7:20am
|
I always thought he was referencing the giant rabbit as well! (Course..a Pukka is nothing like a "continental Giant" in the rabbit class) ------------- Loose wimmen tightened here |
Posted By: Goosic
Date Posted: January 07 2020 at 9:00am
|
Posted By: Shamu
Date Posted: January 07 2020 at 9:10am
I double dog dare you to go to the range in a pink bunny suit!  ------------- Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force) |
Posted By: Pukka Bundook
Date Posted: January 07 2020 at 2:04pm
| I would take you up on it Sham, as I only shoot on my Own range! LOL, but then again, the squirrels might never let me forget it... I don't think I could stand squirrel ridicule... |
Posted By: Honkytonk
Date Posted: January 07 2020 at 2:45pm
| It would be awesome to have an acreage and a nice personal range. My wife would never live in the country! I'm fairly lucky as my range is only 10 minutes away. Since I've retired and go out during the week mostly, I have found the club books different law enforcement agencies for practice, so at that time, the range is closed to members. Luckily it's mostly pistol, so the rifle range section is still open to us... unless the Horsemen or city SWAT are practicing sniping. |
Posted By: Pukka Bundook
Date Posted: January 08 2020 at 8:06am
|
Why do they close it to the public when They are practicing H-T? Do you think you might show them up? :-)
|
Posted By: Honkytonk
Date Posted: January 08 2020 at 8:46am
| I think there are some pretty good marksmen in that group. Funny story. Last summer I forgot to check the on-line calendar for the range and went out. At the rifle range, there was one Horseman there. He told me the rifle range was booked for the day. I had just loaded some Sierra Matchkings and wanted to try them out. He felt sorry for me, and said if I was quick, I could shoot a few. I set up, walked down range and set up my 4" black round bull stapled to an empty Brewhouse Pilsner box (he was impressed!). I was using my sniper clone. I only took three shots, rather quickly. Went and got the target... when I came back to the bench he was over looking at my rifle. He asked to see the target. I got lucky. Slightly less the 2" group with two touching. He laughed and said he really liked the rifle and couldn't see why they spend $$$$$ on custom sniper rifle! Good guy! |