doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion Classic & Custom Single Barreled Sporting Rifles @ doublegunshop.com Finally ready for Tsavo

I have been hunting for a Lee-Speed for some time and finally ran across this one yesterday at a gun show in Sioux Falls SD. It was made by WW Greener on a BSA Lee-Speed. It is quite nice with all the neat attributes including a full rib on the barrel. The best part is the bore and chamber are near mint.

Very nice!

I assume it is in .303 (they also came in 8x50R - for India - and .375” x 2 1/2”)

Yes, 303. Its marked on the left side of barrel in front of receiver: 303 2.22 18.5 tons. Also a number of proof marks

The one I had was in 8x50R. For India makes a lot of sense. Still regret passing it on.

Beautiful rifle. The rib is very classy. Let us know how it shoots!

Larry

Very nice!

Always worth bringing up a thread about Lee-Speed's. However I have another motive.

I am very much in the search to acquire a box of collector's ammo to go with my Speed. I am looking for a Red & Yellow box of Kynoch 303 British cartridges. If there is a chance you could assist please let me know. Thanks.

Like this one?

I will send you a PM.

Here’s an earlier box, the date code 16 L E on the back is for 16th May 1956.

It is not marked as “Non-Rusting” or “Non-Corrosive” although Kynoch ammunition in other calibres pre-dating this often is.

The rounds would have been packed nose to tail separated by a thin paper wrapper.

here https://www.gunbroker.com/Item/1155564242

Thanks, Mike,

31 O S is the code for 31st August 1944.

Evidently Kynoch were still able to fit in some civilian production, no doubt to meet the need to maintain animal control in the Colonies and to harvest venison in Scotland (although the Army was no doubt doing a fair bit with .303” Mark 7 Ball in the Battle Training Areas).

This Eley-Kynoch colour catalogue was a happy find at a Charity Shop.

It think it dates between 1957 and 1963 (surprisingly they were not yet offering .410 Extra Long 3” cartridges).

Intriguing selection of bullet weights for .303 British Sporting cartilages. I anticipated 215, 174 and 150 grains, but not the 210 or 192 grain loadings.

Parabola, it is interesting that Kynoch made special 303 V1 cartridges in addition to the VI ones. Do you suppose they were for taking pot shots at buzz bombs (V1)? I wonder how many years they marked the boxes as V1 instead of VI for the Mark 6? Does that make those boxes collectors' items?

Well spotted!

I hadn’t noticed, but the box with the V1 marking is of fairly recent Kynamco production.

I am sure that David Little, who founded Kynamco after he left Eley-Kynoch, was fully conversant with Latin numbers.

Whoever did the typing (they used self adhesive labels I believe they printed on the premises) probably thought it was V1 for Version 1 instead of VI for 6.

I have mentioned before that I knew an old boy who as a teenage gunner in a Home Guard Anti-Aircraft Battery in 1944 shot down a V1.

The doodlebug plummeted to earth to land just in front of their gun-pit. They made it into the shelter in time, but when they emerged found that the force of the blast had bent the barrel of their 3.7” gun.

I don't think there is any significance in the V1 vs VI marking. Just typing issue as Parabola says. I just received a box yesterday made in 1961 marked: 303" BRITISH (MARK 6z TYPE) CARTRIDGES. They are Metal Covered Solid Bullet 215 GRNs. No reference at all to roman numerals. Along with that box I received another made in 1963 which again all 303" BRITISH CARTRIDGES that are Metal Covered Soft Point Bullets 215 GRNs, with no reference at all to any Mark number.

Damn, Hello, That could wake you up

I wanted to update Mike and Parabola concerning this particular box of Kynoch box of 303's. I bought the box however UPS lose the package in shipping. A real shame since these are quite rare here in the states. The dealer, AmmoGuy, has been first class and refunded my money and I have to say a real gem of a guy. I would definitely recommend dealing with him if you have the occasion to do so.
Well back to search mode.

I will have some 215 grain vintage Kynoch after my next shipment arrives.

Well there is a further update to the saga of the lost UPS box of Kynoch 303 ammo, today it was delivered to my front door. I about fell over. No damage at all in fact looks like it had just shipped yesterday. Where it has been no one is saying of course. Just happy it is here. Called up John at AmmoGuy and he is also happy and repaid now. All is right in the world. (at least with 303 bullets)

There are a lot of variations of Sporting 303, vary hard to come by. Photo coming soon of boxes.

Photo posted for GeorgeGibbs.

These are the six packets I have been able to collect since I started my hunt. I must state out right that it has grown because of the help, generous help I might add, of members here on the forum. Each packet is very special. Of course most are self explanatory but I would like to add a bit about the "red" packet on the bottom row. We believe it is dated 1921 and the headstamp on the cases indicate 1918 Mark VII wartime production from the Kings Norton production plant. Most likely brass left over after the war and sold off to Kynock for commercial uses. (Like Lion hunting in Africa ) Thought that was neat. Then of course the box next to it is the one dated August 1944. It is unopened and I do not intend to open it to read the headstamps.

Cripes well done, you now actually have more than I do as I haven’t been able to replace the ones from my collection !

Hope the Speeder is coming along ?

It just kind of all fell together at the end and a very large part being with your help for which I say Thank you very much!
And a Thank you to Andrian and Mike who helped greatly!

[URL=https://imgbox.com/kNJJvSCy][/URL

Slightly OT, as military and blanks rather than sporting .303”.

I was kindly given this 1944 packet, 10 blanks wrapped nose to tail in a paper wrapper.

I was surprised they were still tying ammunition packets up in string at that late date.

Those are interesting and to stay in such good shape after all these years.

Wow. Looks very suitable.

I have an unusual box of Kynoch .303 also Lynn! Mine is stamped with R1959 on the box which I believe makes it 1959? It reads Streamline bullets and 174 grain.

Interesting in that, unless noted somewhere else on the packet, it just says .303", but what chamber? You would presume British, however???? Most of the others say British. Just an observation. Like I said maybe it is noted elsewhere on the packet.

The picture in Vall’s post is not visible on this side of the pond, but I assume it was similar to this box.

This is Kynoch made ammunition loaded with streamline bullets for Match rifle competition at 900 to 1,000 yards.

Brought in during the 1930’s, discontinued during WW2 it was reintroduced post-war until .303 was supplanted for Match and Target Rifle competition during the late 1960’s and early 1970’s.

The blackened case heads were apparently to indicate that it should only be single loaded as being insufficiently crimped for use in the magazine.

The streamline bullet led to the development of the military.303 Mk. 8z round for long range machine gun fire.

As far as the War Office was concerned “.303” ammunition was just “.303”.

“.303 British” was applied to commercial ammunition to avoid confusion with the .303 Savage round and a few relatively scarce proprietary cartridges.