1899 Rem-Lee dimensions and questions.

[sojerguy]

Am back from sand-land.

Had a chance to put 5rds thru the Rem-Lee 2 days before departure last October. Dissapointed for sure. Not on paper (14" square) at 75 yds.

Greased it, wrapped it, dissembled the bolt (thank you J.Moore for the pics), and put it away.

Went to a local gunshow the next day and found not 1, but 2!!! Magazines for it. Guy couldn't sell them as he had them marked 6mm Lee-Navy. Now since the one that came with my rifle had been more-than-somewhat battered, I was very happy. I did tell him what they were, but he said 'hell no one else has looked at them in 3 months --- take them'. 2 good looking ones for a total of $140.00 (very cheesy smile). Flew out the next morning...

Am now back, working long hours, in an apartment for another 2 months (tenants on contract in my house), beginning to play with the Rem-Lee (and the Win 1895 7.62 Russies).

Strangely, the bore on the Rem-Lee is tight. A oiled lead slug comes out .302-.303 across the grooves (high points on the slug). A set of plug guages were used on the bore and a .294 almost entered the muzzle, but did enter the chamber end and barely slide 2/3rds of the way down the muzzle. A .293 did slide all the way thru...

Is anyone else measuring their bores? What do you get?

I was worried about a round 'drill hole' in the bottom of the barrel about 1" from the receiver until I noticed one on pic 8 of Jmoore's post about 1899s. Anyone know what that is for?

Also about 2" further up the barrel towards the muzzel is a stylized 'JP' (which is joined together), any clue as to who?

Oh and the nut on the front sling swivel takes a 9/32" wrench (preferably a line wrench), to properly undo it. Liquid wrench does assist.

I've been taking hints from the tome, "Accuriozing the Lee-Enfield" about proper fitting of a similar rifle, and will hopefully soon have some good shooting reports to make. I do plan on shooting paper-patched ammo.

Oh and the rifle is amidst the numbers for the militia (Michigan???) and is still in military trim apparently.

Thanks all,

Sojerguy.

Information

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[jmoore]

If your bore dimensions are correct, the only bullet that would fit reasonably well would be the Hornady 7,35mm Carcano projectile. They run 0.300" dia.
I'll try and check mine soon. But it's bore is terrible. Haven't been able to get the carbine- yet!

The swivel nut wrench combo tool is commonly seen on gunbroker, I think. Apparently there's a blue million of them.

Thanks for the update!

I need to get back to these rifles. Been off on other rifle projects the past few months.

[sojerguy]

A late night perusal of Myszkowski's book brought out the folllowing idea.

As noted above, I had been 'worried' about the 'drilled' hole in the bottom of my barrel until I saw a similar one in jmoore's pictures.

I had wondered what it was. On re-readig one paragraph about the Michigan Nat'l guard 1899 rfiles, on page 59, the following words leapt out, Remington used some surplus Rolling Block barrels that had been tapped ... for the recoil block that was used with the Rolling Block forearm.

Now if the hole I see in the bottom of my barrel is the same as the Rolling block, then a surplus Rolling Block barrel could possibly be fitted to my rifle!

Has anyone else thought of this?

Are my assumptions correct, as to the tpped hole I see and the barrel?

If so, then there's likely to be several carbine and rifle shooters with firearms that can be brought back to life.

Opinions?

Thoughts?

Worries?

Thanks

[jmoore]

Only that I've never seen a Rolling Block with a .30 Army/.30-40 barrel! Lots of weathered 7mms and .43 something or anothers, but no .30s.

Haven't forgotten to look, just gotta get caught up on some other stuff. (It's not real easy to access this rifle right now.)

[sojerguy]

Was wondering about getting a 7mm barrel and having it bored out to 30 and then re-chambered to 30-40.

Thoughts?

[jmoore]

I think the chamber areas aren't too compatible. So just upboring wouldn't work too well. But you may be on to something doable. It it works out, I'll feel bad about not buying the other 1899 rifle that was in the same collection.

[jmoore]

Bore measurement of my example: 0.308"- to 0.309".

Muzzle measurement only, as driving a lead slug through what's left of the bore would give a false "small" reading as the lead would be abraded away!

[sojerguy]

The lead being abraded is what I'm afraid of ...

There may be a re-barreling in my future.

[green]

Exanined a 30-40 Rem Lee M1899 Mil and found a .300" plug Guage would enter the bore but a .301" would not. This rifle has a VG bore but will not shoot as well as a Krag with identical loads.

[sojerguy]

Well just got my first quote in. $550 to profile (and chamber) a Shilen barrel down to a Rem-Lee clone. Polished, but not blued.

Opinions?