Fellas, I know this is a hunt for a unicorn, but have you ever seen a spare or pulled barrel for long-Lee Metford show up with nice sharp rifling? I have a beautiful L-M restocked by our own talented Von Gruff to look like a BSA or Lee Speed sporter, but the bore on the candidate rifle is completely shot out. I can have it rebored to .375 NE 2 1/2 flanged, but would really love to have this rifle in .303. Any thoughts most welcome.

Sounds like a question for Bad Ass Wallace.

after 100 years of corrosive primers and dodgy cleaning habits you will be unlikely to find a L-M barrel that has useable rifling. Can you not get a .311 blank and turn it to the desired profile?

Tony, I haven't seen Bad Ass around much lately. Hope he is OK.
Muzza, was trying to avoid the cost, but that is one solution.

Bill,

There's one on EBay for $29.99 that the description says is in good shape.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lee-En...f:g:U2QAAOSwJ4hY-~Yn

Frank, the Lee Metford barrel is just over 30 inches long -- not that I need that length. I am not sure the profile of a Short Lee barrel would match the L-M. Wouldn't that be ironic if it did, as I recently sold a new South African SMLE barrel still in the wax.

IIRC the SMLE barrel is rather lighter in profile than that of the long LE and LM, and the heavy barrel (stamped H on the Nock's form) used on SMLEs here in Oz for target shooting and on sniper variants was based on that heavier profile cut back to 25".