.30-40 Remington-Lee Outing

[Billinthedesert]

Sir, I have been reading your posts about the Remington Lee Model 1899 on this and other forums and appreciate them very much. It seems I have one of the Michigan National Guard rifles on its way, but it has been sportered. Just wondering if you applied any AcraGlas to your sportered deer rifle to reduce the chance of stock splits, especially at the vulnerable tang.

[butlersrangers]

"Billinthedesert' - Welcome to the KCA Forum! I saw your post this morning on the Gunboards Forum.

It will be interesting to see some photos of your 'sportered' Michigan Remington-Lee, when it arrives!

My sporting stock is so 'beefy', behind the action, I saw no need to reinforce it.

If I had an altered & cut-down Remington-Lee military stock, I would feel no guilt in reinforcing the action area with epoxy-bedding,
cross-pins, or action-screw bushings.

Congrats on your acquisition!

[butlersrangers]

A WW-2 period of use, as Michigan State Police 'drill rifles', (minus bolts & magazines), was not kind to our Remington-Lee rifles!

[Billinthedesert]

I will take your counsel under advisement and probably start with a dab of AcraGlas. While I have some Nosler 220-grain RN jacketed bullets to load, I will also see how the 1899 likes cast bullets.

[butlersrangers]

Nosler bullets and all brands of 220 grain jacketed bullets are expensive.

It's fun and cheaper to experiment with 150 to 180 grain projectiles of various makes.

I keep thinking about trying commercially cast or swagged lead projectiles, for consistency of alloy mix and bullet lube.
The coated and plated offerings look interesting.

Shipping charges on reloading supplies frustrate small purchases, just made for the sake of experimenting to find out if something works well.

[Billinthedesert]

Found these odd BT RN 220-grain Noslers on sale for $30, so thought I would try them. The rifle arrived and I am quite pleased. Barrel was cut to 22 inches and Marbles front and rear sights fitted. Bore is VG or better condition. She weighs 7 pounds, 5 ounces.

[butlersrangers]

Bill - That is a handsome looking Remington-Lee 'sporter'.
It exceeds a lot of the Remington commercial hunting rifles in appearance and versatility.

With its history of being altered from a Michigan N.G. rifle and the Marble's sights, I would vote it in contention for Official Michigan State Rifle!

[butlersrangers]

Bill - Out of curiosity, can you share your Remington-Lee serial number and close up photos of the bolt-head & extractor and magazine feed-lips?
My altered 'sporter' was a military-style R-L, but, just above the serial number range of the 'Michigan Rifles'.

There are extractor and feed-lip changes, that appear to have soon followed the 2,000 rifle Michigan contracts.

The Michigan rifles quickly became unpopular with the Mich. National Guard.
(Circa 1903, State Adjutant-General Annual Reports communicated that officers and Guardsmen were anxiously awaiting Krag rifles).
Some Remington-Lee parts were easily broken, the bayonets had to be 'mated' to specific rifles.
The bolts were not interchangeable between rifles.

Recently, I found a 1916 University of Michigan - "Alumnus" reference to the State equipping student volunteers with Remington-Lee rifles and accouterments.

[waterman]

I thought the concept of interchangeable parts was well established by the time of the Remington-Lee. Even if they were "only National Guard" rifles. Was the fix firmly in place somewhere in Michigan?

[butlersrangers]

Model 1899 Remington-Lee bolts are not interchangeable between rifles, (from my experience).
The State of Michigan had no 'fix', in place.

In 1903-1904, the Congressional "Dick Act" mandated the State National Guard Units be uniformed, trained and armed, on par with Regular U.S. Troops.

Starting around 1902, Michigan armed their N.G. Sergeants, with the initial shipment of Krag-Jorgensen rifles, to expedite training.

During the 1880s and 1890s, the State of Michigan usually had annual National Guard Encampments, in late August, for training, pomp & circumstance, partying and a big mock battle. Most of the rank & file only got to shoot five rounds of live ammo. Marksmanship was bleak.
The skilled 'target shooters', usually Officers, burned through most of the State's ammunition.
Elements of the Annual Encampment were quite the holiday and social frolic!

After the Spanish War, there was a sincere effort at the Federal and State level to make the National Guard (of all states) a well equipped and trained fighting force, that could quickly be brought up to the competence of the Regular Armed Forces.

The State of Michigan Annual Encampment was often held at Island Lake, near Brighton, Michigan.
The three State Regiments would be concentrated and assembled there in late-August, arriving by Interurban Street Car or a combination of Great Lakes Steamer and Trains.
By 1900, the M.N.G. was equipped with the Remington-Lee .30-40 caliber magazine rifle. After a couple of years of use, it became obvious that the R-L was not up to the standards and durability of the Krag.

After 1900, there was an outbreak of water borne illness in the area of Island Lake.

The annual 1901 and 1902 M.N.G. Encampments were moved and held at Manistee, on Lake Michigan.
Photos, taken in 1901 or 1902, at Manistee, show the Michigan N.G. Sergeants armed with Krag rifles and bayonets, while the rank and file members are still bearing Remington-Lee rifles & bayonets.
By 1904, Krag rifles and bayonets were issued to the M.N.G. and the Remington-Lee Rifles were being relegated to 'drill-rifle' status.