Krag Collectors Association Forum

I have been working on my 'new' Remington-Lee, trying to improve the appearance of its 'left profile'.

The scope side-mount was actually only being held on by two stripped screws and glue. One screw was broken and held on by friction. Another screw was stripped and free to spin like a loose rivet.
I removed the broken screw and the 'rivet' and cleaned all the threaded receiver holes. I obtained 4 gun-screws with proper fitting threads. I beveled the bottom of the screw heads and filed the screws to proper length.

The four mount holes, drilled into the receiver are not in a straight line. I made a couple of the mount-base holes into an 'oval' shape so that the screws could properly enter their drilled & tapped holes.

The scope-mount & base are now solid. The posted photo shows the side of the rifle before I repaired the problems with the mount.

After studying the stock area that was cut away for a receiver sight, I concluded this 'after-market' sporter once wore a Lyman model #33-RL sight, that was specifically shaped for the Remington-Lee receiver.
This is a very rare and expensive sight. It is not as common as a similar Lyman #33 sight that was made for the Krag.

Since it is unlikely, I will get a Lyman #33-RL sight, I am going to patch the sight mortise with a piece of walnut.

I took the aluminum butt-plate off looking for clues to date the stock work. Does anyone recognize the maker's initials?

Now I feel like this 'sporter' is ready for the Range, when there is a break in the weather.

The scope-mount is firmly anchored. I have shaped and glued a walnut 'patch' in the stock mortise for a receiver-sight.
(If I ever run into a bargain on a Lyman #33 RL sight, I will remove the stock patch).

I slugged the bore and found the Remington rifling quite interesting. There are 7 lands & grooves. The lands are rounded with no sharp corners.
The bore is in very good condition with no constriction and a very consistent diameter from muzzle to breech. My maximum bore diameter readings averaged .3115".
By carefully measuring the slug, from land to opposite groove, gave measures of .308"
(I wonder if Remington used the same rifle boring on model 1899 rifles that were cataloged as being chambered for 7.65 mm Mauser and .303 British)?

The barrel seems to have 'gain twist' rifling. In measuring, the twist-rate went from one-turn in 11 & 1/4 inches to one-turn in 10 & 3/8 inches.
(Approximately 4 inches has been cut-off from this rifle's original military barrel length).

It will be interesting to see how this barrel's rifling performs with .308" diameter jacketed projectiles. The barrel is Remington factory marked "30 U.S.A.".

nice rifle!!!!!