doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion Classic & Custom Single Barreled Sporting Rifles @ doublegunshop.com 380 CF Rook Round

I just bought a martini actioned Rook Rifle in caliber 380 CF. I am told that it is similar to the 38 Colt. Would someone suggest a starting point to get the rifle shooting again?

Start by doing a chamber cast to ensure it's what you think it is. Then once it's confirmed you can decide what cases it needs, and what bullet diameter the chamber cast calls for.

COTW says the .380 Long (centerfire rifle) is interchangeable in most rifles with the .38 Long Colt.

Donnelly says make from 357 Magnum, trim to length, size in .38 Spl die.

But as Vall said, make a chamber cast.

Vol423,
The 380 CF is the 38 Long Colt, it originally was loaded with an outside lubricated ( .375-379") bullet. It was later loaded with an inside lubricated hollow base bullet( hoping the base would expand to fit the barrel) of about .357-.360" diameter. The similar 360 CF was loaded with an inside lubricated bullet, that fit the barrel, without the hollow base. If your rifle has a .375-.379" groove diameter, it is likely the 380CF/38 Long Colt. If it has .357-.360" groove diameter, it is the .360. My cousin has a 380 Martini, but the 148 gr hollow base bullet, won't stabilize in it. I had a bullet mold for .36 Navy conical bullet that had a short rebate on the base, and was lighter than the 380 bullet. We cast a quantity of these bullets, lubed them by rolling in alox, and loaded them in shortened 38 S&W special cases, using an appropriate load of Unique. They shot well, but required careful handling due to the short bullet base and they were a little messy. I think a better remedy would be to order a mold blocks for a bullet similar to one of the old Lyman 38 Colt bullet numbers. It sounds like a fun project, to me.
Mike

Bernie Rowles of Old West Bullet Molds makes heeled molds for the 38 Colt in 125 grain, 150 grain, oversized heel, and mold plus crimping die.

Below is a link to the auction. The barrel is marked 380 CF.

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/797997138