Another very interesting Rook Rifle - a Mini Snider in 360 #5 caliber.

This is another one of my cute little Rooks. Its a scaled-down Snider Action.

I've just started to get ready to shoot it. Surprisingly, I've discovered the cartridges can be made from 38 Long Colt. In fact, it will shoot 38 Long Colt ammo just fine.

The wood is really dark and the nice grain doesn't show up very well in my pics. I'll add better pictures as I get them.

I can find no maker's name on the rifle, unless its Snider itself. There is a small oval that reads; "Snider's Patent" and a couple of arrows through an "S". The bottom of the hook-breach barrel has British proofs, and a "105" which I assume is the British gauge for 360 caliber.

And as usual, your comments are most welcome.

Again, I can't see any pictures.

Yeah, I 2nd that on all recent image posts.

Cheers,

Raimey
rse

I seem to be having no problems with the photos, which is surprising since I am the least competent with computers.
Mike

No problem seeing the photo's and this is the reason I keep looking here to see photo's of these fabulous rifles of yesteryear.
Please keep the photo's coming.

Hello Vall,
Thanks for the reply.

Apparently some see them, and some don't. No problem on my end.




Hello ellenbr,
Thanks for the reply.

Don't know why you can't see pictures. All my computers, and my cell phone, see them.




Hello Der Ami,
Thanks for the reply.

Its a mystery ? ? ?


Hello Nero,Thanks for the reply.

Fortunately the 360 No.5 Rook cartridge is nearly identical to that of the 38 Long Colt cartridge. And that's what I used for reloading for the rifle. About 3 dozen years ago I purchased a 38 cal Hollow Base Heel Bullet swage die from Corbin. With this die I can insert a standard .357 dia lead bullet, pull the handle, and out comes the Hollow Base Heel bullet. This was way back in the day when I was selling custom bullets to those that wanted to reload 38 Long Colt, and 38 S&W.

In this case I wanted a 115 grain bullet, so I started with a Speer 158 grain round nose lead bullet. These bullets are fully coated with a wax type lubricant. I snipped-off about 25 grains with a wire cutter and inserted the shortened bullet into the swage die. When you pull the handle, it squeezes the bullet into shape, and bleeds off excess lead through 3 tiny bleed holes in the die. This insures uniform weight.

And ..... out comes a perfect heel bullet with a hollow base dia. of .357 and a forward dia. of .375 dia. Bullets are loaded over 2.5g of Trail Boss powder.

Pictures below show the process ..... now off to the range.

>>

<<

Above are IMG codes but I can't see them. And I put brackets on the 2nd brace? There's some filter or something on the host end.

Serbus,

Raimey
rse

http://www.buckstix.com/buckpics/mini-snider-1.jpg

http://www.buckstix.com/buckpics/mini-snider-2.jpg

Just the links.....


Serbus,


Raimey
rse

@ jpgbox.com






Serbus,


Raimey
rse

Enough with the photos already.

Range results were OK, but I need to step-up the velocity. I'm very conservative with unknown calibers and I started with 38 S&W data, and I'll work into 38 Long Colt data next.

Also, a couple better pictures (for some of you) of the beautiful figure in the stock.

Buckstix,
Well, that answers the question "how good are your home swaged bullets?". Other members with 360 and 380 Rook rifles should pay attention.
Mike

Today I'm off to test some new loads ...

I went to 150g bullets. They are a little longer, and they shoot a lot better.