doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Rook rifle barrel re-lining

Jani, as much as I love the .22 WRM, the conversion from CF to RF can be expensive and vexing, might be especially so in a double rifle. It takes some serious geometry to shape the liner so that the CF firing pin hits the rim of the RF cartridge. I've seen it done, but not in a double. Actually changing the pins from CF to RF is feasible but VERY expensive unless you can do it yourself.

I like the conservative suggestions to handload until you find a reasonably accurate load, or let it alone. Many of the ".36 cal" rook cartridges use heeled bullets and can be made to shoot by using a hollow-based .38 Special wadcutter and black powder.

The one (a "no-name" Martini .360) I messed with worked quite well in spite of a fairly rough bore when I carefully "tempered" the nose and bearing body of the bullets and left the hollow bases soft so they could expand and fill the bore.

Thanks, Mike. You have a PM.

With kind regards,
Jani

Mike A.,
My cousin and I never could get good results with the hollow base bullets in his .380 Martini Rook rifle.We didn't try Black powder,however, which may have made it work.I had a mold for a conical bullet intended for 36 cal cap and ball revolver.The base was rebated enough to use it as a heeled bullet(lubed with Alox).It was satisfactory, but had to be handled carefully.I think Buffalo Arms may have 38 Colt heeled bullets, maybe even a mold.I still think this should be seriously tried first.Re-regulating this double to .22 would be a "trick", even with the little convergence for low recoiling 380 Rook.Again, just my opinion, it's not my rifle.
Mike

Double Rook Rifles are very rare and depending on make it could be quite valuable in its present un-altered state. Here in Britain they are much sought after. They have antique status here if original and hence fetch high prices. Check with Smallbore on this site and he may be in a good position to advise before you alter it.

I have a single .360 Rook Rifle which will take .38 Special brass and I just load for it using .38 Special cases and dies and get good accuracy over moderate distances although it does have a tendency to tumble bullets over longer range.

I bought one that had been converted by lining to .32 S&W Long that has similar ballistics to the original. That makes a good option if you insist on altering it but do remember that double rifles can be absolute pigs to regulate to shoot both barrels to the same point of impact. I would be loath to alter it. Lagopus.....

I haven't actually seen the gun yet so the bores might still be in usable condition which i would greatly prefer over relining. The gun only has BP proof marks but no maker they can find. Overall it sounds like a higher quality English gun with foliate engraving to the locks and action, side lever, tall dolphin hammers and nice thick percussion fences.
what would be a rough price estimate off the information i have given you?

cheers Rhys

Certainly here in the U.K. if it is in good or restorable condition it may be anywhere between �1,000 and �2,000. As I say doubles are rare in Rook Rifles. It sounds as if it was made in the trade and a name never put on. I have a nice single that has no name so it isn't that unusual. Lagopus.....

Rhys95,
I checked the Bufflo Arms website,it turns out they don't have the heeled 38 Colt bullets listed.However they have a mold listed for .380", 135gr heel base bullet, for $139.95.They also have loaded ammo. The 38 short Colt has the heeled bullet, but I suspect the 38 long Colt ammo is loaded with .357-.358" diameter bullets, because it is listed as Cowboy ammo.I believe most SASS 38Colt revolvers actually use .357" barrels.In any case ammo may not be avaliable where you live, but there should be no problem ordering the mold.
Mike

I have been following this thread, and have some interest in it as well. I have the opportunity to pick up a nice rook rifle that has been bore out to .410, like so many others.

Does anyone know if there are gunsmiths in the US that specialize in relining rook rifles to original calibers? I would guess gunsmiths familiar with these obsolete calibers are few and far between.

thanks for that mike, will definitely have a look at those mold's and see if anyone in Aus has any reloading gear.

This has all been very helpful everyone and gives me a bit more to go off when I go for an inspection. fortunately, the Auction only gives each gun a quick look over and do not clean the barrels which makes it possible the bores are in better condition than described. hopefully!
regards Rhys