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Very Hot Topic (More than 25 Replies) I am thinking seriously of building a rook rifle. (Read 32847 times)
MartiniBelgian
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Scoped rook rifles...
Reply #15 - Oct 28th, 2005 at 6:27am
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Are rather rare - but I do believe the period Parker-Hale catalogues might just have a few more illustrations.  Unfortunately I don't have these...   
The rifle pictured - I quote the owner:
"This was a Special order starting from a BSA Mod 6 Receiver and done by AG Parker, best wood and engraving including on the scope mounts, polished and tuned action, only ran from aprox 1933 till 1941."  Apparently the barrel is relieved on top to mount the scope...
Parker-Hale also scoped the Dewar Target rifle, but they used either a Fecker or something similar - long tube, and long block spacing.   
For a rook, something like a straight-tubed scope at max 4x would be ideal, but eye relief could be a problem though when mounting it as shown.  I'll also check in the Francotte documentation, but I'm afraid there won't be much..
  
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digitall423
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Re: I am thinking seriously of building a rook rif
Reply #16 - Oct 28th, 2005 at 11:34am
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Has anyone thought about milling the sides of a Martini 12 or 12 15 (thick side) to approximate the look of the Winchester 1885 thin side? I have a 12 15 action and can't get that mod out of my mind. Would make it lighter and might just look good too. 
Bill
  
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JDSteele
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Re: I am thinking seriously of building a rook rif
Reply #17 - Oct 28th, 2005 at 12:56pm
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My .02c here.........

I have several low walls and Cadet Martinis in suitable rook chamberings. For best looks I'll go with a low wall every time. For best accuracy & lightest weight I'll chose the Cadet.

I have a Francotte Cadet made for the Victorian Government of Australia prior to their Federation, fitted with a light GM octagon bbl (like Froggie's) in 256 Win Mag. It has a little quarter-rib dovetailed for either the early Kimber/Warne Premier rings or the common 22RF tip-off rings, works well with either. It's currently fitted with a little short 6x Burris straight-tube 1" dia scope that has enough eye relief so that the eyepiece is just forward of the breechblock's rear hinge pin by maybe 1/2" or so. This allows unrestricted removal of the fired case under/behind the scope's eyepiece, and relatively unrestricted access for initial chambering by inserting my index finger under the eyepiece to thrust the cartridge fully into the chamber if needed.

Looks kinda funny with the little short scope but is eminently practical and lightweight. I currently have a 5x Winchester 677 scope at Parsons for refurbishment, will try it on the little Martini when I get it back. I believe the 677 clamp-on type mounts will work on the little quarter-rib just fine even though they're the external-adjustment type.

Am shooting (VBG) for a 5-lb ultimate weight limit. How's that for light? BTW that's not obtainable with a wall, too much steel.
Sounds like a great project, good luck, Joe
  
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MartiniBelgian
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Re: I am thinking seriously of building a rook rif
Reply #18 - Oct 28th, 2005 at 1:49pm
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No need to mill the sides of the thick-side BSA action - the cadet is thinside, as are several other BSA models.  And yes, they can be made into very lightweight rifles...  The Swiss one with set trigger I posted pics of weighs (just a moment, where's the rifle, the scales...) exactly 2.5 kgs - that's just over 5 lbs - but it has a looong barrel, and of course no scope.  Even the issue .310 cadet will come quite close to 5 lbs - of course it looks a bit 'homely'. But I could live with the .310 round.  Inherently accurate, a pleasure to shoot - and also quite different.  After all, in those days it was even used for small deer at ranges up to 300 yds...
  
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marlinguy
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Re: I am thinking seriously of building a rook rif
Reply #19 - Oct 28th, 2005 at 9:04pm
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Here's a suggestion for an original rook rifle cartridge that is both fun, and accurate. The little 230 Morris, which is actually the world's first .22 centerfire. It's base case is the same as the .22 Hornet, but a whole lot shorter. I make mine from Hornet cases, and even with a full load of Unique, it's still extremely mild, and the Low Wall or Martini more than handles it easily.
Here's the little Morris next to a .25-20 WCF for comparison.
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MI-shooter
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Re: I am thinking seriously of building a rook rif
Reply #20 - Oct 29th, 2005 at 9:27am
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Many earlier BSA martini's had thinner reciever shells like the cadet and also stepped sided like Model 6 BSA's. I believe the cadet is 1.0" thick while the Model 12 is 1.2" thick. Charlie Dell wrote an article about the 297/230 long and short several years back in the Journal. If someone wants to know which Journal, I can dig it out of my martini archives. There is also the 297/250 that uses a .250" bore. TJ Liners has proper liners for the 297/250 and Buschenmacher has a reamer. Scoping BSA martini's is a problem, at least to do one gracefully. I have always wondered about milling the top flat of an octagon for rimfire tip off mounts might be the way. Durn it all, now ya got me thinking!

Ed
  
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Dale53
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Re: I am thinking seriously of building a rook rif
Reply #21 - Oct 29th, 2005 at 3:54pm
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I have been a little slow to respond as I am on a trip down south. 

Lots of nice replies and excellent ideas.

I have lots of experience with both calibers (.32 H&R Magnum AND the 25/20 WCF). I have a Marlin 1894 (new Model) in 25/20 and it is quite a performer. It'll shoot in the 10 ring of the Official NRA 50 yard target all day long with a squirrel load, an intermediate load and a high speed load (nearly 2200 fps. I consider that excellent for a cast bullet lever action. I have shot a number of squirrels with the 25/20 and it is just a better caliber for the purpose than my all time favorite caliber, the .22 rimfire.

However, the Froggie got me intriqued in the possibility of using the .32 Mag in a light rifle. 

I just realized that I have a TC Contender Action and wood for a light rifle. That would work just fine with either caliber and I only have the cost of the barrel. H-m-m-m! That has definite possibilites....

Dale53
« Last Edit: Oct 30th, 2005 at 6:00pm by Dale53 »  
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40_Rod
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Re: I am thinking seriously of building a rook rif
Reply #22 - Oct 30th, 2005 at 8:32am
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Dale

I have always thought that a Contender stocked similar to a #7 Remingtom would be a cute rifle. 

40 Rod
  
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MI-shooter
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Re: I am thinking seriously of building a rook rif
Reply #23 - Oct 30th, 2005 at 8:44pm
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Dale53, Since you already have the Marlin in 25-20, you NEED a rifle in 32 H&R. You spoke of the Contender route, DON'T waste your time on a TC brand (Fox Ridge) barrel in 32 H&R. Been there and done that without much success in both 10" and 24". Bore is .308 and chambers were very sloppy. I'd find someone who could make it in the correct bore if you go that route. 

Ed
  
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Green_Frog
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Re: I am thinking seriously of building a rook rif
Reply #24 - Oct 30th, 2005 at 10:00pm
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Dale, if you are going to go the "stretched Contender" route, all you need to do is get a skinny octagon Green Mtn bbl in .312" and have it mono-bloc sleeved into the back end of some random, worn out Contender bbl.  That's a can't miss solution and would be pretty economical as well.  Grin

Froggie

PS  You have an email from me waiting when you get back to your home computer.  Cheesy
  
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Dale53
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Re: I am thinking seriously of building a rook rif
Reply #25 - Oct 31st, 2005 at 11:26am
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Ed and Froggy;
Thank you both for your insight. I will give both suggestions serious consideration. I was thinking of a Bulberry barrel but his web site shows .308 for the bore size. I prefer the "proper" bore size. In fact, when I was shooting hunter pistol, I used a .32 H&R Mag from TC with only fair results. I then bought a JD Jones custom barrel with the correct specs. It shot really well up thru 75 yards but failed at 100 ( I believe because I didn't have the right bullet). I really needed a longer, heavier bullet. I ended up with a .30 Carbine with a 165 gr bullet for GREAT results.

Back to this discussion: my experience with TC barrels paralleled Ed's and Froggy's suggestion just might be the way to go. Anyone got a "throw-away" Contender barrel?

Dale53
  
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Re: I am thinking seriously of building a rook rif
Reply #26 - Oct 31st, 2005 at 6:47pm
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Dale
Lately, I have beed getting good results from 800X and Lyman 311008 (117gr) in the H&R. Velocity in a 6" barrel is around 1100fps, not sure how it does in the Marlin. Load is very accurate when shot out to 50yds with factory sights.
  
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DonH
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Re: I am thinking seriously of building a rook rif
Reply #27 - Oct 31st, 2005 at 8:09pm
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MI-shooter;
    I would appreciate info on the .297/230 article if you find the time. Actually I need it like another hole in my head but it is just enough different to get my attention. Just ask Asst!

Thanks
Don 
  
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Dale53
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Re: I am thinking seriously of building a rook rif
Reply #28 - Nov 1st, 2005 at 4:43pm
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I am currently working with a Cadet. It is original EXCEPT it has been rechambered to .32/20. I just received some bullets (courtesy of MI Rifle) and have my cases now. I will have to figure out how to neck down the .32/20 small enough to use the RCBS Cadet bullets to fit the case neck. Hopefully this will all work out. 

This could be my rook rifle, if it works.

Dale53
  
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MartiniBelgian
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Re: I am thinking seriously of building a rook rif
Reply #29 - Nov 2nd, 2005 at 5:08am
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Dale,

Neck down?  Normally the heel should be a rather tight fit in the unsized case - I seat mine (admittedly in an original .310) just friction tight in fired brass.  Could be you need to play with case length, though in order to get the heeled bullet to chamber.  Enjoy - the original .310 is a real pleasure to shoot, and so is a 32-20, so a hybrid of both should also perform nicely...
  
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