In 2000 I decided “the answer” was to build an offhand  C.F. rifle that would use fixed ammo with this Brux/Ballard being the result.
   A .28 caliber seemed the optimum choice as it would hold up @ 200 yds. with a minimum of felt recoil over the long haul. I chose a Brux bbl. blank cut with a .284 groove diam. & 1:12.6 twist. I wanted to ballistically match H. M. Popes orig. .28 Special cartridge which was based on the .32 Ideal case necked to .28 except I based mine on the modern .357 max. case because of availability of the brass and I calculated it would have the capacity to achieve my goal of 1450 fps with a bullet wieght of 120-130 grns. & maintain exc. case life.
    After receiving the chamber reamer I ordered, I then threaded & chambered the Brux barrel to the Ballard action necking down the .357 max. cases to .28 cal. and assembling some fixed ammo with .28 cal.lead bullets, Ideal(#287221 )required only a home made seating die.
     With ammo assembled with both 120 & 130 bullets over 11.0 to 11.5 grns. of #4227. Then testing commenced and pretty quickly I achieved groups of 1 1/2” @ 100 yds. & 3 1/2” @ 200 yds. I decided that to be acceptable for my offhand ability. I’d like to think if I’d had a fixed ammo offhand rifle in the 1980’s I could have ground out a 100 shot match in a day. Today I can’t even remember the the last time I finished one!
     This rifle was built as a shooter, with the barrel @ 28” it weighs 14 1/2 lbs. w/ a Lyman 5A scope & palm rest. This palm rest rates a special mention, the “ball” being an antique celluloid billiard ball of a gorgeous golden hue that I had to give a man $30 for at a gun show (he wouldn’t take $25). Turned out to be a brilliant buy!

Very nice job on your rifle building and cartridge making skills! Quite impressive and really nicely done. Congratulations!!