11.7 x Whatever Dane Rolling Block

[Dale in Louisiana]

I just came into possession of a beautiful example of a Danish Rolling block. I've found ammo, but it comes in two varieties: 11.7x51 and 11.7x56.

I'm thinking either somebody tells me which one I need or I cast the chamber and measure it.

Anybody care to tell me how to do a chamber cast. I have an ingot of metal for this purpose from Rotometals.

thanks in advance
dale in Louisiana

[Piedmont]

Chickenthief knows these backwards and forwards and has posted on them here at least a couple of times. Might try to search for his posts.

[Chicken Thief]

Yeah.

The 56 is ultra rare (under 200 ever made), so not that one!
It's a 51 BUT

Slug your barrel and follow my explanasion.

In the days 5 different production lines were set up and they each had their own proofing tools made by each foreman.
So a GO barrel can be anything from .443"-.463".
No problem with BP and a pure lead slug but when converted to smokeless and jacketed it became a big problem.
A bullet that was in the broad middle was chosen and the chambers that wat tight had a biiiiig leade/throat cut that would size a jacketed bullet down and not raise pressures.

Thus it would appear that most Danes will chamber a 56mm case but in reality the 51mm is the correst one.

I use full length 45-70 brass with the rim trimmed down in mine. Seat long and load 80 grains under a Lee 405-459-HB, that works every time!

[Chicken Thief]

Top rimfire with 60gr of BP
Bottom centerfire

Note the difference in bullet diameter!

[Dale in Louisiana]

Chickenthief-

Thanks, buddy! I slogged around reading your other posts and arrived at the 51mm conclusion. The hammer on my gun is intact. I miked the rear of the chamber and it appears to be thirteen or fourteen thousandths larger than the .45-70 cases I have. I ordered (at great expense) some ammo from Buffalo Arms as well as some .348 Winchester cases to play with to see if I can make my own.

The barrel does appear to be about .462. I have a bunch of 40/1 alloy that I may try to see if this thing will shoot well. The barrel looks great and I am hopeful.

dale in Louisiana

[smkummer]

I might still have contact info from a person who wanted to sell one of these really cheap but the wood was worm eaten really bad. I believe it could be patched with bedding compound. Am I correct in understanding that many of these were rechambered to 45-70 at one time? If so I may buy it.

[Chicken Thief]

I might still have contact info from a person who wanted to sell one of these really cheap but the wood was worm eaten really bad. I believe it could be patched with bedding compound. Am I correct in understanding that many of these were rechambered to 45-70 at one time? If so I may buy it.

Well yes and no!
A 45-70 remaer was passed through so it will chamber the larger 45-70 rim, but the wider/more conical Dane chamber is still there and the cases will swell (sewerly for 45-70 resizing) at firing.

[Chicken Thief]

A modified 45-70 case fired in my Dane on the left (note bulge) and standard 45-70 on the right.
The 45-70 is @ .498" at the widest and my Dane is @ .5095"

[Budbax]

Look at my posts in "Almost 45-70", I, too, had to do a lot of research to figure out this beautiful beast... I was lucky! Mine came with a set of RCBS dies and several types of modified brass (NOT 45-70). Just do a chamber and bore cast, it will help you a GREAT deal!