577 Snider

[seawolfjack]

Was just down to one of the local gun shops and was talking to the propreitor about whats been going on and was telling them obout my snider. They happen to have one on consignment so I asked to see it. It was a Tower short rifle really banged up wood, one barrel band missing, the rear sight latter all bent. So I thought to myself maybe I can pick this up cheap and have as a project gun. I asked what the guy wanted and I was quoted $500.00. I asked again cause I thought I didn't hear right, but I did. $500.00 for that was crazy I said, Told them I'd sell them mine then for $1000.00. I guess people think that just cause a gun is old it's worth a lot of money. Have Fun

[Buckshot]

...............I got this one for free from a member here. Bought knocked my socks off as he said he had some Snider 'parts'. Parts enough to make a complete carbine except it was missing the hammer screw :-)

http://www.fototime.com/35572699B1D8361/standard.jpg

I did have to do some work on it, as the muzzle was a bit iffy and that was fun as the bore ran 0.015" off axis of the barrel OD! I did it though! It's a MkII**. It's a cut down rifle. First time I shot it I could only hit the ground, but it was so much fun, who cares! Got a Lee .600" dia RB mould for it but haven't had a chance to cast any up yet.

http://www.fototime.com/1A15641CDD2AC93/standard.jpg

Everything is nice and tight. I have a 3 band also. Got it form a company in Canada (not Marstar, but another) and it's not too bad. Lock and action is great. Woods been sanded and the bands don't match but it's all there and the barrel is good with a couple minor scabby spots in the barrel.

http://www.fototime.com/A473EABF318E515/standard.jpghttp://www.fototime.com/AEE4D33199214C0/standard.jpg

These sure come in handy!

................Buckshot

[seawolfjack]

Nice looking gun there Buckshot, I paid $20 for the one I have, and I'm having a blast with it. Are those dies from Coyoate or a group buy? What was the cost for them? I'll see if I can take some pics of my Snider and my Zulu. Have Fun

[copilot001]

He He He
sniders are a chalenge to shoot acurately and consistantly...I havn,t done it yet.
The Lee dies are now available just about anywhere for around a hundred bucks.and while they say .577 is the caliber .585 to .590 is what should be used in the snider.
By the way I,m anew guy...still lurking more than posting :coffee:

[seawolfjack]

yea copolit I'm nem also, and I'm enjoying this site quite a bit. Been to therange 2 or 3 times so far with my Snider and I'm having a blast with it. Maybe I'll get it figured out be for I die maybe not and thats OK to. Gonna have fun for whatever time is left to me. If it doesn't make me smile I don't do it.
Have fun

[Baron von Trollwhack]

I had a Snider Mark II** carbine for quite a few years and shot it a fair amount. The bore on mine was .595 so I paper patched minnie balls and they shot about ten minutes of angle at 100 yds. 40 to 50 grains 2F, tp wadding, ball seated fairly deep in the case, with plenty of lube on the patch. Great fun all the way!

[dromia]

Now I do love the Snider, although it can be a tad frustrating.

With my 5 groove 2 band I get 4" groups with nine out of ten shots at 100yrds but there always one that opens it up to 6-7", its always just the one shot that does it. It can be the first or the last and all shots inbetween. :twisted:

I'm using the RCBS .577" Minie with a clay plug and a PP Pritchet bullet at .590".

My three band three groove does 6-8" at 100yrds consistently with the same bullets, puzzles me how the different diameter bullets perform the same. I suppose that the Minie is setting up well.

Waiting for some of the .590" moulds to come through to try them.

You feel the buggers want to shoot if you could just find out what they want.

I've got an artillery carbine yet to try. :-D

Mind you the sights aren't the greatest for groups, still a poor workman blames his tools. :-?

[dnepr]

You guys are getting mr fired up to get my Canadian cadet carbine up and running, It looks ready to go but no ammo yet . I will have to see how the summer goes .

[copilot001]

yeh...
I been having so much fun with the sniders I havn,t bothered taking my new rifles to the range all last year.
I have all sorts of moulds...577 to .585 I have been trying out,but right now I,m waiting for the new .590 moulds to come in...I think the same ones as Dromia is waiting for.
I usually load 85g of 2f Goex ,and get fair accuracy, 3 hits out of 5 on the gong at 200 yds. In the next few weeks I,ll just take one snider to the range and keep some records of results instead of just having fun.
Right now I,m fooling with the front sight getting the POA and POI around the same place.:Fire:

[macvcallsign]

My son and I are going to try snider shooting, we have 6 or 7 still in original form. Use to convert them to P53 enfield shooters for the skirmishers. Who is making this .590 mould? I picked up some brass formed from 12 ga shot shells-fit the breeches real nice. I have not heard about these Lee dies or seen any advertised. Are they available yet.

[dromia]

There's group buys of brass and moulds here:

http://p223.ezboard.com/fbritishmilitariaforumsfrm16

The mould group buy is closed but Michael did get extra so there could still be some available, if there is a buy button next to the mould then he still has them, they are Lee moulds.

The brass is Jamisons and is good.

The Lee dies are widely available and have been for a year or so, your press needs to have the larger thread size like the Rockchucker or Ultramag.

[macvcallsign]

Thanks for the info. I just ordered two moulds. Will look around now for dies.

[Buckshot]

..............I bought the Lee dies on sale at Midway for $69.00. I got in on the brass Group Buy at the British & Militaria forums, and also a couple moulds for the Martini and the Snider.

From reading on the above site I found out I was using too small a slug.

http://www.fototime.com/C3EE3AD183E490A/standard.jpg

I made this swage die set for my RCE Walnut Hill press to make:

http://www.fototime.com/B35265B203A27EA/standard.jpghttp://www.fototime.com/7BAE9A1545DD0FC/standard.jpg

On the left you put in a Lee 478gr Target Minie', and on the right you get a 478gr Pritchit style Minie' at .593". For various and sundry reasons I haven't had a real chance to do any serious load workup with these swaged slugs yet. And add to that, I haven't had really good brass to date either. I've used the 24ga CBC brass shotshells altered to use 209 primers. But to be fair to them nothing serious had been done either.

...................Buckshot

[macvcallsign]

.......I have ordered 2 moulds from BBS through the forums as well as getting in on the group buy for brass-heck of a deal!! will try Midway this afternoon to see about dies. thanks for the info..

[Blammer]

You guys are making me jealous!

All this high tech equipment to make bullets and swedge them to the right size!

I'm stuck looking for .60 or .610 dia bullets.... :D

Keep us posted on how they shoot!

[Four Fingers of Death]

Western Firearms in Beverly Hills, Sydney have these Lee dies ready to go off the shelf if you are desperate for them, $AU150. No doubt you would be better off getting them in the states, but they have a custom Lee mould as well.

[Blammer]

yes, I'll first try to swap or buy about 5 or so bullets to see if they work before dropping the cash.... :D

thanks for the info!