577 Super Snider - Black Powder Magnum!

[Bad Ass Wallace]

Well the plan and work is done to a point where I've actually fired my Super Snider

Firstly all load data is strictly related to these guns built on the large framed Martini!

Almost 2 years ago, a plan was put in action to build a new Snider, MH action with a new Walther 577 barrel. The finished guns (3 off) are absolute beauties

Now we have a new barrel in a very old chambering and can work toward seeing just what accuracy and power can be had.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v152/BAWallace/MSAction_zpsbc5942a8.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/BAWallace/media/MSAction_zpsbc5942a8.jpg.html)

Starting with new brass and a CBE 610gn plain based projectile, I worked out that the old girl would hold 92gn FFG without undue compression so last weekend these were the loads I tried to proof the gun.

First shot - Holy fook recoil and blast were unbelievable
Second shot - Fark that hurt!

Needless to say that load would be max!. Firing off a bench at 100yds produced this target. Not brilliant, but considering the first time, aiming about 10 inches below the bull (gotta get a higher front sight) and as I found out today my sore back is the result of two dislocated ribs from an accident earlier in the day.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v152/BAWallace/IMG_2494_zpsc5f5332c.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/BAWallace/media/IMG_2494_zpsc5f5332c.jpg.html)

We now know that the 1:48" twist will stabilise the big 615gn CBE projectile as all holes cut quite clean :onya:

I can say that I must the first shooter ever to suffer Snider Eyebrow from open sights, surely a condition exclusive to the 577 Super Snider

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v152/BAWallace/IMG_2497_zps6ecd6d69.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/BAWallace/media/IMG_2497_zps6ecd6d69.jpg.html)

:):):):):):)

Many thanks to many who have given freely their advice, and Allan Swan Gunsmith for bringing the project thus far!

[Four-Sixty]

Because you can! I love it!

[EDG]

Yeah I always wanted to mess with something a little bigger than a .50/70.

The nice thing about the .577 Snider would be the ease of boring the chamber. It is so large you can use a boring bar and skip the reamer except for the leade.

[Bad Ass Wallace]

The project was born out of sheer frustration, I went to many gunshows and drove many miles looking at original Sniders that were advertised as VG or Excellent bores only to find that the price tag didn't match the barrel condition.

Lothar-Walther make a 577 barrel to 35" long with a 1:48" twist and from research original rifles in this calibre were also made in the same twist. Applying the Greenhill formula to the projectile chosen it was proved that the !:48" would work.

I had the choice to rebarrel a Snider action but then the idea of using a Martini action began and became reality.

First problem was no gunsmiths had the necessary reamer or headspace gauges, I purchased these and imported them.

The Snider cartridge itself was the first transition design to bridge the muzzle loader to breechloader gap way back in 1864 and there are records of using Sniders in military style matches. It is interesting that many shooters are awed by the big cartridges 45/90 45/120 and 50/90 but the smaller (relatively) cartridges such as the 12.7x44, 50/70 and 577 Snider burn BP much more efficiently and push heavy projectiles out of proportion to their size.

It could be said the recoil exceeded comfortable limits of the 32/20! :roll:

L to R, 38/55, 40/65, 45/70, 50/70 and 58/92 Snider with 22 Hornet for comparison.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v152/BAWallace/ClassicCartridgejpg.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/BAWallace/media/ClassicCartridgejpg.jpg.html)

[Matt85]

dang that puppies huge! my shoulder is sore after a day at the range with my 45/70 trapdoor rifle, I couldn't imagine that big bugger.

how about some more pics of the gun?

-matt

[Bad Ass Wallace]

Still a work in progress, I have started on the woodwork and building the special target sight

The finished rifle will have a new euro walnut stock and a target sight similar to this one but trimmed in brass! The new forend is scaled up from the Martini Cadet shape with 2 blued steel barrel bands and a brass snabble. The butt will be fitted with an original brass Snider plate.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v152/BAWallace/Meues_upright.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/BAWallace/media/Meues_upright.jpg.html)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v152/BAWallace/Picture146.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/BAWallace/media/Picture146.jpg.html)

This project represents probably the easiest and cheapest way into a big bore pumpkin roller as there many old MH actions out there and barrels can be made locally. My LGS is holding onto the reamer for his own little project a 577 Snider double rifle using a Greener shotgun frame! :Fire:

[EDG]

Wallace,
A few questions if you don't mind.
What brand of brass are you using?
Did you use Lee dies or some other brand?
Did you design your own chamber and if you did you design it to match the brass and dies or did you design your own dies too?

[Bad Ass Wallace]

Wallace,
What brand of brass are you using?
Did you use Lee dies or some other brand?
Did you design your own chamber and if you did you design it to match the brass and dies or did you design your own dies too?
New Bertram brass
Dies by CH4D
Reamer from PT&G

[The Goose]

Wow, that is just so cool! Great job.

[fouronesix]

Yes, good job!

BTW, if you get accused of being a Sheila, just say, "...you should see the other guy".

[Frank46]

Baw, well that 50-70 looks downright puny next to your super snider magnum. Kinda reminds me of the 37mm one pounder shells like was used during WWI. Glad to see you are having fun (ha,ha) with your new creation. Frank

[Bad Ass Wallace]

To license it in Australia we need to give a genuine need and a genuine reason to the police. Dealing with a plague of sabre-toothed field mice on my ranch would be acceptable :kidding: