Rebirth of a Rook Rifle

[Heym SR20]

So to bring this thread up to date.

1) have a nice and shiny new FAC with a slot for a 22 Hornet.

2) Barrel from Lothar Walther ordered - a .224 with a 1 in 12” twist chambered in Hornet so it will stabilise 40 to 50 gn monolithic bullets if I want to use them.

Now in that waiting stage.

3) now have access to a good lathe to make some bits as required. It will need a sleeve at the chamber end.

 

[Heym SR20]

Get yourself a copy of this book, you may be able to find out more about your little rook.

Amazon product ASIN 0967632420

Bought a copy a long time ago. No it doesn’t include an details sadly.

 

[Heym SR20]

I have had a good reread of the Field Article on the Ressurection of A Purdey Rook rifle. Comparing it the one talked about in Greenwood’s book I think the Purdey will an Anson and Deeley action with a double bite closing. I do like the sound of the .222 Rimmed cartridge, but pretty difficult to get brass in UK.

Besides I have a slot for a 22 Hornet, barrel chambered on order etc. But I suppose if need arose, it could be rechambered…

 

[karamoja]

I have had a good reread of the Field Article on the Ressurection of A Purdey Rook rifle. Comparing it the one talked about in Greenwood’s book I think the Purdey will an Anson and Deeley action with a double bite closing. I do like the sound of the .222 Rimmed cartridge, but pretty difficult to get brass in UK.

Besides I have a slot for a 22 Hornet, barrel chambered on order etc. But I suppose if need arose, it could be rechambered…

222r brass is available from 0z easily and if you search around not to expensive. You can also use standard dies apparently.

 

[Heym SR20]

222r brass is available from 0z easily and if you search around not to expensive. You can also use standard dies apparently.

Appreciate that. Its getting it from Australia to the UK that is the challenge.

 

[palmer_mike]

Appreciate that. Its getting it from Australia to the UK that is the challenge.

Air mail?

 

[Heym SR20]

Air mail?

The biggest challenge is getting Australian dealers to put it in the post. I understand that cartridge cases can only be sold face to face in Australia. Besides I am happy with the Hornet.

 

[webley701]

The biggest challenge is getting Australian dealers to put it in the post. I understand that cartridge cases can only be sold face to face in Australia. Besides I am happy with the Hornet.

Obviously not of interest to yourself but for anyone else in the U.K. considering the .222r the cases are in stock at Kranks. They can also be formed from the 5.6x50R (S&B made cases available in the U.K).

 

[Heym SR20]

Obviously not of interest to yourself but for anyone else in the U.K. considering the .222r the cases are in stock at Kranks. They can also be formed from the 5.6x50R (S&B made cases available in the U.K).

Mmmm - food for thought. Brass not cheap though at £2 plus per case.

 

[Heym SR20]

Mmmm - food for thought. Brass not cheap though at £2 plus per case.

This is a note to myself. I have already ordered up the liner barrel which is 10mm outside diameter so that the machining of the existing bore will be minimal - it is supposedly 410 bore, but it is 10mm. With a .222 sized cartridge a 10mm liner barrel will be pretty thin around the chamber area. To go for a .222 probably need to go up to 12mm to have some decent wall thickness. I want the working wall thickness in the liner barrel, rather than relying on additional strength from the existing barrel.

That is the reason why I went for the 22 Hornet. It will be a nice little small game and vermin rifle, plus use on targets. It will be the ideal rifle for shooting hares, rabbits and foxes - so stop thinkig about going up a level to make it small deer legal. And do not be distracted by others putting other thoughts in your mind.

 

[webley701]

This is a note to myself. I have already ordered up the liner barrel which is 10mm outside diameter so that the machining of the existing bore will be minimal - it is supposedly 410 bore, but it is 10mm. With a .222 sized cartridge a 10mm liner barrel will be pretty thin around the chamber area. To go for a .222 probably need to go up to 12mm to have some decent wall thickness. I want the working wall thickness in the liner barrel, rather than relying on additional strength from the existing barrel.

That is the reason why I went for the 22 Hornet. It will be a nice little small game and vermin rifle, plus use on targets. It will be the ideal rifle for shooting hares, rabbits and foxes - so stop thinkig about going up a level to make it small deer legal.

I think it’s called ‘mission creep’.

History shows it’s rarely a good idea.

 

[alberta boy]

I'm not sure of the feasibility in the UK , mostly due to brass and component availability , but I've seen a number of bored out Rook Rifles here that were sleeved to 25/20 and 32/20 Winchester . Components are widely available here and they are wonderful little cartridges for short range , 150 yards and under , use on smaller animals . Just a thought . Personally , I'd love one . I have a Husqvarna single shot bolt action in 32/20 , a very cool little rifle that'll probably end up in Muirs bunker , but I'd flip it in a heart beat for a Rook in the same caliber . Fortunately for Muir , the odds of finding one are slim to none .

AB

 

[Bavarianbrit]

Mmmm - food for thought. Brass not cheap though at £2 plus per case.

I will start trawling the local ranges here in Bavaria for RWS 5.6x50R cases as the brass is of much better quality for you. My H&H rook was lined to .22lr before I bought it and with an old S&B 6x42 I had mounted in vintage mounts it has accounted for around a thousand magpies in the last 18 years.

 

[Donkey Basher]

I'm not sure of the feasibility in the UK , mostly due to brass and component availability , but I've seen a number of bored out Rook Rifles here that were sleeved to 25/20 and 32/20 Winchester . Components are widely available here and they are wonderful little cartridges for short range , 150 yards and under , use on smaller animals . Just a thought . Personally , I'd love one . I have a Husqvarna single shot bolt action in 32/20 , a very cool little rifle that'll probably end up in Muirs bunker , but I'd flip it in a heart beat for a Rook in the same caliber . Fortunately for Muir , the odds of finding one are slim to none .

AB

My first rook rifle is an Army & Navy hammer gun that was tubed with an old .303 barrel & chambered .32-20 by the late Derek Fearn. It is a demon to shoot & after initially buying factory ammunition I’ve been reloading using cast lead bullets. So .32-20 is a viable option in the UK

 

[Andy RV]

This is a great project, how are you intending to bond the liner into the barrel?

 

[Heym SR20]

This is a great project, how are you intending to bond the liner into the barrel?

I will use an epoxy. It will need to be quite thin so that it will flow nicely and also quite slow setting to give me plenty of time. In terms of strength there will be more than enough surface area to get shear strength required.

Traditionally solder would used, with the liner tinned, then dropped down the hole with plenty of flux and then the whole lot heated with a blow torch. I think this is fraught with all sorts of challenges, not least with the barrel warping. And then there is a lot of clean up etc etc. and then the barrel will need to be re blued.

I understand that some of continental double gun makers now use epoxies for laying ribs etc.

 

[Klenchblaize]

Good luck with the project as I’ve yet to encounter a lined barrel that delivered acceptable grouping and POI consistency.

I do however like the idea of epoxy for bonding the liner so hopefully this is a project that will prove to be the exception rather than the rule.

K

 

[Mr. Gain]

Great project. Is this of interest?

 

[Andy RV]

I will use an epoxy. It will need to be quite thin so that it will flow nicely and also quite slow setting to give me plenty of time. In terms of strength there will be more than enough surface area to get shear strength required.

Traditionally solder would used, with the liner tinned, then dropped down the hole with plenty of flux and then the whole lot heated with a blow torch. I think this is fraught with all sorts of challenges, not least with the barrel warping. And then there is a lot of clean up etc etc. and then the barrel will need to be re blued.

I understand that some of continental double gun makers now use epoxies for laying ribs etc.

Yes I thought you’d be between solder and an adhesive of some kind, I agree that solder would be a challenge!

Have a look at ‘engineering grade’ anaerobic bearing retaining compound, Loctite make a number of options.

 

[stevec]

Did you consider a custom EL insert barrel? I suspect it would be very accurate but would wreck the balance. I have seen one with a 9.3mm external diameter