doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion Double Rifles, Paradox Guns & Gauge Rifles @ doublegunshop.com Watson Bros 360EX double

Earlier this month I received my first English boxlock double, a Watson Brothers 360EX 2.25" from 1906.

• 26" barrels, Extractors
• Webley screw grip action
• Standing 150yd and folding 250 rear sight leaves
• Mint bores
• Full engraving coverage
• No nitro proof marks, just 360EX. No cartridge or load info on the rifle

Prior to purchasing the gun and reaching out to Watson Brothers for their records, my best guess on DOM was post 1895 (based on the maker's barrel address) and pre-1907 (based on another rifle, 29 after mine, sold in 1907). Turns out this was sold in 1906.

Workmanship is quite wonderful. After casting the chamber and measuring the bore, I tried 0.366" jacketed soft point bullets made by RWS back in the day for the 9.3x72r. These with a modest load of H4198 are printing to POA at 35 yards, so I'm looking forward to loading up more rounds and trying at distances out to 150 yards. This will be going deer hunting next month when I join a friend for a hunt in Minnesota.

If you have loads for the 360EX 2.25" using smokeless nitro-for-black power loads, I'd love to see them. This rifle was presumably proofed with black powder (given the absence of nitro proofmarks that would have been required by then), so I'm not loading with full nitro loads.

That’s a lovely rifle. Thanks for sharing the pictures and details. Let us know how the trip to Minnesota goes!

CJF,
This is a very nice rifle and a useful cartridge for your state. You have a fun project ahead of you, good luck.
Mike

That's a beaut! I had a hammer double Purdey and its favorite load was 30 grains of 3031 with the 193 grain RWS.

Thank you for the kind feedback (and the load recommendation!)

You wouldn't happen to know where to find more of the RWS 193s? This rifle seems to like them.

CJF,
If you get a chance for some Norma or S&B 193 grain bullets, don't turn them down, they should work too. Cast bullets shouldn't be counted out, without giving them a good try.

I’ll look for both. Thanks Mike. It’s a shame Norma, RWS and S&B all seem to have hard to locate distribution here in the States.

I’ve got to modify how I’m patching up my .358” lead round nose bullets. Finished diameter is too large for the expander I have. That’s a shame since I finally am getting tight patches. I know what to try next…or I think I do. Just need the time.

CJF,
You may be able to find a set of Lyman 366408 mold blocks, or you can have a set of mold blocks custom made. This is not as hard as it used to be, since makers are using CNC lathes to bore the blocks rather than using a "cherry".
Mike

CJF, the 366408 bullets were too heavy for the 4 360 2 1/4 rifles I've had. I had to get my 366408 cut down back when to get closer to 200 grains. Accurate Moulds makes a really nice 200 grain bullet mould 37-196B.

CJF,
The 366408 bullet is also too heavy (read long) for some(newer) 9.3x72Rs, so I also have one of my molds cut back to about 200 grains. My favorite bullet for the 9.3s is a really blunt nose 208gr from Hensley & Gibbs. It is their # 512c, but it is very hard to find on the used mold market. A 512a or 512b can be shortened similar to the 366408, if you can find one. The bullets from my mold drop out at .368" which allows sizing to use in different diameter barrels. HalfaDouble is also correct about Accurate Molds being really nice, although I have never tried the 37-196B.
Mike