doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion Classic & Custom Single Barreled Sporting Rifles @ doublegunshop.com Resources/ideas to rebarrel Ross/Lancaster rifle?

The photos below illustrate my need. Two rifles are shown and they are not the same. One has a barrel and the other does not. I would like the rifles to look the same. I could accomplish this by removing the barrel from the one... and they would look the same. However, I would prefer them to both have barrels. The rifle without the barrel was (according the the Lancaster factory ledger) chambered in .370/.375 (.375 Flanged Nitro Express - not the magnum version). The original barrel is completely absent. This is a shame given the task of producing a duplicate barrel would be much easier.

So, I need a new barrel made, threaded and indexed to the action, blued (not a hot blue) and sights installed. Having it chambered to .375 Flanged may add more complication and I am considering a time period, yet more practical chambering. The .405 WCF is on the list. It is a vintage cartridge yet ammunition and components are available. It also has a good amount of mystique. The .405 and .375 are similar cartridge of about the same length, rim diameter and the .375 is almost a straight wall case.

I need a barrel maker and a gunsmith. Ideas and comments are also welcome.

By the way, these rifles are known as the Ross M1901/1903. They are marked on the receiver, Ross patented. They were built by Charles Lancaster using the Ross action design. They both appear in the Lancaster factory ledgers (I have a certificate for each).

The ledger information for the rifle sans barrel states: 370 2 FT 2INS BARREL ROSS 327; STRAIGHT PULL MAGAZINE RIFLE; ROSS LIFTER; NITRO PROOF; 40 GR CORDITE 320 GR BULLET (ENGRAVED) 6 - 15oz, 100 YDS 200 YDS, 300 YDS ROSS RIFLING 4 GROVES.

The rifle with the barrel intact is chambered in .256 Rimless

I hope the photos work:

























My overall agenda here is to salvage a very fine rifle. I generally don't go in for, "project" rifles, but this one deserves saving.

Those are stylish rifles. I like them. I especially like the simple engraving. You might try Matt Roberts (link below). He has done good work for me. His machining skills are outstanding, his prices are fair, and his turnaround time is reasonable.

Larry

https://www.mnrcustom.com/

I hesitated to answer because Boltman seemed to be against the cartridge I would choose if it were my rifle. Since no one spoke up, here is what I think. I would go with the British 375 Flanged 2 1/2 inch. The .375" bullets are available from several sources, and I am prone to shoot cast bullets also. As far as donor cases are concerned, .303 British cases are fairly available. If They shorten too much in fireforming, slightly less available 30-40 Krag cases should work. I often use short cases by loading the bullets "out" anyway.
Mike

When shooting cast in a long chamber like that, do you ever get lead shavings??

Not noticeably, I bell the cases in a separate operation and generally use wheel weights dropped into water from the mold, which makes them even harder (sizing softens the somewhat, I have read, and the cooling "frosts" them but I do it anyway). Frankly, I don't inspect closely for shavings so it would have to be pretty severe before I noticed.
Mike

Not sure where you'll find .405 Winchester cases as they certainly aren't readily available these days, and when they do show up they run about $3 a case!
I've used .405 Hornady cases to make .40-63 Ballard and .40-70SS for many years, and fortunately I've purchased a large quantity when Hornday was offering them. But if I had to try to buy them today it would be expensive, and tough to locate!

Mike - I am more open to the .370/.375 (.375 Flanged 2.5 inch) that you suspect. Certainly of great appeal is that fact that is the original chambering and it would match the information engraved on the floorplate. One trick is to find a barrel maker set up to provide that chambering.

I load for many obsolete calibers, so I'm not afraid of that aspect. I'm confident .375 Flanged 2.5 inch brass is a lot easier to find than brass for .38-45 Bullard (another use for .303 British cases).

I appreciate the responses.

Boltman,
You might have to buy a finishing reamer, but you could keep it for another project or sell it to get some of your money back. You have an original barrel in the other rifle, to copy the style of.
Mike