doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com 300 H&H rook rifle questions

I have a H&H 300 rook rifle, side lever opening, 27 1/2" octagonal barrel, 3 leaf sights, 50,100,150 platinum lines, case hardened reciever, ejector, checkered pistol grip stock of figured walnut & steel butt plate & pistol grip cap, central hammer, checkered wedge fastened splinter forend, sling eyes.
Barrel reads: winner of all the field rifle trials London 1883. Some have told me that this rifle was probally built for Holland & Holland by Webley. Bluing is great & even patina on the case hardened reciever. This rifle has a fantastic bore. I am looking for opinions on the value and date of manufacture. Also looking for information on where I might buy 80 grn lead bullets for it.
S/N # is 9455. This gorgeous little rifle is a new aquissition and I am trying to get up to speed on it. All info greatly appreciated.

m4220

I've long stopped tinkering with rooks with original chambers.
Most of what you find today are relined to 22 Hornets, or bored-out to 410.
You'll have to measure the gun and handmake the cartridges - the various rook cartriges are old, obscure and not so shootable.
Slug-bore and chamber cast for starters.

From Cartridges of the World 2nd ed
It was invented in 1881 by H&H. In the 1883 field trials using open sights 10 shots grouped 1 1/2" at 50 yards.

Original loading
300 (.295) Rook
1 1/8" OAL
Bullet 80grs (Lead)
Powder 4 1/2grs of CN (Cadet neonite)
MV 1100 ME 915 Vel@100 yards 215 Energy @ 100 yards 150 drop 16.5"

Recommended loadings from the above:
Bullet 90grs powder 4759 6grs MV 1150 ME 245 lyman #311245
Bullet 90grs powder Unique 5grs MV 1100 ME 218
Bullet 80grs Black 10,FL MV 1100 ME 215

He compares it the 32 Extra Long

Bertram makes brass for the 300. Buffalo Arms or MidwayUSA have it.
For cast bullets look at the Laser Cast 78grs:
http://www.laser-cast.com/32Cal.html

Pete

Question. What exactly is a rook rifle?

A small caliber rifle, normally a single shot, for shooting rooks and other such varmints.

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=h...=image&cd=1

I recommend The Classic British Rook & Rabbit Rifle by Colin Greenwood. A very informative book on the subject.

Thanks for the info.