doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion Classic & Custom Single Barreled Sporting Rifles @ doublegunshop.com Action-in-Wood Rook Rifle

Well this is the new project. I firmed up my commitment earlier this week. My last thread I started, good or bad, garnered a lot of attention and frankly it is humbling when you look at the number of hits. And also others adding their comments were welcome. That project took almost 3 years when I figured a year at the start. But Covid hit and I am slowing down were big factors. Hopefully this one is less.
I am building a Rook rifle. Inspiration was from the Gibbs rook rifles. I am starting with a 1897 WR action casting I bought from Rodney a number of years ago. (It was one of his kit guns but since I am only using the action body all the rest of the parts can go away. If interested in any let me know) Well I took the action and then designed a new action out of it. This is a side lever action but not like a Deeley Edge in function. Some of the pics I hope to share as I go will explain the function.
The rifle will be chambered in 30-30 Win and should weight under 6 pounds. At least that is what I am projecting, we will see. The pics below are of the concept drawing the action just starting the machining process. Since I design in Fusion360 solids I also 3D printed all the parts to assembly and do functional/geometry prototyping.
if you have questions please ask.

Mercy! How 'bout building a handful while you're at it Lynn?!

Curious about cartridge choice. .30-30 isn't the first thing that comes to mind when I think "rook rifle". As it is though it'll make a fine woods companion.

I'll take that 3D printed action when you're done with it. Maybe barrel it up for 2.7mm Kolibri or something!

The "rook rifle" title is just an euphemism for a small rifle, in this concern. Small, lite rifle capable to easily carry around as you survey the estates. small enough in caliber to take out a pesky gopher or collect some venison for supper. LOL Why 30 caliber? Because I had the barrel here already, so convenient.

Wonderful! I can't wait to see how this one goes.

LRF,
If you switch to 30 Herret, it would be a little more to scale, while using the same barrel, cases and bullets. As usual, for you, this will be a great project.
MIKE

MIKE I will consider your suggestion of the 30 Herret

Keep up the good work.
The drawing looks a lot like a Soper.
30-30 length cartridge is more like a mini-BPE (360BPE).
Good luck with your build.

Thanks Rick, I went and looked at a Soper and I guess I see where one could compare the two. However, it's a stretch for me, I assure you that is as far as the similarity goes.

MIKE I looked into the cartridge you suggested. Why do you think it would be a good choice?

LRF,
Only because you put a lot of weight on using a 30 caliber barrel you have on hand and wanted a cartridge large enough to kill deer and not too large for gopher. The 30 Herret has killed a lot of deer, but whether it is too big for gopher is really a subjective question.
If I were building it for myself, I would make it 5.6x50R(deer legal in my state and loaded with 60 grain Nosler kills them "graveyard dead"), but I'm not building it. Since you are building it, you get to do what you want, for your own reasons. There is no doubt that when you finish with whatever caliber you choose, the result will be great.
Mike