Finally decided to pick up one of these big-bore beauties, and I have a 3 bander on the way. So now I have to pick up some dies, brass, and lead to get her shooting. So where are you guys picking up your components? And are most using properly headstamped cases, or trimmed 24g brass hulls? And I've read that if a person is just using round balls, that you don't really need dies - any truth to that? I do plan on getting dies eventually, but I'll have to pick up another press that's threaded for the larger dies at the same time. Any and all advice would be appreciated.
Sources for 577 Snider Components/Dies in Canada
- Thread starter Killer Kanuck
- Start date
Lee dies are a good price at or around $100 - $150 for the set. You will need the shell holder and the press. William's arms in Port Perry had some last time I was there, dies, brass, etc.
Jamison brass is great, you will not need to form or trim the brass, just load and shoot. I like them better than bertram (which you will need to anneal). The 24 gauge shells are good but are thin and you will need to use filler if you are shooting black. I have seen case buldgeing on the 24 gauge brass on some loads.
Never tried the round balls, but you will need bullets with a dia of .580 or slightly larger. The minie ball is fine but may not shoot right or expand. I have found the bore sizes can be very different in dia. Slug it first to see??
Are you shooting black?
Pete
Jamison brass is great, you will not need to form or trim the brass, just load and shoot. I like them better than bertram (which you will need to anneal). The 24 gauge shells are good but are thin and you will need to use filler if you are shooting black. I have seen case buldgeing on the 24 gauge brass on some loads.
Never tried the round balls, but you will need bullets with a dia of .580 or slightly larger. The minie ball is fine but may not shoot right or expand. I have found the bore sizes can be very different in dia. Slug it first to see??
Are you shooting black?
Pete
I'll more than likely be using Pyrodex - I think I have a pound or 2 of FFg I was using to load 12g with. I would think most smokeless powders would be too position sensitive in that big case. Although a bulky powder like Trailboss might work - but I'm going to stick to black and substitutes to start.
I've heard most of Jamison's non-standard calibers are unobtanium at the moment due to their military contracts. Although I have read that they are currently doing a run of 45-60, so maybe they are catching up on production of the oddballs.
I've heard most of Jamison's non-standard calibers are unobtanium at the moment due to their military contracts. Although I have read that they are currently doing a run of 45-60, so maybe they are catching up on production of the oddballs.
I have used the Lee 0.600" Round Ball in mine (since sold). The bore only slugged 0.590", but the 10 thou overage is just a very thin area (as it's a round ball). The Magtech brass works ok, needs lots of annealing, and the Lee dies are good too, but put a bottleneck on the brass, so I usually just partial F/L sized. With light loads and the round ball, you could just lube and insert the ball with thumb pressure - no sizing needed. I used smokeless only and had to stick with powders faster than H4227. Unique is a good one, so are Trail Boss and SR-4759.
I too would like to know where to buy Magtech brass, as I have a Martini-Henry in 577-450. I e-mailed Will Bilozir and didn't get a response.
I too would like to know where to buy Magtech brass, as I have a Martini-Henry in 577-450. I e-mailed Will Bilozir and didn't get a response.
I use the round ball exclusively now as they shoot more consistently than any minis do. Anything less than .590" in diameter you might better save your breath. If you are using only one rifle and "if" the chamber is OK you will be able to use the brass without resizing. I also use black powder exclusively (FG) and fill to the base of the ball. The good thing about using the round ball is that you can use whatever load you wish and just seat the ball and an over powder wad down on top. I also fill the area around the ball with a lube mix. Good luck. Dave
stevejones
Regular
- Location
- Courtenay, BC
Round ball
I have had great results with my Snider using .575 roundball. So far every minie I have tried, including a special maxi type projectile designed by Keri Jenkinson have had poor accuracy. I understand that there are different twist rates among these rifles so it makes sense that with a slow twist a round ball will give better performance. I load mine with 55 grains 2F then a oversize cardboard wad that is fairly thick. I use a wood dowel that is rounded to bend the wad to form a cup shape, then push it into the case with the dowel. Then about 50 gr of corn meal and another wad that is of thin cardboard. A glop of very sticky lube on top (to help keep the round ball from falling out) and then I push the .575 ball on top. I compress the load by hand firmly and its done. The result is pretty good with 3 inch groups being the norm.
Cheers. Steve.
I have had great results with my Snider using .575 roundball. So far every minie I have tried, including a special maxi type projectile designed by Keri Jenkinson have had poor accuracy. I understand that there are different twist rates among these rifles so it makes sense that with a slow twist a round ball will give better performance. I load mine with 55 grains 2F then a oversize cardboard wad that is fairly thick. I use a wood dowel that is rounded to bend the wad to form a cup shape, then push it into the case with the dowel. Then about 50 gr of corn meal and another wad that is of thin cardboard. A glop of very sticky lube on top (to help keep the round ball from falling out) and then I push the .575 ball on top. I compress the load by hand firmly and its done. The result is pretty good with 3 inch groups being the norm.
Cheers. Steve.
She arrived yesterday, and overall I'm really pleased with it. Some minor pitting near the muzzle, but other than that the bore is great - nice and shiny too. A few pics:
Right side of stock
Left side of stock (Dominion of Canada marking)
Top of butt
Lockplate
Action
And the whole rifle
Right side of stock
Left side of stock (Dominion of Canada marking)
Top of butt
Lockplate
Action
And the whole rifle
