57 Snider

[Hellpit]

I've had this long gem for a little while now, got it off of my dad. Sits on the wall of my gun room, to be seen as it should. I know there are a few snider buffs out there that might be able to tell me a little about the history of this gun. I've taken a few photos of the stampings etc. I've done some searching, but info is real limited.

I would love to go out one day and shoot this at least once, and get my dad to shoot it as well. All the time he owned it, it has never fired a round. I can imagine that it would feel something like a potato cannon firing

The bore has some rust pitting in it, and it's mainly to wards the last 8 inches of the barrel. The rifling is still mostly strong. Would this be even safe to fire? I found a couple snider rounds at the last gun show in Calgary, they look like they have been to the war and back, kinda beat up and the brass is starting to unravel. I don't know if I would trust this. Is anyone making reproduction rounds for these?

My dad got this from a smith in Quebec back in the 70's I believe, and apparently he's the one that refinished it.

Here's the link for the full photo album: http://s174.photobucket.com/albums/w105/Hellpit101/57 Snider/

 

[dingus]

I havent seen one that nice! For a refinished on that is

 

[mooncoon]

I would not fire those foil wrapped cases; I suspect they were made in the late 1860's or in the 1870's. You can buy cases from Kerry Jenkinson in BC as well as I think the proper mold for the gun. I emphasize proper mold because I think the skirt thickness is critical to accuracy. I also don't think you need loading dies but you will need a decapping pin plus a shell base for putting new primers in.

cheers mooncoon

 

[DEZ]

I use 24 gauge shot gun brass from mag tech in the US its the cheepest just cut to length anneal case mouth with propane torch lube and full length size about $22. per.25 or jaimison cases from buffalo arms 20 for $50. american if you dont whant to make them . there are lots of different bullet molds avalible . I have 2hollow base ones and 2 plain base the one small plain base shoots good in three bands it is more like a ball-let resembles a short fat 45 auto mold it is .590 diameter Jenkinson and co. sell them and more he has an add in the canadian access to fire armes

 

[Turkeyslayer 1300]

Ten-X loads ammo but it's 99$ american for 20, but if your only going to fire it once or twice this might be worthwhile.

 

[Beater]

send me a PM, i load for it, and am prolly not to far from u.

 

[catnthehatt]

Either Beater or myself- I'm up north, and also load ans shoot a Snider.
Cat