snider enfield

triggerman42

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I picked up a snider enfield 3 band MkII**.
After cleaning the barrel with a bronze brush it looks bright + shiny , but doesnt seem to have very deep rifling.
There is no D/C marking on the stock. Just the enfield marking and the "1".
It has a leather sling , and a nipple protector with the chain.
The lock is VC + crown marked behind the hammer , and in front of the hammer is marked 1856 enfield , with a smaller crown and broad arrow just under that.
It's missing it's ramrod.
Seems to be all original , with no noticable repairs.
I cleaned the inside of the barrel + breach up, and left the outside as is.
I cant seem to locate any plastic 24 gauge hulls, or a round ball mold, so it's just gonna be a safe queen I guess.
I wasnt planning on shooting it much anyway. Would be fun to hear it roar a few times though !
Maybe if somebody had a handfull of 24 gauge plastic hulls they'd sell.
I'm not set up to load the brass hulls , and dont want to shoot this old girl much anyway.
It just doesn't seem right to have a shootable gun , that you've never heard go boom ! lol
The Lee .600 round ball molds seem to be out of stock everywhere , as do the 24 gauge plastic hulls.
I guess there is alot of snider shooters out there !
 
You don't need a press and dies to reload for a Snider. try posting a WTB ad on the EE for some brass 24 gauge shot shells. i have fired .575 diameter round ball and they gave me about 6 inch groups. Minnies shoot pretty good but they can be a pain to cast.

Cheers. steve
 
if you look up redneck snider rounds on you tube you can see how to make some rounds up with 28?Ga shotgun shells. I picked some up at Sail. maybe lebarons or other sports store near you will have them. I ordered the .570 balls from shooter's choice.
 
if you look up redneck snider rounds on you tube you can see how to make some rounds up with 28?Ga shotgun shells. I picked some up at Sail. maybe lebarons or other sports store near you will have them. I ordered the .570 balls from shooter's choice.

28ga is unsafe the gas can get past the shell and open the breech block
 
ANTIQUEGUY is absolutely correct.

I have seen it happen.

Cost the shooter $430 for new glasses.

He was LUCKY.

It COULD have been his EYES.
 
"...very deep rifling..." Typical of a lot of Brit rifles. No. 1's and 4's have shallow rifling too.
"...VC + crown..." You sure it's not VR(as in Victoria Regina) with the crown? Vicky'd be PO'd if there's a 'C'.
"...with 28?Ga shotgun shells..." The '?' mean you've never heard of 28 Guage? Just curious. As mentioned, 'redneck' with anything firearm related is usually unsafe.
You can get proper Bertram .577 Snider brass cases from Shooter's Choice in Waterloo. Cheap it ain't though. $139.95 per 20.
 
"...very deep rifling..." Typical of a lot of Brit rifles. No. 1's and 4's have shallow rifling too.
"...VC + crown..." You sure it's not VR(as in Victoria Regina) with the crown? Vicky'd be PO'd if there's a 'C'.
"...with 28?Ga shotgun shells..." The '?' mean you've never heard of 28 Guage? Just curious. As mentioned, 'redneck' with anything firearm related is usually unsafe.
You can get proper Bertram .577 Snider brass cases from Shooter's Choice in Waterloo. Cheap it ain't though. $139.95 per 20.

the rifling is not deep because these are converted from guns made to shoot minie balls the p1853 and 1861 carbine
 
Yes . it's VR marked . Not VC. Sorry ! I didn't have the gun in my lap when doing the description , and I'm new to these.
I've acquired a round ball mold , and have some plastic hulls on the way. Things are starting to come together.
 
if you look up redneck snider rounds on you tube you can see how to make some rounds up with 28?Ga shotgun shells. I picked some up at Sail. maybe lebarons or other sports store near you will have them. I ordered the .570 balls from shooter's choice.

The Internet is a great source of stupid, unsafe, and incorrect information. The use of 28 Guage shotgun shells to make cases for the .577 Snider is dangerous and can cause some serious injuries.

Only today, I was shown a 28 Guage shotgun shell that was fired in a 577 Calibre Snider. The case had expanded to the point that there was no rim showing, and it was rounded at the brass base, not flat. Primer was punctured.

For your own safety and health, do not do it.
 
The Internet is a great source of stupid, unsafe, and incorrect information. The use of 28 Guage shotgun shells to make cases for the .577 Snider is dangerous and can cause some serious injuries.

Only today, I was shown a 28 Guage shotgun shell that was fired in a 577 Calibre Snider. The case had expanded to the point that there was no rim showing, and it was rounded at the brass base, not flat. Primer was punctured.

For your own safety and health, do not do it.

that did not happen when I di it although they did expand a good bit there was a burn mark on the side of the case and the breech block came open and it turned into a auto eject
 
It's called being at the airport waiting for your ship to come in.
How ya doing John??? October is coming so hang in there.
Might be in to see you this fall.
 
if you look up redneck snider rounds on you tube you can see how to make some rounds up with 28?Ga shotgun shells. I picked some up at Sail. maybe lebarons or other sports store near you will have them. I ordered the .570 balls from shooter's choice.

Red neck for sure, I wonder of those idjits would try shooting a 28 gauge shell in a 24 gauge shotgun??!!
As was stated already, you can fire form 24 gauge bras for your chamber or buy ready made .577 brass.
Cat
 
If you change you're mind and decide to shoot your Snider on a regular basis check out Buffaloarms.com ... They have everything you need to get setup from 24 ga brass to dies for reloading and pre lubed 450 gr bullets. You'll still have to sorce your black powder and primers locally thou...
 
A lot of Snider shooters are working with 24 gauge Magtech Brass shot shells. You can pick them up and do a bit of work to get them to size or, if you pop over to britishmilitariaforums you'll find a fellow in the States selling them already trimmed and ready for loading. Lots of other good Snider info there as well.
 
There are alot of us here who are also on British Militaria Forums that have been reloading Snider, Martini and you name it for years.

Yes as RangeRover has stated, British Militaria Forums is the place to be for information.

I sure wish we had a STICKY in this area for reloading Antiques.

It is very hard to try and weed through dozens of postings looking for reloading information.

Two ways to reload for Snider.

Buy already made brass (not cheap, but the cheapest way if you are not setup for reloading) or make your own out of 24 gauge MagTech shot shell brass.

If you choose to buy already made brass, pick up any number of bullets, powder, primers and some basic hand tools for de-priming and
re-priming the brass.

There are a great number of molds available for use with Snider, commercial and custom made.

If you choose to go the Magtech route you will need a set of dies.
Lee are the cheapest and easiest to purchase, but you will need a reloading press that will handle these dies.
You must cut down cut the Magtech brass for use in the dies.
Anneal the brass.
Then once through the sizing die and your off to the races.

I have done this many times with excellent results.

BTW, I'm a bit of a Snider Wh@re!

I own 15 of them.
 
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