Army & Navy Cooperative Society Rook Rifle

Ed Harris wrote: 6pt-sika wrote: Do you think the action and barrel on that little rifle would be strong enough to run the chamber out to 32 H&R MAG or 327 Federal ?

You could go .32 H&R Magnum to use that brass, but ONLY if you didn't exceed factory pressures, and used full 20-22,000 psi loads only occasionally, in limited quantity. You want to avoid shooting the old gun loose and having to explain to the gunsmith how stupid you are when you ask him to tighten it up again. You only get away with that once. 8-)

I intend to keep most of my loads below 14,000 psi, using 2 grains of Bullseye with bullets seated out to fit. For hunting purposes may try a few approaching H&R Magnum pressures, 2.5 to 3 grs. of Bullseye with #3118 cast HP seated out to 1.30” overall length to engrave upon breech closure, but stealth and low noise is the objective, to avoid disturbing the neighbors. Any loads which CRACK~! defeat the purpose.

Factory 98-gr. lead RN ammo for the .32 S&W long is pleasant and accurate like standard velocity .22 LR. Fiocchi wadcutters are almost entirely silent, like CB longs. My normal cast bullet revolver loads shoot better than I can hold with the simple open sights, around 2 inches at 50 yards. While I will not have Lucas fill the scope block holes, the Unertl small game scope is mostly for load development. The joy of a light walking gun is that it carries like a fly rod or walking stick in your hand, being only 4-1/2 pounds. It exemplifies clean, naked simplcity, being elegant while throughly utilitarian is the joy of it all. Post cataract surgery with new lens implant I am enjoying iron sights again and savor each opportunity.

While the modern steel liner will hold higher pressure than original blackpowder loads, you still have small locking surfaces and a mild, plain carbon steel action of metalllurgy ca. 1880.

The .327 Federal, absolutely not!