Seeking Information on Snider cavalry carbine in .577

[Dai.S.Loe]

I have recently purchased a Snider cavalry carbine in .577

It is in 95% gondition and I intend to fire it.

I have 20 brass cases comming from a machinist here in NZ.

My question is to the loading of this caliber.

obviously black powder.

What sort of bullet? Weight? Does anyone know where i can get a mould?

Has anyone here fired one of these? What sort of accuracy can i expect?

What is it like to shoot.

Please post yor experiences or point me to somewhere that i can find out more information.

Chris

[Two Flints]

Photos of YOUR Snider  would be nice to look at. Until then, check out the 1st link:

http://www.angelfire.com/vt/milsurp/snidcav.html

Try this link for history:

http://www.britishempire.co.uk/forces/armyarmaments/rifles/sniderhistory.htm

or this one:

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BQY/is_/ai_n26738487

[1816flintlock]

Chris,

click on the Snider Enfield forum over at the British Militaria Forums for all things Snider Enfield.  www.martiniforum.org or a more direct link to Snider info:  http://britishmilitariaforums.yuku.com/forums/2/t/Snider-Enfield-Forum.html

Stephen

[Dai.S.Loe]

Thanks to both of you. I have been to the British militaria site and yes I have found everything I was looking for.

I'm not at home for a few weeks but when I do get there I will take note of all markings and post them up along with photos.

It looks so sweet sitting alongside my 1861 Ballard carbine.

Both have a similar history from the same era approximately but in completely different parts of the world.

Brings out the history buff in me and reminds me why I am so facinated with historical firearms.

Chris

[Two Flints]

Dai.S. Loe,

All this type about Sniders...Ballards...and no mention of a Spencer
I'm shocked to say the least

Two Flints

[Herbert]

cast bullet engineering p.o box 269 menai central n.s.w australia makes snider moulds acuracy can vary from very good to average depending on modle be prepared for a bit of recoil in this light carbine bertram brass mackes cases be carful shooting in dry scrub i started a bush fire with mine flames fly about 8 feet

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

Dai;  I have NDFS cases and dies, no longer made.  I also have a custom proprietary LEE mould with a flat bevel base, sized to fit the grooves.  (About .592, I'll check.)  Most folks get a regular MINIE hollow base mould, but the fired cases have to be sized down to hold them.  BTW, the Enfield minie bullet was the original projectile.  As the first cases were paper, the chamber was cut quite generously.  Modern brass cases leave a lot of play.  The custom LEE mould is larger and only requires a slight neck-sizing.

The fellow that owns the mould design is Kerry Jenkinson from Grand Forks BC.  I'll look up his address.

[Dai.S.Loe]

Dai.S. Loe,

All this type about Sniders...Ballards...and no mention of a Spencer
I'm shocked to say the least

Two Flints

Sorry Two Flints.

In my defense may I say that the Ballard does use the same ammunition as the Spencer (56-56).

Chris

[Two Flints]

Dai.S. Loe,

Only kidding with that previous post   The fact that your Ballard uses Spencer 56-50 makes it OK even more

Two Flints

[Dai.S.Loe]

Dai.S. Loe,

Only kidding with that previous post   The fact that your Spencer uses Spencer 56-50 makes it OK even more

Two Flints

Always taken in the spirit of the good natured banter I have come to expect from this board.

Maybe my answer was too dry.

Two Flints you can take the p1ss out of me anytime you feel so inclined.

If we cantr laugh at ourselves who can we laugh at.

Chris

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

Dai;  Merry Christmas.

Did you ever "do" anything with your Ballard.  As I recall, it has an interesting provenance.  If you let it be I think you made the right choice.

Rattlesnake Jack tells me that IMI, a militaria replica supplier, has 1882 mounted infantry bandoliers for a great price.

[Herbert]

since you come from N Z you would have acess to back isues of australian shooter in july 2007 isue there is an artical on loading and shooting the snider if you carnt get it get in contact with me and i will send you a copy

[Dai.S.Loe]

Dai;  Merry Christmas.

Did you ever "do" anything with your Ballard.  As I recall, it has an interesting provenance.  If you let it be I think you made the right choice.

Rattlesnake Jack tells me that IMI, a militaria replica supplier, has 1882 mounted infantry bandoliers for a great price.

Strange you ask that question. I  have been following up on the history of that rifle over the past couple of weeks.

Unfortunately "rel life" has interfered with a lot of my shooting interests lately and the Ballard has taken a long time to get done.

I was just talking to an engineer last week. I have made a chamber cast and slugged the bore. From these he is going to make me some brass and a mould to throw a 370 gn bullet.

Another friend of mine is an autocad draughtsman and he has promised me he will make an electronic drawing of the action good enough to make a copy on a cnc machine.Hopefully I will be able to get this done. My step daughters partner has a milling maching in his worksop and he has offered to make the internal parts for me. Another friend has expressed an interest in running me off a copy of the action in his firms industrial cnc milling machine once I have the autocad drawing. Sharron ( her indoors) has ordered me the book by Frank De Haas regarding single shot rifles and in particuler the issue that deals with the Ballard. From this I hope to make a centrefire action for the copy.

Pondering which calibre to go for and I ha ve decided that I would like to make a rifle for shorter distances so I am going to go for a Ballard .38 Everlasting. Actually this old case is almost identical to the modern .357 Maximum. I'll just get a .38 heel loaded mould made and load with Black Powder.

Finally finished rebuilding my rolling block (almost). Need to have the upper tang drilled and the rear sight mounted. All the reloading gear for the 45-70 should arrive this month. A Lyman mould 535 gn Postell mould, lubrisizor dies and top punches, set of Lee reloading dies. Xmas present from the kids.

As to the history of the Ballard I have been trying to sort out all the information in documentary form. I have a lettter from the person I bought it from, stating that in approximately 1900 his father bought the carbine and some ammunition from Richard Roderick. This letter also states that Mr Roderick was a US citizen who had lived in the Paparoa\Dargaville area of NZ for a long time and was in the business of bootmaking. It also mentions that when his father bought the rifle that it was wrapped ( according to Bob's father) in Mr Rodericks' military uniform and that it was a Union uniform. So I have a record of the last 108 years set as a family history.

Working from there I have been delving into records and reports from civil war sites. I know the rifle was issued to the 12th Ohio Regiment. I have found two Richard Rodericks. One of whom would be too old as Bob here in NZ remembers talking to the man (Bob is 80 years old). I have concentrated on the younger Richard roderick who was 21 years old in 1864. There is a grave for him in the church in his hometown but I have been informed that this was a common practice for persons that had gone missing after the war or had died overseas.

It is so easy to find all this information but very hard to make it all tie up logically. I know that I will never be able to do so 100% but woulkd be very happy to have an 80% provenance.

I rave on so I will sgtop now

Chris

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

Dai;  When you get the de Hass book, it will describe the latter versions of the Marlin-Ballard.  This is where you should go.  The chapter also includes gunsmithing tips for various improvements.

Perhaps you can do a production run for the needs of the Aunty-poads' shooters?

You are NOT raving on.  That is a facinating story about the Ballard, and I wish you the best in tacking it down.

Good fortune with the Roller.