Page 1 of 2

Single shot rifle in 357

Posted: Mon Aug 05, 2019 8:06 pm
by mag41uk
You may recall I was wobbling on a while back about a rifle in 357 to get out to 300yds.
Appears to be sod all available and/or any importers not interested.
Still toying with the ruger 77/357 as they are available.
As I have been sorting through the sec58 rifles which I am thinning out I find I have 1 and a half Remington rolling blocks.
I say 1 and a half as one has no hammer and various bits missing.
Both these rifles are in 43 Egyptian and judging by the lack of rifling have seen much use - as they apparently did.
It got me thinking about having one rebarreled in 357 maximum.
Barrel blank should be easy to source - say 1 in 20 twist - not sure what thread is required but the old barrel will give a clue assuming it comes off.
Maybe 22 inch barrel. Extractor would need reworking which I think maybe the tricky part.
I can do the woodwork. No open sights but drilling and tapping for a scope mount.
Any one done a similar conversion?
Am I wasting my time?

Re: Single shot rifle in 357

Posted: Mon Aug 05, 2019 9:45 pm
by Sim G
If you can't find what you want, then that conversion fits the bill perfectly.

Re: Single shot rifle in 357

Posted: Tue Aug 06, 2019 4:55 am
by dodgyrog
Why not just reline the old barrel?

Re: Single shot rifle in 357

Posted: Tue Aug 06, 2019 4:27 pm
by Sim G
A mate who had an old Winchester 45-90 relined said there was only one bloke left in the country who does it, Arthur Smith. Took ages and wasn’t cheap!

Re: Single shot rifle in 357

Posted: Tue Aug 06, 2019 7:07 pm
by dodgyrog
Sim G wrote:A mate who had an old Winchester 45-90 relined said there was only one bloke left in the country who does it, Arthur Smith. Took ages and wasn’t cheap!
It looks easy enough if you have the right equipment:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZ7sQya7tyk

Re: Single shot rifle in 357

Posted: Tue Aug 06, 2019 8:35 pm
by FredB
If you are going to use an old rolling block action with a modern, higher pressure cartridge, then don't forget the firing pin. Old actions have large pins in sloppy holes and the increased pressure of the 357 Max will cause the primer to set back and flow around the pin. It needs to be drilled out and bushed for a smaller pin.
Fred

Re: Single shot rifle in 357

Posted: Thu Aug 08, 2019 4:25 pm
by mag41uk
Thanks for varied replies!
Its possible the old barrel wouldn't come off intact any way.
I think fitting a new barrel wouldn't cost much more than a reline - assuming anyone could reline it.
Nice video btw on the 22 reline.
At least with a new barrel it would be better metal more equipped for a higher pressure round.
The only down side I can see would be the extractor as it was designed for a much larger case.
Maybe I could get an extractor from a smaller cartridge rifle.
Hmmm.
Will have a chat with a couple of gun plumbers.

Re: Single shot rifle in 357

Posted: Thu Aug 08, 2019 4:35 pm
by GlockworkOrange
I've got a Pedersoli Rolling Block .410 shotgun, which is rather useless, and have been considering doing something similar. Would be a shame to lose the barrel though, it's incredibly heavy and proofed at 2240kg (nearly 32000 PSI by my calculations?), so I can't help but wonder if it could simply be rifled and rechambered for a suitable rifle cartridge.

Re: Single shot rifle in 357

Posted: Thu Aug 08, 2019 5:00 pm
by dodgyrog
H&R Handi Rifle in .357 Mag bores out to maximum easily enough - IF you can find one!

Re: Single shot rifle in 357

Posted: Thu Aug 08, 2019 5:15 pm
by shugie
If shooting out to longer distances with 357 mag would you not be better off with some sort of miniature cannon arrangement to make getting howitzer trajectories that bit easier?