Wanting to a Rook Rifle

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  • Last Post 30 July 2021
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Elmer posted this 19 July 2021

Gents,

I've got a H&R Handi-Gun-II with a 20 ga bbl that kicks the stuffing out of me. The sister bbl is .22 Hornet which I like.

What would be a good way to convert her to a .32 Rook rifle. IIRC, Ed Harris mentioned in an article what he considered to be a good, if not The caliber. Was it .32 Federal Mag? I'd be just as happy with a .32 Long, or. 38 spl.

Many thanks.

JSM

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Ken Campbell Iowa posted this 30 July 2021

... i have an  Ithaca 49 ( pot metal martini action ) ... 22rf with a wallowed out chamber ... wonder if it could hold a mild 25 acp  .. or 32 long  load ? ...    

maybe i should crossdrill a hole through the action and block to insert a locking pin before firing ? ...

ken

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shootcast posted this 30 July 2021

Have you considered a break open rifle such as the TC Contender carbine, TC Encore, CVA or Henry arms. 

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Elmer posted this 26 July 2021

Friends,

After reading Ed Harris' writing about his experiences with Rook rifles, "cat sneeze" loads, big brother's triangulation, etc., it caught my fancy. The Handi-Gun might be worth more unaltered. All answers were helpful. I've got to think about this.

Question answered.

Sincere thanks.

JSM

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Ed Harris posted this 24 July 2021

The English rook rifles are pricey these days, and if they need substantial gunsmithing to put back in order, as many do, particularly if they were converted to .410 shotguns, the gunsmith bill is not for the faint of heart or wallet.  John Taylor did several barrels to fit my pre-war H&R Garden Gun actions, and I have one "real" English rook rifle, which was relined and rechambered from a .255 to .32 S&W Long, then the outside restored by Lucas Geiger.

 The old soft steel actions, which include typical American break-open shotguns, should not be converted to high-pressure cartridges, because even after bushing the firing pin, with heavy loads as in the .327 Federal or .357 Magnum the actions will shoot loose.  The .32 S&W Long, .32 H&R Magnum and .38 Special +P are all viable choices.  My recent .30 Carbine barrel will be limited mostly to.32-20 equivalent handloads.

73 de KE4SKY In Home Mix We Trust From the Home of Ed's Red in "Almost Heaven" West Virginia

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max503 posted this 20 July 2021

Someone mentioned a 38 special.  If I want a rook rifle I take an unsized 38 case, prime it, powder it, and stuff a light bullet all the way down on the powder charge.  Ta da!  My Rossi lever action becomes a rifle I can shoot in the backyard.  A pinch of Bullseye produces a charge that will shoot cloverleafs at backyard distances.

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barra posted this 20 July 2021

Best way would be to stub the barrel in the 20 bore.

There would be no hard or altered steel or dimensions from making and welding a lug on a barrel.

I have a 310cadet in original from for rook and rabbit  duties at the moment.

Not a true form rook a  rabbit rifle as such but I won’t alter it either.

ohh to have and English pencil thin long barreled light and dandy rifle with lovely flowing lines on her.

 

 

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Wheel Weights posted this 20 July 2021

If you haunt the major auction house auctions, you can buy a real Rook rifle for reasonable $.

$500 will get you one from a 2nd tier maker, $1000 first tier.

Workmanship is just a mite better than H&R sealed

No collector value but will turn heads.

 

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Brodie posted this 20 July 2021

I think that Ed's rook rifle was a 32 Long if that is any help. 

If I were in your position I would look for a 32 caliber barrel that could be glued into that 20 ga hard kicker.  It would take some doing to modify the extractor and make the extractor cut into the barrel, but then with the addition of a good receiver sight on the rear and a ramped front sight you would be in business.

While you could do a search for "bunny gun" and probably find out who has done these conversions for Ed Harris if you have a trusted smith in your area that would agree to doing the conversion you might be ahead of the game cost wise.

B.E.Brickey

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Duane Mellenbruch posted this 19 July 2021

 I would suggest you do a search "Bunny gun" and see if you find what you are wanting there.

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