Research Press - Print Page

Research Press
http://www.lrml.org/cgi-bin/researchpress/YaBB.pl
British Firearms (Pre. 1914) >> Breech Loading - Sporting Guns and Rifles >> Oval Bore Rifle .297/250"
http://www.lrml.org/cgi-bin/researchpress/YaBB.pl?num=1114631186

Message started by tjshooter on 04/27/05 at 8:46pm

Title: Oval Bore Rifle .297/250"
Post by tjshooter on 04/27/05 at 8:46pm

Does anybody reload for or have knowledge of this system? The question is does one size bullets to the high diameter reading or the low? I understand that they can be difficult to get shooting well.
Thanks in advance. TJ.

Title: Re: Oval Bore Rifle .297/250"
Post by FBoulton on 04/28/05 at 11:19am

Leave the oval bore for a minute: the 297/25 calibre is common in Rook Rifles. The groove diameter with conventional rifled bores is .25. problems arise with modern .25 moulds, which are all .257 diameter as cast. For the rifle to shoot well, they must be sized down to bore diameter.
Back to the oval bore: this was used almost exclusively by Charles Lancaster. The bore should be slugged and the bullet sized to .001" under the maximum diameter for best accuracy. I use a Lyman .25acp mould.The bullet is lubricated before and after sizing, and with 1.8 grains of bullseye or .5cc of Swiss no 2 black, both loads shoot to the same point at 50 m. Cases are easily formed from .22 Hornet brass.
Hope this helps,
regards,
Fred.

Title: Re: Oval Bore Rifle .297/250"
Post by tjshooter on 04/28/05 at 8:49pm

Thanks for that information.Yes it is a Lancaster and bore slugging gives me .247"- .257" so will take it from there. TJ.