Hi Smoke73

Looks like you have got some good advice so far from other members. Rook rifles are my specialist subject here in England, and I have been running a target shooting event here for 12 years. I have a Holland & Holland sleeved to .22lr which is brilliant. It was originally a .295, which is the same thing as the .300 Rook. Many shooters here have rescued rook rifles that were bored out to .410 shotgun after 1920 by sleeving. I have one which had that done, so I got my late friendly gunsmith to make me a second barrel from a worn .308 / 7.62 target rifle barrel. I know the twist rate is too fast, but chambered in 32-20 it is extremely accurate. Just for fun I loaded it up to 1900 fps which worked well, but indeed the primers flowed back around the firing pin, so was difficult to open. I now keep loads to 1100 fps with a 120 grain cast bullet.

Other shooters use .32 S&W Long or the .32 Magnum, which is hard to find here since they took away our pistols (sob!). You don't say what type of action your rifle is, if with a centre hammer or hammerless, break-open or Martini, etc. A photo would be nice. .38 Special sub-sonic loads are also fine in many rifles. .22 Hornet loads are also possible, although far too fast to be a true rook rifle, and may not suit the sights. Has yours got any cast-on or cast-off??

Finally Wal Winfer will have a new book out soon (or two) all about rook rifles. Hammer actions in the first volume, hammerless in the second.

HistoricBore