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8borerifle
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Reged: 15/04/08
Posts: 89
Loc: Ohio,USA
James Purdey .577 Snider (28 Bore) double rifle made 1867
      #335224 - 08/12/19 07:46 AM

This very rare Purdey .577 Snider double rifle was made for Viscount Downe and is in its original case with accessories.30" three strip damascus barrels have one standing and three flip up sights. Rib engraved J. Purdey 314 1/2 Oxford Street, London. Purdey engraved on both locks, which are almost totally engraved along with the action. Engraving is crisp there is about 85% original case colors and 80% damascus finish on the barrels. Stock is in great condition except for some dings below the double beaded right hand cheekpiece. Checkering is excellent with 18 lines per inch. Rifle locks up as new and bores are excellent except for a very very small amount of fine pitting after the chamber on the right barrel. Rifle weighs 9 pounds 2 ounces and pull is 14 1/2 inches Cased in original oak case with bullet mold numbered to the rifle, cleaning rod numbered to the rifle and other accessories. The action is fitted with Purdey's adaption of the Jones underlever where the entire trigger guard and lever swing out as one. An internal lock keeps the triggers from firing the rifle while the lever is being used. I have .577 Snider dies and 20 new brass cases sized and trimmed. Locks are non-rebounding. Engraved steel buttplate is engraved "charge 3 drams no. 6 powder". The label also has written charge 3 drams. I have everything I need to shoot the rifle, except for wads, which I have ordered. Now I need to cast some more bullets and find a place to shoot!


[image] https://i.postimg.cc/kXHxGb76/IMG-7308.jpg[/image] [image] https://i.postimg.cc/hGT8HtWJ/IMG-7303.jpg[/image]


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93x64mm
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Reged: 07/12/11
Posts: 3954
Loc: Nth QLD Australia
Re: James Purdey .577 Snider (28 Bore) double rifle made 1867 [Re: 8borerifle]
      #335227 - 08/12/19 08:02 AM

Absolute stunning piece of kit & history there 8bore!
Do you have more on it's history?
Please keep us up to date with your thread about the loading & field reports when you get a chance on this wonderful old lady, she certainly needs to sing again!
Fantastic pick up old mate!
93x64mm


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8borerifle
.275 member


Reged: 15/04/08
Posts: 89
Loc: Ohio,USA
Re: James Purdey .577 Snider (28 Bore) double rifle made 1867 [Re: 93x64mm]
      #335230 - 08/12/19 09:06 AM

Thanks 93x64mm, Viscount Downe (Lord Downe) ended up becoming a Major General and lost a son at the Battle of Ypres 1914 in the 1st WW. He was stationed in Africa I believe during the Zulu wars and evidently went to India as there is a label in the case that references where to buy black powder in India. His family owned an entire town.He was born in 1857 and died in 1924.I found a reference that he was head of the palace guards that protected Queen Victoria at one time. I plan on trying to shoot the rifle at 50 yards, might be hard with growing cataracts in both eyes!

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TH44
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Reged: 21/02/09
Posts: 731
Loc: West UK
Re: James Purdey .577 Snider (28 Bore) double rifle made 1867 [Re: 8borerifle]
      #335236 - 08/12/19 11:00 AM

8bore - That is a seriously nice rifle. Even if not dated it has all the hallmarks of an early rifle, non-rebounding locks, finger rest etc. and the engraving is my favourite
I saw a very similar Purdey with a similar trigger guard/underlever some years ago at Holt's auction in London

If you are loading BP you can use milk carton wads between a grease cookie (Daryl has a good recipe)

If NfB with H4198 you must use magnum primers

I now always use BP as that is what they were designed for
I have an early Williams & Powell DR in .577 Snider posted here a long time ago
BTW .577 is 24 bore

Good luck shooting it please keep us informed of your progress

TH44


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8borerifle
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Reged: 15/04/08
Posts: 89
Loc: Ohio,USA
Re: James Purdey .577 Snider (28 Bore) double rifle made 1867 [Re: 8borerifle]
      #335237 - 08/12/19 11:11 AM

The rifle was engraved by Purdey's best engraver, James Lucas, barrels by the head barrel maker G. Austin, hardening by Abbe Robins, stocking by Henry Lewis. Purdey records list the rifle as a 28 BORE. The bullets mike .575 and weigh 455 grains. The rifle has a tapered bore and mikes as best as I can tell .557 at the muzzle.

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8borerifle
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Reged: 15/04/08
Posts: 89
Loc: Ohio,USA
Re: James Purdey .577 Snider (28 Bore) double rifle made 1867 [Re: 8borerifle]
      #335239 - 08/12/19 11:25 AM

Hi TH44, I am mainly a collector and never hunted and very seldom shot the many English black powder rifles my brother and I have owned. The most fun to shoot was an 8 BORE W W Greener top lever double rifle. I would like to shoot this one. I can't take a heavy recoiling gun any more. I have two friends that will absolutely not shoot smokeless powder in a black powder double rifle. One had a .450/.400 2 3/8 Alex Henry that had both chambers ringed even though he used well known loading data. He is meticulous in loading and cannot figure it out. I owned a magnificent top lever Purdey Whitworth barred .450 3 1/4" BPE that had multiple rings in both chambers! The other guy is Mike Rowe, a real authority on British double rifles and a fantastic gunsmith. I bought Olde Eynsforth 1 1/2 to shoot in the rifle. I will keep you informed when I get to shoot it. Dang cold here now!

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DarylS
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Reged: 10/08/05
Posts: 26414
Loc: Beautiful British Columbia, Ca...
Re: James Purdey .577 Snider (28 Bore) double rifle made 1867 [Re: 8borerifle]
      #335240 - 08/12/19 12:37 PM

8Bore - what a lovely rifle indeed.
I am sure that using the 3 dram load will work wonderfully.
A mixture of good Beeswax/Vaseline, 60%/40% is a very good one - or simply use SPG or Lyman's Black Powder Gold lube.
The Old Enysford you have chosen should work just fine - or Swiss 1 1/2F.
I am sure that working with this rifle will be a pleasurable endeavour.

--------------------
Daryl


"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V


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Ahmed577
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Reged: 13/06/13
Posts: 326
Loc: Western Australia
Re: James Purdey .577 Snider (28 Bore) double rifle made 1867 [Re: DarylS]
      #335248 - 08/12/19 10:41 PM

Sadly that type of gun has always eluded me. Purdey have built me a rifle choked 10 bore with extra set of smooth bore barrels. The cost is unfortunately prohibitive to provide for future enthusiasts.

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TH44
.375 member


Reged: 21/02/09
Posts: 731
Loc: West UK
Re: James Purdey .577 Snider (28 Bore) double rifle made 1867 [Re: 8borerifle]
      #335254 - 09/12/19 04:12 AM

8Bore - I too am primarily a collector, due to the repressive firearms laws over here in the UK but try to shoot on a range when possible

If you want to try a load with less recoil one option is to use Round Ball. I do this with almost all of my Sniders with the standard load of 70 grains
This is less than 3 drams (82 grains) and the lighter ball and smaller contact area will keep recoil to a minimum for a starting load
I also use a recoil pad with heavier loads

Be aware that this load may not regulate in your Double, it being regulated for 3 drams and conical bullet

I use a .600 RB an all my Sniders but that will not go anywhere near my Williams & Powell double chambers

As you have a taper bore (like many Sniders) possibly slug the bore from the breech, just tapping it in enough to clear the cone. Roll the slug in the caliper jaws if there is an odd number grooves (is usual)
The RB especially in pure lead will not push up pressures much

For the W&P I initially put the loaded round in the FL resizing die (without the decapper!) and just give it a gentle squeeze,
enough to seat and grip the ball and stop it moving forward with the recoil from the other barrel. Shoot both barrels regularly , not use one barrel leaving the loaded round in the other
As I have several Sniders I keep the cases for the double separate from all others and they do not require resizing

Just a thought to give you another option if you wish

Good luck as always

TH44


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DarylS
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Reged: 10/08/05
Posts: 26414
Loc: Beautiful British Columbia, Ca...
Re: James Purdey .577 Snider (28 Bore) double rifle made 1867 [Re: TH44]
      #335256 - 09/12/19 04:24 AM

Good info TH44. I have heard of guys using the proper sized round balls in their sniders before.
My Bro has one, nice Canadian issue (Ontario) that has .563" groove dia.
He has a round ball mould very close to that size, as well as a slug mould and bullet sizer for that barrel.

--------------------
Daryl


"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V


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tinker
.416 member


Reged: 12/03/05
Posts: 4835
Loc: Nevada
Re: James Purdey .577 Snider (28 Bore) double rifle made 1867 [Re: DarylS]
      #335276 - 09/12/19 04:09 PM

Really nice set.
I look forward to seeing how you do as you get this rifle running.

I think I have bullets here cast from that mould.

--------------------
--Self-Appointed Colonel, DRSS--



"It IS a dangerous game, and so named for a reason, and you can't play from the keyboard. " --Some Old Texan...


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8borerifle
.275 member


Reged: 15/04/08
Posts: 89
Loc: Ohio,USA
Re: James Purdey .577 Snider (28 Bore) double rifle made 1867 [Re: tinker]
      #335287 - 10/12/19 05:02 AM

Found an article in the December 2015 Handloader magazine that is on reloading the .577 Snider. It has a couple of photos of a Purdey double rifle also made in 1867 to shoot the Snider. Very similar to mine, not the same engraving style. Yes, Tinker those bullets I sent to you. Got 20 more Snider brass cartridges last night, Jameson brass and they fit perfect without sizing!

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tinker
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Reged: 12/03/05
Posts: 4835
Loc: Nevada
Re: James Purdey .577 Snider (28 Bore) double rifle made 1867 [Re: 8borerifle]
      #335295 - 10/12/19 08:11 AM

That's great news!

I can't wait to see you get it running.

--------------------
--Self-Appointed Colonel, DRSS--



"It IS a dangerous game, and so named for a reason, and you can't play from the keyboard. " --Some Old Texan...


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