Bought Westley Richards falling block in 300 ROOK. Anyone shooting one or loading for it? HELP

Harry,
Bertram brass is about the only game in town & most of it had to be reworked, (reamed ID & rims sized) CH4D has dies available & we used a modified mold. We had 3 rifles in this chambering & used the one with the tightest chamber to constuct the reloads so they would work in any one of the 3 rifles.

m4220

Thank you for your prompt reply and help.
So what rifles did you have in this caliber and what all did you shoot with them?
I have not cast a bullet in over 50 yrs. so hopefully I can find someone that will do all this for me.
Better tomorrows and Merry Christmas!

Harry,
Have just shot paper so far, shoots good at 100 yards. All 3 were Brit Rook rifles, mine being the H&H, other was a Jeffery's & don't remember the make of the other. This was the load that that regulated best to the fixed sights on all the rifles.

m4220

The written load info turned out blurred on this end.
The rifle I just bought is a falling block.
Thanks for the photo and the info.
It seems you and I may be in a small crowd.

I am finding out that Buffalo Arms may have much of the items I need. I have yet to contact them yet.

Nice acquisition Harry!!! Forgive my being a bit envious as I'd really like to have a little rook rifle...in about any cartridge.

The load data is blurry on my computer too but I'm pretty sure I made it out. It appears to be

3.2 grs. of WW231
80 gr. LRN bullet from a Lyman mold
Fed 100 primers.

Sorry about the blurry pic, reback correct with 1.430 overall length. Let's see a pic of your WR falling block Harry, sounds like a fun rifle!

m4220

I don't have rifle in hand yet. Will get a photo and someone to post a photo when I get . Thanks for your help and interest. Better tomorrows.

I am sure many of you are way ahead of me in this dept. but in trying to find ammo for the Westley Richards 300 Rook rifle I have run across this. I found the correct brass at Graf and Sons in Mexico, MO and the correct bullets at Buffalo Arms in Ponderay, ID. You might want to stick those sources in your files for help later down the road.
All you rooks and rabbits beware...the old man with the silver whiskers and hair is not necessarily Santa Clause this time!

Don't concider this Easy Peasy until you have loaded cartridges that fit your chamber & shoot to your sights. Don't ask me how I know what a bugger this little cartridge can be! I see you are buying Bertram brass from Graf, the Bertram brass we bought had so much taper in the case I.D. that when you tried to seat your bullets the case would no longer fit the chamber! Reaming the case I.D. for consistant wall thickness ended up being the correct fix for us.

m4220

Bertram is at least a source for a lot of hard to find brass. I have some for 3 or 4 rifles and I believe all of it had to go through at least some modification before it would work correctly. That's often easier than completely forming brass from a parent case but it is a bit frustrating.

The box of Kynoch arrived yesterday. It is a start. Wish I had the rifle.

Yesterday I slugged the barrel of the Westley Richards 300 Rook falling block and sent it off to RCBS so they can hopefully make me the proper die and punch.
Yesterday I opened the front door and there was a long box with a James Woodward & Sons 297 -250 side lever with hammer. Now the question is...where do I get all the stuff for it?
I have never loaded a cast bullet but have a good friend that know all about the loading part just not about the source for bullets, brass and how much of what powder.
The chase is on again.
Hopefully I can get neighbor to come help me post some photos before all is said and done. Both rifles are in very good condition and I am looking forward to defending the ranch against Evil Rooks and Commie Rabbits before 2016 is past.
I think I have a fair handle on getting the 300 up and running before long but the 250 is a total mystery and I would appreciate all thoughts.

I want to hang out on your doorstep mister. You are doing something right!

Ooo, the 297/250 is a real cutie but was a real pain for brass before Buffalo Arms had it. I had a nice little Rigby and made brass from .22 Hornet, which required nearly every alteration except head diameter: cut short, form, neck turn, thin rims, the works. Now BA has them for $1.29 each! Dies are expensive, but you may be able to get away with .25 ACP dies to neck size and seat.

The Rigby I had was about .251" across the grooves and .25 auto bullets actually worked pretty well. I did have NEI cut a mould that duplicated a factory bullet which also worked well. Alas that mould went with the rifle years ago.

One other important bit of advice - if you have an edition of "Cartridges of the World" that lists loading data for the 297/250 do not use it! At one point they showed a load of 5 (five) grains of Unique as a correct load, but that's at least a double charge!

Buffalo Arms links:

300 Rook bullets http://www.buffaloarms.com/300...800266.aspx?CAT=4136

300 Rook brass http://www.buffaloarms.com/300...156977.aspx?CAT=3835

297/250 brass http://www.buffaloarms.com/297...156968.aspx?CAT=3835