Thread: .577 snider enfield

Was RSO at our local range today... bloke shows up with this bloody thing... a monster,got to shoot it (target)recoil minimal

I have a few of those
Good gun. Good fun.
Looks like 3 bands? ? Sargents length?

All the ammo were hand reloads .. black powder... have never seen one of these but the ol-boy was full of good info ...the history,...English,elephant guns.... 93 years of age,open sites @135 yds ,he could still hit the target (standard target size)... I was very impressed.....what gentleman!!!

Yeah mate... he mentioned the numbers,so I’m sure you know,but he said it was standard

Originally Posted by Boxton

I have a few of those
Good gun. Good fun.
Looks like 3 bands? ? Sargents length?

Been tempted to turn up to a service rifle shoot with its replacement the martini henry but the timed stages would be a challenge.
There was its precurser the enfield muzzle loader at the big bore shoot. .577 and an oz of lead certainly qualified.

I’m just bloody amazed these things are in kiwi.... get surprised all the time

Loaded some ammo for one the other day, 70 grains FFG, guy had bought a commercial I.Hollis from the TGA Gun Show, Really nice rifle, early model with the suicide block!! Havent heard from him since he picked up the ammo?

I had a 3 band land pattern conversion with the mk1 "suicide" block and I'm still here. Undeserved name IMO.

“Suicide block”...?????

My missus loves these old guns, has a reproduction Enfield, and a original 1860 Snider. Still shoot the Snider too, soft loads and not a lot of shots but gees it’s good fun!

Originally Posted by A330driver

“Suicide block”...?????

No latch on the hinged block to keep it closed hence the name.
Later versions had a latch.

I have 3 - a full length rifle (3 bander like in the photo), a shorter "suicide" model which is a muzzle loader conversion, and a Hollis cavalry carbine with saddle ring.

I have shot the conversion a few times and the cavalry carbine maybe 300- 400 times back in the day when I was fully into BP.

I am not sure I would want to take on an irate elephant with a Snider.

Thanks for that mate... appreciate the explanation... in looking up the history it was mentioned that it was used on elephants... I have no idea what this type of firearm was used for , but I’m all up for some ”education”...

No doubt like the 303 they probably did get used on elephants.......

Originally Posted by A330driver

Thanks for that mate... appreciate the explanation... in looking up the history it was mentioned that it was used on elephants... I have no idea what this type of firearm was used for , but I’m all up for some ”education”...

Indigenous persons

Lol.... u a funny man mate.... but yeah.... history is a teacher

Originally Posted by Maca49

Indigenous persons