Snider aficionados among membership?

Thought I'd throw out the question of who amongst Milsurps members is a reasonably serious Snider collector. I think it would be nice to see more Snider discussion in our favorite forum but maybe there's not enough critical mass? And please, don't tell me to go to British Militaria Forums- there are duplicate forums for every type of firearm.
So, if anyone's interested, just a brief mention of your interest in the Snider, maybe a comment about your favorite or most interesting example and whether or not you've gotten into reloading for them.
I will lead off- I now have a small collection with 2 and 3 band rifles but only a single carbine. My favorite is an excellent 2-band Mk I* that may have been some sort of initial troop trials rifle and was converted in 1866. Close second is a late commercial BSA cavalry carbine made for India. I am reloading courtesy of a Lee minie mould given to me by browningautorifle.
Next......................

I remember that mould...I had it for the two band I had bought somewhere on a whim. It was about perfect except the bayonet lug was butchered off. I polished that until gone and cold blued and the started loading with 10 rds of Elwood Epps' hand made on lathe brass. I bought dies here locally from a friend and used Pyrodex. I paper patched those bullets, teaching myself how in the process. Those were lessons well learned. It all worked well too. I used military field message book pages cut to size as they were graph paper and had lines so I could cut the patch material duplicate every time.

The whole thing worked flawlessly, I even used some 28 Ga Fiocchi hulls cut to size for cartridges for a bit. Eventually the brass cracked and the expense at the time was more that bearable to keep replacing them. I sold all, the bullet mould we know about. The rest is all out there somewhere. I see a Snider every so often and still want to get back to shooting them.

I'm a general collector, one of each type. So I have an interest in acquiring a Snyder but do not as of yet have one. It is fairly high on my list as I'm running out of other things.

Aragorn: That was how I got into them- wanted a typical example of the Snider. Had a sneaking suspicion I would want to try shooting one so my first was a mechanically perfect LSA 3-band MK III. Still the only one I've had to the range although a test of a recently purchased 2-band MK III is in the works.

Ridolpho

Two rifles came into a curio shop here a year ago and no one showed interest. They were not in great condition but shootable...fortunately I held back. That would be all I'd need...they eventually sold.

I have a crispy fresh rifle and a rather distressed carbine. Slowly repairing the carbine's stock. Have yet to shoot either.

I must say, my range trips with a Snider have been very enjoyable. The LSA Mk III that I've been using is in amazing condition for its age and functioned very, very well. My first batches of ammo yielded rather poor accuracy (5 or 6 inch FOM at 100m) but as I got more experienced with casting I started weighing/ grouping bullets and on my latest trip managed a respectable 4 inch (center to center) 5 shot group. I've been trying to simplify the reloading process, as well, and have switched to cotton balls instead of cream of wheat for filler. I'm also weighing powder charge instead of just using a volume measure and am finding it really doesn't take much more time. Other than a .54 Hawken replica kit I put together when I was in high-school, Sniders are my first foray into black powder but I'm all set to start loading for Martini's later this summer.

Ridolpho

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Originally Posted by Ridolpho

My first batches of ammo yielded rather poor accuracy

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Were the bullets casting completely or did you have trouble getting completely formed skirts like I was? I had trouble making that mould hot enough I guess.

Jim: With an electric pot I had no trouble. With a Coleman camp stove they wouldn't form properly. It actually puts out rather nice bullets. I finish them off with a conical wood plug made from golf tees in the base, a dip in pure molten beeswax, and then seat the bullets while the wax is still warm.

Ridolpho

I too used an electric pot...just couldn't get them perfect. Steel moulds I have no trouble with. The wood plug is a nice touch as is the bee's wax. They'd bump up just like they should.

An acquaintance has a few, one a carbine which is a joy to shoot. The sight radius is short and the large sights are a challenge. I was impressed the first time of firing it was the speed in which it can be reloaded, I felt faster than a trapdoor. I could run a drill with 3 cartridges in between 3 fingers and one in the chamber resulting in a volume of fire that could distress the enemy to no end wondering who they were up against. The cavernous chamber and freedom of the spent round to be expended aided in reloading when ones life depended on it.

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Originally Posted by maxim

The cavernous chamber and freedom of the spent round to be expended aided in reloading when ones life depended on it.

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Apparently they filled up rather quickly in combat though. The reports suggested a buildup of FFF black and it would slow things up...

Is it true Mounties were issued the carbines at one time. We pictured a Mountie on his humble steed, reins in one hand and Snider in the other, off to the territories to keep the peace and pursue errant vagabonds.... 50 or so of Snider rounds would be a bit of a burden.

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Originally Posted by maxim

Is it true Mounties were issued the carbines at one time.

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I don't have any hard picture proof of marked examples but here's a lead for you mentioning the rifles being issued. THE GUNS THAT WON THE WEST: THE FIREARMS OF THE N.W.M.P. - Calibremag.ca