What was the .360 No2 intended for?

[Jefferry404]

But, he is fun to read…

 

[Clodo Ferreira]

There’s no doubt about it.

 

[Jefferry404]

Must be the no. 5 Rook, sorry about the foopa.
This I generously got from Rigby.

 

[Huvius]

Must be the no. 5 Rook, sorry about the foopa.
This I generously got from Rigby.

View attachment 709697

I would expect it to be a 360 2-1/4” being sighted out to 300.
The 360 No.5 is a really nice small game cartridge in its own right though. Probably the most useful of the usual “Rook & Rabbit” cartridges.
I make mine from 38 Special brass and many find their rifles shoot .358” bullets well so they are very easy to load for.
I, myself, use 150gr paper patched bullets which aren’t correct but sure shoot!

 

[Huvius]

This is the WW Greener 360 No.2 I owned.
What a beautiful rifle that was!

 

[PerH]

Bengt Berg’s Fantastic Set of Simson Guns

The Autumn 1996 issue of the Double Gun Journal contained an article written by my good friend Fredrik Franzén of Sweden about a fantastic set of guns once owned by the Naturalist and Sportsman Bengt Berg. It is not only a story about the guns but also about Bengt’s life. Recently Fredrik shared...

germanhuntingguns.com

His .360 set is mentioned there .

 

[cajunchefray]

Bengt Berg’s Fantastic Set of Simson Guns

The Autumn 1996 issue of the Double Gun Journal contained an article written by my good friend Fredrik Franzén of Sweden about a fantastic set of guns once owned by the Naturalist and Sportsman Bengt Berg. It is not only a story about the guns but also about Bengt’s life. Recently Fredrik shared...

germanhuntingguns.com

His .360 set is mentioned there .

@PerH, fantastic article and collection of Simsons. Thanks very much for posting!

 

[MacJenkins]

I have a William Evans in a 400/360 Purdey (Thin Rim) that is a great little rifle. Have shot 3-4 zebras, a couple Kudu, warthogs etc. Historical load was a 300 grain bullet at 1950. Mine I load it a bit warm and it regulates better than at 1950. I'm at 2075 with a 286 woody soft. While I have some Bertram brass properly headstamped I could never get it to regulate as well as forming Hornady 9.3x74R brass for it. Which is very a simple process.

 

[PerH]

@PerH, fantastic article and collection of Simsons. Thanks very much for posting!

His books were published in English also , in Dangerous Big Game , he writes the .360 was the best bear cartridge he knew of . On the Asian sloth bear it worked very well

 

[Huvius]

Next to the 470 you can see that the 360 No.2 is not a pip-squeak!

Here is a photo from my bench.
L to R
Bertram 360 No.2 “formed” case, same fire formed in my Greener, 450/400, and the same necked down but not yet fire formed.

As you can see, I had to be pretty generous with the annealing of the Bertram brass to insure it ballooned out in fire forming.
Worked beautifully though.

 

[Sarg]

I would expect it to be a 360 2-1/4” being sighted out to 300.
The 360 No.5 is a really nice small game cartridge in its own right though. Probably the most useful of the usual “Rook & Rabbit” cartridges.
I make mine from 38 Special brass and many find their rifles shoot .358” bullets well so they are very easy to load for.
I, myself, use 150gr paper patched bullets which aren’t correct but sure shoot!
View attachment 709713

Another beauty there, I bet you could load a heavy load in that to take small Deer ?

I think the 38/357 Mag cases are a little smaller in the head ?

My Webley No5 Express shoots 38 S&W no problem & it fits better.

 

[steve white]

The British cartridge development was more likely than Continental development to focus on African capability. Rigby also had a pretty sterling reputation for what they put out, Africa wise. I find it hard to think that Rigby thought mostly of Indian tigers or European bears before Africa, but I could be wrong. I think maybe the 360 nr 2 is an answer to the 9.3x62? IMO one will suffice for the other. I would use it for anything I would use the 9.3x62 to handle, if loaded with modern propellants and premium bullets. (which means just enough for buffalo in ideal circumstances, and everything below that on the menu)

 

[Esoteric Junkie]

For your viewing pleasure. Lancaster 360 #2 SLE.
EJ