reloading a 375/303

[cislowski]

has any one loaded 375/303 as i have one to shoot in big game rifle
will be loading with lead 225g to 250g the rifle is bsa manitin 375/303 made in 1900 the barrel is in as new

[The Double D]

Oh wow, neat! Closest I can come is 375 2 1/2 Flanged NE. It is slightly longer. I am using 270 grain bullets in mine. Let me look around. I think I might have something in my Library on the cartridge. I don't think either cartridge is much of a CB round.

[1Shirt]

How about pictures?
1Shirt!:coffeecom

[leftiye]

Au contraire. Should be a fine cast boolit round. (Depending on your barrel's condition) Actually, in the same boolit weights you could probly use .303 loading data as a starting place. The round sounds like the 30-30 in that it should use almost full house jacketed loads with cast (If you wanted to). Someone with a load calculating program should be able to get you within starting distance.

[runfiverun]

38-55 data should be a good starting place, as the case capacity and boolit weight are almost identical.
and you can go on up from there.

[303Guy]

The 375/303 is known as the Hawkins 38 in New Zealand. JeffinNZ loads for one but I think he uses black powder - not sure. The case is considerably bigger than the 38/55 or 375 Winchester and it has an operating pressure the same as the 303 Brit although that would be too high for cast. If I'm not mistaken, it will drive a 300gr boolit to 2200fps, depending on how deep the boolit is seated, i.e. powder capacity.

Oh, I am planning on building one someday but I intend to rebore and rifle a worn 303 barrel myself - which means building a rifling machine first!

[BerdanIII]

Is the .375/.303 known as the .375 Axite when it's at home?

I think Ken Waters rebored a .303 Mauser to a .375 wildcat; is that the one?

[JeffinNZ]

I load:

BP - 60gr 1.5Fg Swiss compressed 0.35 under a 277gr 20/1 bullet for 1370fps.
Smokeless - 37gr W748 under a 300gr 40/1 bullet for 1670fps.

Both shoot remarkably well. IE: 1.5 MOA and that's off a Lee Enfield action.

[cislowski]

Is the .375/.303 known as the .375 Axite when it's at home?

I think Ken Waters rebored a .303 Mauser to a .375 wildcat; is that the one?

375 axite is a 2 1/2 " long shell with 303 pill
a 303-375 is a 303 shell neck out to 375 the best way is to fire form, fire 303 with a lead pill 303 with 10 to 15g i am loading 22g of AP2207. I will find out if this right on saturday pill is 225g. I am building a 12g slug gun with 28/30 barrel in a BSA manitin 303 rifle i need some parts 12g extractor shell any one has one to sell ?
email ciss49@hotmail.com

[cislowski]

it is a BSA Manitin made in 1900 for big game 303 neck out to 375 base on a 303 shell

[cislowski]

the one i have is a BSA manitin 375/303 made in 1900 at BSA made it

[Frank46]

Jeez guys your killing me, Pictures please. Frank

[cislowski]

pitures of 375/303 BSA martin three shells one just 303 one loaded one fire from
one pill 378x250g sight is nick at my hand post on end small

push a pill and it come out at 390th ? it is right or not but rifleing look ok but small

[Mk42gunner]

Nice rifle Cislowski,

That sight sure is small. Is the safety original, or an add on?


Robert

[Frank46]

Thanks very much for posting the pics. Very business like and looks great. Frank

[Euan]

Gidday Mate,
Here are a couple of pictures of loaded rounds And cast boolits that I use. Loaded ammo from left; CBE 376/300gc, 38grains AR2208 @ 1850fps,
2nd; CBE 377/265 pb & paper patched, 37gns 2206 @ 1970 fps. 3rd; Lyman 375449 gc, 37gns 2206 @1950 fps. 4th; CBE 369 adjustable paper patch 270 gns, 40 gns 2208 @1940 fps. these loads are my working loads for both my win 85 hiwall and win 95. I had a martini as well for a while.
Other pic is some of the cast boolits I use. From left; cbe 378/220 gc, Lyman 375449gc, cbe 377/265 pb, cbe 377/265 with gas check added, which weighs 320 grains of ww, cbe 377/265 pb that I paper patch from soft lead. Last 2 are from the cbe 369 adjustable mold and weigh 250 gns & 270 gns.

[gerrycan]

Wow, great stuff I have a Martini in 45/70.65 grns Bp 1050 fps 12 grs Trail /boss is quite accurate .I have another large action coming soon maybe 303/something . Keep up the good work .Gerry [ in Australia ]

[Wayne Smith]

Nice rifle Cislowski,

That sight sure is small. Is the safety original, or an add on?


Robert

That's not a safety, that's a loaded chamber indicator, or cocked indicator. Standard on the Martini. I'm hoping to put a 9.3x74R in mine.

[Mk42gunner]

That's not a safety, that's a loaded chamber indicator, or cocked indicator. Standard on the Martini. I'm hoping to put a 9.3x74R in mine.

Wayne, that's what I thought at first glance also; but it is marked fire and safe...

Robert

[The Double D]

The firs safe inndication are some ones home brew add on.

The Action being used is a standard Martini Henry action that was up graded to Martini Enfield by BSA for .303.

[358wcf]

Gents,
The pointed lever shown on the right side of the Martini in question is a "cocking indicator"- function is to show whether or not the firing pin is in the "cocked" position ( to the rear and under spring-loading) or to the front in the un-cocked "at-rest" position. The martini does not have a safety as we know them today, ie- no way to carry it cocked but "on safe"-- if you want a martini safe, you carry it with the lever open-- very simple, and easy to see from a distance if the rifle is "safe" or not-
Strong, simple, reliable- a leftover piece of history to be cherished and enjoyed.
Gotta love those old Martinis!
If anyone ever manufactures new ones, with modern steels, there will be a market for them, for sure!

Chuck 358wcf [smilie=1:[smilie=1:[smilie=1:

I like the idea of using 38-55 data as a starting point. Sounds like the 375 on a 303 case, with a loooong neck would be a marvelous cast boolit launcher!!
Good On Ya, Mate!

[looseprojectile]

My Ruger #1 in 375 H&H shoots a 270 grain plain base boolit into one hole with 21 grains of SR 4759. I use dacron filler and get very low SD. If you can interpolate that powder with a powder you have available it should get you in the ballpark.
Twist is the determining factor. My gun has a one in twelve twist. Many early guns have up to one in eighteen twist and shoot very light boolits only. Faster twist can use longer boolits. It sounds to me that you are starting about right.
This reloading and wild cating is not an exact science. What works in my gun may not work in yours. You are going to really like your gun. I just got a Martini Cadet rifle and am in the process of making a swaging die to make boolits. I love this little Martini.

Life is good

[cislowski]

i have just have my hands on a Martini Enfield by BSA for .303 i will be builing a slug 12g gun30' 1" rifle barrel gun the barrel is on it's way from usa i need 12g ex" have one i hope in the mail from a old gun shop need to find a pill and the right mold ? i look at some, any help out they ?