Greener GP in 40-82

[andym79]

Hi guys, I am looking to have a Greener GP shotgun barreled in 40-82, and loading it with BP, or smokeless softly, but am unsure if its will make the turn, has anyone do this on a GP action or with a cartridge of the same length e.e. 50-90?

If not how about on a large frame Henry Martini, if it works on that it will on a GP.

[andym79]

I believe the GP was chambered in 12G 2 3/4" (70mm) so in theory anything with an COL of 2.75" should fit!

[Jedman]

Andy, I have a rifle I built on a 12 ga. Greener police gun that is the same as the GP shotgun action. Mine is a .375 cal. wildcat cartridge that I made by taking a 375 H&H sizing die and cutting off the bottom where the belt recess was then forming Starline 45-100 brass and it ends up at 2.625" long. I can load long bullets and it will make the turn and feed into the chamber easily.
This is nearly identical to the 375 H&H but is .225 shorter and has a rim.
I am not fimilar with the 40-82 but if it is tapered it should work, as long strait walled cartridges like the 50-90 might not work but being the gun feeds 2 3/4" 12 ga. Shells it should work fine.

Jedman

[andym79]

This is what the 40-82 looks like

[Kraschenbirn]

Several years ago, a friend rebarreled a Greener to .44-77 Sharps. Don't remember all the details but recall that he only loaded for it with BP and it was very, very accurate. Unfortunately, he's passed on and his collection was broken up with at least two of his restorations going to the Smithsonian.

Bill

[Jedman]

Andy, I see the 40-82 is really a 45-90 necked to 40 cal. The overall length of loaded rounds could easily exceed 2.775 and feed into the 12 ga. Martini action.
My wildcat round is more than a 1/2" longer and no problem.
If dies are available and reasonable that would be a great cal to make your rifle in.
I load mine with smokeless powder only and the action is plenty strong, mine is not the " split" reciever that some shotguns had, if that is what you are working with BP might be a better choice.
I have 2 more of the Martini police guns that were 14/12 ga. That I have removed the barrels on and bored the chambers to use standard 2 3/4" 12 ga. shells. Nice guns !

Jedman

[Texas by God]

I was under the impression that the Greeners had special non standard firing pins?

[Jedman]

TbG, They do have firing pins with wings sorta but it takes nothing to remove them. The bolt face then has 3 narrow slots that don't hurt anything. The gun I made the 375 wildcat on I TIG welded up the slots and the firing pin hole and a friend at a die shop surface ground it and you can't even see a trace of the holes I don't think it would need to be done because CF brass is all solid for around .200 thickness so I doubt the brass would flow in to the slots.

Jedman

[Reverend Al]

I hope you don't have any clearance issues loading the .40-82's in the Martini action, but I sure do like your choice of cartridge as it's one that has always interested and intrigued me. I originally had an 1886 Winchester in .40-82 mfg in 1889 with a rapid taper octagon lightweight barrel that shot well, but was talked out of it by a collector that needed far more than me and for far more than I paid for it originally. I managed to replace it with a Winchester High Wall 1885 also mfg in 1889 and thankfully I had kept my dies, brass, and bullet mould from the '86. Not sure what twist you're thinking about in your barrel, but the originals were designed as "express" cartridges and shoot best with 240 to 260 grain bullets. Looking forward to hearing how you make out with your project Martini ...

[andym79]

Thanks for the replies guys, not sure if I want a slow twist for small and quick or a faster twist for heavy and slow at this stage.

[sharps4590]

Good cartridge. One of many that unfortunately fell by the wayside. I still have my '86 in 40-82. Took my first hog with it a couple decades ago. I always thought it would make a good long range BPC with the right twist and heavy bullet.

[andym79]

My Greener GP was made for standard 12 gauge, and has a "normal" firing pin. I know that the original 40-82 was a BP express for small bullets, but I am tempted to shoot stuff a bit bigger.