Best Mold for a Martini MK IV?

[El Gato]

Anyone casting for the Martini Mk IV? I have shot mine a couple of times with .458 molds with lackluster results. I tried some Swedged 451 boolits from Buffalo Arms with some paper patching and they worked much better.

Does anyone know where I can get a PP mold that drops about a 480 grain boolit that is good for the Martini MK IV?

Has anyone tried RCBS's #57923?
http://www.buffaloarms.com/Detail.aspx?PROD=162447&CAT=4126

Thanks!

[Muzzlehatch]

I don't cast, but my Mark IV likes .458 slugs wrapped with masking tape to .472.

[skeettx]

I have a special 466 diameter mould , sure is sweet

http://www.neihandtools.com/catalog/index.html

I had mine done without gas check

http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/466-475-GC.jpg

http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/MVC-007S23.JPG

http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/MVC-006S22.JPG

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/archive/index.php/t-92461.html

Mike

[Ed in North Texas]

Anyone casting for the Martini Mk IV?
snip
Thanks!

Mark IV A, B, or C? The A and B variants were made from the new .402 (IIRC) which the Brits dropped when they figured out that with the .303 soon to come out, they didn't want a 3d rifle caliber in the supply chain. So they rebored the .40 caliber barrels to .577-450. These bores run big, with the usual recommendation being a .472 boolit for these. The C variant had a made from scratch barrel and the recommended boolit is .468 (as were the earlier Mark rifles and carbines). And I'm still figuring out whether mine is a B or C.

But, the throat/leade on the Martini Henry is graduated and can swage down a quite oversized boolit. One M-H shooter has stated that he uses a .476 boolit in a Mark II rifle (.468 nominal bore). And Skeetx proves that supposedly undersized boolits can shoot quite well in these rifles.

I have Douglas (The Double D), and lots of other kind and helpful Martini-Henry shooter/collectors, to thank for what little I have learned about these fine firearms. They, and the Sniders, are a real piece of history at a generally lower price than an original Trapdoor in good collector-shootable condition.

[El Gato]

THANKS FOR ALL THE HELP!

I cannot wait to get back home and try this out. (currently at Camp Shelby) I might have to order a mold from NEI. If I remember correctly, I have a Type A MK IV. Thanks for all the great advice. I am going to stick to 85 grains of Goex cartridge powder.

I cannot wait try something new..:drinks:

[skeettx]

Ok with the black powder, but it sure does KICK HARD.
Enjoy the gun
Mike

[herbert buckland]

CBE makes a .470-480 gr mould especily for the Martini Henry,I youse it with very good results

[Ragnarok]

I own a trio of Martini rifles from the 'Nepal cache'...one of these is a Mk.IV rifle.

Mine I believe to be the MK.IV B type with a rebored barrel...but the bore diameter must vary..'cause mine slugs out to approx. .469/.470..shoots .469 bullets I cast from a Lee mold..and shoots them perfectly.

I use the same ammo for all three of my Martini's(two Mk.II..and the Mk.IV).

I suppose a guy really should slug the bore on these to see what he has.

[El Gato]

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/imagehosting/thum_200654e99ccb858c72.jpg (http://castboolits.gunloads.com/vbimghost.php?do=displayimg&imgid=2418)

Here is a shot of my Martini with a PP bullet cartridge I made...

[herbert buckland]

I own a trio of Martini rifles from the 'Nepal cache'...one of these is a Mk.IV rifle.

Mine I believe to be the MK.IV B type with a rebored barrel...but the bore diameter must vary..'cause mine slugs out to approx. .469/.470..shoots .469 bullets I cast from a Lee mold..and shoots them perfectly.

I use the same ammo for all three of my Martini's(two Mk.II..and the Mk.IV).

I suppose a guy really should slug the bore on these to see what he has.To me it is the throat that is important fo acuracy in these rifles,and wyle the bore may be biger on the A&B Mk IVs the throat is the same so in my opinion you are doing the right thing by yousing a larger bullet in all rifles,the only difrence is how much the bullets get sqeezed dow in the taperd throat(.464 groove diameter in most models and I Have heard up to .472 in the A&B Mk IVs but I have never seen this my self,around .468-9 seems to be the norm,so the .470 bullets should work ,and do in my experince in all MH 577-450 rifles