Need help with Enfield Martini 303

[coaldust]

I have been looking at a 303 Enfield Martini and I am not sure if this cal is the same as the .303 British ammo, anybody up to date on these rifles?

[Boz330]

Yes, it is the same round. I wouldn't try and hot rod it but the Martini action is very strong. If you are going to shoot cast boolits in it you will want to slug the throat. Many of these rifles were shot with Cordite which tended to erode the throat and it takes an over size boolit (.316+) to get it to shoot well. CBE out of Australia makes an oversize mold for the 303 and it helped mine tremendously. I would like to say that I really had it sorted out, but many projects very little time seems to be the order of the day. The up side is that with the conversion rate it is very affordable.

Bob

[glicerin]

If the knoxform has an E stamped, then it should be enfield rifling, otherwise metford rifling(which doesn't last well with smokeless powder). Try to research whether your rifle is a khyber pass special(maybe dangerous to shoot). I'm disassembling mine now(no E, no right side receiver markings, but reasonably well made). MY worn rifling tumbles bullets at 50 yards. good luck.

[Ed in North Texas]

I think I read that the owner of CBE is retiring, wonder if the business will continue (or if I'm mistaken). I think the Metford rifling would last fine with smokeless, it just didn't last worth spit with Cordite. Other smokeless powders aren't nearly as erosive as Cordite.

Ed

[Bad Ass Wallace]

I cast a 190gn x .314 projectile for my Martini Enfields. Sized to .314 and loaded with 28gn 3031 they shoot well!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v152/BAWallace/303_cast.jpg

[Boz330]

Mine at .314 hit sideways if they hit at all. The CBE .316 shows some promise though.

Bob

[Gaza]

Is the bore pitted ? Paper patched bullets can achieve improved accuracy with a worn throat and moderate pitted rifleing. I guess it depends if the rifle is in otherwise good condition or not , mine was a bit rough so I found a good SMLE barrel and had it fitted. Martini Enfields are fine old actions ,well worth spending some time and $$ on.
Gaza

[BCRider]

Gaza, Is the threading the same on the Martini-Enfields and later Lee-Enfields?

If so that sort of means that the old .577/450 barrels were also this same thread form and pitch?

[Boz330]

Gaza, Is the threading the same on the Martini-Enfields and later Lee-Enfields?

If so that sort of means that the old .577/450 barrels were also this same thread form and pitch?

It is the same thread and pitch. The Aussies put #1 barrels on them for home-guard guns during WWII. I have one for a ME but needs a reamer run into it to deepen the chamber. They actually look quite neat with the #1 wood on them.

Bob

[Col4570]

Take care if rebarreling a 577/450 Martini in 303.The 577/450 breachblock has been known to fail in the centre due to the 303 head being about the size of the hole through the block that contains the firing pin and Spring.The 303 Blocks where manufactured with a greater depth of metal to the Block Face.

[Coffeecup]

Now that is an interesting bit of information! Was there anything tried to prevent this, or was it sort of an "oops, that happens sometimes" event?

[Col4570]

I have seen one that where the imprint of the 303 cartridge was it was cracked 2/3ds round exactly the diameter of the Brass.As to the manufacture details no doubt one of the Martini sites may come up with an explanation.It would appear that the 303 Blocks where made to support the smaller Diameter head.

[Boz330]

There is a lot of good info here; http://britishmilitariaforums.yuku.com/ I believe that you can bush the breach block for the smaller firing pin.

Bob

[Bad Ass Wallace]

303 Breechblocks were made with the smaller firing pin while converted 577/450's had a new and smaller firing pin hole dovetailed into the MH block. If you encounter a breech block on a 303 that is not dovetailed then the rifle is not a genuine mil spec conversion.