LSA Martini Henry 577-450

[Von Gruff]

After the recent work on a Martini Enfield carbine (http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?226756-A-Martini-Enfield-303-again) I had been itching to have - get - work with or on, a 577-450 and there seemed to be a suitable candidate on the local (NZ local that is) Trade me auction site. It was on for a few weeks with no visible interest that I put down to the horrible looking addition in the butt stock and a pair of holes d&t into the action sidewalls along with a very visible repair to the wrist and another to the forestock retaining pin.
These were the pictures accompanying the auction blurb
http://i667.photobucket.com/albums/vv39/VonGruff/577-450%20Martini%20Henry/303774688_zps3c942dc7.jpg (http://s667.photobucket.com/user/VonGruff/media/577-450%20Martini%20Henry/303774688_zps3c942dc7.jpg.html)
http://i667.photobucket.com/albums/vv39/VonGruff/577-450%20Martini%20Henry/303774778_zps06cf6d1c.jpg (http://s667.photobucket.com/user/VonGruff/media/577-450%20Martini%20Henry/303774778_zps06cf6d1c.jpg.html)
http://i667.photobucket.com/albums/vv39/VonGruff/577-450%20Martini%20Henry/303774824_zpsdfebc740.jpg (http://s667.photobucket.com/user/VonGruff/media/577-450%20Martini%20Henry/303774824_zpsdfebc740.jpg.html)
http://i667.photobucket.com/albums/vv39/VonGruff/577-450%20Martini%20Henry/303774729_zpsb885de52.jpg (http://s667.photobucket.com/user/VonGruff/media/577-450%20Martini%20Henry/303774729_zpsb885de52.jpg.html)
http://i667.photobucket.com/albums/vv39/VonGruff/577-450%20Martini%20Henry/304799175_zpse4ed4062.jpg (http://s667.photobucket.com/user/VonGruff/media/577-450%20Martini%20Henry/304799175_zpse4ed4062.jpg.html)

[Von Gruff]

http://i667.photobucket.com/albums/vv39/VonGruff/577-450%20Martini%20Henry/304799099_zps6a256e8d.jpg (http://s667.photobucket.com/user/VonGruff/media/577-450%20Martini%20Henry/304799099_zps6a256e8d.jpg.html)
http://i667.photobucket.com/albums/vv39/VonGruff/577-450%20Martini%20Henry/303775268_zpsc4bb5739.jpg (http://s667.photobucket.com/user/VonGruff/media/577-450%20Martini%20Henry/303775268_zpsc4bb5739.jpg.html)
http://i667.photobucket.com/albums/vv39/VonGruff/577-450%20Martini%20Henry/303775095_zps598eb791.jpg (http://s667.photobucket.com/user/VonGruff/media/577-450%20Martini%20Henry/303775095_zps598eb791.jpg.html)
http://i667.photobucket.com/albums/vv39/VonGruff/577-450%20Martini%20Henry/303774967_zps9bf21571.jpg (http://s667.photobucket.com/user/VonGruff/media/577-450%20Martini%20Henry/303774967_zps9bf21571.jpg.html)
http://i667.photobucket.com/albums/vv39/VonGruff/577-450%20Martini%20Henry/303774876_zps2af82916.jpg (http://s667.photobucket.com/user/VonGruff/media/577-450%20Martini%20Henry/303774876_zps2af82916.jpg.html)

[skeettx]

Great chance for a shooter
Mike

[Von Gruff]

On delivery I found that as well as the visible issues there was another one or two to discover as I went along. I was waiting for a larger framed press and dies to arrive so in the meantime, the first thing was to make another stock for it to get rid of some of the uglies and to that end I got in a long manlicher blank to work from
http://i667.photobucket.com/albums/vv39/VonGruff/577-450%20Martini%20Henry/Photo0950_zps5a48e470.jpg (http://s667.photobucket.com/user/VonGruff/media/577-450%20Martini%20Henry/Photo0950_zps5a48e470.jpg.html)
http://i667.photobucket.com/albums/vv39/VonGruff/577-450%20Martini%20Henry/Photo0954_zps8ba50478.jpg (http://s667.photobucket.com/user/VonGruff/media/577-450%20Martini%20Henry/Photo0954_zps8ba50478.jpg.html)
http://i667.photobucket.com/albums/vv39/VonGruff/577-450%20Martini%20Henry/ebcdfb22-13df-4eea-a15f-d344a67de15d_zps48991582.jpg (http://s667.photobucket.com/user/VonGruff/media/577-450%20Martini%20Henry/ebcdfb22-13df-4eea-a15f-d344a67de15d_zps48991582.jpg.html)
http://i667.photobucket.com/albums/vv39/VonGruff/577-450%20Martini%20Henry/Photo0960_zps51f8747a.jpg (http://s667.photobucket.com/user/VonGruff/media/577-450%20Martini%20Henry/Photo0960_zps51f8747a.jpg.html)
http://i667.photobucket.com/albums/vv39/VonGruff/577-450%20Martini%20Henry/Photo0962_zps4d98d89f.jpg (http://s667.photobucket.com/user/VonGruff/media/577-450%20Martini%20Henry/Photo0962_zps4d98d89f.jpg.html)

[Von Gruff]

Great chance for a shooter
Mike
It does have a spectactularly good barrel and having done a bit of trialing with a lapped out 457-450 F Lee mould that I paper patched up to 468 have found a load it likes quite well
http://i667.photobucket.com/albums/vv39/VonGruff/577-450%20Martini%20Henry/Photo0968_zps6f3e3377.jpg (http://s667.photobucket.com/user/VonGruff/media/577-450%20Martini%20Henry/Photo0968_zps6f3e3377.jpg.html)

[curator]

Read the other 577/450 thread on this forum!

[Von Gruff]

I decided to make another aperture sight similar to the unit I made for the 303 but with a slight change in shape that looked better to my eye.
http://i667.photobucket.com/albums/vv39/VonGruff/577-450%20Martini%20Henry/Photo0966_zps5a05182d.jpg (http://s667.photobucket.com/user/VonGruff/media/577-450%20Martini%20Henry/Photo0966_zps5a05182d.jpg.html)
http://i667.photobucket.com/albums/vv39/VonGruff/577-450%20Martini%20Henry/Photo0967_zps482b0e3d.jpg (http://s667.photobucket.com/user/VonGruff/media/577-450%20Martini%20Henry/Photo0967_zps482b0e3d.jpg.html)
This has allowed me to actually see the sights and has given me the accuracy in the pic above. I had run this bullet in a 458 lott for a firend and with 18.5gn red dot, got around 1250fps so that was where I started with a green dot load trials. I got improvments through to the 20 gn load but the 20.5gn load opened back up again so with an average velocity of 1159fps I decided that load work was about done. I was given a 4lb can of Green Dot so for the sake of a primer I have 1400shots on tap. Looking forward to getting this rifle finished as the tung oil finish is taking a couple of days per coat to dry in this weather. I picked up some appropriate green felt to line out a carry case so I can work on that in the interim. This is my first attempt at paper patching and was quite chuffed to have a first time success with dress making pattern paper taking the bullet that drops from the lapped out mould at .463 up to .468. I decided to pan lube the bullet and upon firing I see the small cloud of paper chaff exit the barrel and find a faint lube star on the muzzle, so whether it is correct in the strictest term of paper patching, it seems to have struck a happy cord with this barrel and this load.
http://i667.photobucket.com/albums/vv39/VonGruff/577-450%20Martini%20Henry/Photo0970_zpse60d3305.jpg (http://s667.photobucket.com/user/VonGruff/media/577-450%20Martini%20Henry/Photo0970_zpse60d3305.jpg.html)

[Von Gruff]

After the initial fireforming load I wanted to limit the brass working on the magtech-cbc 24 guage brass so placed a 1/4 in brass ring under the Lee FLS die so that the sizing would be restricted to the top portion of the neck only with hardly a kiss on the body. I only managed to get 11 usable cases from the first batch of 25 so made three intermediary dies and on the second box got 25 for 25 so have that side of things sorted now.

[enfield]

I've read that some can convert the 24 gage brass to 577-450 in one go but I cant imagine how. I use the snider die then about 3 more steps down before the MH die gets a chance, I still keep the 3 cases that didn't survive the transformation ( out of about 60 ). I wish I could do that kind of woodwork !! very nice. is there windage on that rear sight ?

[Von Gruff]

I have about 7 thou each way from centre but I did lay up a rod over the open sights to find centre on the back plate before setting it in position. I have a 15thou washer under the top bolt on the side plate so a simple washer change can also give another 7thou + adjustment each way but having been a bit carefull in the initial setting up I have not needed to alter windage as yet. Once set on a load for all occasions I don't forsee any need to do so either and see it as a set and forget situation although the elevation adjustments will be another thing entirely. I will have it set for 100 yds and then when opportunity occurs I will mark in further distances on the side plate. At the moment I am using simple shims under the top plate to adjust ele until I have everything finished when actual marking can be done.

[Von Gruff]

As for the brass forming I found that my 404 Jeffery M die was just right to start the forming process with a 15mm internal dia, although I did give the entrance a 15 degree taper rather than the rounded edge that was causing a distinct line and a point of collapse if I was not careful. A short length of copper pipe over the case limited the depth of sizing in the form dies to the shoulder length of the finished case. The next die I did was to have the seating die on an unused set of 7x61 S&H dies drilled out to 14mm (again with a 15degree entrance) and thirdly I had a length of 7/8 bolt drilled to 13mm with 15 degree mouth. I annealed to start and put them through the first two dies then annealed again before the last form die and the FLS die. Works a treat now.

[Euan]

Well done mr Gruff.

[skeettx]

AWESOME
And I use the body from an old collet style RCBS bullet puller to start
the 24 gauge brass into the necking process :)

[Bad Ass Wallace]

http://forums.gunboards.com/showthread.php?215415-converting-24ga-hulls-to-577-450-cases

[Von Gruff]

Had seen that thread Bad *** and any number of other threads on various forums, and assorted videos on the brass forming when I was researching the cartridge. Using what I had on hand has enabled me to form brass simply and accurately every time now.

[tek4260]

Simply stunning work as usual Garry!

Will your bullet trap catch those bullets without being detrimental to the trap? A bit off topic I know, but it came to mind.

[Von Gruff]

Dosent worry it at all Tek.

[Col4570]

Nice work Von Gruff,You have certainly rescued that Martini.The Aperture Sight is interesting and I imagine quick to change to another distance setting once you have marked the scale.

[mikeym1a]

Beautiful stock work! Seems to shoot as good as it looks. Beautiful.

[craig61a]

That's an amazing looking and shooting rifle...

[Von Gruff]

Have got a few coats of oil into the stock now and it is starting to look ok but will have to do something about filling the screw holes in the side of the action and get some colour onto the sight etc.
Had to make something to carry the rifle and a bit of ammo in as most of my carry bags and hard shell cases are not long enough to take the 32in barrel so made this out of recycled Rimu (NZ native timber) Has a few blemishes but it will get a few more as time goes on from being in the back of the truck etc.

http://i667.photobucket.com/albums/vv39/VonGruff/577-450%20Martini%20Henry/Photo0981_zps959a54be.jpg (http://s667.photobucket.com/user/VonGruff/media/577-450%20Martini%20Henry/Photo0981_zps959a54be.jpg.html)

http://i667.photobucket.com/albums/vv39/VonGruff/577-450%20Martini%20Henry/Photo0972_zpsfc752491.jpg (http://s667.photobucket.com/user/VonGruff/media/577-450%20Martini%20Henry/Photo0972_zpsfc752491.jpg.html)

http://i667.photobucket.com/albums/vv39/VonGruff/577-450%20Martini%20Henry/Photo0974_zpsfdf3f2ba.jpg (http://s667.photobucket.com/user/VonGruff/media/577-450%20Martini%20Henry/Photo0974_zpsfdf3f2ba.jpg.html)

http://i667.photobucket.com/albums/vv39/VonGruff/577-450%20Martini%20Henry/Photo0979_zpsbe31dc26.jpg (http://s667.photobucket.com/user/VonGruff/media/577-450%20Martini%20Henry/Photo0979_zpsbe31dc26.jpg.html)

http://i667.photobucket.com/albums/vv39/VonGruff/577-450%20Martini%20Henry/Photo0978_zpse99a3c5d.jpg (http://s667.photobucket.com/user/VonGruff/media/577-450%20Martini%20Henry/Photo0978_zpse99a3c5d.jpg.html)

[enfield]

Oh come on, now your just making us jealous. I could show you what something looks like when I slap it together with some old scrap lumber ( it sure wouldn't resemble what you have there !! ). Very nice indeed .

[zuke]

Now that look's great!

[eljefeoz]

Caught up late,Von G.Looks like the .303 was a prelude for things to come?
very fine effort , and very tempting.
All that it now needs- is a canvas cover.
What plans for the blackening?
I need a bigger Martini... ;)

[mikeym1a]

That is absolutely beautiful work. Stock, and case. I wish I had that talent. My compliments on your efforts. mikey

[Abert Rim]

As I said over on AR, wonderful stock work. I sure am impressed with the rear sight you fabricated.