310 Cadet Project

[rollmyown]

I've been thinking for a while about a 310 cadet project. The main calibers I've considered are 218 Bee and 357 Mag. I'm not sure how hard the little cadet action can be pushed re 357 Mag (is it capable of full power loads?)

If in 218 Bee I'd be shooting jacketed (I might have a play with cast, but that's all). A rabbit head shooter at 180 meters and light to carry would be the goal there.

If in 357 mag it would be a cast shooter. To justify the spend I'd like it to shoot sub MOA with 140-165 gn cast at 100 meters. Is this difficult to do in this caliber?

How available is 218 brass? Barrel recommendations? Stock maker? Gunsmith (Australia)

Any suggestions including caliber, Let me know, although I'm not likely to deviate from 218 Bee if I go the 22 route.

[JeffinNZ]

The Cadet action can handle full power .357 just fine. Bee cases are getting hard to find. Instead of Bee how about K-Hornet?

[gewehrfreund]

I really like the 218 Bee, and hope to find a martini someday in that caliber.
I don't know if this helps you in NZ, but 218 Bee can be made pretty easily by necking down 25-20 brass.

Good luck with the project and caliber decision.

[Outpost75]

I have a Cadet in .357 with 16-inch twist, which I use to test .38 Special and .357 ammunition, with 6x Unertl sckpe. Good .38 wadcutters approach an inch at 50 yards. My best .357 cast loads do under 2" at 100 and with good jacketed loads it will approach an inch at 100, but can't do it on demand every time. The SAAMI .357 chamber does not give as good accuracy as using a conventional rifle throater and fitting thebullet exactly.

[rollmyown]

The Cadet action can handle full power .357 just fine. Bee cases are getting hard to find. Instead of Bee how about K-Hornet?

Cheers Jeff, I have a Sportco hornet already, I'd like something different and a little more.

[rollmyown]

Thanks also gewerfreund for the brass tip

[pietro]

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I'd be sorely tempted to rebarrel a Cadet in .25cal, then chamber it for either the .256 Win Mag (.357 case, necked down) or the .25-35 Winchester (.30-30 cases) - which may need minor releiving of the loading groove atop the breechblock.

Heroes have regularly rechambered .310 Cadets to .32 Winchester Special, likewise releiving the breechblock groove - but they kick like snot. http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?245294-Martini-Cadet-in-32-winchester-Special




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[marlinman93]

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I'd be sorely tempted to rebarrel a Cadet in .25cal, then chamber it for either the .256 Win Mag (.357 case, necked down) or the .25-35 Winchester (.30-30 cases) - which may need minor releiving of the loading groove atop the breechblock.

Heroes have regularly rechambered .310 Cadets to .32 Winchester Special, likewise releiving the breechblock groove - but they kick like snot. http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?245294-Martini-Cadet-in-32-winchester-Special

Recoil wont be much less with the .25-35 either!

[pietro]

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A .25's less boolit weight sure helps, though, Val.


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[kopperl]

Has anyone tried .225 Winchester in a cadet?

[JeffinNZ]

Cheers Jeff, I have a Sportco hornet already, I'd like something different and a little more.

.25 Hornet or .270 REN?

[sthwestvictoria]

How about one in 17/357 - fiddly to cast for!
http://i58.tinypic.com/2egf8tv.jpg

[Rebel Dave]

I have a Martini Cadet in .357. It is in real nice shape. I have had it for over 40 yrs. It is missing a few parts. Missing is the rear site, the butt plate, and the rear stock bolt to hold the stock on.
I also have a barrel assembly, complete with fore stock and rear site. It is sill in .310 cal, and has a nice bore, and a real nice blue on it. There are some stock pins missing on both the rifle , and the bbl assy, also. They are made by BSA, and marked Commonwealth of Australia. both are very clean, and serviceable. I was always going to complete them but never did. I am selling both if anyone is interested. I can get pics also.
PARTS ARE SOLD PENDING FUNDS. Thanks to all who replied.
Pm or email barracudadave67@hotmail.com

[rollmyown]

Just chewing the fat here. Will the cadet action accommodate the 222 Remington? I already have dies and brass and it is a classic caliber capable of great accuracy.

[Stephen Cohen]

The 222 rimmed was in fact the 222 Remington with a rim, you can fire 222 rem in the rimmed chamber but have to use a cleaning rod to remove shell. There are rimless extractors made for the Martini so answer is yes on 222 rem.

[sav300]

Rollmyown.Gunsmith at Dubbo NSW (Peter Kay) has a extractor for the 222 remington round or you can go 222rimmed,same dies and a 357 shell holder. My little martinis are 17bee 30-30 and a 357mag.No problems with them,altho the 30-30 has a bit of recoil.

[sav300]

Bertram has 222 rimmed brass,$99 for a 100.Posted

[pietro]

Just chewing the fat here. Will the cadet action accommodate the 222 Remington? I already have dies and brass and it is a classic caliber capable of great accuracy.


Yes/No - The Martini was designed around rimmed cartridges (for ejection), so (in your case) the rimmed .222R is indicated.


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[rollmyown]

Not exactly the caliber I wanted. It's in 223 Remington. It's got a nice stock design and timber.
I haven't seen it in the flesh yet, a mate took some pics for me.

[pietro]

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Looks fair dinkum, to me ! [smilie=w:

:2 drunk buddies:


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[kopperl]

I am very interested in both the rifle and the barrel.
Please let me know what you would like to do.
Thanks,
Bill

[enfield]

Does everything in 223 have to have a picatinny rail ? I like little Martini's no matter what caliber they are.

[country gent]

I have a cadet in 218 bee and its a great little rifle. Shilen barrel 20" long light sporter fitted up to it. Good dark walnut stock and forend with a steel Plate. Its a nice light little walking rifle for wood chucks and varmints. I have a 2-7 redfield scope mounted up on it. I really enjoy this rifle. Brass can still be found and just buy order 200 or so and you are set for awhile.

[Bad Ass Wallace]

I have a few sporters in 17 AH, 17/222Rimmed. 222 Rimmed, 218 MB, 25/25Win

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v152/BAWallace/MartiniAll_A_zpsa40c2b1c.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/BAWallace/media/MartiniAll_A_zpsa40c2b1c.jpg.html)


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v152/BAWallace/MartiniSporters_zps1ab2a208.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/BAWallace/media/MartiniSporters_zps1ab2a208.jpg.html)

[Boz330]

With the current availability and cost of 22s the 218 or 22 Hornet would be cheaper and easier to come by.

Bob

[barrabruce]

What would be the cartridge of choice for cast bullet shooting in a cadet action with the original skinny stock then.
I thinking of a new project.
I can get a couple but..... quick look showed the 310 barrels had a bit of pitting.
Next time I go there I re- check them out
2x 310's and a 22 francotte

Don't like a lot of recoil but something for quiet walking around gun mostly for the pot.

[herbert buckland]

25-20

[aap2]

A while back I had my .310 Cadet rebored to .357 mag by Bob Snapp. Reboring worked for me because I wanted to retain the original exterior of the gun (barrel, forend, great rear sight etc) but shoot a cartridge (.357/.38 special) that was easy to find. I had the breechblock rebushed to a smaller firing pin diameter but it probably wasn't necessary. I have seen Cadets converted to rimless cartridges such as .222 Rem using an extractor that has a sort of detent ball that grabs the case by the extractor groove but I haven't used one myself. If I get another Cadet I will keep it in .310 if it has a good bore; .310 brass is easily formed from 25-20, 32-20 or commercially available from Bertram. Have fun with your project.

[barrabruce]

By what Iv'e read so far the 25-20 can be a bit of a head ache for cast to shoot accurately.
Be more a rook rabbit type affair I would be looking at.
I have a 22k hornet but would like something quieter thou it shoots very well.

Some thing between the 22lr and 30-30

I have a 303-25 and I think the barrel looks pretty good althou the throat is a bit big on it and long to shoot cast bullets in it.
I might think about screwing it off and fitting it to a cadet action.
25 rimmed something
Hmmm the 357 mag /38 special sound good but I like the idea of a 310 if I could just finger seat the bullets without having to use dies and such.

I suspect a 60-85 grn 25 cal bullet loping along at 1000 ft/sec would be pretty effective and quiet as a 22lr out of a long barrel for most things.

Barra

[Sheriff]

They make dandy little .357mag rifles.

http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc7/CrittrCallr/002-2.jpg (http://s215.photobucket.com/user/CrittrCallr/media/002-2.jpg.html)