Does anyone have a 577/450 Martini Henry they are paper patching for?
Does anyone have a 577/450 Martini Henry they are paper patching for?
Rest In Peace My Son (01/06/1986 - 14/01/2014)
''Assume everything that moves is a human before identifying as otherwise''
I PP for both MkII and MkIV Martini Henry. I am using Lyman 455/475 cast from 1 in 40 alloy and 85 grains of Goex Fg plus bee's wax wad and kapok filler. My MkIV does shoot a bit better using the Lyman 459/405HB boolit also cast from 1 in 40 using the same loading since its bore is a few thousandth larger than the MkII. I am using two wraps of 12 pound paper.
Thanks curator. How is the accuracy? I've always wondered how well they shoot.
Rest In Peace My Son (01/06/1986 - 14/01/2014)
''Assume everything that moves is a human before identifying as otherwise''
The sights on the MH are a bit hard to see and really not conducive to fine accuracy. Once I figured out how to make cartridges for the beast, I could usually keep 5 shots inside a 4" circle at 100 yards. Many of the people who post on the British militaria web site do somewhat better than that: http://britishmilitariaforums.yuku.c...m#.Vf03L5pRGUk
Full charges stop being fun after 15 or 20 shots as the recoil is pretty stout. This may affect my ability to shoot better.
Thanks. I wonder how the 577 Snider recoiled!
Rest In Peace My Son (01/06/1986 - 14/01/2014)
''Assume everything that moves is a human before identifying as otherwise''
Was this thread supposed to be in the BP paper patching subforum, or do have smokeless load for the MH?
ars longa, vita brevis
My Snider Saddle Ring Carbine hurts BAD
Smokeless for the 577-450, yes have loads
https://www.mail-archive.com/cybersh.../msg02066.html
http://www.amazon.com/Handloader-Mag.../dp/B00876DLJQ
http://forums.gunboards.com/showthre...0-Bored-Rifles
Last edited by skeettx; 09-20-2015 at 04:41 PM.
NRA Benefactor 2004 USAF RET 1971-95
Rest In Peace My Son (01/06/1986 - 14/01/2014)
''Assume everything that moves is a human before identifying as otherwise''
It is actually easier to get a "smokeless" powder load to perform well in the MH 577-450 than using Black, just not as much fun. I have found SR4759 or IMR4198 to perform quite satisfactorily using 400-475 grain PP boolits if one uses a bit of dacron to keep the powder held back against the primer.
I don't know about in easier, if the black powder is really coarse, but it works. You should under no circumstances use a slow powder that way. The existence of a large air space (and Dacron pretty well is air) introduces the possibility of a dangerous pressure wave with those. I think Dacron (or kapok, which even has hollow fibres) is the best kind of filler to use, though. If the rounds are to be carried about much, especially in a motor vehicle, a paper disc behind the Dacron might reduce the slight chance of mixing. Fillers with intrinsic weight and volume of their own are likely to vary in how much they get crammed up into a near-solid by pressure, especially in a case with the .577/.450's pronounced shoulder.
I witnessed a guy shooting a Martini Henry using a powder close to Varget. It gave a fizz-bang effect. There seems to be a controversy with the use of Trail Boss - pressure spikes.
Rest In Peace My Son (01/06/1986 - 14/01/2014)
''Assume everything that moves is a human before identifying as otherwise''
There is a thread here with pressure traces provided by user Southernfi:
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/show...ressure+strain
Interestingly the AR2207/H4198 gave lower pressures than BP, we know it works in nitro for black roles.
ars longa, vita brevis
this guy has some cool video's on martini henry's.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwhwkiZ-zgs
your welcome. I have spent hour's watching his video's. it would be neat to have a place like that to shoot. while I don't have a martini, I have two trapdoor springfield's that I play with.
Yes indeed. That fellow is real interesting in his presentation. Quality videos too. I'm sitting here watching some of his videos and that of another fellow on the Canadian Ross rifle. I'm going to start a thread in Military Rifles on it. Very informative. We have forestry places like that here in NZ and I'm wondering how I might get permission to shoot on them.
I wish I had bought a Martini 303 when I had a chance many years ago. I tried for an action recently but it went above my budged (or maybe I was too cheap).
Rest In Peace My Son (01/06/1986 - 14/01/2014)
''Assume everything that moves is a human before identifying as otherwise''
At a gun show last year I saw a MH in .303 for $500. did not have enough green with me. next show is in December, maybe it will still be there.
I use 15gr of 700X topped with 2 square's of toilet paper. Kick's like a 410
BP | Bronze Point | IMR | Improved Military Rifle | PTD | Pointed |
BR | Bench Rest | M | Magnum | RN | Round Nose |
BT | Boat Tail | PL | Power-Lokt | SP | Soft Point |
C | Compressed Charge | PR | Primer | SPCL | Soft Point "Core-Lokt" |
HP | Hollow Point | PSPCL | Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" | C.O.L. | Cartridge Overall Length |
PSP | Pointed Soft Point | Spz | Spitzer Point | SBT | Spitzer Boat Tail |
LRN | Lead Round Nose | LWC | Lead Wad Cutter | LSWC | Lead Semi Wad Cutter |
GC | Gas Check |