PP in OWG military Martini

[martinibelgian]

Last sunday I did some experimenting with my original OWG (Steyr) Roumanian issue Martini, trying out different seating depths. This together with learning to shoot with shooting glasses with an iris, not really simple; Anyway, this rifle is chambered in no.2 Musket, load data as follows:
Case: Reformed and trimmed .470 NE, fireformed and necksized (.488 sizer)
Powder: 76grs of Swiss Fg (basically a minimum, no-compression load)
Overpowder: Card wad, grease cookie, another card wad under the bullet.
Bullet: 30:1 PP round Nose at 510grs, .451 PP to .458
Fouling control: Blowtube (4-5 breaths down the tube)

The loads chronoes at an average of 1175 fps, plenty fast for most uses.

Only difference between loads was bullet seating depth - I had a 'short' load (COAL 2.37"), and a 'long' (2.65"). All shooting at 100 m, prone, with military sling on the original sling swivels.

I started out with the long load, and accuracy was pretty miserable, I wasn't even able to keep the black of the 25m ISSF pistol target. The short one, OTOH, showed some promise - if I did my thing, I was able to get the into the 9-ring (that's about 4 MOA), about what I am capable of. Mind you, not all of them, but still. Even taking into account human error, I was quite surprised at the difference with just a seating depth change - and even more so where the shorter cartridge clearly outshot the longer one.
Typical for BP military rifles, there's a quite long, funnel-shaped throat, so basically you can seat that bullet out a lot.

As this is a typical Martini, The sights are pretty 'martial', rear V and upside down V front sight - sometimes described as 'looking through a railroad cutting at an egyptian pyramid'. To be retested and see if it holds up - I definitely need the practice with military rifle. Trigger is pretty 'stout' too, might have to work on that.

[Don McDowell]

Always fun to read your exploits with the Martini's.

[Gobeyond]

Try 1 1/2 or 2fg. It may be original but it can be helped. Or a little filler to try?

[BlackpowderSweden]

I have a what I think Turkish Peabody Martini made by Providence Tool in US.
Have some old turned N.F.D.S brass 11.5x53R
Unfortunately not in best condition but still a interesting gun.
Really like your posts MartiniBelgian!

[martinibelgian]

A Providence tool Martini? Also have one in very good condition, shoots very well. The cartridge is actually pretty close to no.2 Musket, same base size, about same length. Case capacity about identical too, and very accurate - actually what the Brit 577-450 should have been. I use several NE cases as basic brass, like the .470 NE, or the 500/465 - and there's a few more. Anything .500 basic brass will work, but does need some conversion work.

[martinibelgian]

Try 1 1/2 or 2fg. It may be original but it can be helped. Or a little filler to try?

Fillers in BN cases unless kapok or suchlike aren't a good idea, the filler needs to pass the restriction under pressure...

[Huvius]

For the No.2 Musket, I’ve found that Starline 50-90 Sharps brass works great and pretty inexpensive as well as available.
I have used 500 brass for No.1 Express cases and of course headspace off the shoulder so it’s a neck size from then on but pretty much a case of using it for one rifle as they won’t chamber in all of my rifles.
The No.2 Musket is probably the best of the 500/450 group.

[martinibelgian]

The nitro express brass I use is once- fired, so cheaper than new brass. But yes, 50-90 works just fine.
45 Turkish actually is just no. 2 musket with a lower shoulder with a shallower angle, that’s all.

[Gobeyond]

Fillers in BN cases unless kapok or suchlike aren't a good idea, the filler needs to pass the restriction under pressure...

Thanks @MartiniBelgian keep up the good work, the Lord bless you.

[tward]

I had a martini cadet in 32-20 I’d like to see photos of your rifles please, I wasn’t aware of these other martinis just the British variation. Thanks Tim

[Rapier]

We had a guy from Pensacola shot an issued British 577-450 Martini in our Cowboy Silhouette matches in Ft Walton Beach, paper patched with 5744. Son of a gun was deadly accurate and has a very fast lock time compared to an exposed hammer gun... When shooting off hand, standing, they are excellent rifles for a BP match.

[martinibelgian]

They’re actually pretty accurate, the main limiting factor being the sights, often described as ‘looking at an Egyptian pyramid through a railroad cutting’. But that OWG can be scarily accurate.