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Post by krwada on Nov 6, 2014 19:02:51 GMT -5
OK... over at the Calguns forum I posted a thread called Guns of Zulu. I am a very big fan of these kinds of movies. When I posted this thread; one of the members over there told me that he has a collection of Martini Henry and Martini Enfields that he would like to sell. Martini Enfield? I had no idea such a thing existed. It turns out that the British rechambered a bunch of the Martini Henrys for the .303 Brit cartridge starting around 1895, right after the Zulu Wars. The rechambered Martini Enfield saw lots of action during the 2nd Boer war, and also on the Northwest frontier in (what is now Pakistan, Afghanistan), and India. Originally; I was looking into getting a Martini Henry; However ... what drew me back was the need to cast my own lead for this thing. Therefore, I went and purchased the Martini Enfield. This is because getting components for the .303 Brit is doable. Maybe ... I will get me a lead pot and start casting my own ... Then, there will be no barriers to owning some of these fine antique firearms. This is a new part of reloading that is brand new for me ... To hold and shoot a piece of history that is well over 100 years old! Right Receiver Left Receiver Right View Left View I have all the dies and components on order. Plus, I have a tub of Trailboss on hand. I cannot wait to reload and try this thing out! |
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loafer
Member
No Loafing around
Posts: 52
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Post by loafer on Nov 6, 2014 20:21:16 GMT -5
That is a very nice looking piece of history
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Post by hacker54 on Nov 6, 2014 20:31:52 GMT -5
Ken,
From your pictures it looks in excellent condition. Is the bore just as good? Any how nice score indeed.
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Post by krwada on Nov 6, 2014 20:34:34 GMT -5
Ken, From your pictures it looks in excellent condition. Is the bore just as good? Any how nice score indeed. Hello Gary; Yes, the bore is in what I would say G to G+ condition. There appears to have been many rounds sent down the bore. The bore was slugged and measured 0.3115" which is very good! |
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poohzilla
Member
Give me a place to stand and a long-enough lever, and I will invariably break the lever.
Posts: 1,050 
Location: New Hamster
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Post by poohzilla on Nov 6, 2014 21:54:27 GMT -5
Ken, looks like a lot of fun on the hoof ! My guess is that it has cast bullet written all over it. Better get to the next support group meeting-Hacker, is the coffee on ?
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Post by krwada on Nov 7, 2014 0:56:48 GMT -5
Ken, looks like a lot of fun on the hoof ! My guess is that it has cast bullet written all over it. Better get to the next support group meeting-Hacker, is the coffee on ? Yep ... Lots of 180 to 200 grains of cast lead to toss down range with this thing! |
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Post by hacker54 on Nov 7, 2014 1:10:08 GMT -5
Ken,
For slugging out at .3115 and as you stated that it had many rounds sent down range that is a good tight bore at that.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Nov 7, 2014 4:01:02 GMT -5
This is an absolute beauty Ken, it would fit in nicely with my collection....   The bad thing is that the .303 cartridge/caliber is not placed in the antiques & relics section of the European gun laws. This is why you don’t see rifles like yours here that much. Most are sold to the USA. They are only to be found with collectors that won’t mind adding it to their gun permit. You can buy them for around € 800 to € 1200 here in a very good condition. There are some .303 Black Powder versions made (Martini-Metford) but are at to top of the collectors market...... setting you back a quit a bit more. I love to own one, but never encountered one at gun shows or auctions. Is this the .303 smokeless, cordite or black powder version? ...... Sometimes it’s hard to see or find out anyway, serial numbers seem to be the best way to find that out. But I have no idea how to get my hands on that data. I do have the an original .577-450MH Mark-2 version (black powder of course) but is not nearly as nice as yours. In the past I also owned the Greener shotgun version......that was a beast. But it was placed in to the “modern” rifle section as well..... good bye gun...... darn gun laws (thanks to the English who thought it was a “assault” rifle in the late 90's). The .577-450 is pretty easy to reload over here, decently priced brass can be found at nearly all gun stores only the reloading-dies are pretty expensive. A M-H rifle in this caliber goes for about € 600 to € 900 in a very good condition here, many black powder enthusiasts own one here. Up to about 15 years ago one could also encounter these rifles in the 11.43x59R caliber (Romanian/Peabody). When “the wall” went down many of these rifles slowly entered the western European market. It’s a Romanian version of the rifle. The quality of these rifles were excellent as well, but no one could reload them..... due to the obsolete brass. This caliber is still free to own with the current gun laws here. But are now even more expensive than ever before and you hardly see them on the market. It would be nice if you could find out if your rifle did see some action during WWI where many of these particular Enfield rifles were used at that time. Have much fun with your newest addition and keep us posted about the results at the range. PJ. |
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Post by krwada on Nov 7, 2014 11:14:55 GMT -5
Hello PJ;
The main propellant used for this piece was cordite. Even though the falling block looks to be pretty sturdy, I am thinking I will probably push the lead using reduced loads for this thing. I am thinking it will be mostly Trailboss, and maybe light loads of pistol propellant. Lyman gives loads for this thing using Unique behind a 200 grain cast lead projectile.
I was originally really wanting to get a Martini Henry. However; I investigated reloading for this thing ... and the components, especially the projectile are exceptionally difficult to get. I suppose ... maybe ... I should get into casting lead no?
From what I have seen on-line ... The original loading for the Martini Henry was 85 grains of black powder behind a 400 grain .455 cast lead bullet.
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gws
Member
Posts: 969
Location: NW New Mexico
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Post by gws on Nov 7, 2014 12:36:18 GMT -5
That thing is so ugly it's gorgeous! Neat! Just neat! Tell us more about the action.....and maybe a picture with the action open.
My latest Mauser project was not something I was even "looking" for......and its only like 63 years old. Shucks, I have a continuous want for an M1 Grand, but I never gave a thought for something really old like what you have!
So how about the Martini Henry.....what is its claim to fame?
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Nov 7, 2014 13:38:11 GMT -5
Yep that will means casting your bullets for the .455 /.577's. The mould is not a problem. The original BP load is a real kicker, many don't like it. The down side is that you have to keep the action pretty clean during shooting these giants. If not.... the gun freezes/locks and you are in big trouble. Something you don't have with the .303 caliber. To me this original caliber is not a big deal to reload, it's pretty straight forward and simple. Casting the bullets is however a must. A Lee die-set is about $85 and a RCBS set far over $450 these days for the original caliber. Reloading the 303 is a pleasant fraction of that. I do not have "proven" load data for TrailBoss in 303. I do have that for the .577's but it's not a real load that makes me happy, I went back to using only BP.
Many English soldiers were killed by Zulu's due to dirty guns, bad ammo supply, hard to open ammo-cases and the flimsy brass. Add to that a bunch of "stoned" and angry Zulu's and you have a recipe for disaster..... as history tell us that.
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Post by krwada on Nov 7, 2014 14:10:43 GMT -5
That thing is so ugly it's gorgeous! Neat! Just neat! Tell us more about the action.....and maybe a picture with the action open. My latest Mauser project was not something I was even "looking" for......and its only like 63 years old. Shucks, I have a continuous want for an M1 Grand, but I never gave a thought for something really old like what you have! So how about the Martini Henry.....what is its claim to fame? Hello Greg; I can tell you this much ... collecting old pieces is just as addicting as shooting / reloading and all other things firearms. The Martini Henry was THE military rifle of the British Empire during the reign of Queen Victoria. It saw extensive action in India, The Hindu Kush, (now Afghanistan and Pakistan), Africa, (both Zulu and Boer wars) ... and various other places. The very best example of the Martini Henry is seen in the 1964 movie, (starring Michael Caine) Zulu This movie depicts the Battle of Rorke's Drift. This is where a handful of British soldiers managed to fight of a horde of Zulu warriors. The Zulu were very much emboldened by their successful rout of the British in the the Battle of Isandlwana a day earlier. According to historical accounts; a squad of about 150 British soldiers, equipped with their Martini Henry Rifles managed to fend off a Zulu horde of 3000 to 4000 warriors. The original mission of the Brits was to repair the pontoons that crossed the Buffalo River near Rorke's Drift. A total of 11 Victoria's Crosses, (equivalent to our Medal of Honor), was awarded as a result of this battle. This is the most crosses awarded in any engagement at that time and since. |
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Post by krwada on Nov 7, 2014 23:54:53 GMT -5
I really love the movie ... the history ... and the firearms!
Thanks to everyone who participate on this thread. Now ... I am really looking forward to getting the reloading dies and components for this thing.
Now ... I am starting to feel the urge ... to get me one of those Webley .455 revolvers!
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My daughter came from Missouri, my son and grand son, my wife and I had a nice dinner of grilled "porter house" pork chops, corn on the cobb, my son, G'son and I share 10/5. G'son is 4 minutes early though @ 10/4.
Pooh I hope you find to right house . 
