I just got myself a hell of a deal, 2 Martini Henry Rifles for 200 bucks from a friend, one is a short lever from nepal and the other is a british marked long lever. they are both dirty as can be but he assured me that the actions were complete. i know he bought the nepalease rifle from atlanta cutlery and i think he got the long lever from a gun show.... ill post some pics when i clean them up, anyways i wanted to get some info on reloading for these rifles because i plan to shoot the one that looks to be in the best condition, i heard that you could form the brass from another catridge but i havnt found much more info on it so i would apreciate all the loading data that i can get
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Martini-Henry Rifles
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I think the brass you could utilize was that of the .577 Snider cartridge. My understanding is that the .577-450 cartridge the Martini-Henry utilizes is in essence a necked down .577 Snider cartridge. -
oh, damn i was hoping i could form it from a less expensive cartrige, the snider brass and the m.h. brass prices are about the same... oh well i guess ill be spending the same amount that i paid for the guns in reloading material for 40 rounds, lets just pray that the brass lasts me a while and doesnt crack after the first shotComment
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.577-.450 cases can be made from 24 Ga. brass shotgun shells. But why bother, brass, altho expensive, isn't hard to come by. Same for loaded ammo. Do an internet search for sources.Comment
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The cases can be made from Brazilian 24 ga brass shotgun shells but you need a forming die to do it; otherwise the cases usually collapse instead of necking down. The forming die is pretty expensive. I lucked out and a very nice person on another forum made up 50 cases from 24 ga brass for me. I only neck size them and I'm on about the 3rd or 4th go around with the brass. I also have some Bertram cases that I've never bothered to use since the reworked 24 ga cases are working so well.Comment
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Re: Martini-Henry Rifles
lokote,
I use factory formed brass for my loads, and as long as you keep the cases annealed properly, they will last a long time. The load info for the 577-450 cartridge is not really just a simple primer/powder/bullet combination. PM me if you want my recipe.
Gunboards.com has a Martini section worth the look.
Buffalo Arms in Idaho has brass, bullets and other things that you might need.
You might want to slug the bore of the nepal gun and the british Martini, so you know what size bullets you will need.
Oh yeah, the dies for the Martini cartridge will require a larger reloading press than "normal". I use an RCBS Rockchucker.
Peter in CAComment
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I wasn't aware that people still regularly shot these. I can't help but to be reminded of that film Zulu...sigpic
7-6-2 FTMFW!
"...and an old German guy said there was a bit of an unsaid joke about the Nazi salute; apparently when they clicked their heels and raised their arm up in the air in a Nazi salute, they were saying, "we're in this much s___."Comment
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Yours is the rifle that shall pierce the heavens!Do the impossible, see the invisible,
ROW ROW FIGHT THE POWER!
Touch the untouchable, break the unbreakable,
ROW ROW FIGHT THE POWER!
"A gunman from the past used to say this: 'There's a gun in everyone's heart.'" - Isaac DianComment
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Wow! That's one heck of a deal! The price you paid is signifiantly less than what one is worth. Way to go!
Oh- and this thread is useless without pics!
-PaliminoComment
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TenX makes the brass, loaded rounds were about $20 ea. brass was $5 ea. let us know how it goes. Im intrested in these also. DRComment
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And a 100 yd target:
Don't tell Barbara Boxer and Diane Fienstein how much fun these are or they'll outlaw them too!Comment
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I form mine from 577 basic BELL brass. 1 of my Martini's split the necks when fired but the other is nice to the brass. Not sure where you are but if you are near Bakersfield I'd let you form your brass. Only reason I won't do it is if I crush a case or otherwise trash it during the forming process I don't wanna have to replace the brass lol.Comment
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I got my brass from Jamison brass. Very good quality and lasts well. It was about $3.50 a case.
Here's some Bertram brass on Gunbroker:
I get good results with a .459" diameter soft lead 500 grain bullet and black powder charge.
Lee sells a set of dies for this caliber. You need a particular Lee press for them or a RCBS Rockchucker:
Here it is at the range:
And bullets loaded:
Last edited by wellfedirishman; 06-12-2010, 7:23 PM.Comment
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