Martini Henry?

[Cessnapilot89]

Anyone here shoot Martini Henry Rifles? Saw one at a decent price and it piqued my interest.

[6mmintl]

yes, not the 450-577 kind but 22rf, 45-70, and 310 cadet.

Brass is expensive(I belive its 24 gage brass shotgun brass forcartridge reforming) $1.75-$2.00 + ea.

dies? $60-90?

Cast bullets $.30 ea. powder $.50 a load. and they dont shoot very well.

Might want to try a trapdoor, rolling block or 71/84 mauser at about half the price for ammo.

Most of these old timers are handload only except 45-70 guns.

[Anubis Laughed]

A lot of fun shoot them, as well as an amazing history behind them. I've shot Martinis as well as Springfield Trapdoors, and the Martini is the better rifle by far. Surprised the hell out of a group of AR shooters when I took it to the range and blasted off a few rounds. They asked me if it was an elephant gun.

Ammo isn't so easy to come by. Ten-X sells new loads, but it's pricey. Otherwise its handloading, or shooting the old Kynoch surplus that recently came on the market. Shootable, but condition can vary.

[blackfalcon]

Great fun! I have a Martini Enfield. It shoots .303 rounds so it is easy to get ammo and fun to shoot. Very accurate as well.

[smle-man]

I have a MkIV in 577/450, a Martini Enfield .303 and a Martini Cadet in .310 cadet. Many MkIVs were re-bored from .40 to .45 and because of the reboring were bored oversized to .468 diameter. The new made MkIVs are also in .468 to stay standard with the rebored rifles. Standard .458 bullets wobble down the bore. I use .466 diameter bullets to good effect. The MkII and MkIII use the .458 diameter bullets. Cases are very expensive, about $5 each. I have some made from 24 ga brass shotgun brass that work fine. The case has a lot of room in it so a pinch of kapok or carded wool is placed on top of the 80gr of 2F powder to take up the space, then a grease cookie, then a felt wad, then the bullet. Lots of fun, lots of smoke!

[CEDaytonaRydr]

I really want one in 577/450. Looks like a fun reloading project...

I guess IMA is the best option going. I don't know who else has them.

[Emdawg]

I've been looking for a nice one for a couple of years now and still have not found one.

The only ones I have seen at gunshows were beat to crap or they were Peabody's and were in 43 Turkish I believe.

[FourTenJaeger]

The Darra gunsmiths in the FATA of Pakistan Produce Martini-Henry's, Martini Henry pistols, Condition may vary.

Not sure if you could bring it back here, but It is possible and someone is still *Technically* Producing it and it's ammunition.

[FourTenJaeger]

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=309266004

[Paulie Lugnuts]

Here's a couple of pics of one my son found in Alaska. Looking forward to seeing and ($$$$) shooting it. I think it is one of those Nepelese stash guns. Maybe my son will chime in with more info.

[Alan Block]

You cannot shoot it without one of these

[CEDaytonaRydr]

You cannot shoot it without one of these

The British had some of the silliest uniforms ever. Imagine this, on top of a red coat. These days, fire trucks use similar color contrasts to stay visible on roadways. It's like a big sign that says "Shoot me! I'm right here!"

[not-fishing]

Reminds me of an old Michael Cain film. The best example of volley fire I've seen.



Damm accountants, didn't want soldiers to have repeaters because they use up bullets to fast.