Just a 303

[kopcicle]

Based on a 1895 BSA Martini it now has a .303 barrel.


I've not seen wood or metal like this anywhere. A true custom with an excellent trigger and well regulated irons for 175-180gr
It just does what is intended.

 

[Smellydog]

Superb. I'd love to squirt a few through that

 

[rem708cdl]

Very nice
Colin

 

[enfieldspares]

That's very elegant. What some might not know is that the Martini He ry was actually, in .303, an issue weapon in British military service. You don't see too many. I've seen maybe a half a dozen carbines ( indeed the first weapon I shot with in .303 was a Martini Henry carbine in maybe 1972) and but the one rifle. But they did and do exist.

 

[HistoricBore]

That's very elegant. What some might not know is that the Martini He ry was actually, in .303, an issue weapon in British military service. You don't see too many. I've seen maybe a half a dozen carbines ( indeed the first weapon I shot with in .303 was a Martini Henry carbine in maybe 1972) and but the one rifle. But they did and do exist.

And indeed I owned one. It was very accurate, too. Later I had a large Martini like the one above in 7 x 57R, which also worked a treat. However I could never get on with the stock design - the recoil just hurt. My Savage 99 in .300 savage is really comfortable...

HB

 

[tim@tcs]

Likely to have been a martini Enfield as most were rebarrelled using deeper rifling than the Henry ones as there was less fouling with cordite than black powder!
If you have a worn out ME barrel it can be replaced with an SMLE barrel as the threads are identical!

 

[Steve Q]

I have an 1875 Martini Enfield carbine converted / "modernised" to .303 in 1900, so a mere 123 years ago. Shoots beautifully and is a really fun challenge, even if it needs a .314" round. If you get the chance, get one.

 

[NOTSHARP]

That's very elegant. What some might not know is that the Martini He ry was actually, in .303, an issue weapon in British military service. You don't see too many. I've seen maybe a half a dozen carbines ( indeed the first weapon I shot with in .303 was a Martini Henry carbine in maybe 1972) and but the one rifle. But they did and do exist.

Like you, I also shot a .303 Cavalry Carbine, in the early 1970's.

Top right in this old picture, taken at Bisley, on the Running Deer range, IIRC.






Steve.

 

[Ade8mm]

That's very elegant. What some might not know is that the Martini He ry was actually, in .303, an issue weapon in British military service. You don't see too many. I've seen maybe a half a dozen carbines ( indeed the first weapon I shot with in .303 was a Martini Henry carbine in maybe 1972) and but the one rifle. But they did and do exist.

Here's one when I had a place in Muscat (sorry for the poor foto)
Martini Enfield

 

[angusb1]

This is my great grandfather's bayonet from his Martini-Henry .303 which he used in the Boer War. He was living in South Africa working as a miner and volunteered for the mounted infantry when war broke out. I'd like to get a Martini-Henry .303 so I can fit the bayonet to it and shoot it but there are a couple of other guns I'd like to get first.

 

[kopcicle]

Likely to have been a martini Enfield as most were rebarrelled using deeper rifling than the Henry ones as there was less fouling with cordite than black powder!
If you have a worn out ME barrel it can be replaced with an SMLE barrel as the threads are identical!

I've cast the chamber and slugged the barrel. You are correct.
As far as I know it went Metford, Henry, Enfield.

Martini–Enfield - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

However following the British arms procurement through that or any other period is more than a tangle.
The next evolution here is a cast lead load or three. Specifically I want an accuracy load, a hunting load, and a reduced "cat sneeze" load for training and practice.

As it is the Norma box ammunition works very well and I haven't set a foot wrong reloading for it. Trouble is that after bestowing it on the wife I get only limited visitation rights.

 

[Steve Q]

Try 13 grains of Unique and a suitably sized cast bullet from Shellhouse. Mine loves that load, which is more accurate than my old eyes and the basic sights.

 

[tim@tcs]

I've cast the chamber and slugged the barrel. You are correct.
As far as I know it went Metford, Henry, Enfield.

Martini–Enfield - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

However following the British arms procurement through that or any other period is more than a tangle.
The next evolution here is a cast lead load or three. Specifically I want an accuracy load, a hunting load, and a reduced "cat sneeze" load for training and practice.

As it is the Norma box ammunition works very well and I haven't set a foot wrong reloading for it. Trouble is that after bestowing it on the wife I get only limited visitation rights.

Sometimes just the way the mark stamps have been applied or altered tells you a lot about the rifle’s history

 

[angusb1]

.

 

[Rafter]

I've had two, both with shot out 303 barrels that were swapped for 45/70.
I welded a lever to the cocking indicator so they could be uncocked and carried loaded - bush hunting here doesn't allow for the flurry of movement required to load a MH, and this was the best of a bad lot of options.

Neat rifles, and if my eyes were better I'd like to shoot service rifle with one.

 

[harrygrey382]

Based on a 1895 BSA Martini it now has a .303 barrel.

I've not seen wood or metal like this anywhere. A true custom with an excellent trigger and well regulated irons for 175-180gr
It just does what is intended.

Very cool, that’s a really nice rifle. Martini and 303 is just meant to be - although there are many calibres I’d like one in.

This is my great grandfather's bayonet from his Martini-Henry .303 which he used in the Boer War. He was living in South Africa working as a miner and volunteered for the mounted infantry when war broke out. I'd like to get a Martini-Henry .303 so I can fit the bayonet to it and shoot it but there are a couple of other guns I'd like to get first.

Wow that’s really special - shame he didn’t pass the Martini down! Anyway, I’d say you’re obliged to track an original down. I’m fascinated in the Boer war - someone local has offered me an early OVS marked Mauser M93 barreled action, which once stocked will nicely with the 303 in my safe…

 

[alberta boy]

I've had two, both with shot out 303 barrels that were swapped for 45/70.
I welded a lever to the cocking indicator so they could be uncocked and carried loaded - bush hunting here doesn't allow for the flurry of movement required to load a MH, and this was the best of a bad lot of options.

Neat rifles, and if my eyes were better I'd like to shoot service rifle with one.

A hunting buddy of mine did the same thing , he also installed a quarter rib with a three leaf express sight on it . The base was set up to accept scope bases that he used to mount an intermediate eye relief scope . Not exactly a classic look , but it worked really well . I have a thing for MH and Remington Rolling Block single shots , I will eventually put something similiar together before I go in the forever box .

AB

 

[Rafter]

A hunting buddy of mine did the same thing , he also installed a quarter rib with a three leaf express sight on it . The base was set up to accept scope bases that he used to mount an intermediate eye relief scope . Not exactly a classic look , but it worked really well . I have a thing for MH and Remington Rolling Block single shots , I will eventually put something similiar together before I go in the forever box .

AB

I was shooting deer closer than 50m, so I just made up a wide vee open rear sight and put a fineish ivory bead up front on both. A 3 leaf express ramp would have been nice, but not necessary.
The last Martini was sold to buy a R700 22.250, which I found a better bush rifle.