Shooting the Martini Henry Sportster .450/.577 and Mauser 1871 single shot black powder rifle

[Gert Odendaal]

Currently I have a
WESTLEY RICHARDS MARTINI ACTION 577-450 MARTINI HENRY

Description:
30" BARREL WITH FILE CUT RIB AND 6 LEAF AND LADDER EXPRESS SIGHTS SINGLE TRIGGER EJECTOR PISTOL GRIP

This new Martini Henry is in excellent condition, I really do think shooting it accurately will not be an issue at all. Thus the re-loading issues will be dealt with swiftly since I now knows more about re-loading for accuracy in regards to the .577/450 Martini Henry rifle ..

 

[IvW]

Gert I need one of those K31 rifles from the picture I think the middle one. Can you pm me some more details please thx

 

[Gert Odendaal]

Gert I need one of those K31 rifles from the picture I think the middle one. Can you pm me some more details please thx

IvW, they all really looks amazing new and in a great condition..will take more photos for you and get a price on one for you.

 

[IvW]

Thank you.

 

[DG Gunsmith]

HWL, something very interesting there are available three Swiss rifles , the Swiss K31 7.5 Swiss Schmidt Rubin rifles in the Gun shop...what knowledge do you have about this type of rifle ..it really are in beautiful condition...any member on the forum knows more about this rifle?? These Swiss rifles in the gun shop is for sale and really I have never seen vintage rifles in this brilliant condition for sure,,

View attachment 380275

Those are in the best condition o' any Surplus Swiss Rifles I've ever seen! My 1st Center Fire Rifle was a Sporterized 1889 Schmidt Rubin that had been converted to .30-30WCF by Global Importers in the 1960's... I picked it up at a Gun Show for $95... It was in rough shape(Mechanically sound, but it had been butchered by its previous owners)... I have very fond memories o' that Rifle... I still have it... The Swiss Straight Pull Rifles are made like a fine Swiss Watch...

 

[DG Gunsmith]

HWL. then what do I do with it??? I already have too many rifles

You can't possibly own too many rifles! Treat yourself...

 

[DG Gunsmith]

As you lads probably already know... I'm a super fan o' the Martini Action... I'll be Custom building Martini DG Rifles, eventually, if all goes as planned... Ironically enough, like the K-31's that were posted, Martini was also Swiss... The Swiss have always made wonderful stuff!

 

[observe]

Sorry to be a bit off topic,but it seems here are some experts who can maybe direct me to a link so I can find out a bit more about a RSA friend's 577/450 'sporting' Henry Martini rifle?
I can see the name 'Hughes' on the side with a full length rib on top of the barrel and about 9 sights for different distances ;
Any info or a place to look for info will be appreciated.
Regards

 

[Gert Odendaal]

Sorry to be a bit off topic,but it seems here are some experts who can maybe direct me to a link so I can find out a bit more about a RSA friend's 577/450 'sporting' Henry Martini rifle?
I can see the name 'Hughes' on the side with a full length rib on top of the barrel and about 9 sights for different distances ;
Any info or a place to look for info will be appreciated.
Regards


View attachment 383080View attachment 383086View attachment 383087View attachment 383088View attachment 383089View attachment 383090View attachment 383091

Beautiful customized Martini Henry rifle for sure..

 

[HWL]

I already have too many rifles.

This is what your wife tells you.....

But she is wrong....

Be a man....

Buy another gunsafe....

Support your local gun dealer!


HWL

 

[fourfive8]

Tagging in on this older thread since it generally fits. Just acquired a Mark IV 577-450 MH Type C, 1887 Enfield. I assume It came out of one of the Nepal cache sales. Appears to be 100% original and includes its as-issued leather sling, still attached. I know little about these Nepal cache guns other than this one has to rate in top 1% for condition compared to others I’ve seen. Its bore could be rated excellent plus… one of the primary reasons I bought it. I enjoy shooting these old originals.

Got a box of reformed (24 ga Magtech) brass from Buffalo Arms. Loaded 5 rounds with some relatively soft .461” 440 gr GC cast bullets I shoot in my Trapdoors. I slugged the bore and best I can measure this rifle has a groove diameter of approx. .465”. I’m thinking/guessing however the bore diameter in this MH land/groove design should be enough smaller than the .461” bullets, the lands will have enough purchase for adequate spin. That was my theory anyway as I was anxious to shoot the rifle with the “most likely candidate” bullets I had on hand. I ordered a mold from Accurate Molds last night but their best guess for completion is eight weeks out.

My 5 test round load was a conservative, “Russian duplex” load that has proven to be one of the best in my Snider. I headed to the range last evening at sundown with the pooch, my daughter, this new-to-me rifle and the 5 test rounds. Shot five @ 50 yards from the bench. Yauza!! Tight, 1 1/2” cluster group! About 12” above POA with zero windage. Every hole showed perfect bullet stabilization. Always interesting to me that nearly every blackpowder ML and BPCR military rifle in original configuration I’ve experience with is regulated this way with both fixed sights or adjustables on lowest setting. They generally shoot about a foot high at 50 yards.

When I have some spare time I’ll make a taller, temporary type front sight and glue it on. That simply makes it more practical go shoot… whete the POI is nearer the POA.

 

[fourfive8]

Front sight “saddle” to increase height of front sight on MH so POI is closer to POA @ 50 and 100 yards.

Fitted and ready to “blue and glue”

 

[fourfive8]

Pics of MH

Mark IV MH 577-450
“NEP. NS” on left side of barrel = Nepal Native State
Final config of front sight riser

 

[Spacebogan]

I used to shoot my Martini Henry's alot.

By far the best BP load in my experience for the Military Martinis is a 480grn .468" diameter bullet loaded far out in the case.Over 60 grn 2FG with the case void taken up by foam backer rod cut off at the top of the case neck.

This load will shoot to the original sights at 100m.

Martini Henry's have a long lead in from the chamber,the bore is tapered from about .470" to .450" at the muzzle.Slugging the bore from the muzzle end is a waste of effort.

 

[Sarg]

Glade you guys like shooting the .577/450 I how ever despise the cartridge but keep finding more cool rifles chambered in it !

I have had many Martini’s so chambered & just bought a very cool sporter carbine also chambered in .577/450 getting to enjoy the caliber a little more now as I love the little rifle,

First I bought a very cool Jones Underlever Ovate barrel with express sights, meant to be a .577/500 No2 but on looking harder it was chambered in .577/450 but with a .458 barrel & super tight chamber.
Then a Underlever Cape Gun in .450No2 Musket & 12ga very cool, well it arrived as a .577/450 & 16ga ??

Then this bag of parts that had been a nice Sporter Carbine in .577/450 with I was told 3-4 out of 10 barrel $250, picked it up, look down barrel, said heck that’s a 6-7 after getting home & cleaning it’s a solid 8 so shooting old military ammo & some hand loads 500gr bullets over 80-85grs of black it made me a little Black & Blue, with 65grs & 400gr it is lovely !

This .577/450 caliber would have been a Monster in a full Nitro load matching any of the big bangers !

Unfortunately not in the bag of parts was the Baker Safety & lever, so has a hole with nothing in it on both sides !

 

[fourfive8]

To me the 577 450 is kind of a design enigma, ideal for neither BP nor smokeless. Caught in no-mans’s-land of history between the eras of BP and smokeless. By design or chance luck, the 45-70 is a study in design efficiency that spanned the two eras well.

Yes, those tapered bores of some lever guns and some single shots like the MH are tricky to slug. Not hard to do but requires an extra step. A steel or brass spacer is inserted into chamber to act as an anvil. Place a bore diameter lead slug on top of anvil with a steel rod on top slug from muzzle end. Pound on rod to fully obturate slug. Drive slug out. Measure.

 

[fourfive8]

Anvil you say? …. Easy. Cut a piece of approx caliber brass or steel rod about the length to be at case mouth when inserted into empty case. Insert soft lead slug of about caliber an inch or two long into chamber throat then chamber the “anvil” fitted empty case underneath. Close bolt. Insert steel or brass rod in from muzzle. Use flat brass jag on end of rod. Hold rifle vertically. Tap on rod to form a lead casting of the throat and first part of bore. Open action and remove “anvil”. Tap out slug and measure. Simpler and less messy than using the molten cerrosafe method.

Pics show “anvil” for 577-450

 

[fourfive8]

You just thought enigma cartridge designs like the 577-450 have caused much head scratching. How about the ME 402 that the Brits almost put in production to replace the 577-450? What in the heck were the British military R&D folks thinking?

ME 402

 

[Sarg]

You just thought enigma cartridge designs like the 577-450 have caused much head scratching. How about the ME 402 that the Brits almost put in production to replace the 577-450? What in the heck were the British military R&D folks thinking?

ME 402

View attachment 701919

Haha love it wish they had used that chamber somewhere !’

 

[Spacebogan]

One of the biggest aids in Shooting your Martini well,is a Sutheland rear sight.

A beautiful example of Victorian era machining,they are windage adjustable as well as elevating to a highly optimistic 1900yards.

They also fit Sniders and Metfords without any modifications, simply drift out the rear sight pin,slot the sight on and re attach.

I have two spares for sale or trade.