Fun with a Martini-Henry

[Brian the Brit]

At the range this morning all 20 of my CBC cased rounds fired perfectly with no suggestion of light strikes - as did the 5 Kynoch cased rounds that I fired.

I can only conclude that my initial problems were due to muppetry of the first order on my part in using the wrong primers.

The cotton wool filler was quite spectacular as bits of it floated gently across the firing point on the breeze. From the heavily singed chunks I picked up I wouldn't recommend its use in areas liable to forest fires.

Anyway, using my patent 'one target above another, aim at the bottom and hope to hit the top' method, this was the result of four carefully aimed shots. (Ignore the two fliers).

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/ ... rget10.jpg[/pic]

The main problem with accuracy with this rifle seems to lie in the rather coarse barleycorn and vee military sights similar to those on my Long Lee. In the hands of someone with more youthful eyes I think it would have considerable potential.

To add to my joy, when I got home I found a letter from a mate GIVING me his 45/90 Sharps fitted with a long brass, American Civil War style scope......but that's another story.........for another forum.

Brian

[dromia]

I was going to say Brian that you're getting there but upon reflection I would say you've got there, well done mate "endeavour to persevere".

Now that Sharps sounds like a true gift, in fact I'd put a lottery ticket on mate your luck is definitely in.

Look forward to the pictures, hows the bore?

I've been looking at a few original Sharps recently and all of them had goosed bores, original Sharps also fetch top price.

I'm looking at a Pedersoli Sharps in 45-110 a la Quigley after my happy experiences with my 1884 Trapdoor.

These Pedersolis come in at over £1,000 though and I still think to myself that amount of money is a couple of Sniders or Martinis or a nice original somethingor other, so I haven't sprung for one yet, but no doubt I will in due course, the mind is weak.

[Brian the Brit]

Adam,

The first rifle I bought was my Euroarms 2-band Enfield that cost me around £450.

Some time later I got friendly with a local gunsmith who specialises in antique military rifles and he asked why I'd bothered with a repro that was going to lose money when for comparatively little more investment I could have had an original that would have made money? A year or so later I saw a perfect Volunteer 2-Band at Bisley for £850 and could have kicked myself.

I suppose it's a different matter if you are in the trade and have access to all the appropriate auctions and sources but the principle is nevertheless a sound one.

The Sharps is an Armi San Marco single trigger action with a special American 32" (I think) VERY heavy round barrel with as new, heavily crowned BP rifling. It is said to be very accurate and will cloverleaf three shots at 50 metres. My mate won the initial 300 yard stage of the original Quigley comp at Bisley with it using open sights but dipped out at 600. It is a fine rifle but definitely not one for off-hand use. I now need to do a one-for-one on my FAC so I can collect it.

I'm really getting into BP cartridge reloading but am amazed by the number of people at our club who shoot rolling blocks and Sharps rifles with nitro. Hardly in the spirit of the original, what?

On the subject of Trapdoors, I was offered an original a couple of years ago with an immaculate bore and Buffington sight that came complete with its original combination reloading tool. I passed it by, bought that dog of an SMLE that you saw being scrutineered at the LERA meet and have regretted it ever since. Doh!

Yesterday I had two club members absolutely drooling over my P14 and .22 SMLE. It had me thinking...........

Brian

[PeterN2]

I have a friend who has a 50/70 Trapdoor Springfield that he shoots sometimes. It is well used on the outside but has a great bore. Carried alot and not shot much.

Regards

Peter.