Milsurp After Hours

OK then...here's a question that one of the members of our gunclub came to me about.

He wants to buy himself a Martini Henri Mk IV rifle.

Buying the rifle is no problem.

He asked if I could find some info on where to buy a die set, a set of "reform dies", a mould in cal .450, a sizer die, (parent)cases (.577-450??)and I think he mentioned a top punch.

Lots of questions, but I was over asked on all of them.

These rifles are not my main field of interest.

Maybe there's someone out there who knows where to buy the things he needs to get the rifle talking or at least can point him in the right direction.

It would be nice if we could help him a bit here.

Thanks.

Met vriendelijke groet,

Martin

Afraid I can't help at all Martin BUT I will certainly make a note of any answers because I would really like on myself!!

An interesting set of questions and I'm sure that I've seen a supplier of new brass. Will look it up but after the 'Hectic Season'

Lee make the dies and they are the cheapest and function fine, you need a press like the Rockchucker, Lee classic cast, the Redding Ultramag or any other with the removable bushing for larger size dies.

CH-4D will do reform dies for 24 guage Magtech brass, Buffalo arms do Jamison brass which I cannot recommend.

The Mk 1V has a .470" + groove barrel, you can PP up any suitable boolit or have Rick Kalynuik at KAL Tool & Die Make you one of the best PP moulds in the business to your speccy.

If you want to go cheap then the Lee .476" Linebaugh mould can be sized down, It will need plentiful lube cookies as the sizing down doesn't leave much of the lube grooves. Assuming he's shooting BP.

Not sure about a top punch unless its for boolit sizing and you won't know which one to get 'till you know the boolit. They can easily be made to size and shape with a touch of epoxy in a suitable existing top punch.

Here's a 5 shot group at 100 yrds with my Mk 1V, the shot to the right out of the group was called.

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

Thanks very much Adam.

I already passed on the info......and the picture

It was very much appreciated.

Thanks for looking into it Eoin.

Met vriendelijke groet,

Martin

".577450 Brass" typed into Google came up with lots of results, including

577/450 MARTINI HENRY Formed $ US 154.95 for 20 rounds which seems expensive but may be on a par with the rest of the suppliers

http://www.shooterschoice.com/bertram/Bertram.htm

Thanks Eoin.

I copied your post ans E-mailed it to him.

I'll keep you posted.

Met vriendelijke groet,

Martin

For anything Martini go to www.martinihenry.com/links.htm

Ther are two good sources for moulds and they both ship to EU.

Buffalo Arms has the RCBS 468480 mould for Martini http://www.buffaloarms.com/browse.cfm/4,2465.html

I beleive this is the Jim Goodwin bullet.

CBE in Australia has several different moulds for the Martini in .462 .464, and a new one in .466.

The Martini realy need a .468 minimum bullt to work effectively.

If you need brass, drop me an Email and I will put you in contact with a gent who might make you Martini CBC Brass. Last time I talked to him he charged $25 for 25 rounds plus postage.

Jamison brass. Dromia and I got in on the British Militaria group buy and we all got factory seconds. It left me with a bad taste in my mouth. Later, much later Jamison stood behind the brass and replaced it, if you sent it to them. The brass the are putting out right now is top of the line.

In EU you have Kynoch and Hulsen-Horneber both making brass for the Martini.

Thanks DD.

I'll see the guy next Sunday and will talk to him about the brass.

I'll get back to you on this Sunday evening or Monday.

I have already mailed him the links so he can check that info himself.

Thanks again.

I'm sure he will appreciate it.

Met vriendelijke groet,

Martin

Here's a good article at SurplusRifle.com about forming brass 24 gage shot shells for reloading for this rifle, reloading them, and firing them: http://www.surplusrifle.com/articles200 ... /index.asp

Mark