who here shoots the BSA Martini actions?

Peeps only for me (Model 12).
I can normally outshoot the scoped rifles at 50 yds.
Dead simple action. Not much to go wrong.
Just keep the area between breech face and extractor clean of burnt powder.
Store it uncocked.
 
I was reading a page on the BSA Martini actions and I see there are Mark II Mark IV and such models, but throughout the article they only talked about the 12/15.

is the 12/15 the same as these Mark models and of them, which is the better and what markings on on the rifles to dictate which Mark revision it is?

thanks! :)
 
Mr. Friendly said:
I was reading a page on the BSA Martini actions and I see there are Mark II Mark IV and such models, but throughout the article they only talked about the 12/15.

is the 12/15 the same as these Mark models and of them, which is the better and what markings on on the rifles to dictate which Mark revision it is?

thanks! :)
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Do some more reading! Search for BSA Martini International, which is the Model Name. The Mark, was the variant as they progressed through the changes.

The Internationals (Mk 1 through IV) each have some differences and are not interchangeable from one to the next . Minor improvements, and things that eased the maintenance, or manufacturing.

The 12/15 is a different animal. Search out that model and compare.

Cheers
Trev
 
From what I have read the 12/15 models had the same receiver and were the vast majority of those produced. Some of the earlier models are very collectable. I have one cadet in .256winmag which is a .357mag narrowed to .25. It has the top of the receiver drilled and tapped for a scope mount. Those side mounts are really nice with using the standard holes. Would love to find a bsa cadet in .297 morris or the .310 center. I have a .218 bee barrel that some one made but have not mounted it as I have another martini full size in .218bee. Also would love to find a side ammo carrier.

Great rifles, love the feel of them.

Read Trevj post above he is correct.
ht tp://www.rifleman.org.uk/BSA_small-bore_target_rifles.html
 
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I love the Martini's, in both CF & RF. I have a scope mounted on an International that uses the dovetail for the peeps. My eyes don't work as well as the did when I wore a "younger man's clothes". They are a pleasure to handle and just fun to shoot.
 
I'm lucky enough that oldguyeyetis hasn't hit me too hard yet. So I still really enjoy shooting my Model 12 BSA Martini. And with the right ammo someone with sharper eyes I don't doubt for a second that it could do well in the 50 yard accuracy thread bragging. But I don't have 1/2" eyes anymore.

I love using this classic single shot action. But then I pretty much salivate over ANY sort of single shot action.
 
Davie Sprocket said:
...Also would love to find a side ammo carrier....
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There was a fellow in Oz who was making them from an aluminum block but I think he's not doing so any more. I made one for my .357 Cadet (a Ron Smith rebore from a .310 ) from a piece of oak. (Didn't have any walnut on hand. Now stained a little darker.) The 1/16" strip of neoprene rubber is glued on with contact cement and drilled to provide a "kiss fit" for the brass.





It's held in place by two neodymium "coin" magnets epoxied into drilled recesses in the back and covered with 10 mil vinyl tape:



They're really nice actions and very strong. Only limitation is cartridge length due to the tilting block, but there are still quite a few options. I wish one of the Italian manufacturers would start making them.

CGN'er "Pmatuk" is another guy with a whack of Martinis, like RussellO

:)
 
There was a thread in the Martini-Henry section of the British Militaria Forum about scoping Martinis. I think this is the same one. David Kaiser (ex-Brownells) said:

If I were doing the job, and setting it up for either a period long eye relief or Unertl type scope, I would sweat (soft solder) a pair of bases to the barrel that would be drilled and tapped for scope blocks. Given a decent footprint, soft solder is more than strong enough to hold a scope base and scope against recoil. The bases have to be fitted pretty closely to the barrel and probably should be at least one square inch of surface area each. Low temperature lead-tin or tin-silver solder will do a fine job and you don't need extreme heat on the barrel that could damage the bore...just a good fit and coverage.

David

David Kaiser
Montezuma, IA
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and a bit further down in that thread he includes a link to a page with a pic of him at the helm of a nicely-scoped Martini:

I had forgotten about this photo online: http://www.pbase.com/lonn...hke/image/20993162 That's me with a 12/15 Schuetzen rifle in 38 Ballard XL with a Tasco externally adjustable scope that is a bit larger in diameter than a Unertl.
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