Martini Henry in 45-70

L.Parratt

L.Parratt

CGN Regular
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Edmonton Alberta.
Range Report! Shoots great. Just shot into a Gong. Didn't try to zero or anything. But it work's!
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Here's my buddy shooting it.





It's done!

Scope installed ✅️
Parkerized barrel and action ✅️
Blued Lever, Breech, Trigger guard ✅️
Stock Sanded and Stained ✅️
Round downrange ❌️

Just waiting on my 45-70 Dies and I'll see how it groups!

Then it's onto a 50-140 Project.



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Just picked this interesting thing up. 30" Heavy bull barrel. It's in 45-70, but I'm quiet tempted to ream it out further to 45-90 or 45-110 if that's possible.

Currently plan is to refinish the stock into more of a cherry/red. Parkerize the metal and then install a Repro Malcolm 32" Scope.

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While I think it would be neat to recreate a "What Cheer" rifle, I don't think it's going to work if you want to use heavy bullets seated ~1 calibre deep in those longer cartridges.

There was a reason the British Ordnance Board went to a necked down .577 case for their 1871-1888 service cartridge, as, in order to get a straight case to hold that much black powder (~123 grs.) to yield the ballistics they wanted, would have required a .45-135 (no such thing) measuring ~3.500", plus whatever length of bullet you want outside the case. And, a >4+" cartridge will NOT fit into a Martini, at least the normal kind. I've seen a couple of .45-90 conversions made up on the Greener GP action, but did not see the loaded cartridges.

Is there some reason you want more ooomph than the .45 1/10 Sharps Straight cartridge can provide you with, or is it just the cool factor of having something that somebody else does not?

If so, just have the barrel marked .450 Sharps 2 1/10" & tell folks you have to make the brass out of .45-70, as there's no other case you can make it from!

Or, have it re-chambered for the .577/450 using your barrels' .450 lands & .458 grooves, if you intend to use black powder.

;-)
 
IMHO: Your right about the stain choice, but don't know about parkerizing it & that fore end needs to be reshaped & a barrel band LOL! As for rechambering? What c.o.a.l. can go into that action?
 
DANCESWITHEMPTIES said:
IMHO: Your right about the stain choice, but don't know about parkerizing it & that fore end needs to be reshaped & a barrel band LOL! As for rechambering? What c.o.a.l. can go into that action?
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There's actually a threaded screw into the barrel holding the forend on. Not sure about what to reshape it as. To be honest.

577/450 is 3.12", 45-70 is 2.55 so there's definitely some room to grow. 45-90 is 2.8 to my understanding. So that might be a go.
 
The 577/450 is a bottle neck, which allows the cartridge to somewhat tip as it enters the chamber. The 45-70 & 90 are straight walled and have to enter the chamber more straight-on. That is why they might not fit, even though the overall cartridge is shorter in length.
 
Had one in 45-70 and if I remember correctly long loaded bullets were getting close to maximum length for the action. Could probably get away with 45-90 but you might be limited in bullet selection.

Unless you are doing a lot of long range, like 800y plus it's hard to see the need. Also the extra cost of brass, dies etc.
Sometimes it's a need "just because" too though. I get that. If that's the case look for some big medicine buffalo gun on an American action. It will probably scratch the itch better anyway.
 
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Nice!

IMHO, I'd round off the front part of that fore end from that diagonal cut. Don't suppose there be enough wood there to have a schnabel fore end?
 
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L.Parratt said:
There's actually a threaded screw into the barrel holding the forend on. Not sure about what to reshape it as. To be honest.

577/450 is 3.12", 45-70 is 2.55 so there's definitely some room to grow. 45-90 is 2.8 to my understanding. So that might be a go.
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2.55" is really a lever action OAL so the rounds can cycle. And some lever actions like the Win 1886 can use longer rounds. When shooting single shot rifles you'll generally seat the bullets out further. As an example, in my Shiloh in .45-70 my current loaded round is just over 3" long. In my 45-90 my current loads are about 3.25" long.

Neat rifle.

Chris.
 
I have a martini in 45-70 can't get 535gr postels to chamber without seating them deep into the case not because of the chambering but because of the insertion angle putting it into the action
 
The .50-140 is a pretty impressive cartridge, but the fun wears out pretty fast. I bought one a number of years ago at a gun show, like new condition. I shot it as a .50-140 for a while. 700gr of lead and 135gr of blackpowder makes for some serious recoil. That rifle is now a .45-70 :).

There is a very cheap Ruger #1 on the EE, or was last night. I'll bet it doesn't last long.

Chris.
 
Might want to start looking for brass before you commit to the project. It's always been rare and expensive.

I know Starline does several 50's but I don't think that's on their list.
 
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