Martini Henry loading gear
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Don't know where you are, friend, or how big your wallet might be, so we will assume that you are halfway to flat-broke, just like all the rest of us here!
Get hold of a LEE Precision dealer. Higginson Powders has most of this in stock; if not, they can bring it in fast and at decent prices.
You will want Lee's BIG press because the Martini-Henry dies are bigger than standard 7/8x14. The press, WITH a set of Martini-Henry dies AND a shellholder, runs about $200. The press has a steel insert so you can run standard dies and it is also tough enough for some mild swaging jobs. LEE also makes a nice bullet-mould for a .459-inch hollowbase that works just fine in the oversize bores of Martini-Henrys. This is a big single-stage press, big enough to do .50 Browning on; you need one this big for Martini-Henrys and Sniders.
For POWDER, you use SR-4759 at about 30 grains by WEIGHT, absolutely NO higher than 33. This is a smokeless powder, but this load is safe in the MH. Couple of thin squares of TP because modern cases don't have the internal liners to limit the case capacity. ONE cotton ball (or even a half) is better, as the TP tends to light things on fire; it burns too slowly. (I always used to use a 4-inch square of waxed paper but it was messy and it DID set things on fire!).
LEE also has a Safety Powder Scale which is just a little plastic thing but is very accurate. It is light enough that it is good only for powder charges; you can't weigh your big bullets on it. It is about $30 Canadian. RCBS, Redding and the others all make nice dual-purpose scales but they are a lot more money.
That, with a bucket of old lead scraps, should get you going. Lee also makes nice little casting furnaces and things like that. Check out their website, but order from Canada.
Have fun!
Get hold of a LEE Precision dealer. Higginson Powders has most of this in stock; if not, they can bring it in fast and at decent prices.
You will want Lee's BIG press because the Martini-Henry dies are bigger than standard 7/8x14. The press, WITH a set of Martini-Henry dies AND a shellholder, runs about $200. The press has a steel insert so you can run standard dies and it is also tough enough for some mild swaging jobs. LEE also makes a nice bullet-mould for a .459-inch hollowbase that works just fine in the oversize bores of Martini-Henrys. This is a big single-stage press, big enough to do .50 Browning on; you need one this big for Martini-Henrys and Sniders.
For POWDER, you use SR-4759 at about 30 grains by WEIGHT, absolutely NO higher than 33. This is a smokeless powder, but this load is safe in the MH. Couple of thin squares of TP because modern cases don't have the internal liners to limit the case capacity. ONE cotton ball (or even a half) is better, as the TP tends to light things on fire; it burns too slowly. (I always used to use a 4-inch square of waxed paper but it was messy and it DID set things on fire!).
LEE also has a Safety Powder Scale which is just a little plastic thing but is very accurate. It is light enough that it is good only for powder charges; you can't weigh your big bullets on it. It is about $30 Canadian. RCBS, Redding and the others all make nice dual-purpose scales but they are a lot more money.
That, with a bucket of old lead scraps, should get you going. Lee also makes nice little casting furnaces and things like that. Check out their website, but order from Canada.
Have fun!
I'd consider reloading for that without the use of dies or a press, get proper brass(already formed) and you are good to go, everything can be done with simple handtools fashioned in your basement. You will of course need a mold if you want to cast your own, make sure that you slug your bore BEFORE ordering a mold that will drop a bullet wide enough!!!
- Location
- Algoma region
I have been shooting my lovely old martini "purchased here on the forum" for 2 years or thereabouts, I have yet to try the smokeless formulas the excellent forum members here have been using.
Respectfully- If you have access to ffg black powder, you may want to start hand loading with that, as its somewhat easier loading by volume/eye with black powder safely - in my biased opinion mind you
Cheers
Respectfully- If you have access to ffg black powder, you may want to start hand loading with that, as its somewhat easier loading by volume/eye with black powder safely - in my biased opinion mind you
Cheers
I believe that FG black powder is the only way to go and use a full casing with a proiper sized bullet. Most Mk. 3's are .462" diameter so attempt to either buy bullets of that size or larger or purchase a mould of .468 - .470" diamater for best results. Fill the case to the bottom of the neck and then either seat the bulet directly on the powder or use a wad below the bullet. You will get lots of opinions here which are all a valuable resource. I have used SR4759 for some smaller cases and also have used it as a starter for duplex loads in the 57 Snider and 577-450 but have not tried it alone for 577-450. It is obvious that others have. Best of luck. Dave
Well, I happen to be in the same boat as the OP, except that I have two MkIV's to feed (and haven't even produced a single round for them yet, as I haven't had time to go get the proper SR-4759 powder). Anyway, here is the breakdown of how I tackled the necessities:
Dies: I bought a set of CH4D dies here on the forums for 100$... they fit the standard press and do not require the more expensive Lee Classic Cast press, like the Lee dies do (as Lees are oversized). If you don't mind buying a press too, then Lee dies are reported to be excellent for the task too. It will be an expensive venture though.
Bullet: After posting a thread similar to yours, I've received several PMs from members willing to sell me some cast bullets, so you may want to go down that road if you're gonna shoot little. Personally, I decided to go for a Lee bullet mold which produces a .459 bullet in 500 gr (with a pointed tip). The mold cost me around 20$ at factorysales.com and I had it delivered up here no problem. I know it's somewhat undersized, but it's only .03 of an inch from the nominal bore size, so it should work ok (my bores aren't slugged, but they look new). I've seen some people patching their undersized cast bullets with silicone tape to give a little extra size to a slightly undersized bullet (this tape is usually used for wrapping threads in plumbing applications).
Brass: Bought it from Elwood Epps, sponsor of this site. The cost was 65$ for a pack of 20 (fully reloadable, boxer-primed). I am thinking of buying more in the near future, before supplies dry out or the manufacturer decides to call it quits. Brass last forever when not in use and stored properly, so why not.
Loading Data: Best way to help you with that is to refer you to this thread I've made... if you plan on going smokeless or duplex, of course: http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=499275
Dies: I bought a set of CH4D dies here on the forums for 100$... they fit the standard press and do not require the more expensive Lee Classic Cast press, like the Lee dies do (as Lees are oversized). If you don't mind buying a press too, then Lee dies are reported to be excellent for the task too. It will be an expensive venture though.
Bullet: After posting a thread similar to yours, I've received several PMs from members willing to sell me some cast bullets, so you may want to go down that road if you're gonna shoot little. Personally, I decided to go for a Lee bullet mold which produces a .459 bullet in 500 gr (with a pointed tip). The mold cost me around 20$ at factorysales.com and I had it delivered up here no problem. I know it's somewhat undersized, but it's only .03 of an inch from the nominal bore size, so it should work ok (my bores aren't slugged, but they look new). I've seen some people patching their undersized cast bullets with silicone tape to give a little extra size to a slightly undersized bullet (this tape is usually used for wrapping threads in plumbing applications).
Brass: Bought it from Elwood Epps, sponsor of this site. The cost was 65$ for a pack of 20 (fully reloadable, boxer-primed). I am thinking of buying more in the near future, before supplies dry out or the manufacturer decides to call it quits. Brass last forever when not in use and stored properly, so why not.
Loading Data: Best way to help you with that is to refer you to this thread I've made... if you plan on going smokeless or duplex, of course: http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=499275
Be sure to dump your brass into a bucket of water just as soon as you have fired it. Black powder fouling is REALLY hard on brass.... and brass is expensive.
I recommended the Lee .459 HOLLOWBASE mould (90268) specifically because of bore-diameter issues with MH rifles. It it theoretically oversize AND the base expands when it is fired.
Have fun!
I recommended the Lee .459 HOLLOWBASE mould (90268) specifically because of bore-diameter issues with MH rifles. It it theoretically oversize AND the base expands when it is fired.
Have fun!
762mm.....good luck trying to get that .457" bullet to expand to .466 - .468" which is what your Mk.4's are! The only chance you have of getting a slug to expand is with black powder which will bump a soft bullet up a bit but not .010" in my opinion. Dedicated Martini Henry moulds are all .468" to .470". Paul Jones Moulds is one of the very best, and expensive, and it is .470".......the last group buy on the British Militaria Forums was for a .468" bullet. Yes, many are using smokeless fast burning rate powders but BP is still my choice. Mk.1,2 and 3's have bores in the .462 size while Mk.4's are all larger at .466 ballpark depending on how worn they are. Card and vegetable wads I buy in bulk from "Circle Fly Wads". Good luck, Dave
You can get a Lee Classic Cast press with removeable bushing to accept the larger Martini Dies for $74 and the Dies from Lee for $84. You can still use this press with normal dies for other calibres. Cases, bullets, primers, and black powder and a funnel will get you loading. A Scale and/or volume black powder measure, manual and a bunch of other smalls stuff will also help but you could load black powder without them to start.
- Location
- Tucson, Arizona
Standard 7/8 x 14 sizing dies can SPLIT Thats why they make the larger ones.
Mould; RCBS 468-480-MH
Learn to paper patch your bullets.
Thats why they make the larger ones.Mould; RCBS 468-480-MH
Learn to paper patch your bullets.
stevejones
Regular
- Location
- Courtenay, BC
Paper Patching
I've been working up a suitable load for my MH and have been experimenting with paper patching. I assume you are patching yours to a .469 diameter? What type of paper are you using? And does it matter....? I have just got ahols of some cartridge 2F and was going to use a cotton ball to fill the space. Has anyone run into problems using cream of wheat?
Cheers. Steve.
I've been working up a suitable load for my MH and have been experimenting with paper patching. I assume you are patching yours to a .469 diameter? What type of paper are you using? And does it matter....? I have just got ahols of some cartridge 2F and was going to use a cotton ball to fill the space. Has anyone run into problems using cream of wheat?
Cheers. Steve.
Standard 7/8 x 14 sizing dies can SPLIT
Mould; RCBS 468-480-MH
Learn to paper patch your bullets.
I was not going to paper patch. It was my intention to get a hollow base mould. It amounts to the same thing right ?
I shot a couple of rounds with my Martini today, it came with six loaded rounds. It has a stout recoil but it's not unpleasent, I even hit the target !
achtanelion
Regular
- Location
- Edmonchuck
It is recommended to stay away from cream of wheat or other granular fillers with any bottleneck cartridge. It can pack together upon firing and cause overpressure.
For your new brass I recommend a fireforming load of 85gn FFg, cotton ball, vegetable fibre wad, and see if you can get some .457/.458 lube groove bullets from someone. This isn't an accurate load, but it will blow out the shoulders of the brass to fit your chamber.
My load for the my mark IV consists of 85gn FFg, 7gn cotton balls, card wad, beeswax based lube cookie, 2 card wads, and a .456 bullet paper patched to .470.
For your new brass I recommend a fireforming load of 85gn FFg, cotton ball, vegetable fibre wad, and see if you can get some .457/.458 lube groove bullets from someone. This isn't an accurate load, but it will blow out the shoulders of the brass to fit your chamber.
My load for the my mark IV consists of 85gn FFg, 7gn cotton balls, card wad, beeswax based lube cookie, 2 card wads, and a .456 bullet paper patched to .470.
Yes.. I've seen the group buy on the proper mold, but I did not yet have my first Martini back then.. or any other antiques for that matter. The mold I got is .459 and many reloaders report that it still works well in the M-H (some even go for the .457, which is even smaller)... but I appreciate your advice and I do realize that the loads will most likely have some shortcomings at the range. First and foremost I'll test it, then I'll decide if I need a custom mold made at a place like NEI (which made me my 8mm Lebel revolver mold a couple of months ago). Thanks for your input!
.
achtanelion
Regular
- Location
- Edmonchuck
Lots of people turning in fine accuracy with lube groove bullets. It's more important that the bullet fit the bore than that it be a specific style.
Standard 7/8 x 14 sizing dies can SPLIT
Mould; RCBS 468-480-MH
Learn to paper patch your bullets.
As John posted above, RCBS makes a lube groove mould for the Martini Henry and you can get one from Buffalo Arms.
3w's.buffaloarms.com/browse.cfm/4,2465.html
