I just took my new to me martini out to the range. About 8" high at 100yds. It seems to like the old IVI imperial 150gr lead SP. About 3 " w/ open sights & poor eyes. If you can tell me any history I would be grateful. R side -crown over VR over ENFIELD over 1876 over a shield w/ a cross(?) inside over II. over 2 with what looks like an arrow through it. The cocking indicator is behind these marks and has a } type symbols on it. Leaver has an upward arrow over IVD over 10 over script B. The cartouche on stock I cant read in circle might end in LPM or LDN all over III. the brass disk has only 10/04 on it. The left side has a large crown over ER over BP Co over 1901 over ME303 over AC III. It has a 21 " barrel w/E on top by action. Sights 200-500 slide & open, Front blade no hood & neither sight seem adjustable for windage. It is a nice carbine & I enjoy it much. Thanks to you have the knowledge for the help. AJ
303 martini
- Thread starter a j cave
- Start date
Oh wow, you've got a Martini Enfield Cavalry Carbine... Sounds like it started off as a Martini Henry MkII, converted to .303 caliber in 1901.
Not sure about the rest off the top of my head, but I'm sure others (more knowledgeable than I) will chime in before I can look it up properly.
Not sure about the rest off the top of my head, but I'm sure others (more knowledgeable than I) will chime in before I can look it up properly.
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The stamping on the right side of the receiver is the sovereigns cypher. VR meaning Victoria Rex. originally manufactured during Queen Victoria' s reign and undoubtedly as 577/450 calibre. date of original manufacture and appropriate small arms builder ( Enfield )included here. The left side of the gun should have a conversion cypher, date the original rifle was converted to 303 caliber as well as the converting small arms factory. If not converted to metford type rifling the knox form should be stamper E to designate an Enfield rifled gun. Then there is the type of arm, class of arm, etc etc. Do a little internet research theyr'e nothing, if not interesting historically. IMO. cheers.
Very much so.Fun little handy firearms...
I've a recent conversion.
But it likes reduced power loads much more than full house loadings.
41 grains of 4895 behind a 150 grain sp. Very nice to shoot, lower recoil and muzzle blast.
My Martini-Henry has a 19" bbl. Full house loads just make a lot of noise, flash & recoil.Sometimes I wonder how anyone shoots the SMLE sporters will "full house loadings".....
I can & do reload so why build Full house loads? Just a waste of powder, IMO
Sometimes I wonder how anyone shoots the SMLE sporters will "full house loadings".....
Basically because they make stuff really dead, really fast. Personally I have never found .303 sporters to be really unpleasant in the recoil department. Jungle Carbines with their light weight and really small area rubber butt pad are quite sharp and LOUD.
