What are 577/450 dies + brass worth?

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I recently started thinking about getting my 577/450 Martini Henry carbine shooting. A friend without a rifle in that caliber lent me a three die set, shell holder, and 20 machined brass cases. I couldn't see a manufacturer name on the dies, but the newspaper packing in the plastic tray was from Devon, England. One of the cases is toast, but the other 19 are loaded with black powder. He said to figure out a fair price and he would sell if I wanted to buy it all. Anyone have a suggestion of what would be a fair price?

Also I was wondering what would be a good load, black and nitro, for this carbine. It has Edwinson C. Green, Cheltenham engraved on one side of the receiver and is in very good shape. I read somewhere that the carbines used a lighter bullet and load to keep the recoil down. Cartridges of the World lists a 400 gr. bullet with 38 grains of 4198 for a MV of 1450 fps and 1920 ME or a 500 gr. bullet with 80 grs. Fg for a MV of 1320 fps and 1939 ME. I don't want to get into casting so if anyone would like to sell some suitable bullets, preferably in northern Alberta, I would be interested.

And one last question. I have a new plastic bottle of black powder labeled Graf & Sons but it doesn't have Fg, FFG, or FFFG anywhere on the labels. I picked it up at a gun show and seem to recall the seller said it was FFg. It was made by Wano Schwarzpulver GmbH, Germany, and imported for Graf by Schuetzen Powder, LLC. Is anyone familiar with this powder? Long post, sorry for all the questions. Thanks for any advice you might have.
 
I bet the brass is "NDFS", now defunct. They are turned brass and require very frequent annealing. I use Jamison brass that I get from "Mysticplayer" (almost $5/each!). Lee makes dies for about $125. Bullets need to be sized to the bore and to do that you need to know your bore size. Typically you'd be looking for 400 to 500 gr bullets in the 0.462-0.470" range.
 
Jamison brass is great stuff, Bertam is ok but it needs to be annealed and that's a PITA. Try Buffalo arms for brass, or mysticplayer, Williams Arm's in
Port Perry had dies the last time I was there, the Same with Epps.

I have used bot the Lee dies and the CD4D dies. The lee are a lower cost and are just as good.

Pete
 
I would love a fresh unused box of martini brass!! out of the 10 that came with my martini 3 are still useable.


Does anyone have the contact info for this mysticplayer character???

Does his brass take large rifle primers??


Cheers
 
The Jamison brass is really nice, Mysticplayer can be found here: http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=285463

According to my little Martini Henry book in 1886 a carbine load for the Martini Henry was adopted, it contained a 410 grain bullet over 63 to 67 grains of black powder. Various fillers like cardboard discs, beeswax, wads and cotton fiber were use to take up the space between the bullet and the powder.

Paper patch bullet moulds are also available for that more authentic look.
 
I got, from the EE, a set of 3 dies with shell holder,
and 38 brass, 24Guage necked down to .450, for about $230, IIRC.
Also, I had to buy a Rockchucker that takes the larger dies. KD
 
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NDFS brass sold for $5 a case when they were made. I've bought dies for $150 and a shell holder from Epp's for $20.
 
I have about 30 new NDFS 577-450 cases I don't like ndfs cases . So if you like them send me a pm I have CH-4D dies and lee dies they both work well I don't like the 577 Snider lee dies as they put a bottle neck back on the case they do work though and there price is good.
 
The brass and dies are from North Devon Firearm Service which was sold years ago. I have loaded both drawn and turned brass and I prefer the drawn brass. It requires neck annealing after every firing but it takes much less powder to fill the cases and is more pleasant to shoot and doesn't require frigging around with fillers. I have multiple loadings and have never lost a case. Carded wool was the original filler and is still used by many of the serious shooters. NDFS dies were very thin walled due to being 7/8" thread so the full length resizer would crack very easily under any pressure so be careful. Make sure you use very good quality resizing lube...many suggest "Imperial Sizing Die Wax". When you are reloading for only one rifle full length resizing is not necessary so don't attempt with these dies. Lee dies, in my opinion, are of sufficient quality and are much thicker in the walls so they will take the F/L resizing. I don't use smokeless in these old girls and would not.... but many do. I only use FG black in Swiss or Goex. I load up to the base of the neck and then place a card wad over that and seat the bullet. I cast my own and lube them the old way. Ben Hunchak has top quality cast bullets which would be fine in your rifle. Good luck..any questions just PM and I'll try to help. The rifle sounds like a dandy. Best wishes....Dave
 
577-450 dies

Sign up on the 'British Militaria Forums' site.

You'll find a LOT of 'been there-done that' information and guys who give you the straight goods based on their experience.

I just bought a set of 7/8" CH-4D dies from Bruno Gross in Alberta. Make sure you order the right shell holder for your brass. I have both Jamison and CBC 24 ga shotgun brass and they do not have the same rim thickness.
 
Buffalo Arms in the USA has the Lee dies, they come with the shell holder included. I have ordered from them a couple of times and they are great to deal with.

buffaloarms.com

577/450 Lee Die Set 1 1/4"-12 Thread
Reloading Dies / 45-46 Caliber
Item #: LEE90902
Your Price: $77.79 / Each
Click to expand...
 
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