Just thinking?

budd · #1 12-26-2010, 01:28 PM

Hello and Merry Christmas, gentilmen

I have been thinking about a question My 10 year old Nephew asked, and it is a good question and I don't have an answer. And I have been interested in finding the answer.

The question is "how does the Martini-Henry action compare to the other single shot action of the same era?" He didn't say it like that but that is the jist of what he is asking. So I guess that means the Remington Rolling block, the Sharps 1874, the Winchester 1885. My Brother bought a Martini home and thinking to fix it up and since the bore is really pitted and rusted to rechamber it to another cartridge. I think it is chambered for 577-.450 but not sure of that. But my brother said that a smith checked it out and said that the action is sound.

So is the Martini as strong as it contemparies and what chambering would you recommend?

Budd

M1894 · #2 12-27-2010, 10:40 AM

Definitly stronger than the rolling block, even the 7mm #1. The british rebarreled many of the Martini's to .303, with great success.

I have one chambered for the .30/40 Kraig, and am quite happy with it.

My wife gave me a Martini action a couple of years back that I have been having a hard time deciding what to re-barrel it to. [.45/90, .38/55, or .32/40] "I like the old calibers."

If the bore is real bad, he can have it re-barreled or else lined, which makes sense, as the .577/450 is a hand loading situation.

sharps4590 · #3 01-02-2011, 01:25 PM

What 1894 said. Stronger than the 1874 also, if I remember correctly and I have no knowledge of how it compares to the 1885. Kind of ungainly looking to me but definitely good rifles. I worked up loads for a friends 577/450 and it was something of a pain. Got a good BP load worked up for him and he took a few deer with it.

Vic