Rebarreling a Martini-Enfield?
Just how strong is the Martini-Enfield action? The gun I recently acquired is mechanically very tight, but the bore retains only the faint outlines of rifling, and there is some worrysome pitting where the barrel meets the wood. It is now in .303 British, and I'd like to know what other calibers would be feasible--and relatively reasonable in price.
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These are old, old rifles, and I would not recommend exceeding the pressure limits for which originally barrelled. That pretty well puts you in the .303 British, .30-40 Krag, .30-30 Win. class. There are also plenty of old black powder cartrige possibilities. I would definately stay away from modern high pressure, high intensity cartridges. 0 -
I suspect you'd have a very long hunt for another barrel. Give it a good bath before you do anything. You may just have leading. 0 -
Perfect Metford rifling is nearly invisible. Clean it and give it a chance. Martini Enfields are rebarreled to .224 Winchester, which is a high pressure round. I advise a little research on the gun before destroying the historical value to get a gun which, though modern and usable, is actually worth less. Martinis are begining to fetch pretty good prices these days.
Cheers from Grayest California,
Ross0 -
This is a big action. How about a big cartridge like the 45-70?
These actions are very strong but I cant find a reference. The two biggest problems are the fat original firing pin on the 577-450 model and the need for a fancy extractor if you go rimless. Since yours is a 303 conversion the firing pin probably has already been reduced.
In the early '60s and on P.O. Ackley's advice for a hot varminter, I converted one of these and a Cadet Martini to the 219 Ackley Improved
which subsequently became the 224 Winchester (except for rim thickness). This cartridge duplicates the 22-250 ballistics and is made from 30-30 brass. It worked out well on the big action but bulged the chamber on the small Cadet action.0 -
These Actions are very strong and the fact it is in .303 is testimony enough. Proof tested at 54,000 CUP in the .303 and working pressure of 50,000 - 52,000. it will take anything short of a Magnum Caliber safely. .308 would be a good choice. With a 10 0r 12 twist rate, rebarreling is easy enough, and according to what weight you prefer to shoot, 1-12 for 100-125-150 grain = 1-10 for the 168 - 190 grain. Standard Velocity is where Accuracy Lies, the 48,000 CUP - 50,000 CUP, which is safe enough for the Old Martini. 26" of Heavy Douglas Premium Chrome Moly should do the trick. With the Dead Lockup, you should have a 1,000, yard Rifle. [;)]
Ronnie G. Perkins0 -
Thanks for the replies. I would be perfectly delighted to leave it in .303, but as I mentioned, the barrel has pretty deep pitting where it joins the wood, and since one of the screws has been "precision gunsmithed" to the point that I cannot remove it, I don't know how much worse the pitting is where the barrel is hidden. I absolutely love the gun--makes me feel like an 1870's Brit soldier--but I would like to shoot it. Is 45/70 really a viable option? 0 -
The martini is a favorite of mine as well, I have gunsmithed quite a few and almost any RIMMED cal. will be ok. They are very strong but it is a good idea to bush the firing pin to a smaller dia. for any high pressure loads (40/50,000 psi). the original .303 brit. would be a good choice or the .30/40 Krag for better bullet selection. Of coarse the .45/70 or any of the other black powder carts. would work ok to, just depends of the type of shooting you want to do. The Snap gun shop used to make a rimmles extractor for the small actioned martini but I haven't heard anything about them for years. 0 -
DONLD: The pressures are actually low for the 45-70, with the original Black Powder loading and a 405 grain lead projectile. More like shotgun pressures. But the 45-70 is a very accurate caliber, (if you know where its coming down). [;)]
Ronnie G. Perkins0
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