Author Topic: Renewed Martini  (Read 670 times)

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Offline gazz

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Renewed Martini
« on: November 25, 2005, 06:06:30 PM »
Hi,
I posted a similar message on the wildcat forum, and I thought it might be also of interest here.
I had a Martini Enfield .303 in good shape except for a worn/ rusted out barrel, I wanted to retain the character of the old girl, but I also wanted a good shooter.
So, to cut a long story short, I had the barrel rebored to .38-55 specs. and left the chamber as is. It's no great task to neck up .303 brass to .375 and I'm happy with the result.
I can fire mild mannered cowboy loads, black powder, and also tooth rattling jacketed pills.
I just thought it might be of interest to anyone who has an old M.E. gathering dust.
Cheers ,
gazz.

Offline dodd3

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Renewed Martini
« Reply #1 on: November 25, 2005, 11:33:28 PM »
gazz i would call that  a .375/303 wildcat cartridge sounds a very interesting round. i had a ww greener martini take down 12 gage  gp gun shot slugs really well  as accurate as some rifles, should have kept it and turned it in to a 38/55 or 45/70 .we all do  this from time to time and regret it later. good luck with the keep us posted on how it goes.
bernie :D
if its feral its in peril

Offline Drifter Mike

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martini
« Reply #2 on: November 26, 2005, 05:54:29 AM »
Who did you have do the re-bore?
 Mike
If we were willing to give up liberty for safety, we would be deserving of neither!  Benjamin Franklin

Offline marlinman93

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Renewed Martini
« Reply #3 on: November 26, 2005, 10:18:06 AM »
Have you had dies made up for this wildcat, or are you making do without dies? Sounds like a very good solution to the problem!
Ballard, the great American Rifles!

Offline gazz

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« Reply #4 on: November 27, 2005, 09:23:02 AM »
Mike,
Sprinter Arms at Hahndorff South Australia did the job it was slightly more expensive than a new barrel because it had to be cut rifled
Marlinman93,
I got a set of .375 Win. dies and opened up the body on the sizing die to accept the .303 case. I left the neck section as is, this means that it neck sizes only. I think that it is better to do it this way for a military chamber  because I dont want to work harden the body of the case by constant resizing. The bullet seating die works fine as is.
Both jacketed and cast projectiles are available out here thanks to the revival of the 38-55.
cheers,
gazz.