Just Bought a Martini Enfield Victorian Gov issue - Page 2

no34570 · 11-06-2009, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PAT303

How are you going to get an Epps?,I'm asking because I want one too!!!.I was going to get a smith to make up a ''D'' reamer and open the chamber.I'll own a large frame martini one day. Pat

Pat303
Hi mate
All the gunsmiths I have talked to about the Epps have the reamer on hand,MAB barrels in Brisbane can do it and I know there work is outstanding,thats were mine is going.

no34570 · 11-06-2009, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by docone31

It is a good mid power cartridge. The casting is easy to handle. The Epps variant gives much more case life, although I have gotten a significant amount more than average reloading with paper patching.
The .303 British round is one of my favourites.
Being a rimmed cartridge, it is simple to do barrel fixes also.

Mate
Could not have said it better,your comments on PP and the .303,man that is bliss,plus she's a grand old girl.

no34570 · 11-06-2009, 10:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by looseprojectile

I traded for a really nice Martini Cadet at the last gunshow. Been petting it heavily since then.
Another gunshow tomorrow.
Return with us now to those thrilling days of yesteryear.

Life is good

Mate
Those Martini Cadets make good rifles when they are fixed up,the action is so strong on them.

Quote:

Been petting it heavily since then.

Wow,I thought I only did that

I'm glad about that one!

Cheers

grumpy one · 11-07-2009, 03:07 PM

I used to have a similar rifle. Mine was marked LSA Company (i.e. London Small Arms) 1888 on one side, from when it was manufactured as a 577/450, and Enfield 1899 (yes, with the mandatory crown and 'VR' for 'Victoria Regina') on the opposite side from when it was remanufactured by the Royal Military Establishment as a 303. Mine also had the 'Victoria State Army 1900' stamp on the stock. In case anyone cares, Australia was a collection of self-governing states under the British Crown until it federated voluntarily in 1901; hence the Victoria State Army didn't exist for very long after it bought my rifle. Because it was fully proofed twice and then approved by an army, it had 35 different manufacturers, proof and armourer's stamps that I could find; there may have been others I missed. Mine had been used for many years in military rifle club competition - it consistently shot 6" 100 yard groups with 15-year-old standard Mk VII military ammunition over the open battle-sights in my inexpert hands, and no doubt would have done much better with a competent shooter and an aperture sight. From what people have told me those rifles tended to be more accurate than Lee Enfields (which isn't asking a lot, in my limited experience).
If your rifle is marked as you quoted it was much older than mine, and originally manufactured by the RME as well as remanufactured by them. I traded mine for an almost-mint Marlin 336 about 10 years ago, since a collector wanted it and I had no use for it.

BIG GUN · 11-19-2009, 02:49 PM

I have a Martini Greinier that was once a zulu era weird shotgun. I decided to convert it to 40-65 Win. so I bought a Douglas premium full bull barrel blank and had my smith chamber and install it. After scraping all the paint off the wood, he found that it was fine french walnut. He cut a lot off the forend, schnabled it, and used some to make a pistol grip. Then formed the action lever to match, installed a globe front and vernier rear sight. It is beautiful and shoots 300G RCBS cast boolits of 1-20 like stink.
Love that rifle!

11-07-2009, 03:07 PM	#24
grumpy one Boolit Master Join Date: May 2006 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 874	I used to have a similar rifle. Mine was marked LSA Company (i.e. London Small Arms) 1888 on one side, from when it was manufactured as a 577/450, and Enfield 1899 (yes, with the mandatory crown and 'VR' for 'Victoria Regina') on the opposite side from when it was remanufactured by the Royal Military Establishment as a 303. Mine also had the 'Victoria State Army 1900' stamp on the stock. In case anyone cares, Australia was a collection of self-governing states under the British Crown until it federated voluntarily in 1901; hence the Victoria State Army didn't exist for very long after it bought my rifle. Because it was fully proofed twice and then approved by an army, it had 35 different manufacturers, proof and armourer's stamps that I could find; there may have been others I missed. Mine had been used for many years in military rifle club competition - it consistently shot 6" 100 yard groups with 15-year-old standard Mk VII military ammunition over the open battle-sights in my inexpert hands, and no doubt would have done much better with a competent shooter and an aperture sight. From what people have told me those rifles tended to be more accurate than Lee Enfields (which isn't asking a lot, in my limited experience). If your rifle is marked as you quoted it was much older than mine, and originally manufactured by the RME as well as remanufactured by them. I traded mine for an almost-mint Marlin 336 about 10 years ago, since a collector wanted it and I had no use for it.

11-19-2009, 02:49 PM	#25
BIG GUN Boolit Bub Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Taxachusetts Posts: 28	I have a Martini Greinier that was once a zulu era weird shotgun. I decided to convert it to 40-65 Win. so I bought a Douglas premium full bull barrel blank and had my smith chamber and install it. After scraping all the paint off the wood, he found that it was fine french walnut. He cut a lot off the forend, schnabled it, and used some to make a pistol grip. Then formed the action lever to match, installed a globe front and vernier rear sight. It is beautiful and shoots 300G RCBS cast boolits of 1-20 like stink. Love that rifle!