Loading for my Martini Henry.. Im a noob

[dirtbag]

Hi all i have asked a similar question before so apologies. I am looking to load for my mk1/ > 2 martini 577/450. I am a complete noob with this so bare with me. Just looking to see what kit i need to do the job and any idiots guides!,not bothered on quality as long as it works. I have 20 cases from the states, also have 100 480g heads. I do not have bp, but i have the martini on ticket so i can use sub. Thanks in advance

[FredB]

You need www.britishmilitariaforums.yuku.com/
All the information that you need is there in quantity.
Fred

[MrD]

Hi all i have asked a similar question before so apologies. I am looking to load for my mk1/ > 2 martini 577/450. I am a complete noob with this so bare with me. Just looking to see what kit i need to do the job and any idiots guides!,not bothered on quality as long as it works. I have 20 cases from the states, also have 100 480g heads. I do not have bp, but i have the martini on ticket so i can use sub. Thanks in advance

I am in the same position, ie a noob

What I have gone for so far is:

Lee Classic Cast Press - cheapest one that will take large dies
Lee Die set for 577/450
Cases - range from £3 for 24g brass shotshell to £5+ for Bertram. I went for Kynoch at £3.50 as I read on some forums that 24g cases may cause problems depending on headspace. Don't know the truth, but I thought I'd play safe.
Primers - will be using large rifle as that is what I have, but again 'advice' seems to suggest magnum pistol ones.

I have pages of photocopied stuff which various folk have given me - if you want drop me a pm with address and I'll send copies.

Other sites with info

http://www.martinihenry.com/
http://forums.gunboards.com/forumdispla ... enry-Forum

All the best

Donald

[dromia]

As I don't use BP "substitutes" or heads I cannot help you directly but here is my standard 577/450 load using BP and paper patched bullets, from a previous thread.

There is a bit of stuff on here about the MH and the search function works quiet well.

"They are accurate as well as fun.

This is a 100yrd 5 shot group from my MK IV shot rested from the trench, there are three rounds in the top cluster. The shot out of the group to the right was called.



I do cheat a little as I use an old Ross MKIII back sight, its an aperture with windage adjustment and it fits the original sight bed without any alteration.

Load 85 gns Swiss No5 to base of the neck, card wad, 1/4" beeswax wad column, card wad and a 495 gn boolit from a Barry Darr mould pure lead with a smidgeon 5% tin to help fill out, paper patched to 0.471", groove diameter on this rifle.

Brown Bess, why do you patch with nitrated paper? I use nitrated blotting paper if I feel the need to reduce case capacity but am interested in why you would nitrate the boolit patch."

[dirtbag]

Hi all i have asked a similar question before so apologies. I am looking to load for my mk1/ > 2 martini 577/450. I am a complete noob with this so bare with me. Just looking to see what kit i need to do the job and any idiots guides!,not bothered on quality as long as it works. I have 20 cases from the states, also have 100 480g heads. I do not have bp, but i have the martini on ticket so i can use sub. Thanks in advance

I am in the same position, ie a noob

What I have gone for so far is:

Lee Classic Cast Press - cheapest one that will take large dies
Lee Die set for 577/450
Cases - range from £3 for 24g brass shotshell to £5+ for Bertram. I went for Kynoch at £3.50 as I read on some forums that 24g cases may cause problems depending on headspace. Don't know the truth, but I thought I'd play safe.
Primers - will be using large rifle as that is what I have, but again 'advice' seems to suggest magnum pistol ones.

I have pages of photocopied stuff which various folk have given me - if you want drop me a pm with address and I'll send copies.

Other sites with info

http://www.martinihenry.com/
http://forums.gunboards.com/forumdispla ... enry-Forum

All the best

Donald

Hey thanks all

Would this kit do the trick along with the Lee dies ?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LEE-Breech-Lo ... 3367bbc213

Also here is what I have so far

Cases from gunbroker in the states, worked out £3.25 each inc postage has rmc marking on the back

[MrD]

Pretty sure that press won't do. The Lee MH dies are 1 1/4 x 12 and the only Lee press that takes this size is the Classic. There are other dies, but looking at prices they are extortionate. I got my Lee ones from Krank's for £81

[dirtbag]

Pretty sure that press won't do. The Lee MH dies are 1 1/4 x 12 and the only Lee press that takes this size is the Classic. There are other dies, but looking at prices they are extortionate. I got my Lee ones from Krank's for £81

Okay mate many thanks - I will go for the classic. Watching youtube videos of loading for them, looks quite easy, even I could do it.
Hopefully it will kick start me into reloading for my milsurps as well

[dirtbag]

Which produces the most smoke on firing, pyrodex or 777 ?
I know 777 you have to load 15% less to equal the BP load you are trying to achieve

So does it go like this ?

1.Put primer in
2.Load 85g of powder
3.Stuff (filler) cotton wool,bog roll? to fill it up to bottom of neck
4.Use card wad on top
5.Bees wax
6.Use card wad on top
7.Put wonder lube on grooves
8.Put bullet in press

Of bottom of my heads are a touch wider than the top of my brass, hopefully this wont be a problem ?

[ovenpaa]

...bottom of my heads are a touch wider than the top of my brass, hopefully this wont be a problem ?

Do you mean the bullet is too big for the neck of the cartridge? It does need to be a reasonable fit however it may be that the neck of the brass needs expanding slightly first and the dies might do that. This is a bit of a guess as I do not lead for this cartridge. What some people do is use a mandrel to size the neck and slightly flare it at the end so the bullet is given a start and the lead does not get shaved.

I use a Cast classic as one of my presses, they are good solid and reliable.

[dirtbag]

...bottom of my heads are a touch wider than the top of my brass, hopefully this wont be a problem ?

Do you mean the bullet is too big for the neck of the cartridge? It does need to be a reasonable fit however it may be that the neck of the brass needs expanding slightly first and the dies might do that. This is a bit of a guess as I do not lead for this cartridge. What some people do is use a mandrel to size the neck and slightly flare it at the end so the bullet is given a start and the lead does not get shaved.

I use a Cast classic as one of my presses, they are good solid and reliable.

Yes, I think with a push they will fit in nicely just !