reloading for martini -enfied |
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mauser98nut
Groupie Joined: November 26 2008 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 55 |
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Posted: September 10 2009 at 12:20pm |
Tried to shoot the old gal with some pof surplus but stopped after two rounds.The first round looked bad and should have stopped me then as it was bulged badly but I moved on to another which was a complete case head seperation.Both primers were completely flatten.The rifle would not acccept expended cases before and would only take resized or unfired ammo.I think these a just way over the pressure for this rifle.So I'm debating how low I should go to.I think this rifle can handle low pressure jaketed bullet loads but I'm not opposed to trying cast lead either.Just wondering if there where any words of advise out there.Apperciate your time.
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Smokey
Senior Member Joined: May 11 2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 806 |
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I've heard a lot of bad things about POF ammo, mostly involving hangfires. Sounds like your rifle has sloppy chamber and headspace problems. Try some handloads using a 100 gr pistol bullet and about 10 grains of Unique.
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Cookie Monster
Special Member Joined: January 22 2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 7510 |
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Smokey I like Unique as well I have several loads for shotgun and pistol using it. Never thought about using in it low pressure rifle loads, do you have any other information?
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The "Cookie Monster"
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Smokey
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I use UNIQUE and Alliant STEEL for light loads with short bullets in my rifles. Both work pretty well. Below about ten grains, you have to use some polyester fiber to hold the powder against the primer. Otherwise you'll get poor ignition and a bullet stuck partway down the barrel. At 12 grains to fifteen, the powder lights off without the polyester, but the bullet goes supersonic, making a loud snapping sound. I keep a few light loads with Hornady XTP hollowpoints to deal with rabid raccoons and the like. These loads also shoot pretty well for plinking and targets, you will need a 300 to 400 yard sight setting though at 100 yards.
For the .30 cal rifles I use M1 Carbine bullets.
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Ed Hill
Special Member Donating Member Joined: February 06 2006 Location: Northern PRK Status: Offline Points: 1394 |
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What caliber please?
Ed |
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mauser98nut
Groupie Joined: November 26 2008 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 55 |
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Sorry wasn't clear on that it is a 303.
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mauser98nut
Groupie Joined: November 26 2008 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 55 |
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guess I should spell enfield correctly while I'm at it.
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Ed Hill
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Lee shows a loading for a 180 grn lead bullet with XMP5744. The 5744 is designed to replace BP in large volume cartridges, I really like it in 45-70. I like unique, but the tiny loads require you to be diligent for safety. Unique goes from "not quite enough" to "oops over pressure" very quickly.
You might also call IMR and see if they have a trail boss load for 303. Since the rifle was probably designed for the earlier lead bullet round, I'd start with that. Ed Ed |
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Smokey
Senior Member Joined: May 11 2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 806 |
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I rarely use the mechanical powder measurement stuff anymore.
For my reduced loads I select the appropriate size LEE "dipper" (I have the complete set).
I measure the charge, dump it into the case, and immediately seat the bullet.
That avoids the risk of "double charging". I use the LEE dippers for the extruded powders as well.
I use my RCBS auto-measure for full rifle charges with ball powders or fine-grained extruded powders (IMR4320). With that I do a quick visual check of powder level in the case, then seat the bullet.
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SW28fan
Special Member Donating Member Joined: July 02 2007 Location: Texas Status: Offline Points: 2951 |
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My favorite light load is 150 grain Hornady Spire point loaded on 22-23 grains of SR4759: low pressure, Low recoil and very accurate.
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Have a Nice Day
If already having a nice day please disregard |
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John Coleman
Senior Member Joined: September 21 2008 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 113 |
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A lot of the Martini-Enfield rifles in the US now are hand built Khyber Pass rifles imported from Afghanistan. They are not British rifles despite the markings. They were mostly sold by Southern Ohio Gun. Also the original British rifles were converted around 1895 which would be before Mk VII ammo, but the real ones may be strong enough for it.
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=198940 http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=73170 |
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mauser98nut
Groupie Joined: November 26 2008 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 55 |
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Not a khyber pass rifle here and no import mark so it's been here for awhile.Had considered loading BP I do load it in 45-70 but bought some IMR 4759 to try with fresh cases.I think the POF was just over pressure at least that is my hope.
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mauser98nut
Groupie Joined: November 26 2008 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 55 |
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So almost nine years later I finally get back to it,no need to rush things! loaded up a box of reduced loads with 150 grain Hornady soft points and SR 4759. Took it to the range and let fly with better results but not as hoped .Primers are set back and I can see that the chamber is a bit rough my suspicion was that some one who didn't know what they were doing tried something .Definite head space problem and the one local gunsmith doesn't seem to keen on setting the barrel back due to it already having sights which is okay by me . Back to the drawing board.
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pisco
Senior Member Joined: November 21 2018 Location: australia Status: Offline Points: 206 |
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hi new here you don’t have to set the barrel back on a martini to correct h/s remove the breach block and strip it and take out the screw in the dove tail insert and tap it out the make a new insert and file fit the tricky bit is drilling the firing pin hole . take some measurements and make a drill bit holder a small centre drill is the go set up in a drill press and take your time .never had to put the screw back in the insert.
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