I am looking at a martini-henry in 577-450 and after checking out brass prices almost hit the floor. Is there a cartridge you can form into the martini cartridge, and is so which one and how many steps. Also, anyone have reloading info for this grand old cartridge? I guess I watched "Zulu" one time too many and got the itch for a M-H action.

Any help out there ?
Eterry

Sure. The .577 Kynoch/Snyder. They are not cheap either. (Huntingtons may have cases and does make a "form die.") If you must play with the foreign stuff... bring money. YOu might find some Canadian links to once fired or old or ??? 303british.com has places to start.

Cartrdiges of the World has specs. Unfortunately the Brits and US were not thinking in same sizes so most old buffalo cases that are now available don't work very good, but you have to check. Hornady has brought back .405 (a long .303 case). Starline, no telling.

From there you hit the sources, huntington.com, ch4d.com, Old West Scrounger, and see what is available. Prices can be a real drag... HAPPY HOLIDAYS. luck.

There are a lot of old Martini Henry rifles still being used locally and they have the same problem, ie scarce & expensive brass.
Some have actually resorted to using turned brass cases and a small charge of fast burning nitrosellulose powder.The cartrige has the same internal diameter as the inside of the case neck running the entire lenth of the case, strentghening the case for use with modern powders.
A problem is that the chamber specs differ so much on these old rifles that a cast of the chamber need to be made so as to get a proper fitting case turned. Cases seem to last forever.

Mike Venturino has written a piece regarding this rifle in the current (January '08) Rifle magazine. He got brass form Bertram, but also used turned brass from Rocky Mountain Cartridge Company. You will want to read the article before going forward. For instance:

"This rifle is so unpleasant to shoot that I am seriously considering just getting rid of it.... No other rifle in my shooting career has abused me so badly."

We just got done with a group buy of Snider and MH brass at http://pub182.ezboard.com/bbritishmilitariaforums but it's over.
You look around there and you'll find that you van form from 24gauge shotty brass from Magtech.
Lots of great info there for all your old british needs.

PS we're doing a mold order now. There are a few extra ordered.. Slug your bore!

Scroll to the bottom of the page and you will find a link to the 24G brass. Not cheap but better than a lot of the alternatives.

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=110282

Oh yes I forgot.. You can order a martini in a box ther too. brass, dies filler and such from that site. 1 stop shooting..