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Cartridge for a classic large-action martini sporting rifle.
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I just picked up a nice Enfield Mark II action that is destined for becoming a classic British-styled sporting rifle in the style of Hollis, etc. The rifle will be shot with traditional black powder or smokeless for black loads. I am trying to decide on caliber, and have a short list of the following, all of which I know will work.

577/.450 Martini Henry
500/450 No. 1 Express
500/450 No. 2 Musket
577/500 No. 2 Black Powder Express (.500 No. 2 Express)

I am also considering the 450/400 3-1/4 Black Powder Express, but have to play with a dummy to see if it will make the bend to chamber.

So what do you guys think?


One morning I shot an elephant in my pajamas. How he got into my pajamas I'll never know. - Groucho Marx
 
Posts: 3858 | Location: Eastern Slope, Colorado, USA | Registered: 01 March 2001Reply With Quote
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I vote for Door No. 4 -- the .577/500 BPE No. 2. Plenty of barrels to choose from, brass easy to make and as much thump as one could want. And you'll be the only guy on your block that has one.

dancing


There is hope, even when your brain tells you there isn’t.
– John Green, author
 
Posts: 16675 | Location: Las Cruces, NM | Registered: 03 June 2000Reply With Quote
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If the 450 will make the bend, as you so accurately describe, that would be my first choice. After that any of them would be a whale of a lot of fun.


DRSS: E. M. Reilley 500 BPE
E. Goldmann in Erfurt, 11.15 X 60R

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Posts: 502 | Location: In The Sticks, Missouri  | Registered: 02 February 2014Reply With Quote
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The .450-400 3-1/4 BPE is my current first choice, mostly because I am already building a classic American-style sporting rifle in .50-70 on a rolling block. Also, I have two .408 bullet molds, and the availability of Hornady brass and dies makes the .450-400 3-1/4 BPE a more convenient option..


One morning I shot an elephant in my pajamas. How he got into my pajamas I'll never know. - Groucho Marx
 
Posts: 3858 | Location: Eastern Slope, Colorado, USA | Registered: 01 March 2001Reply With Quote
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quote:
Originally posted by Bill/Oregon:
I vote for Door No. 4 -- the .577/500 BPE No. 2. Plenty of barrels to choose from, brass easy to make and as much thump as one could want. And you'll be the only guy on your block that has one.

dancing



Better yet! Look behind door #5! Big Grin

The 577/500 Magnum! That was origionally a 6 dram load. The same as the old 577 BPE but with a 1/2" bore! I've got 2 of these and 1 #2 and I like the Mags. better.


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Posts: 4096 | Location: Cherkasy Ukraine  | Registered: 19 November 2005Reply With Quote
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Mike, we need photos man!


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Posts: 16675 | Location: Las Cruces, NM | Registered: 03 June 2000Reply With Quote
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Of the shells? Roll Eyes

The rifles are double barreled single shots.


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Give a man a fish and he eats for a day. Give a man a welfare check, a free cell phone with free monthly minutes, food stamps, section 8 housing, a forty ounce malt liquor, a crack pipe and some Air Jordan's and he votes Democrat for a lifetime.
 
Posts: 4096 | Location: Cherkasy Ukraine  | Registered: 19 November 2005Reply With Quote
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Shells and rifles!


There is hope, even when your brain tells you there isn’t.
– John Green, author
 
Posts: 16675 | Location: Las Cruces, NM | Registered: 03 June 2000Reply With Quote
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Ok some eye candy.



http://s1256.photobucket.com/u...s/Guns?sort=2&page=1


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Today's Quote:
Give a man a fish and he eats for a day. Give a man a welfare check, a free cell phone with free monthly minutes, food stamps, section 8 housing, a forty ounce malt liquor, a crack pipe and some Air Jordan's and he votes Democrat for a lifetime.
 
Posts: 4096 | Location: Cherkasy Ukraine  | Registered: 19 November 2005Reply With Quote
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Eye candy of the most splendid sort! Are you sure you aren't actually Cal Pappas?


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Posts: 16675 | Location: Las Cruces, NM | Registered: 03 June 2000Reply With Quote
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Oh, Heck NO!

I'm much better looking! rotflmo


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Give a man a fish and he eats for a day. Give a man a welfare check, a free cell phone with free monthly minutes, food stamps, section 8 housing, a forty ounce malt liquor, a crack pipe and some Air Jordan's and he votes Democrat for a lifetime.
 
Posts: 4096 | Location: Cherkasy Ukraine  | Registered: 19 November 2005Reply With Quote
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Just so you all know, Mike buys his rifles when WalMart has a sale on doubles.
Cal


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Posts: 7281 | Location: Willow, Alaska | Registered: 29 June 2009Reply With Quote
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I don't think the 450/400 3-1/4" will make the turn without really hogging out the block channel.
The 500No.2 is a good choice and was an original offering in the big Martini.
 
Posts: 3390 | Location: Colorado U.S.A. | Registered: 24 December 2004Reply With Quote
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For me, it would have to be the .577-.450 Martini-Henry.


Mike

Wilderness is my cathedral, and hunting is my prayer.
 
Posts: 13753 | Location: New England | Registered: 06 June 2003Reply With Quote
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The biggest problem with the 577/450 is that we don't have barrels the correct size of .452/.464" so you need to have a special reamer ground to suit a barrel .450/.458". Then dies to suit etc.

When I built my sporter a few years ago I selected 577 Snider with a new Lothar/Walther barrel; no problems with feeding the action.

I use a load of 95gnd FFG with a 620gn custom bullet and it is very impressive!
 
Posts: 11 | Location: Australia | Registered: 10 December 2011Reply With Quote
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I had not thought about the .577 Snider, but it would be a good choice since I already have all of the stuff to reload for it.


One morning I shot an elephant in my pajamas. How he got into my pajamas I'll never know. - Groucho Marx
 
Posts: 3858 | Location: Eastern Slope, Colorado, USA | Registered: 01 March 2001Reply With Quote
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I vote "Old School"; the 577 Snider.
 
Posts: 23062 | Location: SW Idaho | Registered: 19 December 2005Reply With Quote
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620gn .590 bullet mould

 
Posts: 11 | Location: Australia | Registered: 10 December 2011Reply With Quote
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