I was going to build a 577/500 No. 2 Express, but I found this one on Gunbroker instead. It was built by A. Conyers, Blandford, England, is tight, and the bore is excellent. The buttstock is an old replacement, but I can live with that. Now to get the lovely old thing shooting. Can you say elk rifle? So now what do I do with a spare martini action and stock?

Now you’re in business!
I’ve got probably 100 loaded cartridges and an itch to hit the range!
If they chamber in your rifle we could really send some lead downrange!

Sounds like a play date!

Very nice.
You put your kit on AR and sell it for half what you paid for it. That is how I do it.

Nice!! I love it!!

As to your project....just go ahead with it and choose another caliber. And of course post pictures.

Thanks for sharing.

Wonderful find, Dave. Couldn't happen to a nicer guy. Can't wait for you to get it shooting.

I am thinking about building a .33 Winchester or .35 Winchester.

I think a 35Win. makes more sense than the 33.

Dave, I agree with our friend Huvius. That .35 is a sweetheart.

One nice thing about the .35 Winchester is that I have a couple of cast bullet molds that would be perfect for it. The downside is brass availability unless I am willing to live with .30-40 Krag brass, which is really too short.

Love the 577/500! On your martini parts why not try a 375 2.5? It's "correct" for the period, easy to load for and great on most North American game. A .375 barrel is easy, brass from 405 Win, slightly harder, and just about any .375 bullet will work.

I concur with .375 idea.

Looking at the .375 2.5 and the 450/400 2-3/8, and leaning towards the 450/400 since brass will be easier to come by.

Another favorite of mine is the 450#2 musket. If you can find some dies (CH4D) the rest is easy. Brass from Starline 50-90 Sharps, and a 300-350 gr .458 cast bullet. The original bullet was about 480 gr but I like the lighter ones better, more of an express or velopex load. I know, go back to sleep.

The 450/400 2 3/8 is the best idea yet.....imho

For that spare Martini action, find a good SMLE barrel. The threads are the same as the Martini. Fit the 303 barrel and cut the breech end for extractors. Now you have a stalking rifle. I have one done that way. I still need to make a fore end. The SMLE barrel is pretty light weight, so the whole thing will go around 7 lbs. The SMLE rear sight for the MK III barrel is adjustable and highly shootable even for vintage eyes, as it is pretty far forward. If you find a No 4 barrel with no rear sight, fit a Lyman 66 peep sight made for 94 Winchesters.

https://d1zzd228d7bvdx.cloudfr.../products/852280.jpg

Gun Parts Corp has SMLE ..308 barrel from Ishapore for $78 complete with sights. Fit this to your Martini action and Use a .30/30 reamer to make it a .307 Winchester. I had one barreled that way but only loaded it to 303 pressures in deference to the Martini action strength.

That is awesome!
I will add that it is one of the easiest two piece stock design to make a nice new stock for with simple tools. I have made several of them for my big bore H&R Handi Rifles. Same tang bolt design, etc. If you get to that, I can guide you through it. Brian

Here is a 303 barreled Martini for sale!

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/876958386

Beautiful rifle!

Does No.2 musket have any performance advantage over 577/450?

The 577/500 No. 2 is currently with Steve Bertram (SKB)getting a new buttstock to match the forend and the rest of the rifle. I will post pictures when Steve gets it back to me. The jury is still out on what the action will become, but I dummied up some .375-2.5 rounds from 9.3x74R brass and it looks like it would be a fun and reasonably practical round.