Thread: Which calibre for a Martini Henry project?

Looks like I might be able get my hands on a box of Martini Henry parts, in said box looks like two receivers with just enough parts between them to make a complete action, maybe missing a couple of screws/pins. If I get it I will need to get a gunsmith to make up some of the missing screws before fitting a barrel. Might be a good project but I'm wondering which calibre to go with, I'm guessing that a rimmed cartridge is best for this style of action, so I was thinking .45-70, .30-30 (or AI), 7.62x54R, 7x57R or .303 (or AI). I reckon if I can sort the action for next to nothing it could be a fun project, but I'm trying to be frugal at the moment. Any suggestions?

45/70 😎

What are you hunting?
Do you load your own?
If you can get the barrels try 8x57r used one on boar in France

Boxer Henry short chamber in 450 cal, should do

Originally Posted by Sideshow

What are you hunting?
Do you load your own?
If you can get the barrels try 8x57r used one on boar in France

Haven't made up my mind, part of me wants a short, light barrel in .30-30 or 7x57R for bush hunting, another wants a long, heavy, maybe octagonal barrel like a poor man's Sharps, you know, so I can shoot "a mite further"

gotta be 45-70 don't it

7.62x54.
plenty of ammo. Big hitting round.

Originally Posted by clickbang

45/70 ��

YEP +1 on that

577/450 much fun but a bitch to load, 45/70 is a great cartridge to load and cast rounds for and you grow to enjoy the recoil

Still got a Martini Enfield action laying around somewhere. Was going to be a 45/70 or 38/55. One day.....

Bear in mind that the Matini-Henry action needs to have the firing pin diameter and protrusion reduced and a hardened steel firing pin bush fitted into the face of the breech block before they are safe to use with high-pressure modern cartridges (eg. in excess of 40,000 psi) or the cartridge pressure can force the large diameter firing pin backwards when fired. This results in a ruptured primer, severe gas erosion of the breech face, and hot gases in the face of the shooter. The .303 Martini-Enfield actions usually have had this modification done in the 1890's when converted at Enfield. Personally, I believe that your best ruults will be with the .45/70 and leave the hotter cartridges to more modern actions.

Originally Posted by zimmer

Still got a Martini Enfield action laying around somewhere. Was going to be a 45/70 or 38/55. One day.....

38/55 is a nice calibre

Originally Posted by Maca49

38/55 is a nice calibre

or 375Winchester (30/30 necked up to 375. I have brass for that)

Really interesting thanks gundoc

If 303 improved,itis not the AI but Epps.
6.5x57R could be sweet candidate.
9.3x72 would be a gentle cartridge as well.