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  1. #1
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    Chamber Insert?

    I just saw a short video using a chamber insert, with a 45 long colt cartridge, for a Martini-Henry. Does anyone know if these are available, and where to buy one?
    Thank you,
    Dean (the other one)
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    I don't know of anyone that currently makes them, but I'd question the use of one. The .45 Colt shoots a dramatically undersized bullet for the MH and it just rattles down the bore. That, together with the history of people getting the inserts stuck in their chambers, makes this a questionable practice.

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    Yes there are issues with inserts as Richards says...the main problem is the different sizes of chambers. In order for the insert to work you have to have uniform size chambers and that is not something you will find in a Martini.

    Richard the different is bore size .454 vs .468. some claim to get good accuracy with their inserts...something I was never able to do. Hitting the target at 50 feet isn't accuracy.

    Why would you want an insert any way when you can just load gallery loads.

    Now I will be harsh. If you thinking about getting the adapter to avoid the high cost of loading for the 577/450 you might as well sell the rifle. You are missing the whole experience of shooting the gun. Once you make the inital investment in brass and dies and mould you will find the Martini is no more expensive to to shoot than any other rifle. I paid over $100 for my first box of 20 rounds of brass and $180 dies. The last box of brass cost me less that $30 with shipping. I just ordered up a set of dies on sale for less than $80.

    Setting up to load for this cartridge is not cheap, but setting up for it will open a whole new experience for you. Martini's can be come addictive. Sinc 2001 I have not bought another type firearm.

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    I have two. one in .22 and another that uses a .22 air rifle pellet with a shotgun primer to propel it. the cinsert also has a rifled section.
    UNFORTUNATELY the maker only sent instructions but NO means of contact.

    As Richard said, a .45Lc bullet is like a pea in a garbage cah since a .45 is .452 and a Martini bore is more like .462 or larger. Possibly it might work with the hollow based Webley bullet. (a bit like a minie ball)

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    Insert

    The inserts can be made to work. Here's a picture of a group that I shot at 50 yards, using an insert and .45 LC brass. The key is the bullet. I use a Lee REAL bullet. It has driving bands at .464 and works quite nicely.
    Pete

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    Thanks Pete, that's the kind of info I was hoping for. I knew when I bought the rifle from IMA that it wasn't a easy cartridge to load for. I just didn't realize how pricey it would be. It's still a representative piece of history, and that's really what I was interested in.

    Dean (the other one)

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    So Dean what would you have said if Pete hadn't posted? He posted what you wanted hear, and the rest of use posted what you didn't want to hear. Would you have listened to us if he hadn't posted?

    I want to be clear on something I said, since the board has no edit features. The fellows making these adapters are in fact making a high quality product, there is nothing wrong with their product.

    The problem is with the Martini chamber. The demensions for English chambers were not standardize until 1914, years after the last 450 Martini was made. The only thing guaged in the Martini was the rim diameter, rim thickness and head diameter. Length to shoulder and the radius of the arcs in the ogee shoulder were not standard. This is were you run into problems with these adapters sticking. They get wedged into the shoulder and cannot be driven out by normal means. I have had to remove several of these from customers chambers. The last by drilling and tapping the insert. I don't work cheap.

    You may be impressed by sub 4 inch groups at 50 yard. But with the correct equipment you can do better

    100 yards

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    Dear DD, I certainly didn't mean to "ruffle" anyone's feathers. In fact, you and some others on the various MH forums saved me from a dreadful mistake. I read the posts Re: SOG and the fakes. I have a few rifles from the black powder era that I don't shoot. I enjoy them for their history. I've made up some "dummy rounds" for them just to show how they were loaded and ejected. While I load for other calibers, for rifles from other countries, I certainly don't consider myself an expert.

    Dean (the other one)

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    Not ruffled feathers...drug withdrawls...knee surgery 30 days ago. Did physical therapy yesterday and home exercises to day without assistance from chemicals. Wanted to go to the range and shoot today and wife wouldn't drive me...something about to much mud on the range for my knee, to much mud on road to range for truck...you came along and were an easy target...Sorry.

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    Dean: Douglas speaks the truth. Despite the fact that I have had success with the adapter for the 45 LC, I am one of the folks for whom DD did a great service when a chamber adapter made for 45-70 cases got stuck in the Martini chamber.
    If you buy one, be REAL careful the first time or two that you try to chamber it. It should go in very smoothly. If there is the slightest resistance to chambering, stop.

    Pete
    Last edited by Pete D.; 03-04-2009 at 01:12 AM.

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