Martini Henry cartridge identification

[RCS]

I have posted a photo of three cartridges that were used in the Martini Henry. The first cartridge 577/450 has a coloredAttachment 89491 green band at the base of the lead bullet. Could this be a carbine loading ?

The small middle cartridge is the 297/250 Rook and the far right is the very early cartridge

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[Woodsy]

The carbine loading is distinguished by the coloured patch and the shorter (lighter) bullet. I have seen these patches in blue and maroon as well. The MH carbines are 'interesting' to shoot a few rounds with standard rifle loads!

[mrclark303]

The carbine loading is distinguished by the coloured patch and the shorter (lighter) bullet. I have seen these patches in blue and maroon as well. The MH carbines are 'interesting' to shoot a few rounds with standard rifle loads!

Been there done that Woodsy, they kick like a rabid mule in a
Very bad mood with the rifle load!

[green]

The green pp signifies a cordite carbine load in solid case.
The coiled case looks like a MkIII coiled rifle ctg. The MkIII is distinguished form the earlier marks by a sight hole about 3/4" from the back of the case.

[bombdoc]

The Patch codes are, as I recall:

White - Rifle Black Powder
Yellow - Rifle Cordite
Red - Carbine Black Powder
Green - Carbine Cordite

are you sure that is the .295/.250 Rook? It looks more like a .295/.230 Morris which was used with a subcaliber tube for the Martini!

The reduced carbine loads were achieved by using a roll of thick card around the side of the case to make up the volume with a lighter load. This is a much safer solution to case volume reduction than using wads, fillers or other in line obstructions that could cause pressure peaks. I am surprised this practice does not seem to have been taken forward...

[RobD]

To re-vitalise this thread, I am intrigued by this:
The reduced carbine loads were achieved by using a roll of thick card around the side of the case to make up the volume with a lighter load. This is a much safer solution to case volume reduction than using wads, fillers or other in line obstructions that could cause pressure peaks. I am surprised this practice does not seem to have been taken forward...
If anyone has tried this method, I'd be very keen to hear how they did it, and what happens when reloading?
Rob

[RobD]

Sorry, duplicate

[jamie5070]

I place two wraps of nitrated paper in my cases followed by 75 grns of 2FF. It brings the powder just up into the neck so that I need a slight amount of compression to make it level at the base of the neck. A grease cookie between two card wads and then the bullet. I rarely shoot past 75 yds so it is a pleasant load in a full size rifle.

[RCS]

Bombdoc, you are correct, the small cartridge is the 295/230 Morris short

my example is early without a headstamp