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    Legacy Member RCS's Avatar
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    Martini Henry cartridge identification

    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
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    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!

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    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.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Woodsy View Post
    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!

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    Legacy Member bombdoc's Avatar
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    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...
    Last edited by bombdoc; 01-07-2018 at 05:41 AM.

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    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

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    Sorry, duplicate

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    Legacy Member jamie5070's Avatar
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    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.

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    Legacy Member RCS's Avatar
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    Thread Starter
    Bombdoc, you are correct, the small cartridge is the 295/230 Morris short

    my example is early without a headstamp

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