Info requested

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19-12-2015, 08:03 PM
stingray

4 Attachment(s)

Info requested

Got yarning to a bloke today..had a 303 that he will never use etc... You want it? Bloody oath.

So now I'm now the proud owner of this beautiful firearm.
Attachment 43759

Looking for info ...
Can I shoot military ammo through it. Does anyone have a handful to spare ( do you want to shoot her )
He called it a shovel loader..it's a single shot and does not appear to have a safety.

Looking at cleaning it up re- bluing etc any history or other info would be great.... Haven't Google searched yet but that's the next step. Cheers
Attachment 43755
Attachment 43756
Attachment 43757
19-12-2015, 08:24 PM
Thirdguy

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martini–Enfield
Looks like a nice old rifle.
Might be worth having a good look at the barrel condition before trying to put full power loads through it.
19-12-2015, 08:33 PM
Marty Henry

Its a martini henry mk 1 or 3 converted to 303 in 1895. It is probably marked nz xxxx on the rear by the thunb rest.Betting it probably has a hg stamp somewhere. Close ups of the markings and an overall would be nice. It Was,designed for mk 6 ammo but has probably shot a lot of 7.Looks like it may have a bit of traceable history!
19-12-2015, 08:43 PM
P38

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marty Henry

Its a martini henry mk 1 or 3 converted to 303 in 1895. It is probably marked nz xxxx on the rear by the thunb rest.Betting it probably has a hg stamp somewhere. Close ups of the markings and an overall would be nice. It Was,designed for mk 6 ammo but has probably shot a lot of 7.Looks like it may have a bit of traceable history!

Do you think this may have been with NZ Troops in South Africa during the Boer Wars?

Or brought to NZ after the wars and converted here.

Cheers
Pete
19-12-2015, 09:09 PM
stingray

4 Attachment(s)

Attachment 43765
Attachment 43766
Attachment 43767
Attachment 43768

From what Ive seen on the web it's being shortened and had a lot of wood removed.
19-12-2015, 09:25 PM
mikee

you lucky bugger Stingray, no one ever gives me cool stuff like that.............................................. .unless I pay for it first :(
19-12-2015, 10:48 PM
veitnamcam

If the barrel looks any good dont put old military ammo threw it..I will load ya up some nice mild 150gr loads and we can go shoot 303s.

Cool score.

Sent from my SM-G800Y using Tapatalk
19-12-2015, 11:02 PM
Pengy

Quote:

Originally Posted by veitnamcam

If the barrel looks any good dont put old military ammo threw it..I will load ya up some nice mild 150gr loads and we can go shoot 303s.

Cool score.

Sent from my SM-G800Y using Tapatalk

I have an old 303 to play with too.
19-12-2015, 11:06 PM
7mmsaum

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pengy

I have an old 303 to play with too.

I reckon a Tikka T3 reamed to 303 would be cool
19-12-2015, 11:10 PM
Pengy

Quote:

Originally Posted by 7mmsaum

I reckon a Tikka T3 reamed to 303 would be cool

Be like re-inventing the wheel :P
20-12-2015, 12:10 AM
gadgetman

Quote:

Originally Posted by 7mmsaum

I reckon a Tikka T3 reamed to 303 would be cool

If you have a T3 you've already been reamed. ;)

The ideal would be to keep the reamed 303 hole and get rid of the rubbish around it.
20-12-2015, 05:31 AM
Rushy

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pengy

I have an old 303 to play with too.

It's not that big Pengy.
20-12-2015, 06:05 AM
scotty

Quote:

Originally Posted by gadgetman

If you have a T3 you've already been reamed. ;)

The ideal would be to keep the reamed 303 hole and get rid of the rubbish around it.

classic :thumbsup:
20-12-2015, 06:25 AM
Rushy

Quote:

Originally Posted by gadgetman

If you have a T3 you've already been reamed. ;)

The ideal would be to keep the reamed 303 hole and get rid of the rubbish around it.

I have several of those GM. Not a single T3 to be found in my safe.
20-12-2015, 06:53 AM
Marty Henry

Quote:

Originally Posted by P38

Do you think this may have been with NZ Troops in South Africa during the Boer Wars?

Or brought to NZ after the wars and converted here.

Cheers
Pete

Probably not boer war one as i think all those are dated 98 and only round 1500 went. Its number suggests it was used here for volunteer and cadet training. The hg .no is 10 or 10d? making it either christchurch or rangiora where it saw service. This is usually stamped into the metal work as,well. the ss mark is the sold out of service mark applied at the end of its life. The original serial
no on the breech and barrel wont match as it was originally in 577/450 calibre but would have been restamped along with an inspection mark when converted to 303. This would have been done at enfield. Some were re barrelled again and carry more serial nos.
Sweet gift to get before christmas!
20-12-2015, 08:02 AM
P38

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marty Henry

Probably not boer war one as i think all those are dated 98 and only round 1500 went. Its number suggests it was used here for volunteer and cadet training. The hg .no is 10 or 10d? making it either christchurch or rangiora where it saw service. This is usually stamped into the metal work as,well. the ss mark is the sold out of service mark applied at the end of its life. The original serial
no on the breech and barrel wont match as it was originally in 577/450 calibre but would have been restamped along with an inspection mark when converted to 303. This would have been done at enfield. Some were re barrelled again and carry more serial nos.
Sweet gift to get before christmas!

Always nice to learn something new.

Thanks for this @Marty Henry :thumbsup:

It's a bloody good present that's for sure.

I'd follow Veitnamcams advise and load up some mild custom rounds that would suit this rifle.

You may even want to consider using gas checked lead projectiles.

Have fun shooting it

Cheers
Pete
20-12-2015, 09:32 AM
Danny

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pengy

Be like re-inventing the wheel :P

A cool wheel [emoji106]
20-12-2015, 10:25 AM
stingray

Fantastic info @Marty Henry, and thanks everyone for their help @ Vietnamcam @Pengy want to get together compare notes.
Will get the barrel checked before any live firing.

Off to see a man with a couple of crays and other seafood, looks like I owe him some serious thanks.
20-12-2015, 04:59 PM
stingray

1 Attachment(s)

Again being on the recieving end of some forum generosity, learnt so much today, thank you @vietnamcam for taking some time from your day off to show me the ropes and get me going along the right path

Min charge loads. A thing of beauty in my eyes
Attachment 43799
20-12-2015, 05:02 PM
Pengy

Cool. Let me know if you want to try them out at mine. We can safely shoot to 100. Possibly further if the guy at the airstrip is good with it
20-12-2015, 05:59 PM
stingray

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pengy

Cool. Let me know if you want to try them out at mine. We can safely shoot to 100. Possibly further if the guy at the airstrip is good with it

See you Tuesday if that suits. Will ring ya to sort.
20-12-2015, 06:01 PM
sometimes

very cool:cool:
20-12-2015, 06:06 PM
Pengy

Quote:

Originally Posted by stingray

See you Tuesday if that suits. Will ring ya to sort.

No worries