Another New Member Mr Neil Aspinshaw

Posts : 2558 Join date : 2009-04-06 Age : 62 Location : UK

Mr Aspinshaw welcome to the forum. I have read many of your posts on the RDVC in connection with the Martini Henry; it appears there is nothing you don’t know about this weapon.

Subject: welcome. Wed Oct 14, 2009 8:39 pm

hi neil.
I like john , have read your posts on the RDVC FORUM , Glad you are aboard , I would certainly jump at the chance
to have a go with the M.H. :)
Cheers 90th.

Posts : 1093 Join date : 2009-01-14 Location : East London

Good to see your name on the forum.

Posts : 527 Join date : 2009-02-28

Good to see your name on the forum Neill.

Posts : 3394 Join date : 2009-03-03 Location : Devon

and welcome from me too, I bow to your Knowledge of the M.H. :)

Posts : 1862 Join date : 2009-03-25

Welcome Neil. A member on the forum with out-standing knowledge on Victorian weapons.

Posts : 2593 Join date : 2009-04-24

Well said 24th. Here. Here.

Subject: Re: Another New Member Mr Neil Aspinshaw Sun Oct 18, 2009 11:04 am

Good to see you on the forum Neil.

Posts : 553 Join date : 2009-10-14 Location : Loughborough

Thank you all for your comments, I try always to back up information with factual notes, rather than hearsay.
As some of you know I have eleven martinis in various calibres, each one is stripped and information gleaned from them.
I have been shooting today with my 1873 Mk1 upgrade and I will publish the target board shortly to give you in impression of the accuracy. Ok, this is not in 30 degrees with screaming savages in my face, but, it will show the level of shooting that this rifle can acheive in the right environs.

30 rounds, 42 minutes. 110 yards 82 grains Blackpowder.

Posts : 2558 Join date : 2009-04-06 Age : 62 Location : UK

Neil. Do you make up your own ammunition, or do you specify from a dealer what you want when you order. ie.

Quote :: 82 grains Blackpowder.

Posts : 553 Join date : 2009-10-14 Location : Loughborough

John

standard load for the martini was 85 grains RFG2 (rifled fine grain 2) +/- 2 grains of blackpowder.

that equates to approx 8cc.

I load full military load if I am firing at 500 yards, but most of my shooting is 100 yards so 80-82 grain is more than enough, otherwise it is just making a big bang.

I have aqquired and shot some Curtis and Harvey No6, this was the original trade powder used in place of Waltham Abbey RfG2. The wooden boxes often show the powder, an example I photographed at Mtonjaneni last year had C & H No6 on it.

Black powder was graided through fabric meshes, just like a seive, meshes per inch, the larger the grain required the bigger the gaps so finer fell through, then to be graided into finer powders and so on, for example RFG2 is a grain about the size of instant coffee, meshes 12-20. Today it is graided in Coarse, medium and fine, so I use coarse as it fill the case better requiring little filler. Pistol rounds was FG, meshes 18-44.

The ingredients of Waltham Abbey approved military powder was 15% charcoal, 10% sulphur and 75% saltpetre

If anyone is in the region of Waltham Abbey, do call into the gunpowder mills, a thorougly worthwhile visit

Posts : 2558 Join date : 2009-04-06 Age : 62 Location : UK

Thanks Neil.

By the way. As the M/A got the same kick as a 303

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