You certainly know its gone off but its far more user friendly than a Nagant or 8mm Mauser which came along less than a generation later. I hope you enjoy the battlefields, I hope to get there one day.
im hoping to visit Isandlwana and Rorke's Drift next year .What was the kick like on the rifle ? they say it was nasty,, you would end up black and blue there
Where did you get the rounds for this Martini-Henry. I recently purchased a Martini-Henry Mk. II with sling and bayonet. I was going to use it as a display piece, but if I could, would like to purchase some rounds and take it to the range every now and then. May I ask, where did you get your rounds?
@LordWellington15 Hi. Cases are available from a number of sources........at a price. I find my rifle works best with a 500 grain .470 head, my mould came from a company in Austrailia. Then get a black powder licence issued by your local Police licencing department and you are away.
Good Lord sir ~ if you're not going to use that sling, take it off your rifle! It's not just to carry the piece with.
In all that wind, I should think you'd have it cranked down on your arm, or at the very least wrapped thru with a Hasty sling. Shooting without hitting is just expensive noise.
How does owning a Martini Henry tie in with UK firearm legislation? I am asking as I study Conflict Archaeology and am thinking on doing some research.
@patrickbank They are legal to own in working order, as they are classified as antique/obsolete calibre. About owning the black-powder, re-loading presses, and loaded cartridges ready to be fired, i'm not sure as to the exact definitions or restrictions under English Law.
You can possess a Martini Henry in .577/.450 as a "curio" without a licence, however if you intend to use it you must put it on a firearms licence. The licence will also allow you to hold the ammunition which you need to make yourself. You will also need an explosives licence to buy and hold the black gunpowder which these are loaded with.
Contact the UK NRA or HBSA (Historic Breechloading Shooting Association) for further advice..
The brass ejects in relation to the way you operate the lever, yank it open and watch £4 of case disappear overhead or open it gently and reload the case for the next trip to the range. Razerzer0 was spot on with his previous comment.
Was the ejector on that martini disabled or was I seeing it wrong? The guy seemed to be picking the spent brass out of the breechblock with his hands.
The British defeat at Iswandlana is unfairly blamed on this rifle. The fact of the matter is the British had enough time to fire more than enough rounds to wipe out the entire Zulu force set against them. Their defeat had more to do with poor shooting than poor weapons. This was to be discovered in the later Boer War, where the British would try to blame poor performance on their Enfield rifles-probably the best bolt action military rifles made.
No you fool, it was because 2000 Brits fought 15000 using a stretched out line this prevented steady firepower like that of the 3 deep line used at Rorke's Drift, It was the fault of the tactics imployed while using the single shot short barrel boxer henry .45 calibre rifle, I don't give a fuck what anyone says if you use crap tactics with any weapons agains't a much more numerically superious force you are going to get overrun, who blames the battle's loss on the rifle? or is it just hear say?
OK, "StandTogetherForever, hopefully you have calmed down over the last month. I am saying that the defeat was not caused by the numerical superiority of the Zulu, although that was part. Even with single shot rifles, the Brits had enough time to fire enough rounds to destroy the entire attacking force. No, poor tactics and shooting were the cause, as the later Boer War would prove. There was nothing wrong with the Brits weapons in either situation. OK?
Battle of Rorke's Drift: 139 British Vs. 4-5000 Zulu's
Casualties: 17 British Dead - 350 Zulu's dead
Battle of Ulundi: 4,200 British Vs. ~14,000 Zulu's
Casualties: 10 British Dead - Over 1,500 Zulu's
Mahdist War, Battle of Omdurman
8,000 British Vs. 52,000 Mahdist
Casualties: 47 British Dead, 9,700 Mahdist Dead.
The British where very effective in fighting superior numbers, what the defeat should be blamed on was simply that the british underestimated the Zulu Force and Tactics.
What the British faced at Ishandlwana was in fact a massive bayonet charge by a highly disciplined and trained opponent with a vast majority in numbers, making excellent use of the terrain.
Chelmsford should have listened to the South African Boers, who had experience in fighting the Zulu's.
Iswandhlana was lost because of the leaders underestimated the Zulu's and used below par tactics. The British fought well but it was the tactics set by the leaders to blame, not the men nor the rifle.
I think poor marksmanship was a problem for many armies of the day, when you consider the cost of manufacture and shipping it to far flung lands..it was a precious commodity...why waste it training I guess was the idea?
It seems that poor and delayed deployment were the main factors. The lines too spread out, too far from the ammo and the struggle to open and distribute the ammo. Afterwards the cartridge was redesigned and so were the ammo boxes...so they must have played a part!
Also the Zulu tactics had them coming in the rear and sides too.
Some Zulu accounts at Islwandlana say they were losing many warriors and some were slowing or considering withdrawal...when the British fire slowed then practically stopped....I wonder how true that was?
Regarding marksmanship, the Drift had one of the most concentrated kill zones in history. You would think that marksmanship would be something like 80% when in reality it took 13 rounds average to down each Zulu!!
I agree, out of everything I shoot the older rifles are the more interesting. Blanks are ok but you really need a live round to have the full 'Martini Experiance'
Sorry to be boring but the 24th was an English regiment, (the 2nd Warwicksire) at the time of the Zulu War. Its regimental marching song was "the warwickshire lads", not men of harlech. 14 welsh fought at rorke's drift (11% of total), with 16 irish and the rest English. The regiment became the South Wales Borderers in 1881, after the war. It's a myth that it was a welsh regiment at the time of the Zulu War.If you're related to T. Cole(RIP) you should bother to get his regiment history right mate
u can get them in the uk as antiques but the moment u want to put rounds in or use black powder or fire it u must have a uk fac. ammo is obselete thats why u can get them as antiques but some dealers can get you some made.
roberts. hey 400 yards accurate really anything past u want volley fire. they are good on accuracy before that.
A Martini-Henry is optimistically sighted out to 1200 yards, but a decent marksman can hit a man-sized target at consistently at 600 (the typical range that volley fire commenced). The killing range in the hands of the average British infantryman started at some 400 yards. It was the most robust and accurate infantry rifle of its time.
is there a nasty kick to it? .ive read reports how the redcoats suffered with it
donno54 5 months ago
You certainly know its gone off but its far more user friendly than a Nagant or 8mm Mauser which came along less than a generation later. I hope you enjoy the battlefields, I hope to get there one day.
mymartini 5 months ago
im hoping to visit Isandlwana and Rorke's Drift next year .What was the kick like on the rifle ? they say it was nasty,, you would end up black and blue there
donno54 5 months ago
Where did you get the rounds for this Martini-Henry. I recently purchased a Martini-Henry Mk. II with sling and bayonet. I was going to use it as a display piece, but if I could, would like to purchase some rounds and take it to the range every now and then. May I ask, where did you get your rounds?
LordWellington15 6 months ago
@LordWellington15 Hi. Cases are available from a number of sources........at a price. I find my rifle works best with a 500 grain .470 head, my mould came from a company in Austrailia. Then get a black powder licence issued by your local Police licencing department and you are away.
mymartini 6 months ago
AT 100 YARDS, VOLLEY FIRE PRESENT!......FIRE
MRWALKER500000 6 months ago
Nice vid, cant wait to get mine shooting.
realgungho 6 months ago
Windscreen for the mic maybe ?
DavidJPitt 8 months ago
whats the trigger like on the martini is it a two stage or single stage ?
idgewe 1 year ago
Very true.
patoo1000 1 year ago
Good Lord sir ~ if you're not going to use that sling, take it off your rifle! It's not just to carry the piece with.
In all that wind, I should think you'd have it cranked down on your arm, or at the very least wrapped thru with a Hasty sling. Shooting without hitting is just expensive noise.
FLSHBK1 1 year ago
@FLSHBK1 He can't since the sling is attached to the sling swivel infront of the trigger gaurd and not the buttstock.
I know MkIs had sling swivels on the buttstock as well but im not sure about the one in the video since its a mkI/II
Targetpopper 1 year ago
British Rifles give me a fat
NiceHeadMr 1 year ago
How does owning a Martini Henry tie in with UK firearm legislation? I am asking as I study Conflict Archaeology and am thinking on doing some research.
patrickbank 1 year ago
@patrickbank They are legal to own in working order, as they are classified as antique/obsolete calibre. About owning the black-powder, re-loading presses, and loaded cartridges ready to be fired, i'm not sure as to the exact definitions or restrictions under English Law.
droog1967 9 months ago
@patrickbank
You can possess a Martini Henry in .577/.450 as a "curio" without a licence, however if you intend to use it you must put it on a firearms licence. The licence will also allow you to hold the ammunition which you need to make yourself. You will also need an explosives licence to buy and hold the black gunpowder which these are loaded with.
Contact the UK NRA or HBSA (Historic Breechloading Shooting Association) for further advice..
bombdoc42 9 months ago
If he is quick to open the chamber the round should be quikly expended if not then he should take the round out by hand
t1t296 1 year ago
question here i notice he takes out the expended round with his hands is that by choice or did they not eject the rounds themselfs
p51mustangjoe 1 year ago
Is that an SMLE No 1 Mk III by the ammo box?
M1GarandPatriot 1 year ago 2
@M1GarandPatriot . Well spotted, have a look at my other videos to see it in use.
mymartini 1 year ago
@M1GarandPatriot
Question: How did you know it's No.1 Mk III? I only recognized it as an SMLE, but I didn't know which series it is.
AlexSDU 2 months ago
@AlexSDU I used to own one, plus two No. 4 Mk 2's. Barrel is fully shrouded on the No. 1 Mk. III
M1GarandPatriot 2 months ago
@M1GarandPatriot
Interesting. Thanks for the info.
AlexSDU 2 months ago
I had imagined that this rifle would sound more powerful
SpursYido74 1 year ago
what type of gun was that?
igasman64 1 year ago
I finally figured out my dies again and started to reload 30 cartridges. I use 75 grains of Goex Fg BP.
mikey29211 2 years ago
Shazam, sergant Carter.
I've heard of left handed shooters but I've never actually seen one.
I wonder what type of powder is being used here.
notahemi 2 years ago
Im using 85grains of medium grade black powder.
mymartini 2 years ago
this should be a good gun to fire low recoil thats good
terminator8100 2 years ago
what's they range of the Martini
1Historygenius 2 years ago
looks quite easy to fire
ibidydo 2 years ago
question: the empty cartridge must get out manually? O_O
spowperu 2 years ago
The brass ejects in relation to the way you operate the lever, yank it open and watch £4 of case disappear overhead or open it gently and reload the case for the next trip to the range. Razerzer0 was spot on with his previous comment.
mymartini 2 years ago
Nice rifiles,I have two myself that my cousin brought back from Afganastan
snakestomper 2 years ago
Was the ejector on that martini disabled or was I seeing it wrong? The guy seemed to be picking the spent brass out of the breechblock with his hands.
HaNsWiDjAjA 2 years ago
Brass for these is usually pretty expensive (unless it's in .303) he's probably reloading the cases so it pays to be careful with them!
raverzer0 2 years ago
I am shocked to see a video from Britain featuring guns!
Is it a big pain in the ass buying a gun in Britain?
AR15Militant 2 years ago
Yes.
06hurdwp 2 years ago
Why is the weapon so quiet?
AR15Militant 2 years ago
I will be taking my MKI out to the range this weekend.
mikey29211 2 years ago
The British defeat at Iswandlana is unfairly blamed on this rifle. The fact of the matter is the British had enough time to fire more than enough rounds to wipe out the entire Zulu force set against them. Their defeat had more to do with poor shooting than poor weapons. This was to be discovered in the later Boer War, where the British would try to blame poor performance on their Enfield rifles-probably the best bolt action military rifles made.
drexelur1 2 years ago
No you fool, it was because 2000 Brits fought 15000 using a stretched out line this prevented steady firepower like that of the 3 deep line used at Rorke's Drift, It was the fault of the tactics imployed while using the single shot short barrel boxer henry .45 calibre rifle, I don't give a fuck what anyone says if you use crap tactics with any weapons agains't a much more numerically superious force you are going to get overrun, who blames the battle's loss on the rifle? or is it just hear say?
StandTogetherForever 2 years ago
OK, "StandTogetherForever, hopefully you have calmed down over the last month. I am saying that the defeat was not caused by the numerical superiority of the Zulu, although that was part. Even with single shot rifles, the Brits had enough time to fire enough rounds to destroy the entire attacking force. No, poor tactics and shooting were the cause, as the later Boer War would prove. There was nothing wrong with the Brits weapons in either situation. OK?
drexelur1 2 years ago
Battle of Rorke's Drift: 139 British Vs. 4-5000 Zulu's
Casualties: 17 British Dead - 350 Zulu's dead
Battle of Ulundi: 4,200 British Vs. ~14,000 Zulu's
Casualties: 10 British Dead - Over 1,500 Zulu's
Mahdist War, Battle of Omdurman
8,000 British Vs. 52,000 Mahdist
Casualties: 47 British Dead, 9,700 Mahdist Dead.
The British where very effective in fighting superior numbers, what the defeat should be blamed on was simply that the british underestimated the Zulu Force and Tactics.
OneWayTrip1 2 years ago 24
That doesn't make the defeats any less shameful.
06hurdwp 2 years ago
What the British faced at Ishandlwana was in fact a massive bayonet charge by a highly disciplined and trained opponent with a vast majority in numbers, making excellent use of the terrain.
Chelmsford should have listened to the South African Boers, who had experience in fighting the Zulu's.
helmuthoorn 2 years ago
@OneWayTrip1
LOL......did the other guys use some sticks and slingshots??? xD
xXCREEKSTARXx 1 year ago
Iswandhlana was lost because of the leaders underestimated the Zulu's and used below par tactics. The British fought well but it was the tactics set by the leaders to blame, not the men nor the rifle.
StandTogetherForever 2 years ago
They were too spaced apart so each soldier got minced up by zulus.
pintofshite 2 years ago 16
If you ask me you're all pretty ignorant, arguing over what happened. This is why we cant have nice things.
spikedgav 2 years ago
@drexelur1
I think poor marksmanship was a problem for many armies of the day, when you consider the cost of manufacture and shipping it to far flung lands..it was a precious commodity...why waste it training I guess was the idea?
It seems that poor and delayed deployment were the main factors. The lines too spread out, too far from the ammo and the struggle to open and distribute the ammo. Afterwards the cartridge was redesigned and so were the ammo boxes...so they must have played a part!
truthersRdumb 1 year ago
@drexelur1
Also the Zulu tactics had them coming in the rear and sides too.
Some Zulu accounts at Islwandlana say they were losing many warriors and some were slowing or considering withdrawal...when the British fire slowed then practically stopped....I wonder how true that was?
Regarding marksmanship, the Drift had one of the most concentrated kill zones in history. You would think that marksmanship would be something like 80% when in reality it took 13 rounds average to down each Zulu!!
truthersRdumb 1 year ago
Check out the documentary, 'The real Zulu Dawn. Superb! Goes into great detail what really happened that day.
Redcoat66 2 years ago
I fired one, albeit a blank cartridge last year at Fort Rinella in Malta. It is a beautiful rifle.
Josef12056 3 years ago
I agree, out of everything I shoot the older rifles are the more interesting. Blanks are ok but you really need a live round to have the full 'Martini Experiance'
mymartini 3 years ago
The ,450 Martini was a hellacious rifle in recoiland any man that had to stand the line with one soon found that to be - especially in volley
fire as was at Rorkes's Drift.
Add to this the constant jamming from fouled
chambers - the powder burns upon your
face from the blow back and burned hands
from the heat of sustained firing - and it's
REAL MEN that stood that line !
Kungamuck 3 years ago
Is that on Pantygasaeg?
My bamps great great uncle died, using one of those rifles, God rest thier sous=ls
TheRealColey 3 years ago
No, its 'F' Range on Sennybridge next to the German vllage. Where did your Uncle serve?
mymartini 3 years ago
South Wales Borderers 2/24th reg, Rorkes drift
TheRealColey 3 years ago
technically it didn't become the South Wales Borderers till the 1880's but anyway what was his name?
JacmusO 3 years ago
Thomas Cole
TheRealColey 3 years ago
Sorry to be boring but the 24th was an English regiment, (the 2nd Warwicksire) at the time of the Zulu War. Its regimental marching song was "the warwickshire lads", not men of harlech. 14 welsh fought at rorke's drift (11% of total), with 16 irish and the rest English. The regiment became the South Wales Borderers in 1881, after the war. It's a myth that it was a welsh regiment at the time of the Zulu War.If you're related to T. Cole(RIP) you should bother to get his regiment history right mate
219970 3 years ago
Comment removed
LordWellington15 3 years ago
where did u get it and how much???
seaofglory 3 years ago
where did you get that gun?
wombatry 3 years ago
what caliber?
arazor100 3 years ago
Its 577/450 with a 480 grain head over 85 grains of black powder.
mymartini 3 years ago
is that in ENgland cos im in da UK an i want to buy a martini henry can u tell me if its legal to have without an FAC and where do u get tha ammo m8?
shotgunwagonbum 3 years ago
u can get them in the uk as antiques but the moment u want to put rounds in or use black powder or fire it u must have a uk fac. ammo is obselete thats why u can get them as antiques but some dealers can get you some made.
roberts. hey 400 yards accurate really anything past u want volley fire. they are good on accuracy before that.
brotherdevil 3 years ago
How are they for accuracy? Can you hit out to 300 yards?
a0e0roberts 3 years ago
A Martini-Henry is optimistically sighted out to 1200 yards, but a decent marksman can hit a man-sized target at consistently at 600 (the typical range that volley fire commenced). The killing range in the hands of the average British infantryman started at some 400 yards. It was the most robust and accurate infantry rifle of its time.
ngiyaxolisa 3 years ago
Where's your helmet?? lol
mikey29211 3 years ago