This gun is so loaded with history. Made in England for W. Rawbone, Cape Town. Given this gun looks a lot like a Greener and knowing the story of Greener's relationship with Rawbone, history, history, history! Wow.

Took the rifle to the range yesterday.Fired some Remington UMC 174 gr. FMJ. First shot, slightly protruding primer. Second shot, extracted so easily the cartridge ejected out and on to the bench then rolled onto the ground. Third shot smoke came out of the action. Opened the action and got more smoke. I could see the primer pierced. Pulled the case out and found partial head separation. Checked the other two cases and all three show signs of head separation.

First thought excessive headspace. Slight yes, and off center striker impact--all pretty common for .303 Martini's

Something looked odd however.

Brought the gun home and slugged the bore, .303. Yep two different calipers and two different slugs. Polygonal rifling-Metford of course. .311 bullets in .303 bore

The odd look is excessive pressure.

History lesson time.

Proofs and marking put this rifle in the time frame 1890 to 1900.

Researching Just found, this paragraph in Winfer’s book, volume 3..

“The exact caliber to be adopted was not settled to a later date, for in 1887 the British were still continuing tests with the Swiss .298 bore barrels concurrently with Metford rifled barrels in .303, .307, and .310 bores.”

This barrel is a Metford.

History lesson continues.