| Oz |
| (.224 member) |
| 24/06/08 10:48 AM |
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I Hollis 577/450 Martini
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It's been awhile since it's seen the light of day so I thought I'd trot it out
nb: the safety is more for style than functionality
85grs of BP behind 480gr rn (357 mag for reference)
A rather ambitious rearsight (4 leafs and a ladder to 1100yds)
and a disappointing foresight. It's basically the flat plate with two vertical 'ears' forming a U. I tried it on the range and found it shot high so I'm thinking there was meant to be a blade in the U, unless anyone has seen something similar?
The photo's I've taken haven't done justice to the magnificent figuring in the wood so I'll try again later
Cheers
Oz
| Glenn_Fewless |
| (.300 member) |
| 24/06/08 10:58 AM |
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Re: I Hollis 577/450 Martini
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Mr. Oz:
Great rifle! How is the bore?
When you take more pictures, could you get a couple good ones of the rib? Thanks.
Glenn
| shinz |
| (.300 member) |
| 24/06/08 11:03 AM |
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Re: I Hollis 577/450 Martini
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Nice one Oz, the MH is a personal favourite of mine, sadly I don't run to something a wonderful as yours, the best I can manage is a Greener 12gauge on a MH action. It has a safety lever on the left of the receiver similar to what I assume is the safety on yours. Always liked MHs since I saw "Zulu" as a youngster with my Dad.
Steve.
| Oz |
| (.224 member) |
| 24/06/08 11:14 AM |
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Re: I Hollis 577/450 Martini
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Quote:
Mr. Oz:
Great rifle! How is the bore?
Glenn
The bore unfortunately is decidedly 'second hand' from 6" in front of the chamber to mid-barrel and then get's better towards the muzzle. It's still shooting well and I plan to spend the wet, rainy days here in the gun room, meditating whilst trying to polish the sad bits of the bore with a phosphor-bronze brush
Cheers
Oz
| 88MauSporter |
| (.375 member) |
| 24/06/08 12:47 PM |
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Re: I Hollis 577/450 Martini
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Oz:
Nice looking Hollis. I have two Hollis guns. Both are 12ga SxS. One a nice pigeon boxlock and the other a light sporting hammer gun. I just bought a pretty decent MH .577/.450 sporter with the express sights.
I is definitely a working gun, and is said to be from South Africa. Plain action, browned barrel. Loop and hook barrel mounted sling eyes. No maker is identified, but the serial number on the barrel begins with WR then numbers. Of course there are the number of proofs. The express sights are like yours, One standing for 100 yrd, 4 folding up to 500 and then the ladder type that goes to 1100 yrds. All with Silver line insert. Front sight is a simple blade, but may have had some insert at one time. The bore is, I would say, good to very good. Slight pit here or there. I bought a box of USA made Jamison brassed TenX cartridges. The gun won't close on the loaded round. I see the chamber has a rather abrupt shoulder more in the style of early .577/.450 cartridges I have seen. The TenX have a more sloped shoulder. It is a very small fraction of a difference, but I will need to make some adjustment to the loaded rounds to have them work. I haven't yet shot the rifle, but so look forward to. This makes my number three Martini Henry. I have an Australian Cadet in .310, another large frame M/H that was a .303 carbine, but I rebored and had the chamber opened to a close copy of the .375 Express 2 1/2. I have shot the Cadet, but not yet the other two. I made up cases for the .375, but have had no time to sit an work up the loads. Soon, I hope.
Here are some photos.
| belgmart |
| (.275 member) |
| 04/07/08 09:52 PM |
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Re: I Hollis 577/450 Martini
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88,
Would you please make sure to put in the cocking indicator the right way - it really hurts me to see it in 'bubba' position. I do know these are probably the original seller's pictures, but still..
Below some a few pics of mine...
| 88MauSporter |
| (.375 member) |
| 05/07/08 03:12 AM |
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Re: I Hollis 577/450 Martini
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I will!! Yes, these are the original seller photos. Your's are beautiful rifles. Any experince with tenX cartridges for 577/450?
| belgmart |
| (.275 member) |
| 05/07/08 09:23 PM |
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Re: I Hollis 577/450 Martini
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No experience with their ammo - I reload myself, with BP exclusively: there is so much variation in 577-450 that it is very hard to make a 1 size fits all cartridge.. I have dedicated cases for every one I shoot. With the time, skill and dedication, you can make them shoot well, but it isn't easy, like with a 45-70. OTOH, the reward is greater!
| Glenn_Fewless |
| (.300 member) |
| 06/07/08 03:21 AM |
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Re: I Hollis 577/450 Martini
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Quote:
With the time, skill and dedication, you can make them shoot well, but it isn't easy, like with a 45-70. OTOH, the reward is greater!
Well, at least the recoil is...
Glenn
| 88MauSporter |
| (.375 member) |
| 06/07/08 04:54 AM |
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Re: I Hollis 577/450 Martini
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I have these Ten-X as they were sent with the rifle. I will reload for my own rifle.
The bore looks very good, and the crown and sights are nice. I have the dies from Lee, but Still need to obtain a press to accept the large diameter dies. I am told the 4D dies may be better suited, but I will try the Lees.
I have not slugged the bore yet, but I understand the bullet is more suited at about .463. Any experience?
| Oz |
| (.224 member) |
| 06/07/08 09:53 AM |
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Re: I Hollis 577/450 Martini
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Slugging the bore is an art in itself with the 7 sided rifling, I've yet to find a way that gives, what I would call, a good result. Elsewhere on this board are long and inconclusive tracts though
Cheers
Oz
| belgmart |
| (.275 member) |
| 08/07/08 02:54 AM |
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Re: I Hollis 577/450 Martini
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If your rifle has the typical 577-450 chamber and throat, it will be pretty oversize, with a tapered section. After considerabe testing, I've found that a .467- .469 heavyweight (i.e. whch fits the throat) shoots best in these rifles with black, but you can get by with .462. BTW, The Lee dies are pretty good. As to measuring the slug, best is to rotate the bullet in the slack jaws of a caliper, and maybe add .001-.002.
And recoil? 85grs in an 8-pound rifle? Perfectly manageable! :-)