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I must confess, If I were shooting Scheutzen or Silhouettes I would probably wipe after each shoot also.

The Volunteer Rifleman Match shot at 50 and 100 yards in strings of 10 rounds in 2 minutes does not permit by rule wiping between shots. Between strings, yes. For this match I definitely weigh powder.

The Zulu Match is shot at ranges determined by the match organizer but usually no more than 200 yards and usually 50 to 100 yards. The match does allow wiping, but you have to fire 10 rounds in 2 minutes including going to the ammo box and picking up more ammo. You just don't have time to wipe. I will volume load for this match if the ranges are short. After all the target is 5 feet tall and a foot and a half wide.

I suppose some of the big game rifle matches you could wipe. But some of the timed events, you would just have to shoot. Haley's Hop comes to mind.

Shoot until they drop technique, I have employed it and not just with BP..

To clean the Martini I use the regular rod from the muzzle. I then follow up with a A Hoppes flexible cable chamber rod for cleaning the back end. The Proshot cable chamber cleaner is to small cable and to long in the ferrules. When I clean the Martini I leave the block in. Then when finished I pull the block and clean it.

I have considered making a full length cable rod to push from the chamber. I'm not sure it would work. Won't know until I try.

The Francotte Style Martini with the removable trigger guard has the cleaning hole in it. But it requires removal of the trigger group to access.

To learn how to properly disassemble the Martini Henry go to www.martinihenry.com. Simple summary, the block comes out first and goes in last. My late departed mentor Frank DeHaas had that one wrong.

In the past couple of years the original instructions on adjusting firing pin strike and block height for loading on the Martini have surfaced. Suffice to say most American Gunsmith got it wrong. All the adjustments are made to the lever. The first person I thought of when I saw those instructions posted on the inernet was Frank. I wish he had still been alive and I could have called him on the phone to share. I did so much enjoy talking with him.

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DD, Ret.

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