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Campfire Ranger
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I picked up another Martini Cadet this past weekend. Now I'm faced with that delicious conundrum of cartridge selection for the next build based on it. (Trouble is, it has a very nice bore and shot a handful of cast bullet handloads into a very tight 40 yard group. I know, never shoot the donor.) I have a sweet Hornet already but I do have a ton of Hornet brass. .218 Bee is tempting were it not for nonexistent brass. .38 Special/.357 Mag is a possibility. .357 Max is really tempting which would give it deer hunting potential too, but brass is unobtainable in the main too, and besides it may or may not make the turn into the chamber if long-ish bullets are used. .222 Rimmed would be nifty, if I could find a big stash of brass. .32 S&W Long,.25-20, .32-20, .256 Mag would provide neat platforms for cast bullet experimentation. Ah, decisions, decisions.
It'll definitely get a classic-style stock, target scope blocks, and iron (tang) sights, bushed firing pin, etc.- I can't wait to get started!
Before anybody squawks about not preserving its originality, I've set my course and shan't be deterred!
Last edited by gnoahhh; 04/15/15.
"You can lead a man to logic, but you cannot make him think." Joe Harz "Always certain, often right." Keith McCafferty
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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.32 Federal. Brass is more expensive than .38/.357, but not prohibitive. Starline seems to have it most of the time. Deer capable too, IMHO, with the right loads.
What fresh Hell is this?
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Campfire Ranger
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Now that's a thought. Twist the barrel to take 150-ish grain bullets and have a platform for cast bullet experimentation too.
"You can lead a man to logic, but you cannot make him think." Joe Harz "Always certain, often right." Keith McCafferty
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Campfire Outfitter
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Sounds like a great little project. I've had a few Martini's... my favorite was a 17AI Bee, but if I were building another, I would choose the 22Rem Jet or the 256 Win Mag, just for the availablity of brass. I have one in 357, but it doesn't really turn me on. Its about like a Zulu blow gun !! I have one I rechambered to 32-40 and I love it. I shoot 120gr and 135gr cast... shoots way better than I can. Also had one in 218 AI Bee shot great, but brass was easier to get back then. Have and shoot a 25-20, but wouldn't choose to build in that caliber, as the neck walls are very thin.
I know you probably know more than me about all of the above, and in the end, you will make your own choice. Which is as it should be. Keep us up on where you go with it and how you are coming along. I know it will be something special.
John
If you don't like Robert E. Lee, you won't like it on this ranch. JGM
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Campfire Tracker
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Love those Martinis. Got one in .222Mag I love.
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Campfire Tracker
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Here is a pair. The one on the left is a 204X223 Improved. The one on the right is a 223 Improved.
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Campfire Ranger
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Nice pair. How did you configure the extractors for rimless cases? Like Bob Snapp did/does?
"You can lead a man to logic, but you cannot make him think." Joe Harz "Always certain, often right." Keith McCafferty
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Campfire Tracker
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My cousin made both rifles and made the extractors. I don't know how he did it but I believe they are something like Snapp's.
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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.218 Bee is tempting were it not for nonexistent brass. . Do it! http://www.lohmanarms.com/product_p/winu218.htm
If something on the internet makes you angry the odds are you're being manipulated
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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Can't wait to see what you wind up doing with it.
I am a single shot not and have always wanted a Cadet in either .357 Magnum or .32-20.
Ed
"Not in an open forum, where truth has less value than opinions, where all opinions are equally welcome regardless of their origins, rationale, inanity, or truth, where opinions are neither of equal value nor decisive." Ken Howell
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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I work 3 miles from them. I'll swing by and see if they actually have it.
"...the designer of the .270 Ingwe cartridge!..."
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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I went by at lunch and they sold out of Bee brass a couple weeks ago. He will take back orders, however, and says Winchester will run it perhaps once per year.
He does have a good stock of reloading components, including powder, primers, brass, and bullets. I grabbed 2 lbs of CFE223 and a box of Nosler .257 Roberts +P brass.
He has some hard to find brass, a bunch of Lapua match brass, Starline, etc. Some old timers too, like .38-55, and even some .45-75.
Give him a try.
"...the designer of the .270 Ingwe cartridge!..."
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Campfire Ranger
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"You can lead a man to logic, but you cannot make him think." Joe Harz "Always certain, often right." Keith McCafferty
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Campfire Tracker
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I think a friend of mine has a 100 pack of Winchester brand .218 brass in his gun shop. I know it was there a few weeks back. If you are interested I will check on it.
Last edited by LeonHitchcox; 04/20/15.
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Campfire Ranger
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I located a small stash of brass that should suffice for my needs. Thanks for thinking of me!
"You can lead a man to logic, but you cannot make him think." Joe Harz "Always certain, often right." Keith McCafferty
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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I'd like some .218 Bee brass myself, if the price is reasonable.
"...the designer of the .270 Ingwe cartridge!..."
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Campfire Regular
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A barrelmaker named Bellm says you don't need .357 max brass in a single shot. Since a .357 mag runs at the same pressure as a Max, you load a .357 mag case to .357 max specs and seat the bullet out to .357 Max COL.
The crimp groove will be halfway up the barrel, which would be a disaster in a revolver, but not in a Martini or Contender.
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Campfire Tracker
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Glad I saw this! Just ordered some 218 brass myself!
I have a Martini Cadet in 17 Ack Bee, that I just picked up. I fired it for the first time yesterday with some ammo that came with the rifle. I'm hooked!
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It's still a .310.
Old Corps
Semper Fi
Get off my lawn.
FJB
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