I have a 30/30 improved martini cadet,It is going to be rebarreled to something of more use.I am thinking about something small,maybe 270ren,357magnum or maybe even 30/20,anybody got any suggestions?

I have a 30/30 improved martini cadet,It is going to be rebarreled to something of more use.I am thinking about something small,maybe 270ren,357magnum or maybe even 30/20,anybody got any suggestions?

Had palyed with the idea myself for quite some time. Would want a rimmed case; rimless extractors can be made but they are often a bit of a problem. Would be be happiest with a small case diameter, say .41mag. or under in diameter.

On the .22Hornet case, the .270REN is as large as it is possible to go (being almost a straight case) and a whole batch of wildcats...and don't forget the little ones like the 17K-Hornet. Considering the cast-bullet possibilites, took a hard look at the little .25Hornet...could be interresting.

32/20 (or 30/20 with a .308" barrel) has a good number of choices attached. Worked with several 32-20's and 25-20's, and I like them...but the cases are not known for thier strength or long-lasting nature. Think the 30/20 might be the better choice so far as cast bullets are concerned (there certainly is a pot full of .308" bullet molds to choose from).

.357MAX case is aslo a choice (wich includes the 38specail/357mag.). Have seen Martini's made in .22's and .25's built on the long .357max. case. Had a strong urge to convert my Martini to a rimmed .221fireball (using 357MAx. cases for the base-case).

But like me, you seem to be faced with so many choices, it's hard to pick. LEt your USE be the decider...varmint? cast bullet? possible deer hunting?

You have hit the nail on the head mate,its so bloody hard to decide what to do with it.I would love to build it up for the mrs to use.So any of the calibres listed will work.30/20 is probably what will be the choose,but 270 ren is something different.357magnum is as far as i would go,the maxi wouldnt suit me.I already have plenty of magnum gear.Its a hard choice.Have you got much load data on the 30/20 and the 270 ren?I cant find much on the net.

Not much load data...know I've seen some published data on the .270REN, but i've lost those books. Might try some of the pistol silo. shooter sites as that's what the round was desinged for (at least on version of the sport). Think bullet weight for bullet weight weight, you'd be close using 32-20 rifle data in the 30-20.

Freind had a pair of nice little Martini cadets that originated in your part of the world. One was an as-issued 310 in perfect shape (well...it was until he drilled it and put a 12X Unertl on top). Other was a full custom in .222R (.222Super). Remember both had a number and a N.S.W. stamp, so they spent some of their life sitting in a gun rack in New South Wales.

Had several pass though over the years. One got built into a .22Jet. The Jet had a long history with the man who bought it from me...from .22jet it became a .22K-jet...then a .256WCF...then a .256/357max.

The .22Hornet came from an old friend who built it in the early 1950's or late 1940's. Basic but solid conversion, still using an old 6X Unertl. He shot the snot out of it...then I shot the snot out of it...on a guess, it took about 9,000 to 11,000 rounds to wear it to the point I needed to rebarrel it.

Never did get to, lost that rifle, but the choices were narrowed down to the .270REN, another .22hornet, 17 K-Hornet...those three would have served the type of shooting I'd do just fine.

Its funny you mention silhouette,that is were i have plucked the ideas from.I shoot handgun silhouette and have heard of these being used in contenders and BF pistols.Have heard of one martini chambered in 30/20.Hard to find information on some of this gear over here.Some people consider it a secret and wont tell a thing.The one fella i know using 30/20 has a BF pistol or two chambered in that.He is using up to 170gn pills and it knocks the rams over well.I know the cadet action is strong and the only weak link is the extractor,but if i load conservatively it will work well.Only other thing to consider is dies.Who makes dies for these and is it hard to find chamber reamers for these?I know its pretty easy for you fellas over there to get this gear,its a bit harder over here.

There are several really good moulds for the 32-20 and 2-3 good jacketed bullets. If you want to shoot heavier than 120 cast or 100 jacketed then the 30/20 seems the way to go. Plus, .308 barrels are much more common than .312 here.

If you can get Starline 32-20 brass there I think you will find it a very easy cartridge to load for with long brass life.

The Speer # 13 manual has "high velocity" 32-20 load data and "Contender only" 30/20 data.

I'm a huge fan of the 32-20, it's a wonderful cartridge in my book.

you mentioned the 30-20, or something simular. bullberry barrel works has a wildcat for their tc barrels (or any) 30 maximum. many years ago i did some handloading for my tc 357max. barrels and can say that the brass is very durable. if you are interested im sure you could call them and they would answer any questions that you had. very knowledgable people.

Are you talking about TC or martini information mate?

.270 REN data in Hodgdon #26, page 539.

wharf,
Shane Clancy can cut a 270REN chamber ... but why? Handiest would be a 357Mag or possibly a wildcat like a 6mm/222Rimmed or 30/222Rimmed.
Cheers...
Con

wharf,
Shane Clancy can cut a 270REN chamber ... but why? Handiest would be a 357Mag or possibly a wildcat like a 6mm/222Rimmed or 30/222Rimmed.
Cheers...
Con
357 is one of my options,but 30/20 or 270ren stick out.I dont want another 222 rimmed really.Cases for the 270ren,3020 and 357 are easy to get.Dies arent to hard either.I think rcbs make them.My mate has a 310 cadet,He has a load for it using 125gn taipan HP and a bit of 2205 that is a cracker.He uses 32/20 brass.All i think i have to do to a set of 32/20 dies is turn down the sizing plug to .308 instead of .312.

Are you talking about TC or martini information mate?
they also make custom guns, heres a link to their tc contender (low pressure) chamberings

http://www.bullberry.com/TCbarrels.html

i do see they dont have the 30 max. listed here, but in their "barrels ready to ship", they have one listed.

Had palyed with the idea myself for quite some time. Would want a rimmed case; rimless extractors can be made but they are often a bit of a problem. Would be be happiest with a small case diameter, say .41mag. or under in diameter.

On the .22Hornet case, the .270REN is as large as it is possible to go (being almost a straight case) and a whole batch of wildcats...and don't forget the little ones like the 17K-Hornet. Considering the cast-bullet possibilites, took a hard look at the little .25Hornet...could be interresting.

32/20 (or 30/20 with a .308" barrel) has a good number of choices attached. Worked with several 32-20's and 25-20's, and I like them...but the cases are not known for thier strength or long-lasting nature. Think the 30/20 might be the better choice so far as cast bullets are concerned (there certainly is a pot full of .308" bullet molds to choose from).

.357MAX case is aslo a choice (wich includes the 38specail/357mag.). Have seen Martini's made in .22's and .25's built on the long .357max. case. Had a strong urge to convert my Martini to a rimmed .221fireball (using 357MAx. cases for the base-case).

But like me, you seem to be faced with so many choices, it's hard to pick. LEt your USE be the decider...varmint? cast bullet? possible deer hunting?

Gday mate,do you know any info on the 25 hornet?load data or anything.Its either the 270ren or 25 hornet.