Australian BSA Cadet Rifle
Australian BSA Cadet Rifle
by RonE on Tue 9 Dec - 21:15
The rifle I bought arrived today. It is a Martini Cadet made for training cadets in the Australian Army. Originally it was chambered in .310 Greener Cal. which was a black powder round and cannot be easily found today. This rifle has been rechambered to .32 Winchester Special and is a very tight and sound little gun. I was pleasently suprised at the condition when it arrived, the trigger is crisp and the action is smooth.
I plan on rebarreling the rifle to .22 cal and chambering it in 5.6X50R mag. S&B makes cartridges and the factory loading pushes a 50 gr bullet 3,445 fps. Simular to a .223 or a .222 Rem Mag. With reloads and a 20" barrel, this round has been pushed up to 3,800 fps. I can't wait to shoot it in .32 Win Spec and then start on the project.
I will try to post some pictures tomorrow.
I plan on rebarreling the rifle to .22 cal and chambering it in 5.6X50R mag. S&B makes cartridges and the factory loading pushes a 50 gr bullet 3,445 fps. Simular to a .223 or a .222 Rem Mag. With reloads and a 20" barrel, this round has been pushed up to 3,800 fps. I can't wait to shoot it in .32 Win Spec and then start on the project.
I will try to post some pictures tomorrow.
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Re: Australian BSA Cadet Rifle
by brickmanDan on Tue 9 Dec - 21:18
Sounds like fun. we will be looking forward to the pics. And keep us posted on the progress.
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Re: Australian BSA Cadet Rifle
by RonE on Wed 10 Dec - 19:00
Pictures of my Martini Cadet rifle project....These are the before pictures.
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Re: Australian BSA Cadet Rifle
by ronryder on Wed 10 Dec - 22:40
Man, thats in nice near original condition, though I suspect the wood was full length at one time.
some martini collector out there, is gonna be real upset over your project, no matter what you go with.
and kidding aside, I thought you were just getting a beater and working it over.
some martini collector out there, is gonna be real upset over your project, no matter what you go with.
and kidding aside, I thought you were just getting a beater and working it over.
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Re: Australian BSA Cadet Rifle
by RonE on Wed 10 Dec - 22:55
I thought you were just getting a beater and working it over.
The rifle was exactly as it was described on one of the gun auction sites. I would have settled for a complete action only but the condition of this rifle inside and out is pretty darn good. It has already been rechambered to .32 Win Sp and the forend has been shortened. A used barrel in .310 is about $65 and a forend is about $11 so I could put it back to original for less than $100. These rifles make great little single shot varmit guns and paper punchers and they are fun to put lipstick on. So for about $500 total investment, I could have a "Correct" Cadet rifle or for about a thousand more, I can have what I want and sell or give the original parts that are left over to someone who cares.
I am going to shoot a box of .32 Win Spec before I start the project.
The rifle was exactly as it was described on one of the gun auction sites. I would have settled for a complete action only but the condition of this rifle inside and out is pretty darn good. It has already been rechambered to .32 Win Sp and the forend has been shortened. A used barrel in .310 is about $65 and a forend is about $11 so I could put it back to original for less than $100. These rifles make great little single shot varmit guns and paper punchers and they are fun to put lipstick on. So for about $500 total investment, I could have a "Correct" Cadet rifle or for about a thousand more, I can have what I want and sell or give the original parts that are left over to someone who cares.
I am going to shoot a box of .32 Win Spec before I start the project.
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Re: Australian BSA Cadet Rifle
by ronryder on Thu 11 Dec - 13:38
I believe that 310 is real close to a 32 20, a great little varmint field cartridge.
too bad the ammo isnt more readily available here,
I wouldnt imagine the twist would match 32 Special, but the proof is in the pudding. find some light bullet loads or handload some, might be a surprise.
too bad the ammo isnt more readily available here,
I wouldnt imagine the twist would match 32 Special, but the proof is in the pudding. find some light bullet loads or handload some, might be a surprise.
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Re: Australian BSA Cadet Rifle
by RonE on Fri 17 Jul - 11:45
Jack
I shot the .32 Win Spec at 25 and 50 yards and was able to get one three shot group at 50 yards at under an inch. I used a couple of sand bags and a lot of consentration....The .32 Win Spec is already a pretty light load. I was shooting factory 170 gr soft point round nose bullets.....The .32 is factory loaded to less chamber pressure than the .30 WCF (30-30) with the same bullet weight so I imagine that you could load the round up a little and perhaps get better preformance than with the .30 WCF. I am not big into handloading so it is conjecture on my part. Shooting cast bullets and rolling your own leaves you with lots of options. It should be fun.
I shot the .32 Win Spec at 25 and 50 yards and was able to get one three shot group at 50 yards at under an inch. I used a couple of sand bags and a lot of consentration....The .32 Win Spec is already a pretty light load. I was shooting factory 170 gr soft point round nose bullets.....The .32 is factory loaded to less chamber pressure than the .30 WCF (30-30) with the same bullet weight so I imagine that you could load the round up a little and perhaps get better preformance than with the .30 WCF. I am not big into handloading so it is conjecture on my part. Shooting cast bullets and rolling your own leaves you with lots of options. It should be fun.
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Re: Australian BSA Cadet Rifle
by Rabbit99 on Thu 24 Dec - 12:19
I have an original 310 Martini Cadet. It is not too hard to get the ammo for the 310. Kind of expensive. About $2 a shot. but one of the finest rifles I own. And very accurate. I am looking for a group of users, shooters that fire the rifle. I live in So Cal, and would like to see if there are any groups doing practice with the rifles.
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Re: Australian BSA Cadet Rifle
by 2HOW on Thu 24 Dec - 12:51
Lot of people dont know that they also made the BSA motorcycle also. Great looking rifle.
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Re: Australian BSA Cadet Rifle
by ronryder on Thu 24 Dec - 13:56
Ron, do you get Double Gun Journal? They had an article in there, and I did not realize that it was so simple to convert these to use 32 20 brass.
Point being for the non reloaders, you pick up 32 20 brass where ever and reload for the 40 cents a round or what ever it works out too at present.
The rim cut needs deepend by what ever the rim thickness is, (a simple task if you have a lathe,) then trim the 32 20 brass to the correct length, and I guess reform it.
Now, I dont see all that much advantage, except you would have a still original, (at least 99% original) gun that a collector wont beat you up on for account of having it rechambered.
Cost wise, it might be a wash, it depends on how much one intends to shoot the gun. Time a guy buys the dies, and I am betting 310 dies fall into the "special" group and an arm and a leg wont quite cover the price, or rechamber it for a 32 20 and one could likely find used 32 20 dies
And a smith likely wont charge that much more to rechamber totally, than just cut the rim deeper.
So, it might end up being a wash? Seems like these bargain guns, dont always end up being a bargain? Course if we were doing it for dollars and sense, we would all have single shot shotguns, and single shot 22s.
Hey, I scored a nice Win 64 in 32 Special last spring. Even shot some cast bullets in it. Didnt figure it was worth buying a mold for, Midway has some nice rifle cast bullets. Cant think of the brand name on them, but they are nice hard bullets.
Point being for the non reloaders, you pick up 32 20 brass where ever and reload for the 40 cents a round or what ever it works out too at present.
The rim cut needs deepend by what ever the rim thickness is, (a simple task if you have a lathe,) then trim the 32 20 brass to the correct length, and I guess reform it.
Now, I dont see all that much advantage, except you would have a still original, (at least 99% original) gun that a collector wont beat you up on for account of having it rechambered.
Cost wise, it might be a wash, it depends on how much one intends to shoot the gun. Time a guy buys the dies, and I am betting 310 dies fall into the "special" group and an arm and a leg wont quite cover the price, or rechamber it for a 32 20 and one could likely find used 32 20 dies
And a smith likely wont charge that much more to rechamber totally, than just cut the rim deeper.
So, it might end up being a wash? Seems like these bargain guns, dont always end up being a bargain? Course if we were doing it for dollars and sense, we would all have single shot shotguns, and single shot 22s.
Hey, I scored a nice Win 64 in 32 Special last spring. Even shot some cast bullets in it. Didnt figure it was worth buying a mold for, Midway has some nice rifle cast bullets. Cant think of the brand name on them, but they are nice hard bullets.
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Re: Australian BSA Cadet Rifle
by RonE on Sun 27 Dec - 1:59
My plans for the rifle are to polish and reblue the action and re-stock the rifle. I am also going to turn and bush the firing pin and rebarrel and chamber the rifle in 5.6X50R which is a European caliber that is somewhat available across the counter that if handloaded will out preform the .223.
The factory ammo is listed at a MV of 3,445 fps with a 50 grain bullet. Hand loading the round it seems possible to get 3,500 fps with a 55gr bullet without increasing the pressure too much.
The first Cadet rifle I build was in 1961 after school in my high school auto shop with the help of the auto shop teacher. That rifle was built as a .218 Bee. I would like to see anyone build a rifle in a California high school today. Wish I still had the rifle.
The factory ammo is listed at a MV of 3,445 fps with a 50 grain bullet. Hand loading the round it seems possible to get 3,500 fps with a 55gr bullet without increasing the pressure too much.
The first Cadet rifle I build was in 1961 after school in my high school auto shop with the help of the auto shop teacher. That rifle was built as a .218 Bee. I would like to see anyone build a rifle in a California high school today. Wish I still had the rifle.
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Re: Australian BSA Cadet Rifle
by towerclimber on Sun 27 Dec - 7:08
wow! beautiful rifle even in the original form!
since I've seen some of your work before, I can't wait to see how it turns out!
since I've seen some of your work before, I can't wait to see how it turns out!
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Re: Australian BSA Cadet Rifle
by RonE on Sun 27 Dec - 19:08
towerclimber wrote:wow! beautiful rifle even in the original form!
since I've seen some of your work before, I can't wait to see how it turns out!
This one isn't going to be a joke or spoof. Hopefully this will end up a high grade shooter when I finish the project.
I assume you are referring to the "snipper" rifle project.
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Re: Australian BSA Cadet Rifle
by Forester on Sun 27 Dec - 20:12
Great old gun. Thanks for sharing.
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Re: Australian BSA Cadet Rifle
by ronryder on Sun 27 Dec - 20:18
Ron E, I am in the middle of a large frame Martini project, you know of anyone offering pre turned stocks for the large frame by any chance?
found one guy, Doug Treebone, offers the large frame, but with limited choice of grip shape. I have yet to call him, but figure he might send one, bored and shaped, except for the grip area.
I also talked to Wineig that took over Fajens, they DONT offer the large frame, only the 310 size.
this one is in 45 70, one of them deals, makes me wonder why the owner wanted to start with a large martini instead of something more modern, but I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
There has been a 310 action floating around the local shows for some time, but the guy wont come off his asking price, 400 bucks as I recall. might be a barrel too. I think the last one I bought, was 175 or two, but that was 25 years back as well.
I believe they are a lot stronger action than most assume. I sure wouldnt put a 22 250 class or such on one, but your project sounds neat.
found one guy, Doug Treebone, offers the large frame, but with limited choice of grip shape. I have yet to call him, but figure he might send one, bored and shaped, except for the grip area.
I also talked to Wineig that took over Fajens, they DONT offer the large frame, only the 310 size.
this one is in 45 70, one of them deals, makes me wonder why the owner wanted to start with a large martini instead of something more modern, but I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
There has been a 310 action floating around the local shows for some time, but the guy wont come off his asking price, 400 bucks as I recall. might be a barrel too. I think the last one I bought, was 175 or two, but that was 25 years back as well.
I believe they are a lot stronger action than most assume. I sure wouldnt put a 22 250 class or such on one, but your project sounds neat.
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