The book says the trigger can safely be adjusted to 8oz and they will do that. Fine triggers.

The original PH25B rear sight that came with the rifle had 1/4" adjustments. The improved rear sight that came on later rifles, the 25C has 1/8" adjustments although you will hear of fine adjustments on some of the older sights. The rear sight also came with a six hole aperture eyepiece. The front sight inserts are .590" I believe. In my experience they are as good or better then Redfield. They came both right and left handed as the rifles did. Don't know how they compare with Anschutz.

The only part I've ever had fail on any of mine was an extractor/ejector on a MKlV or MKV, don't remember which) and although expensive($100) they are available. I've never noticed forearm screw torque to affect performance.

Guessing you could come by one for anywhere from $500 - $1,000.

Martini shooter, up in the Great White North shoots 100yds with glass on his all day. I don't like to walk that far myself.

They are a unique accurate rifle in this day and age. Try one.

T

 

Two hundred METRES Tom, and the (slightly) younger guys do most of the walking to set up the targets etc. Yes, the triggers are adjustable down to six ounces or so but if you go too far, there is the chance of a `slam fire`when closing the action.In the BSA issued instruction book it states " a minimum trigger weight of less than half a pound can be obtained. It should be remembered, however, that where a very light trigger weight is being used, the rifle must be handled with care and the cocking lever closed gently". I was shooting a MK3 yesterday and put approx. 150 rounds through it with no `slam fires` and the trigger on that is six ounces. One of my other Internationals, I think it is the Mk 4, will `slam fire` a couple of times with that number of rounds fired. It helps to make up a flat plate three or four inches wide to fix under the forend to assist in locating the rifle on the front rest and you can dispense with the sandbag then. I glue a couple of thin rubber strips on the bottom of the plate to provide a little `friction` and prevent it sliding too easily in the cradle.. Of course, you can use it with the sandbag still in place and that will eliminate any tendency for the forend to `roll` in the sandbag. I am in the process of making a couple of these up for myself and my shooting buddy and will report back when they are done and tested. As regards the PH sights, they are really good but the one thing I would recommend is to use the clear plastic apertures in the foresight, I think they give a better `sight picture` than when using the metal apertures. Go ahead and buy one, I guarantee you will like it. !! Tony

 

Yikes! Thats right Tony you fellas speak in meters way up there and at 200 thats twice as far as I want to walk. :bthumb:

T

 

Hank,

You are welcome to shoot mine if you want to come to Raleigh. Currently she wears glass but I believe that I have the original irons around here someplace. They are fine rifles and fun to shoot but the stock is not really configured for BR. I qualified for the Squirrel Sniper challenge the first time I tried it at 100 yards a few months back. There are several around in the group that I shoot with and all are fine shooters and not too picky about ammo.

Jeff

 

Thanks for the generous offer, Jeff. I will definitely keep that option open. I'll PM you for details.

I appreciate all the information, folks. I'll do some more reading but I do not see any reason not to try one. I'll probably call MT Guns first because of their return policy.

Thanks,
Hank

 

The gun shop is a about left to actions on BSA 's from the last time I was there. Call mt guns . Martinis are one of the fun guns to shoot. I prefer the mk2 . I say buy 2 because your shooting bud will want 1 too......

 

I own one of each of the International models I thru V. Like them all - lean towards the MK II because of the screw in bbl and fully adjustable trigger. but have shot good targets with all - shoot mainly at 200 yds - 1-1/2" bull. Just don't take a BSA to any jerk who calls himself a gunsmith - you will be sorry that you did. you have a good day now - missing1944 - charles d

 

I came close to buying a left handed MK II from MT Guns but found a trade for one here on RFC. I have not shot it all that much yet and don't know how accurate it will prove to be. So far, I am very impressed with the workmanship and the feel of the rifle. I have owned several Anschutz rifles and still have one set up for 10.5 lb class competition.

I have to say, the MK II may or may not be as inherently accurate as my Anschutz but it is much more fun to shoot. It just fits me like no other rifle I have ever owned. The weight and balance makes it remarkably stable on a medium front bag. I briefly tried a scope on the rifle but lost the feel. Therefore, I have restored the PH target sights and, even though I am a half blind old guy, I intend to shoot it that way.

I suggest you contact Bruce at MT Guns and see what they have in stock.

 

Hi Hank...

I just bought a BSA Martini International MK II with Redfield International rear sight and a Redfield Olympic front sight. I shot one target at the end of June when thinking if I wanted to buy it, bought it today, and shot two targets with it. From memory June was a 200-12x and today shot 200-14x twice, once with SK Rifle Match and once with Center X. The rifle came with it's original metal hard case and offhand accessories, and the original asking price was $1,200. I am friends with the Seller/Dealer and got it for $950. I suspect I can sell off the accessories but not sure if I want to, not that I will ever use them. But may keep it all together. I think from my posts on the 50 yard matches you know my other rifles. I consider this one as good as the best of my other rifles. Now if I could only get it to read the wind and know when to shoot it's self I would be all set. Good luck. David

 

I just bought a BSA Martini International MK II with Redfield International rear sight and a Redfield Olympic front sight. I shot one target at the end of June when thinking if I wanted to buy it, bought it today, and shot two targets with it. From memory June was a 200-12x and today shot 200-14x twice, once with SK Rifle Match and once with Center X. The rifle came with it's original metal hard case and offhand accessories, and the original asking price was $1,200. I am friends with the Seller/Dealer and got it for $950. I suspect I can sell off the accessories but not sure if I want to, not that I will ever use them. But may keep it all together. I think from my posts on the 50 yard matches you know my other rifles. I consider this one as good as the best of my other rifles. Now if I could only get it to read the wind and know when to shoot it's self I would be all set. Good luck. David

Thanks for the info, David. I would be very interested in hearing your opinion of how it sits on the front bag. I have heard or read several comments that the forend is not very stable when shooting from the bench. I believe you have several rifles that have forends that are not very flat. How does the Martini compare to them.

Thanks,
Hank

 

Shooting off of a rest...

I guess I would need to set up the rest and try out all of my rifles on it in one session of testing to give an accurate answer. From memory and from a sense of it, I say the Martini International MK II, Kimber 82G, Remington 40x, Winchester 52 C & D and the Anschutz 1413 all ride the front rest pretty well. Heck, I can shoot them as well off of a sand bag as off of a rest, it is just that it takes longer as to the need to reposition and adjust between shots. I think one good idea may be to have a conforming bag sitting between the rifle and rest. I have not done that yet. And I do have the "lesser" rifles, like the Savage/Anschutz 64, Remington 513T etc. that will sit in an inexpensive rest with it's narrower opening. Here on the Cape I have an inexpensive rest by Hoppe which works well with them.

 

I guess I would need to set up the rest and try out all of my rifles on it in one session of testing to give an accurate answer. From memory and from a sense of it, I say the Martini International MK II, Kimber 82G, Remington 40x, Winchester 52 C & D and the Anschutz 1413 all ride the front rest pretty well. Heck, I can shoot them as well off of a sand bag as off of a rest, it is just that it takes longer as to the need to reposition and adjust between shots. I think one good idea may be to have a conforming bag sitting between the rifle and rest. I have not done that yet. And I do have the "lesser" rifles, like the Savage/Anschutz 64, Remington 513T etc. that will sit in an inexpensive rest with it's narrower opening. Here on the Cape I have an inexpensive rest by Hoppe which works well with them.

Thank you. I could not imagine the Martini having a more rounded forend than a Kimber 82G..

1eyedjack brought his MKII the last time we got together and that is the only one I've had in my hands. I was more interested in the action and trigger adjustments and failed to observe the shape of the bottom of the forend. It seemed to weight about the same as a CMP 40X so it's hard to imagine that it would not be reasonably stable on a front bag.

 

Hank, I have owned several MK II's and IV's and still have a II and a IV, you can't miss with a II (well I guess you can, but you will have to work at it) My II will hold a much tighter group than the IV. The III's are just as good, plus they are fully floated (the only BSA Martini that is, that I know of), The 25C or newer sights will be a big help, for serious iron matches. You may want to looks at this http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=294579293 the seller has several others available and the looks are close to what you may find at Front Royal. That dealer does have a vast selection of BSA Martinis but mostly barreled actions. Jack and myself have been there, be prepared to spend a few hours looking and a couple more getting the FFL taken care of. They like to deal in volume, the more your buy the better the deals.

 

I appreciate the information and the link to Gunbroker. I see that the forend is not as wide as some but it does look a lot flatter than most. That should sit on a front bag just fine.

 

Had an MK-III, sold it as the MK-II would outshoot it… consistently. Likely have 4000 rounds thru the II. Tried a USBR "Green Meanie" w/ a Unertl 24X, earlier today.

Third shot… trigger no workie. Unscrwed retaining screw, dropped the complete action in my Ultrasonic cleaner. 4 minutes later, rinsed it in HOT water. Sprayed it w/ WD-40, blew all that off and lubed pivot points w/ EEZOX. First shot after "servicing" was an X.

As regards the F/E… fits my Protektor front bag (on a Hoehn top) just fine.

HTH
Richard

 

I think I've shot a .204" 5 shot group with that old MKlll discard using standard +. It don't very often get any better then that for me. It's nearly as ugly as me but can still squeeze out a small group once in awhile.

T :bthumb:

 

Well, if a five shot 50 yard group like this works for you then, yes a MK II will satisfy your need. I shot this group today (July 4, 2012) with Eley Match in my MK II with its PH target sights. The front rest on my setup is a Shadetree Engineering and Accuracy Joy-stick adjustable rest top (by Butch Lambert) on a Hart base. The rear bag is a Protektor leather bag with Cordura Mid-Ears:

The group measures 0.102" (center to center). It is the smallest 5-shot 50 yard group I have created ever with any rifle, scoped or not. This was my first serious attempt to see what the MK II, I recently got in a trade is capable of achieving. It occurred during a brief period of still air. I used the 25 yard target because I have no proper 50 yard targets for iron sights. Even with the smallest apeture on my front sight, the black center bullseye was a dot in the center of the view.

 

Hank, if all that worrries you is, if it sits on the front bag,then have a simple adaptor made or if you know a good wood worker have a new fore stock made. The II has only one screw holding the fore stock. It comes with a accessory rail so adding a flat plate should not be a problem. Personally I use a Harris bi-pod that works well for me.

 

Hank, if all that worries you is, if it sits on the front bag,then have a simple adaptor made or if you know a good wood worker have a new fore stock made. The II has only one screw holding the fore stock. It comes with a accessory rail so adding a flat plate should not be a problem. Personally I use a Harris bi-pod that works well for me.

A medium front bag meant for a 2 1/2" forearm will be plenty stable for a MK II. That's what I use with my MK II, my Hunter Class Centerfire and my CZ 452 with it's Don Stith Sporter BR stock. The only rifle I have that needs a 3" bag is my Anschutz BR. I still have a narrow bag lying around that fits nothing I own since I recently sold all of my varmint rifles.

I would rather have two tops for my front rest than modify a fine rifle to fit the top. A bipod is fine for some applications but nothing else gives the pin point accuracy you can get with a good rest setup. I forgot to mention the front bag used when I fired the above group with my MK II was with a Protektor medium cordura bag on the Butch Lambert top.

 

Bite the bullet and buy some regulation 50 yard targets.

 

Where? I asked that in another post and no one has responded. They sure are not available local to me. This is my first attempt at shooting without a scope, so I am just now getting started in my research on targets, etc.

While metal silhouette and black powder are common here, Kimberly and I were looked on as oddities when we showed up at the local Poulsbo range with BR rifles a couple of years ago. I still get asked if that thing on the end of my Anschutz barrel is a suppressor.

I honestly do not know a single local shooter shooting iron sights off a benchrest. Everyone is either shooting with a scope, shooting silhouette or just plinking.

 

I usually order mine thry pistoleer.com.

Happy Shooting

Don

 

Thanks.
I did get a response in my other request. I can get them at my regular supplier for ammunition Champion Shooter Supply.

Order Done!

 

Where to buy targets

I get the A23/5 from either American Target Company or National Target Company. And I recently wrote to each of them asking if they would make some up with white for the 9, 10 & X ring. Am awaiting answers. If so, easier to see the holes through the spotting scope.

 

I get the A23/5 from either American Target Company or National Target Company. And I recently wrote to each of them asking if they would make some up with white for the 9, 10 & X ring. Am awaiting answers. If so, easier to see the holes through the spotting scope.

That's one reason why I like the 50 yard Rimfire Benchrest Association targets I use for practice with my scoped rifles. The only problem is even the scoring bulls are so small I cannot see them without a scope, never mind the surrounding sighters.

When I went to Champion Shooter Supply, I was surprised to recognize the A23/5 as the targets I used to buy one at a time at the Poulsbo range for practice at 100 and 200 yards with my 17 HMR, 22 WMR and 220 Swift varmint rifles. Compared to what I am used to for 22 LR, the bulls are huge! Measured with my dial calipers the outside ring on the RBA 50 yard target is about 1.3". Even the NRA 50 ft. target has bulls measuring over 1.75". The outer ring on the NRA 75 ft. target is over 2.75". I no longer have one of the A23/5 targets to measure but I am sure it must have bullseyes over 5" across. I should have little difficulty seeing that at 50 yards or 50 meters with the sights on my MK II.

 

The 50 yard target has a 3.89" aiming black. The 100 yd target has a 8" aiming black.
If I recall the 25 yard has a 2.33 aiming black and the 50 ft a 1.48" black.

 

If you want 50 & 100 yard white targets than I suggest you order moonlight targets. I grew up in CT where moonlight matches were very popular. My Father shot moonlight matches at the Lyman factory range in the 1950's and I shot them at The Blue Trail range in the 80's and 90's. Many ranges still shoot variations of the moonlight matches which consist of a Dewar Course iN the evening using lighted targets or in PA where they shoot 40 shots at 100 yards using artificial light. Typically the conditions are very calm and great scores with high X counts can be achieved. I know years ago in central PA the used to shoot full 1600 courses with artificial lights and I have been told that X-counts in excess of 150 were required to place.

The moonlight targets consist of five 50 or 100 yard bulls on a single white target with black scoring rings. The sighting bull is in the middle with each corner containing a record bull. They allow 40 shots to be fired without having to change targets. I like to use the 50 yard target at 100 yards prone to train with a scope due to the challenge.

The last time I checked they were still being sold by the target company located in Rockville, MD. I cannot remember if that is American or National target but I believe you will like them as they are ideal for bench shooting with a scope.

The official name of the match in CT was the Mid Night Moonlight Match and in the 50a and 60s this match required several nights to complete due to large amount of competitors.

On a related note there used to be a league shot at the Brooklyn Armory called the metropolitan league. This match consisted of 50 shot indoors at 100 yards on a white target with the X-ring being 5/8" of an inch. My understanding was that the record for this match was a 500-49X which is pretty darn good. Unfortunately this match ceased operation during the 80's due to problems with lead on the old Armory range. I only wish I could been able to shoot this match at least once.

I hope this information has been helpful. I believe you will like the moonlight targets so give them a try!

Bill

 

A23/5 targets required...

The A23/5 Targets are required for the 50 yard iron sight matches here on RFC. But thanks for the info on other targets.

 

A23/5 with a scope

Nope, not at all difficult. Just like when you are shooting iron sights and take a peek through the spotting scope.

 

Nope, not at all difficult. Just like when you are shooting iron sights and take a peek through the spotting scope.

When I had the Ruger No. 1 220 Swift, I almost always had a T-36 on it. The only problem with short distances is the narrow field if view that makes you hunt for the target a bit, as you get set up. No problem, once you find the bullseye. The X ring is so big, you can decide which leg of the X to aim for in light wind to get the perfectly centered hole. Also, at short ranges heat mirage is not an issue so it can be a different experience, though a bit too easy for some.

 

36x at 50 yards

Shooting IR 50/50, if a fly landed on the paper, I would try and center punch it. I think two wings on either side of a red outlined circle is easily worth a 10X.

 

Shooting IR 50/50, if a fly landed on the paper, I would try and center punch it. I think two wings on either side of a red outlined circle is easily worth a 10X.

Then, you're gonna love this (a bit off topic):

One-shot,one-kill with the LH Precision 10/22 Mag and a T-36. I recently sold the rifle here on RFC as part of my sell off of varmint rifles.

 

Do you have a license to take that size game and how do you tag one.........

 

How does he cook and prepare it?

 

forearm

Hank - I see that we have gotten a bit off subject but to answer an earlier post of yours on how it rides the front bag - get a 3" wide by 6-8" long piece of hard maple, delrin or uhmw approx 3/4' thick drill 5/16" holes and that line up with the threaded holes in the forearm for the handstop. Countersink these holes on one side so that a 1/4-20 flat head cap screw will set just a little below the surface ( I use stainless screws). This gives you a nice smooth flat surface that will ride the front bag perfectly. ps - you may have to play around with the screw length. I have this setup on all of my bench 22's.
You all have a good day now - missing1944 - charles

 

Hank - I see that we have gotten a bit off subject but to answer an earlier post of yours on how it rides the front bag - get a 3" wide by 6-8" long piece of hard maple, delrin or uhmw approx 3/4' thick drill 5/16" holes and that line up with the threaded holes in the forearm for the handstop. Countersink these holes on one side so that a 1/4-20 flat head cap screw will set just a little below the surface ( I use stainless screws). This gives you a nice smooth flat surface that will ride the front bag perfectly. ps - you may have to play around with the screw length. I have this setup on all of my bench 22's.
You al have a good day now - missing1944 - charles

I appreciate the tip. I can see that helping a great deal. Great for shooting with a scope. If I use the rifle in the online matches here, I will have to shoot it "as is" but enough people have told me that it will not be a problem.

Thanks again.

 

Hank,
The Martini(s) will serve you well in the online matches. There are several being shot in both scoped and iron sights and fare very well. My Mark II & III are my favorites and always perform. Both are factory original with no modifications.

Have you ordered the Mark II from MT Guns yet?

Regards,
Gwelo