Shoot day--another Martini-Henry

This time I went out with the Martini-Henry MK IV, an 1886-dated Enfield-produced rifle.

Open wide! The breech awaits a new .577-450 cartridge; .468 diameter, 530 grains cast lead atop 85gr. black powder.

"V.R." for "Victoria Regina", or Queen Victoria. This one was sold out of British service in November, 1908. A stock stamping shows it accepted by the Nepalese military in 1909.

Like it's rack-mate, the MK II, it shoots a bit high at 100 yards bit hits dead on for windage. Recoil is stout but manageable and the smoke cloud quickly draws crowds on the firing line.

As always, I need to remember to bring at least one round of ammunition home with me, darn it! That's one of two deer spotted next to Murphy's pen. Distance: 30 yards max.

I also got some .45 ACP shooting in with this vintage custom Agentine Model 1927.

Besides being re-parkerized, it now sports an ambidextrous safety, Trijicon night sights (tall ones to clear a suppressor), Hogue grips and a trigger job.

It breaks sporting clays at 25 yards, so I'm happy with it.

Also exercised today: The bedside gun:

13+1 rounds of .45 ought to be enough to fight my way to the rifle in the gun safe, I figure.