32-20 or 30-20 for that matter...  FWIW, the 310 cadet never was a BP cartridge.  Still, I'd look at fouling management 1st...  These little rounds are pretty sensitive to it

FWIW,
I very much enjoy shooting my Cadet that had been
bored out to 357 mag back in the late 50s.
A better fit for barrel shank. 
Its accurate with a 200 gr cast bullet.
A rebore like this would solve the problem of a poor bore.
beltfed/arnie

Mick,
       If .357 Maxi cases were easier to find I would go that way, I shoot a .30/.222 case in a martini, works well with BP, I breach seat but that entails a whole lot of work re the seater fabrication etc.With BP I clean between shots, you need the action to drop out 
Easily and the rear of the action to be bored to clean from that end.With the Maxi case the loading ramp needs a very slight relief to chamber.

          Cheers Mal.

Mal wrote on Aug 24^th, 2018 at 7:22pm:

Mal,

Consider using a flexible cleaning rod - works a treat!   And no need to take out the action every time.

My sentiment is not to screw up an original cadet rifle.  I am having a great time with mine.  Just load it as it is intended and shoot.

I recently acquired a nice original BSA Martini Cadet rifle in its original chamber of .310 Greener.

The rifle remains in excellent condition.  Importantly, its bore is like new.

I studied on how to get into loading for this rifle and asked a few questions along the way.   

I gathered what I needed to load this little cartridge.  Buffalo Arms sells Starline .32-20 brass converted to fit the little Martinis.  They also have dies.  Finally, I got an RCBS mould for the little 125 grain heeled bullet.

I lubed 50 bullets using Honda motorcycle chain lube.  I just set them up on a piece of wax paper and sprayed them with the lube.  It dries quickly.  Pretty soon I had 50 rounds of ammo ready for the range.

Here's a range report with photos.


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I shot targets at 50 and 100 yards.  The rifle has good sights, but they are just battle sights.  That limits what I am able to do.  However, the little thing will certainly shoot.  Here are a couple of targets.  Loading data and distance is indicated on each target.

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I was not disappointed.  That's about as good as I can shoot with those sights.  It's a shooter!  This was my first time ever shooting this rifle and this caliber.  It was a load recommended on a discussion forum and the only load I have tried.  I'm happy.

Don't wreck that original cadet martini!

Curl