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My 1st Martini action: Greener Cadet in 32-20

I picked up a cool little Greener Cadet the other day. I saw it and I really wasn't in the market for a new firearm, but it was an oddball so i looked.

The money was right but what really drew me to it was the Greener name...and the fact it is chambered in 32-20. Greener is on my bucket list and even though this isn't the SxS I had envisioned, it fit the bill, even if it wouldn't shoot.

The (I assume) importer had it rechambered probably in the 50s and 32-20 is over-stamped on the top of the barrel. I lthrew together some mildly loaded 32-20 with cast bullets and even though the rifling mostly a thing of the past, it shoots and ejects fine, which is more than i expected.

The rifle seems to be all correct with the exception of the buttstock which looks to be a BSA.

This rifle was apparently used by cadets in Queensland because of the Q stamped into the receiver...and my understanding is the Australian
icon
Government only contracted with Greener for a 1908 purchase, with subsequent rifle primarily built and supplied by BSA and a few others.
 

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Are you sure it is 32-20? Originally .310 cadet. Mine would not chamber a 32-20. It is now a 22K-Hornet.

I don't have a photo closeup of the top, but there is 32-20 overstamped on it near the barrel flat.

Also, the spent cases I fire through it retain the 32-20 neck size.

I haven't slugged it, but I am guessing the bore is a little larger than the .313 rounds I'm running through it...
 
That's cool. I almost bought a Greener last year, but passed due to the unknowns that couldn't be answered by seller. I got the bug for a falling block action after shooting a Sharps rifle competition year before last. I later happened up on a BSA Martini 12/15 in 218 Bee at our clubs flea market this past spring so I picked it up. It's stupid accurate out to 300 yards with some loads I worked up.

Have you ever owned a falling block action before? If not, just a word of warning, make sue you seat you primers fully ;)
 
I don't have a photo closeup of the top, but there is 32-20 overstamped on it near the barrel flat.

Also, the spent cases I fire through it retain the 32-20 neck size.

I haven't slugged it, but I am guessing the bore is a little larger than the .313 rounds I'm running through it...
Here is a closeup of the barrel with 32-20 stamped over Birmingham
 

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That's cool. I almost bought a Greener last year, but passed due to the unknowns that couldn't be answered by seller. I got the bug for a falling block action after shooting a Sharps rifle competition year before last. I later happened up on a BSA Martini 12/15 in 218 Bee at our clubs flea market this past spring so I picked it up. It's stupid accurate out to 300 yards with some loads I worked up.

Have you ever owned a falling block action before? If not, just a word of warning, make sue you seat you primers fully ;)

Thanks for the tip!

The only falling block I ever owned was an Ithaca 22 lever, though my Inlaw has a Trapdoor I have shot a few times. I generally try to seat my primers fully and I have shot several rounds through this one without incident.
 
That's an impressive lot. Does the difference the lever curvatures indicate differences in models or builds?
The difference is the the guy doing the bending. I originally thought I didn't want the lever to stick out below the stock. later, I didn't care if it stuck out and actually like the look better, some people put a little ball on the end of the lever, I never liked that.

all mine are/were BSA . 310 cadet. now .20 ackley hornet. .20 killer bee and .20 rimmed vartarg
 
I happened to pick one up back in September. It a 218 Bee. Barrel is an old Remington 513 barrel with beautiful rifling. Still haven't shot it :rolleyes:
 

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I do love my martini's. Here's a picture of some of them.

That's a beautiful collection. Do you mind sharing who built them for you? I've been watching for one for a while now and prices are all over the place - I think it would be cool to have one build in a fireball chambering.
 

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