Martini Henry vs Springfield Trapdoor 

The british training manuals said an experienced soldier was expected to fire 9-11 rounds per minute. The springfield was expected to fire 7-9 rounds per minute.

I own both and I shoot them often but i prefer the martini more. Both are good rifles but I prefer the lever action to the trap door. Hand loading 577/450 with your own lead castle drops the price down to around $1.50-$2, getting lead cheap really helps.

There is something extremely satisfying with single shot rifles.

This needs more likes it’s a martini and a Springfield there ain’t much better single shots come on

Martini-Henry always gives me memories of movie, ZULU".

Off into the bayou, to hunt some monsters

Sorry about my "Kentucky Math." $200.00 per box of 20 would be $10.00 per shot by most non-Kentucky calculators! You'd think I'd know since I'm the one who forked over the bucks. :-) Also, here are some links to some previous videos with these rifles, although there are a couple of others you might also find or have seen: First Martini-Henry video: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Y4SHUhXCvRY.html Springfield Trapdoor Video: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-XAPMOyh4cRs.html Trapdoor Big Game Hunt: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-1wIt9muW7SY.html

You can certainly see the progression of the Springfield from Muzzle loader to trap-door to the Bolt action! The lines are so clearly retained.

"Zulus...thousands of 'em..."

Bartender, I'd like a Henry martini.

The martini-Henry has such a rich history. I grew up reading Kipling and the Martini figured heavily in tales such as "Soldiers Three", I would pick Martini-Henry every day. Great Video and far too few "likes", Thank You Hickok & Son.

I'd always go for the Martini Henry , very strong ,very fast lock time .

OMG I love this man and channel. For years I have been invested in this channel and I am so glad it is thriving with all the support and love it has.

Martini-Henry obviously superior, but converting Springfields was so cheap.

Always fun to watch your videos. Hikock is very modest and respectful, a great teacher of history through firearms.. I don't doubt that you were an excellent teacher in your own profession 'back in the day'. Again, always nice to watch your videos and keep up the good work. I look forward to watching your Sundays shoot outs. Thanks hikock 🔫🔫🔫 Edit: grammar mistake

Any Hunt: Showdown boys here?

I just love the Martini-Henry rifle. Looks awesome, that breach loader is amazingly simple and elegant. Wonderful weapon!

great video as allways.i had the pleasure of shooting a martini henry at yawgoog scout camp in rhode island.the range master owns one that was rechambered in 22 lr and cut to a carbine length.he stated that they were converted for the civilian marksmanship program.i found it to be very accurate and a great piece of history.my thanks goes out to him.that gun is now on my wish list.keep up the great work hickok.

just saw my first Martini-Henry a few weeks ago! Holy crap! Neat gun! the one I saw had the straight-walled ammo, like a brass shotgun shell with a big ol' bullet crimped in it! Thanks for the video!

Ahh.. the martini "REAR RANK ,FIRE" "ADVANCE!"

“Zulus attack! Fight back to back! Show them no mercy and fire at will! Kill or be killed!”

When I was a young lad..growing up in Canada..back in the early sixties...I used to go to a gun shop in Vancouver BC...they had old oak barrels full of Martini rifles at $25 a pop...and from another barrel, you could get a naval cutlass for about $15....of course, at that time a Lee Enfield Jungle carbine was $25 at the Army & Navy store. The Martinis back then were being bought for conversion to floor lamps....sure wish I could find one of those old floor lamps now!

Can't catch exactly why, but something so fascinating about those trapdoor rifles..perhaps as hickok mentioned it's the transition from musket style to rifles using cartridges.

The early 45-78 case had an extraction problem, often jamming the action on the Springfield. i.e. evidence from the Custer Battle site. The Martini-Henry had no such problem. The Brits practiced a volley style fire that was very effective against a numerically force. In 1873 I would have to choose the Martini-Henry.

Thanks for the video... I love the Hickok history lessons. Can't beat it as the course content is guided by pure passion for the topic!

Martini Henry or a Trapdoor? Martini all day long, and twice on Sunday! It had the fastest lock time of the era.

Prost! (engl: Cheers!) from Bavaria, Germany. I love these old Martini Rifles, they're just fun to shoot in my Experience. Never tried one of those Springfield Models, but they look like fun as well. Keep up the good Work!

I would like to see more comparisons between British and American firearms

honestly my favorite breach loaders are the Martini-Henry, the springfield Trapdoor and the 1874 Sharps, with the sharps and Martini-Henry being the top 2

Martini-Henry - when the Empire strikes back.

I like the Henry-Martini because Heart of Darkness, but I'd probably take the Springfield, the smoke seems more manageable, and the shell ejector is helpful.

It's great you went back to the Trapdoor, one of my favorites, that and lever guns, thanks again Mr. Hickok45

It seems that the Martini is a faster reload in the hands of an experienced rifleman imo

Those are some cool rifles!! I love the 45-70 from a historical perspective and that it is still a viable hunting round.

He just got off the hunt showdown grind

Great video! So glad you do so many of these. I have several BP family heirlooms in disrepair and seeing your vids has inspired me to at least get a couple of them fixed and going again.

Hickok: Says it costs $200 for a pack of 20 bullets. Also Hickok: It's something else when you fire a gun that is $5 a shot. Me: *Visible Confusion*

I LOVE the Martini action. They are way tougher than most of what was around at that time. I am currently restoring a Martini Cadet that was converted by BSA to 22 long rifle. Deadly accurate especially for a rifle that was converted 75yrs ago. Gunsmiths like these old Martini actions because they can be made into huge cartridges and are able to survive high pressure loads. Probably why there are so many of them around still from the Boer war. I have a trapdoor too but they are not nearly as robust. Hot loads are a no go. Still its a Custer gun.

Had a early trapdoor for many years their fun! One of my favorites.

The martini Henry was used in the Zulu wars , at islawanda where the brits lost , an historical fact was the amount of smoke created by the Henry was on mass causing sighting problems when killing the zulus

“Great gun for da fence:”. John Hickok - 2019

Entertaining video. One of the first rifles I bought (as a teenager) was an 1884 Trapdoor. My experience with Snider-Enfields and Martinis is much more recent, thanks to a number of deployments to Afghanistan where all-original, authentic examples of each could be found at the local bazaars (but one had to know one's business to ensure he was getting the real McCoy, inside and out). The closer analog to the Trapdoor is arguably the Snider-Enfield, as both can trace their direct lineage to converted muzzle loaders. (Of the two actions, I think the Snider's is handier and more reliable.). The Martini-Henry, on the other hand, is a more advanced rifle of a completely new design; it went through four different (major) model configurations (speaking of the .577-.450 variants, that is). The Martini began replacing the Snider in first rate organizations in the early 1870s, whereas the US stuck with the Trapdoor long into obsolesence. Two minor quibbles with Hickok45's comments about the Martini: it does not have an internal hammer; rather, it is striker fired. The design connection between the hammer-equipped Peabody and the Martini (as voiced by Hickok45) is hotly debated and broad consensus either way remains elusive. For what it's worth, I prefer any of the Mark I, II or III rifles (and comparable carbines) over the Mark IV, which is featured in this video. The earlier Marks earned their battlefield chops in the hands of the British infantry in various continents well before the Mark IV came on the scene (by which time is was largely outclassed by more advanced arms elsewhere). Today, reloading supplies are readily available for the Martini enthusiast.

Appreciate y’all from Texas

I have had a trap door "pumpkin roller" and several BSA Martini .22's ( models 12, 15, & a MK4 International match). The trapdoor is a well built rifle, but the Martini's have one advantage. Regardless of caliber, they have a faster lock time. Probably not important in battle, but on a bench rest, every little thing helps accuracy. The only old time rifle I am aware of with a faster lock time was the Sharps Borchart (per Frank DeHass). Thanks for the presentation. Salute from Missouri!

Bringing out the classics lately. I like 😁

BF1 vs RDR2

Been watching for about a month now and loving it. Great to watch someone who is passionate about something. But I do wonder where you keep all your weapons? Is there an armoury? Can we get a little tour video?

I’m the proud owner of a Martini-Henry Mk II dated 1876. They were state of the art rifles in the 19th century. They patrolled and expanded the empire. Martini’s were issued as late as WWI and were used to shoot down German balloons. They saw continued service occasionally when the .303 (an impressive round) proved inadequate for bringing down Parthans on the Northwest Frontier. A few years ago a Taliban weapons cache was captured and in it was a Martini-Henry that was captured in the Second Anglo-Afghan War, still in use along with modern small arms.

“$200 for a box of 20, I don’t know if y’all have fired something that is five dollars a shot.” Hickok45 must be from Kentucky.

Damn, that .577/450 really _smacks_ the gong. That's an ounce of lead going over a thousand feet per second for you...

Absolutely love my trapdoor. looking to get the Martini-Henry next. Great Vid Sir!

Good stuff, I have recently been given an 1873 Trapdoor, and intend to shoot it pretty soon. Thanks for the video. -Gunny T sends

Sometimes he just talks too much and I love it. Thank you Hickok.

Former Leopard 2 tank gunner here, the 120 mm grenades I shot where in the thousands a piece, made sure to never miss a shot.

GONG!!!!! That/s a hell of a wallop that martini delivers

We use a sub caliber device ( Chamber adapter) for the Martini and shoot .45 long Colt cartridges that work very well. And for the Trapdoor we use 40 grains of 3F black powder with a 230 grain Colt bullet. This saves money as well as the old shoulder.

Always wanted to shoot a Martini-Henry because of Zulu. Also Ian from forgotten weapons just reviewed a book about the Martini-Henry that goes into the historical use of it.

I absolutely love the trapdoor but after growing up putting lead down range with my dad's Henry-Martinis they have a special place in my heart.

The British equivalent of the trapdoor Springfield was the Snider.

Replicates of the Martini - Henry can be purchase new from a number of Indian arms firms, These rifles can be ordered cambering anything from 5.56 mm to the original .455 and everything in between.I personally handled a new 5.56 mm at a sporting goods store in Glendale California last year. The price was aound $ 300.00 US.

I love them both but I’ll go with the martini Henry, it reloads faster and larger bullet

Mr. Hickok I own one of each, though my Martini Henry is a custom left handed one, re-chambered in 45-70. For a combat gun, as much as I love American made , as neat as the Trapdoor is, I would have to go with the Martini simple reason the lever is under the action, vs the trapdoor on top of the action, you an learn to repeat fire both from the shoulder but an do so with the Martini without blocking your line of sight for a moment. Both are better than nothing in a fire fight even today. The Henry as you stated has been used by Afgan fighters as late as the 1980s the Springfield went out of service officially in 1892, but still survived in 3rd line and guard roles well into the 1930s. They used Duplex loads in the Trapdoors to make them cleaner shooting with the advent of smokeless powder etc until fully phased out. My Martini was made in 1887 , the Springfield in 1886. The Springfield is unaltered and believe it or not still shoots true today, I use real black powder loads, and 405 and 500 gr slugs in it, it is my main hunting rifle.

They should remake tails of the gun and have Hickok45 host every episode.

Have been a fan of muzzle-loaders, been a fan of lever-actions. But I always seemed to miss that weird transition between muzzle-loaded and bolt-action. Springfield Trapdoor looks so satisfying to fire.

I reload the Martini ammo and it is quite a job being paper patched and the cartridge needs to be full, that' without any space at all. Very meticulous reloading indeed.

Single shot rifles remained in use for so long because the ordnance departments of almost every army on earth were afraid soldiers would waste ammunition. The people in charge of deciding what rifle was going to be used were like that right up until the Second World War and beyond. The attitude continued during the move to semi-auto rifles and then to select fire rifles. To me it's always appeared that they'd rather lose a bunch of war fighters then see an increase in ammunition use.

I make my own martini rounds from 24guage brass shot shells. I get MOA with a 500grn paperpatch pure lead round.

I always did like the looks and the action of the Springfield trapdoor

2 of some of the finest rifles, its all about those Breach Loaders.

My GOD the reverberations from the Martini hitting that gong are STRONG.

Thank you for sharing. It's always a privilege and a honer to watch your videos. Fascinating guns, I like them both. . . . I would need to get into hand loading if I were going to fire them often though.

My only experience in historical single shot rifles is the Springfield trapdoor. I have four, one antique original and three reproductions. I got into single shot rifles after I retired from the army. While on active duty, I was into everything that was "bigger, badder, faster." In retirement, I slowed down. The single shot rifles are very relaxing for me, and I enjoy them tremendously. For me, they are more about marksmanship than just raw lethality.

Can’t tell you how many times I’ve been one tapped with the Martini Henry in BF1

I just picked up a 1873 for $300 yesterday on the 150 year anniversary of it being made. Got it from an old time and boy is she clean for 150 years old. I love the action, I love 45-70, it’s just a great firearm. That being said, I want a Martini enfield In 303. I’d like a martini Henry but not as much as the 303 enfield version

Martini henry having roricks drift flashbacks Springfield trapdoor having Custer's last stand flashbacks

Having first watched the movie Zulu in 1964, the Martini-Henry became something of a grail firearm that, regrettably, I never acquired. So thanks for another vicarious look at it. I can't imagine trying to reload as an enemy horde charged at you in the reality that was Rorke's Drift in 1879.

Custer's men of the 7th cav. were armed with the Springfield trapdoor 45/70. Tennessee

Lt. Chard: If it's a miracle, Colour Sergeant, it's a short chamber Boxer-Henry point-four-five caliber miracle. Sgt. Bourne: And a bayonet, sir, with some guts behind it.

"Goodness me, the jungle has come out to meet us, Leftenant! Be a good lad and shoot them, will you?"

As usual, your ability to pick up about any gun there is and whang that gong never ceases to amaze me. I happen to have one of the Martini Henry rifles and enjoy shooting it. It is about the most expensive shooing experience I can think of getting into-or at least in my case it was. Wolfe Publishing has some smokeless loads that I've used and there's a guy close by (X-ring Services) who makes up cases out of 24 gauge Mag-Tech shotgun cases. I bought all the dies etc. to make my own and a couple of moulds also. Now that I have them, it's a simple matter to handload for the old gun. The 577/450 is a real thumper of a cartridge. I enjoy shooting that old gun a lot. Always gets attention at the range.

The video we all needed

Great rifles. The Martini Henry is my favourite but I really like the Springfield too.

Hi i'm from japan.I love gun.🇯🇵👍

The Springfield Trapdoor and Martini-Henry were both involved as the main firearm in use by professional troops defeated by native forces. The defeat of the British at the battle of Isandlwana and the victory at Rorke’s Drift that others have referred to in the movie”Zulu”. The 7th Cavalry’s defeat at the Little Big Horn has largely been attributed to the single shot trapdoor rifle’s slow rate of fire.

"The is a great gun for Da Fence". Great one!

Once I saw Martini Henry I hit the like before watching it! Love this collection Hickok

Hickok you must be using Tennessee math today. $200/20=5????

DAMN ! Here in EU we only got muzzle loaders or made before 1890, and now i want one... They are just so precious !

I’m watching from Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦 and I like your rifles😍

It's nice to see someone talking sensibly about firearms

Martini Henry every day every time

The way you load that martini Henry Is insanely cool, I kinda want one

7:48 LOL! Imagine like 4 people shooting that at the same time.

Love learning and seeing these historicial firearms from days gone by

This is given' me an itch to ambush some redcoats.

I have a Martini and a trapdoor Springfield you can fire the Martini faster the Springfield Trapdoor much more accurate better trigger better sights. However, the Martini’s bayonet is a beautiful thing to behold.

Support 2A. God bless you 45

The martini you have is a later long lever rifle. Prior to the mid 1880s the lever was much shorter and some complained the short lever did not have enough mechanical advantage to extract.

The Springfield looks more ergonomic

Own both, both are great rifles. The Martini has a bit more oomph behind the projectile, but they are close in weight (bullet weight). Common practice for firing the Martini, was to carry 40 - 60 loose rounds in a flap pouch, 20 rounds in a flap box pouch (IE loaded into a wooden block for quick retrieval on line). Before the firefight began, you would draw 6 rounds from your loose stores. placing one each between the fingers of your left hand, then one each between the two lower fingers of your right hand, loading the sixth in the chamber. This gave you six quick shots in succession. Keeping in mind, that all orders of fire at this time began as ordered, and aimed volley fire. The entire unit firing in unison. If the fight went on, you drew from the loose stores, until the enemy got close enough that the order was given to fire at will. Here, you switched to single draws from the block, as each round was presented vertically, thus easier to retrieve quickly, and ready to load, rather than the haphazard way they came from the loose stores. Early projectiles for .577-.450 Martini, were a harder lead projectile, seated in a foil wrapped paper tube, with a metallic base holding the primer, much like an older shotgun shell. This style of cartridge proved disastrous in several early battles, especially against the Zulus, as the foil would separate from the paper tube, allowing the metallic base to be extracted, leaving paper tube behind fouling the chamber. The theory behind the harder projectile was that it might kill the first soldier, yet retain enough mass, and energy to kill, or injure the man behind him. Probably would have worked if your enemy was kind enough to march in nice tight ranks, and files, but proved to only be a minor factor when firing into charging folks who didn't play by European rules. Later on, the projectiles were softened to create more mushrooming, and full metallic cases were adopted.