Guns & Outdoors Forum

Today marked the end of a 25 year "project". When I was a kid my dad put together a single shot .22 for me using a Cadet action. Eventually I outgrew the stock and the rifle no longer came out to play anymore. When I was 15 we started working on turning it into a .357 magnum. It eventually got to a point where some work that had to be done by my dad was the next step. Between school and work it was forgotten about and sat untouched for many years. A few years ago it was dug out from the back of the safe and work restarted. After a few hold ups since restart it was finally finished. Im actually a bit excited to get this one to the range, whenever I can make that happen.

Quick rundown:
Martini Cadet action
.22 rimfire conversion block (converted back to center fire as we dont have a correct block for it)
.358 barrel (may have been and Adams and Bennett, but I do not recall)
laminate stock (its what we had available at the time and it was my first time trying to fit and shape a butt stock)
Cadet rear sight
Williams fire sight front sight blade

I LOVE IT!

I now have a serious case of gun lust

I did technically shoot it as a .357 once 25 years after getting the barrel fit and chambered. I did test fire it in a silent shot once. I cant wait to shoot it for real now. Its just too bad that the past 25 years have not been kind to my eyes. Im happy to have my first rifle back in my hands even if it isnt still the same cartridge as before. My second rifle was a 9.3x62 that my dad built for me when I was 12. Shortly after it became my first .35 Whelen, so I guess I have a prior precedent already set for switching cartridges.

Oh, that is awesome. I am really looking forward to the range report.

Well that looks very cool! My dad has one in 218 bee!

That looks pretty neat, action strong enough for Ruger only loads?

I’m totally not researching MH rifles right now.

Chiro1989 wrote: ↑Sun Feb 04, 2024 3:26 am That looks pretty neat, action strong enough for Ruger only loads?

Probably. My blown out .310/.32-20 is throwing 155 grains a touch over 1400 fps for it's accuracy load. Prior to that was 130 in the mid 1500's

I like what you've done with the thing. It almost warrants a barrel band front sling swivel. . .for taking on wee little safaris.

That is a nice rifle!

I will probably stick to more tame .357 loads. The action is physically strong enough, but the firing pin/pin hole is my understanding to be the issue with hot loads. We could pull the block out, do some machining, and make a bushing for the firing pin to prevent the issues that pop up with hot loads, but I have other .357 rifles if I want to push it. I would be less upset if I damaged my 77/357 due to screwing around. This will be a paper puncher that reminds me of my childhood. I have no idea how many .22s I put through it as a kid, but it was a lot.

I need to decide if this one will be fed powder coated lead bullets or jacketed bullets. I have mostly XTP as far as jacket bullets. I may look for some plated to try in it. Being a .358 barrel instead of the correct .355 barrel may make things more fun to figure out, but should also result in lower pressure when using .357" bullets.

When I was 15 I fit the barrel to the receiver and fit/shaped the majority of the buttstock. After that it sat forgotten about for years. My dad finished smoothing the barrel (we turned it down a lot), made and fit the extractor, made the fore end, did final shaping on the buttstock, finished the wood, blued the metal (at a former employers shop), installed the sights, and put it all together. I was supposed to do most of this, but he is really bored with retirement.

Some day this will be handed down to a nephew.

Guess what action isnt available as a machinist type kit? Guess which one is damn near impossible to find drawings of?

Got an usable firearm. What was unsuitable with the .22? Got any pictures before the conversion. I ask because I had a Cadet in the original .310

I outgrew it. Since it needed a new stock anyways we decided to make it a .357. I'm sure somewhere pictures exist, but nothing I have and I would have to find the boxes of photos at my parent's place.

As a .22 it had black walnut stocks and a cheap rim fire scope on it. It worked for a kid, but not someone that grew a bit.

CPJ 2.0 wrote: ↑Sun Feb 04, 2024 4:20 pm Guess what action isnt available as a machinist type kit? Guess which one is damn near impossible to find drawings of?

I'm going to guess a Martini Cadet. Did I guess correctly?????

Wish I had a Time Machine.

mitdr774 wrote: ↑Sun Feb 04, 2024 5:36 pm

CPJ 2.0 wrote: ↑Sun Feb 04, 2024 4:20 pm Guess what action isnt available as a machinist type kit? Guess which one is damn near impossible to find drawings of?

I'm going to guess a Martini Cadet. Did I guess correctly?????

Martini Henry.

Haven’t looked a lot for the Cadet.

But, I may know a guy who bid on a complete cadet.

They are a compactish single shot. Someday I may look at trying to find one myself. The hard part will probably be trying to figuring out how to reload for it. If I'm not mistaken I think it uses a heeled bullet.

mitdr774 wrote: ↑Sun Feb 04, 2024 5:53 pm They are a compactish single shot. Someday I may look at trying to find one myself. The hard part will probably be trying to figuring out how to reload for it. If I'm not mistaken I think it uses a heeled bullet.

This one has been converted to 222.
Something I’ve zero interest in. This would be a parts gun for me. Ditch the barrel and move on. Or have it re-bored. But it has a meathook abortion of a scope mount, it would depend if I could erase that.

I’m seeing a .357 ish cartridge, and a teeny tiny pistol red dot mounted. That should make the purists gag.

CPJ 2.0 wrote: ↑Sun Feb 04, 2024 4:20 pm Guess what action isnt available as a machinist type kit? Guess which one is damn near impossible to find drawings of?

You might be able to find the drawings for a Steven's Crackshot action. It's a falling block that's simple and would be perfect for that type of build.

Justsomedude wrote: ↑Sun Feb 04, 2024 6:27 pm

CPJ 2.0 wrote: ↑Sun Feb 04, 2024 4:20 pm Guess what action isnt available as a machinist type kit? Guess which one is damn near impossible to find drawings of?

You might be able to find the drawings for a Steven's Crackshot action. It's a falling block that's simple and would be perfect for that type of build.

Oh there’s several that would be easier. And one day I may go that route.

But.

I have desires. I don’t want or need a lot of guns, but the ones I want, I want. And the Martini, I want.

I shot one Tennmike had in .22 at the SE shoot years ago. I really liked that rifle.

And side note, I really miss my buddy Mike.

Justsomedude wrote: ↑Sun Feb 04, 2024 6:29 pm0axIRSh.jpg

If I did that, I’d likely do it two piece if it could be adapted. Slot milling that much material isn’t that desirable to me.
Or maybe not.

SQUIRREL!

CPJ 2.0 wrote: ↑Sun Feb 04, 2024 5:56 pm

mitdr774 wrote: ↑Sun Feb 04, 2024 5:53 pm They are a compactish single shot. Someday I may look at trying to find one myself. The hard part will probably be trying to figuring out how to reload for it. If I'm not mistaken I think it uses a heeled bullet.

This one has been converted to 222.
Something I’ve zero interest in. This would be a parts gun for me. Ditch the barrel and move on. Or have it re-bored. But it has a meathook abortion of a scope mount, it would depend if I could erase that.

I’m seeing a .357 ish cartridge, and a teeny tiny pistol red dot mounted. That should make the purists gag.

Build it as a 7.62x25!!!!

bullsi1911 wrote: ↑Sun Feb 04, 2024 7:53 pm

CPJ 2.0 wrote: ↑Sun Feb 04, 2024 5:56 pm

mitdr774 wrote: ↑Sun Feb 04, 2024 5:53 pm They are a compactish single shot. Someday I may look at trying to find one myself. The hard part will probably be trying to figuring out how to reload for it. If I'm not mistaken I think it uses a heeled bullet.

This one has been converted to 222.
Something I’ve zero interest in. This would be a parts gun for me. Ditch the barrel and move on. Or have it re-bored. But it has a meathook abortion of a scope mount, it would depend if I could erase that.

I’m seeing a .357 ish cartridge, and a teeny tiny pistol red dot mounted. That should make the purists gag.

Build it as a 7.62x25!!!!

Meh.
.357 or .44 mag I have dies, brass, and molds for.