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The series of cartridges with the generic title of ".476 inch India Pattern" are confusing since there exist two distinct case types with similar nomenclature. Both are of similar rolled case construction but one has the form of the normal Martini Henry case whilst the other has a shortened shoulder and extended neck. The latter was for issue to militia and police units for anti-riot use in rechambered Martini Henry rifles which prevented the use of the issue .450 inch Martini Henry ball round.
Martini Henry Buckshot
Despite the calibre not being mentioned in the nomenclature, "Cartridge S.A.Ball Rifle or Carbine Breech-Loading Martini Henry Buckshot" is clearly the first of the .476 inch short shoulder cases from the description in the Lists of Changes. It was approved in July 1881 and shown in Indian LoC Paragraph 169 dated July 1881. The LoC paragraph states that the case differed from the Mark III Martini rifle case in being shorter in the body and longer in the neck.
The shot load was ten buckshot (220 to the pound) held in a paper bag, the space between the shot being filled with bone dust. The bag was cemented into the case and the external portion coated with beeswax.
The charge was about 55 grains of RFG blackpowder covered with a cardboard disc over which was placed a felt wad soaked in beeswax.
Apart from the position of the shoulder the construction is similar to that of the British service Buckshot Mark I and in all liklihood suffered from the same problems of fragility.
.476 inch Buckshot Mark I
"Cartridge S.A. Buckshot Breech-Loading .476 inch Bore Mark I (Musket and Carbine)" is shown in Indian LoC paragraph 4767 dated May 1903. The LoC paragraph shows a rolled case identical the the India Pattern Buckshot Mark II with the normal Martini shoulder but surviving examples all have the short shoulder with long neck. The base disc was iron.
The load was twenty shot (about 390 to the pound) enclosed in the long neck over which a cardboard disc was placed and the case turned over.
The charge was about 54 grains of RFG2 blackpowder over which were three serge wads soaked in beeswax with a glazeboard disc at either end.
The LoC states that to distinguish this cartridge from the India Pattern Buckshot Mark II the case should have ".476" impressed on the side beside the factory initials.
.476 inch Buckshot Mark I made at Dum Dum Northern Circuit with ".476" and factory initials stamped in the case side.
.476 inch Buckshot Mark II
"Cartridge S.A. Buckshot Breech-Loading .476 inch Bore Mark II (Musket and Carbine)" was approved to design DD/7/09 and shown in Indian LoC paragraph 6164 dated July 1907. The case was similar to the previous mark but from early 1909 the base disc was changed from iron to brass to improve strength.
The load was twenty shot (about 390 to the pound) enclosed in the long neck over which a cardboard disc was placed and the case turned over.
The charge was about 54 grains of RFG2 blackpowder and had the same serge wad arrangement, but differed from the Mark I by having 2 grains of cotton wool placed between the powder cahrge and the lower glazeboard disc.
Left: Bundle wrapper for the .476 inch Buckshot Mark II
Right: Two examples of the .476 inch Buckshot Mark II, the left hand one made at Kirkee and the right made at Dum Dum.
Note the late date of these and the symbol at bottom right indicating a shot load and "S B " indicating for use in smooth bore musket.
.476 inch Ball Mark I
"Cartridge S.A. Ball Breech-Loading .476 inch Bore Mark I" was approved to design DD/17/12 and shown in Indian LoC Paragraph 4766 in May 1903.
Despite the nomenclature being ".476 inch Bore", exactly the same as the Buckshot cartridges above, this round had the case of the
normal .450 inch Martini Henry with the shoulder in the higher position. Indian Lists of Changes states that initially the rounds were first made by converting .450 inch Martini Henry carbine ball rounds and when stocks of these were exhausted from Rifle ball rounds. In both instances the original bullets were removed and replaced by a spherical ball with the case turned the ball, the respective charges being left intact.
These cases would have a steel base disc but new made ammunition after 1909 had a brass base disc for improved strength.
The .460 inch diameter ball was a lead alloy of 28 parts lead to 2 parts tin and weighed 144 grains. new made cartridges had a glazeboard disc under a beeswax wad.
The powder charge was as the original carbine or rifle cartridge if converted or 82 grains of G12 blackpowder if newly made.
Left: Two examples of the .476 inch Ball Mark , the left made at Dum Dum, the right at Kirkee.
Right: Bundle wrapper for .476 inch Ball Mark I made at Kirkee in 1929. Note the "SB" to indicate use in smooth bore muskets.
Both the .476 inch Buckshot Mark II and the Ball Mark I continued in service until at least 1945. The relevant page from the January 1945 Kirkee Ammunition Handbook is shown below.
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