I've been playing with a Deeley-Edge-Metford on and off this year.
 
This rifle has an 1878 dated action and in recent years that was all that remained of it! The action was acquired in South Africa by Martin Tebbs. Being a barrel maker Martin fitted a new Metford barrel and had the whole re-stocked. He chambered it for the Sharps 45-2.6" cartridge for long range shooting. Some time later I acquired the rifle from Martin.
 
The 45-2.6 and early Rigby .45 cartridges are very similar. See Rigby .45 Match Rifle.
 
The rifling is the early square cut gain twist Metford pattern which is contemporary with the rifle. As best I can understand this was used on the match rifles until 1883 while the segmental style of Metford rifling was used on military pattern rifles. Following the ban on cleaning between shots introduced by the NRA ( GB ) in 1883 the segmental rifling was also adopted with the match rifles.
 
Promising results so far at long range, the limitations at the moment being my hand loading knowledge!
 
David

It has one of Rex Holbrook's Goodwin rearsights, the ML version. The base for the BL one does not fit so well, however I may look at seeing what can done in the future. I'll try and post some pictures after the weekend.
 
I'm quite enjoying playing with the rifle. First time out at 900yds I put 15 shots down range and stayed on target which I was pleased with. Just need to see what I can do about getting the group a little tighter now!  
 
David

Weather was kind all day Saturday (dry and sunny) for the NRA Trafalgar meeting at Bisley. Had a reasonable shoot for first time outing with the D-E-M in a match, and only third shoot with it at 900 yards. After a tricky start with some misses sighting and on my first match shot I kept the remaining 14 match shots on target for a score of 49.  
 
Need to use the winter now for some further load development work.
 

 
David

Shot also on the trafalgar.  Both days beautiful weather won the 900y with a score of 63.2 and a second place with the same score as the first place with 48.4 with my sharps borchardt.
Date next year 18-19 oct.

Quote from belgmart on Oct 25^th, 2007, 7:48am:

 
The trigger guard drops down and lowers the complete action. This is an early patent action before the side-lever was introduced. I'll try and get some photos sorted.
 
Loads I am still working on... but have been shooting 95 grains Swiss #4 with a (thin) plain card wad and a Lyman Postell bullet. Nothing special about it. This is still relatively new to me and I mostly shoot muzzle loaders.
 
I was at Bisley Friday/Saturday. Friday we had a practice day at 600yds and I scored 43x50, with one 3 (pilot error) and the rest 4/5s. I was pleased with that but now just need to see what I can do to tune things. I also want to try paper patched bullets.
 
David

Gert,
 
My main discipline is muzzle loading and to date I have just been using components I had to hand. The Postell and Swiss #4 gave me adequate enough results to have a go at a match before the competition season ended. Now I have some work to do.
 
I don't have any #5 but plan to try it. The PP mould I have is for my muzzle loader, but I'll give it a go. Don't know yet whether to go for bore or groove diameter for a new mould - I need to do a little home work yet. Where did you get your Metford mould from?
 
My wife, Kim, has a Browning 45-70 and we have had some good results with a mould by Thomas Laumer from Germany - the bullet weighs about 560 grains. I also have a NASA style bullet to try which has worked well with Kim's rifle.
 
Winter will give my plenty of practice time (weather permitting !). I have a 200yd range I can use that is a little less than 30 minutes drive.
 
David

David,
 
can you get Goex?
 
consider the following
 
1. Goex 1F - I shoot 98 grain
2. cigarrette paper or other combustible wad over the flashhole
3. drop tube of course
4. 45 caliber wax paper wad over powder to compress to seating depth
5. after compression, use a .060 LDPE wad with a 45 caliber notebook paper wad over it
6. I use 540 gr Paul Jones Creedmore  
7. Buffalo arms has a Redding competition seating die for the 45 2.6 will get your bullet runout into the .001 to .002 range
8. i use federal 210M primers
9. I am using Starline 45 2.6 brass and annealing it  
10. I am using a combination of a friends lube cut with SPG, but DGL is a good lube also
11. you gotta blow tube or wipe to control the fouling
 
I like the 45-100 myself. I also shoot the 45-110. I have a couple CPA Stevens 44 1/2's and a couple Shiloh's chambered for the bigger cartridges
 
regards
dave

the reason I use the wax paper over the powder to compress is it keeps it in the case and I found when I was using the LDPE and compressing, the LDPE was expanding radially and bulging the case sometimes
 
i really like a 45-100 on a cool damp Ohio morning. they will really crack like a 30-06. one morning I scorched the grass about 5 feet out