Calibers, little different

[Rew]

This was brought up in another thread. How many of you guys, know the history of cartridges. For instance 45-70-405, 44-40-200, 38-40-180. Well let me explain a bit. The first number is the diameter of the bullet. The second is the charge in black powder and the third is the wight of the bullet. Problem is the 30-30 came along in early 1895 and was the first smokeless powder sporting cartridge in America. This caused a bit of confusion, when you consider the Military had went from a black powder 30-40 Krag in 1892 to a smokeless load in the same cartridge soon after and the 30-30 used 30 grains of the smokeless then available. Well heck, why not switch your trapdoor 45-70 or Sharps 45-100 over to smokeless?

Many BP rifles, revolvers and shotguns got scattered over a lot of country side in pieces, some with flesh and blood still clinging. While it's true the 30-40 started military life with BP, when changed over to smokeless the load was not grain for grain. However the name didn't change. It was a transition period in firearms history, there were a lot of mistakes made. But somehow our ancestors muddled through. We are lucky, we still have our 45-70's, 44-40's and .45 Colts, none are any longer loaded by a major ammo company with BP. But the old names remain, I wouldn't have it any other way.

Powders change from lot to lot even. The bullseye of the early 1900s is not the same as the bullseye of the 50's and today's is different still. Same with all powder's, all primers and all cases.

Well, I didn't mean for this to turn into an essay, but the history of the cartridge is the most interesting part of the firearms world to me.

[Moon]

Well I'll be damn. I didn't know that ! Great info

[9teen11]

Gotta love that 45-70 the name really does say it all!

[ricciardelli]

It is difficult or impossible for the novice to follow the action without some knowledge of cartridge caliber designation. Even the individual experienced with Standard American ammunition may be ignorant of British, European or even obsolete American cartridge nomenclature. The subject, regrettably, is full of inconsistencies and confusion.

With the majority of American, British or European (metric) cartridges, the caliber is the first figure given. However, there are exceptions that will be pointed out later. Caliber may be given in terms of bullet or bore diameter (land or groove), and is neither accurate nor consistent We have such things as the 303 Savage cartridge, which has a .308-inch diameter bullet as opposed to the 303 British with a .312-inch diameter bullet. Then we run into the .458 Winchester Magnum and the 460 Weatherby Magnum, both of which are loaded with the same 458-inch diameter bullet. The Weatherby people didn't want anyone to get their round mixed up with the Winchester design so they changed the figures a little. That is why some cartridges do not follow in normal caliber designation in the dimensional tables.

The second figure, if there is one, is usually some distinguishing feature such as the case length or powder charge. European cartridges are, almost without exception, designated by caliber and case length. Obsolete American cartridges, or any that have a blackpowder origin, are designated by caliber and powder charge; or caliber-powder charge-bullet weight (the last two in grains weight). Smokeless powder charges vary so widely with the powder type and grain structure that this is no longer used. However, there are again such exceptions as the 30-30 and 30-40 Krag. Here, the second figure represents the original smokeless powder charge although it no longer has anything to do with it. With blackpowder cartridges the designation 45-70 means a 45-caliber cartridge with 70 grains of blackpowder; or 45-70-405 spoils out the same cartridge with 405-grain bullet to distinguish it from such other bullet loadings as the 45-70-500.

The truth of the matter is that the American system of cartridge nomenclature really hasn't any system to it, and can only be learned through reading and experience; Otherwise, you simply never know what the hell is meant. For example, take the 30-06, a very popular military and sporting round. Here, the first figure shows the caliber, the second the date of origin. In other words, a 30-caliber cartridge model of 1906. Or again, the 250-3000 Savage. This translates out as a 25-caliber cartridge firing a bullet at 3000 fps muzzle velocity. The bullet diameter is actually .257-inch and muzzle velocity varies with bullet weight from 2800 to over 3000 fps. Some of the older backpowder cartridges included the case length and type; thus the 44-90 Sharps 2 5/8-inch necked, or 45-120 Sharps 3 1/4-inch straight. This isn't a system at all, it's a code.

The British, to a large extent, follow the same "system" as we do. However, they add to the general confusion with such cartridges as the 577/450 or 500/465. Here, the second figure gives the actual caliber, and what is meant is the 577 case necked to 450.caliber and a 500 case necked to 465-caliber. They may also add the case length. At this point it is necessary to point out that some American wildcat (noncommercial) cartridges dreamed up by individual experimenters are designated by a similar but opposite system (?). Here, we have such cartridges as the 8mm-06, 30-338 and 25-06. These work out as an 8mm based on the 30-06 case, a 30-caliber based on the 338 Winchester case and a 25-caliber based on the 30-06 case. Confusing indeed.

The Europeans have evolved the only real system of cartridge designation that is consistent and meaningful. Dimensions are in millimeters, including bullet diameter, case length and type. The 7x57mm Mauser is a cartridge, for example, using a 7mm bullet in a 57mm rimless case. The 9.3x74Rmm is a 9.3mm caliber and a 74mm rimmed case,the R denotes the rimmed type, its absence a rimless case. The name of the originator or manufacturer may follow. This is a relatively simple and straightforward system, but unfortunately it isn't perfect either. The Germans used two rim types in some of their older cartridges, and this resulted in duplicate designation of cartridges that differ only in the rim (9.05x36.R, 10.85x24.9R, etc.), and there must be at least three 9.3x72mm cartridges that differ only in case configuration. It is all something of a mess and probably too late to change.

To further elucidate, you needs to know there are two major classifications of cartridges - centerfire and rimfire. The former is fired by a primer located in the center of the case head; the latter by the priming compound distributed around the entire inside of the rim's outer diameter. The modern centerfire cartridge primer is removable and replaceable so that the case can be reloaded after being fired. It is possible, but not practicable to reload rimfire cases after they been fired. Centerfire cartridges are subdivided based on the primer, Berdan and Boxer. The Berdan primed case has the anvil as a separate protrusion or teat in the bottom of the primer pocket. The Boxer primer is completely self-contained and the anvil is part of the primer. All American-made ammunition is Boxer primed, whereas much British and European ammunition is Berdan primed. Most foreign-made ammunition manufactured for the American market has the Boxer-type primer.

[ricciardelli]

Rim Classes

There are four common types of centerfire cartridge cases based on rim type. These are: rimmed, rimless, semi-rimmed and belted. The British equivalents are: flanged, rimless, semi-flanged and belted. There is a fifth type, not widely used, which is the rebated rimless in which the rim is of smaller diameter than the base of the case. Only one American rifle cartridge is of this type, the 284 Winchester. The newer 41 Action Express pistol cartridge is also rebated. The purpose of the rebated rim is to allow the use of a Standard diameter bolt with a larger diameter cartridge. In the past, there have been a few rimless cases without the usual extractor groove.

Both centerfire and rimfire cartridges may be of straight or necked type. Contrary to popular opinion, the necked case was not designed to provide greater velocity for smokeless powder cartridges. It evolved back in blackpowder days as a means of getting the same powder charge in a shorter case, thus allowing the repeating actions of the day to handle cartridges of the same power as the single shots with their long, straight cartridges. Some of the very early rimfire cartridges were of the necked type.

The latest fad in cartridges is the caseless, or combustible type, an idea not really very new that dates back to the early 1800s or before. The original used a nitrated paper or cloth container for the powder charge and sometimes also the bullet. The entire package was loaded into the gun, and the powder and its container consumed in firing. During WWII, the Germans began an intense research and development program to perfect caseless ammunition and design weapons to shoot it. The principal motivating factor at the time. was the severe shortage of brass and other metal for cartridge cases. The Germans are known to have had at least partial success and some insist complete success, although why they would still be hiding such a development is hard to imagine. United States military ordnance facilities as well as private industry have been working on the problem of caseless ammunition for the past 55 years or more. There has been almost complete success in developing caseless and partially-caseless artillery rounds, but there are still many problems in the small arms field. Obturation is a big problem, as is ejecting a misfired round from the chamber of a repeating action. Modern caseless ammunition usually consists of compressed powder grains fastened to the base of the bullet, or the powder may be encased in a plastic case made of the same material as the propellant. Ignition may be percussion or electrical, and there is, in some types, a booster charge extending through the center of the powder charge.

Metallic Cartridge Development

The self-contained metallic cartridge is a fairly modern development, perfected only within the last 150 years or so. The use of gunpowder as a propellant in the western world goes back something like 650 years, and the knowledge of gunpowder over 700 years. The Chinese may have known about gunpowder 500 or 600 years before it was introduced to Europeans, although there is at present no proof that they used it as a propellant any (or very much) earlier than the Europeans. The centerfire cartridge, a necessary prerequisite to our modern ammunition, evolved during the 1860s and 1870s. Smokeless powder and high-velocity cartridges date back only to the 1890s. Improvements since the turn of the century have been more in the area of improved ignition, powder chemistry and bullets rather than cartridge design. Charles Newton designed cartridges back around 1910 that, had modern powders been available, would have equaled the performance of present-day high-velocity developments of similar caliber and type. Smokeless powder military cartridges designed between 1895 and 1915 were so good that improvement was possible only after more advanced types of powder were available, and many of these cartridges were still in use through WWII. As the result of this situation, many modern innovations in the gun and cartridge field turn out, after a little investigation, to be a reintroduction of something really quite old.

A few examples of the not-really-very-new among modern cartridges are worth pointing out. The 244 Remington (6mm) makes a good case to start out with. Introduced in 1955, it is based on the 257 Roberts case, necked down, which in turn is the 7x57mm Mauser, slightly modified. Back in 1895, or thereabout, the Germans had a 6x57mm, made by necking-down the 7x57mm Mauser. With the exception of the shoulder angle, the 244 Remington is a carbon copy of this much older cartridge.

The 7mm Remington Magnum is another brilliant "design" that is really just a modification of a much older cartridge. It is very similar to the 275 Holland & Holland Magnum introduced around 1912 or 1913. However, the H&H round didn't have a good American smokeless powder of later development to bring out its full potential. On the other hand, there are a number of wildcat 7mm short belted magnums practically identical to the 7mm Remington Magnum that pre-date it by quite a few years and are identical in performance.

Yet another Remington innovation is the 280 Remington, a rimless cartridge based on the 30-06 case, necked-down. This is a dead ringer for the 7x64mm Brenneke introduced in 1917. It is also practically identical to the wildcat 7mm-06 developed around 1928, so there is nothing very original here.

The commercial manufacturers are not alone in their design duplication; many individuals have inadvertently done the same thing. One of the most popular wildcat cartridges anyone has thought up is the 35 Whelen, introduced about 1922 and adopted as a commercial Standard by Remington in 1987. This is simply the 30-06 case necked-up to 35-caliber and was originated by James Howe, who named it for the late Col. Townsend Whelen. It is a very close copy of the German 9x63mm, which dates back to about 1905. As a matter of fact, a number of wildcat cartridges are nothing more than a duplication of some much older British or European designs. In fairness, it must be stated that the originator of the wildcat version probably was completely unaware of the existence of a parallel cartridge at the time of his bright idea.

Some companies and wildcatters go to considerable trouble to complete the circle, often coming up with something that duplicates a long-forgotten cartridge. If they were more familiar with the history of cartridge development, they could save a lot of time. The 444 Marlin, introduced during 1964, is a good case in point. To begin with, it is a poorly disguised copy of the wildcat 44 Van Houten Super that pre-dates it by at least 3 years. According to Parker Ackley, in his Handbook for Shooters and Reloaders, the 44 VHS is made by necking up the 30-40 Krag case, trimming it to 2 inches, and turning down the rim. When this is done, we end up with a near carbon copy of the 10.3x65Rmm Swiss cartridge (DWM 237A) that originated around 1900 or earlier. The only difference is in the fact that the 10.3mm case is 0.3-inch longer than the 44 VHS or 0.2-inch longer than the 444 Marlin. However, that's not all there is to the story because the 10.3x65Rmm cartridge is based on the brass 410 shotgun shell loaded with a conical bullet and fired in a rifled barrel. It is possible to make the .444 Marlin from brass 410 cases and the new originators could have done the same thing in the beginning.

Cartridges don't just happen, they evolve in response to some need or use requirement. Our western frontier dictated American cartridge development for 50 years or more. Its influence is still an important factor in directing the imagination of the modern hunter. British rifle cartridges, in the main, were designed for conditions existing in other parts of the world such as Africa and India rather than the home island. European cartridges were developed on one hand because of hunting conditions and available game on the European continent, and on the other to compete with American and British innovations. Since the end of WWII, there has been considerable blending and standardization of the various worldwide cartridge designs. More British and European rifles and cartridges are used by American gun buffs than ever before, and they, in turn, have adopted many of our ideas.

[ricciardelli]

Modern Ammunition

The most important factor influencing the ammunition available at any given time is economics. The ammunition manufacturers are willing to produce anything that will sell, but, obviously, are most reluctant to tool up and turn out something for which there is little or no demand. Military developments, as illustrated by the 30 Carbine, 30-06, 7.62mm NATO (308 Winchester), 5.56mm (223 Remington), 45 ACP and that old standby, the 45-70, have almost always provided a good long-term sales record when introduced in sporting version. For this reason the ammunition companies have usually been quick to adopt these. They have not been quite so enthusiastic in their attitude toward cartridges developed by individuals or wildcatters. However, Remington has been the leader in introducing commercial versions of what were originally wildcat cartridges. They initiated the trend with the 257 Roberts back in 1934, and since 1945 have added a number of others including the 17 Remington, 22-250 Remington, 6mm Remington, 25-06 Remington, 7mm-08, 7mm Remington Magnum and the 8mm Remington Magnum, to name most of them. Actually, we must recognize that Winchester adopted the 22 Hornet (an original wildcat development) in 1930. Also the 300 Winchester Magnum and possibly the 358 Winchester were around in wildcat versions before the company decided to develop something similar. The 444 Marlin is another cartridge based on an original wildcat innovation. Since most of these have had good sales records, it would not be surprising to see some of the other more popular wildcats introduced in commercial version as time goes on. This is a healthy trend, and I hope it will continue.

Nostalgia is another factor that is now exerting considerable influence on ammunition and firearms trends. Shooting muzzle-loading and blackpowder cartridge guns of all types is a solidly established facet of the shooting game. Although there have always been a few muzzle-loading clubs and a small core of blackpowder devotees, the current popularity of this sport has given birth to a whole new industry specializing in the manufacture of replica arms. Muzzle-loading clubs with several hundred members are now common and most states have special muzzle-loading big game hunting seasons. As an example of the magnitude of this development, Colt Firearms once again sold their cap and ball revolvers, Harrington & Richardson offered replicas of the U.S. 1873 "Trapdoor" cavalry carbine, Shiloh Rifle Mfg. will sell you 1863 Sharps carbines and rifles and one can buy any number of Hawken-type muzzle-loading replicas. What is mentioned here is only a very small portion of what is available to blackpowder shooters.

How does all this affect modern cartridges? The nostalgia syndrome is responsible for the reappearance of a number of long obsolete cartridges, or at least new reloadable cases, although admittedly this is as yet on a rather limited or custom basis for most of the old-timers. Dixie Gun Works, for example, is offering new, reloadable cases in the old 50-70 Government caliber and has recently brought in the 41 Rimfire. Bell Basic Brass (formerly Brass. Extrusion Laboratories, Ltd.) is turning out brass cases in a variety of obsolete American and British calibers including a basic 50-caliber case that can be used to form the 50-90 Sharps, 50-110 Winchester and quite a number of other 50 caliber cartridges. Thus far, no one is offering loaded blackpowder ammunition in any of the older obsolete calibers, but this is, of course, a possibility as the demand becomes great enough. The development of modem cartridges is a dynamic rather than a static process, although it does move in a series of starts and stops, depending on fads and trends at any given time.

[Rew]

Very fun read, for me anyway. Thanks man.

[5knives]

ricciardelli,



Excellent!

Great summary and explanation!

Thank You!

For everyone else .... do yourself a favor and check out ricciardelli's site .... it's a winner!

Regards,