ifWfcppfc 4\ magun ana shotsnell Centerfire ana rimfire esr. and American Military and commercial ckpowder and smokeless ildcat and proprietary n mm By Frank C. Barnes/Edited by Ml. McPherson A Complete and Illustrated Reference Source Tor Overi500 of the World’s Sporting Cartridges 'j ABOUT THE EDITOR MICHAEL L. (MIC) McPherson, bom and raised in the Western U.S., has been referred to as a “Renaissance Man,” owing to his wide-ranging education, interests and abilities. His structured educational background includes a degree in geology and extensive training in electronics, engineering and physics. McPherson’s interest in cartridges began before he first attended kindergarten. As a youth, he spent count¬ less hours scouring the local shooting ranges and hunt¬ ing fields in search of spent cartridge casings. When twelve years of age, he discovered an exceedingly long 22 rimfire casing at a shooting range near Craig, Col¬ orado. The range is long gone but the unusual casing is safe in his meager collection, although, to this day, it remains unidentified! Spurred by such finds, his curios¬ ity has not abated. His interests in handloading and hunting are tied direct¬ ly to his fascination with the self-contained cartridge. His current work as an outdoor writer springs from that fasci¬ nation. A recent article in the 1997 edition of Handloader’s Digest, ‘The Old Ones,” recounted his discovery of circa 1870, 45-70 Government and 45 Smith & Wesson cases at a long-abandoned military outpost. Not content with the simple act of discovery, McPherson then went on to reload those weather-wom cases using modem components and tools, just to see if it could be done. It could. His keenest interests revolve around handloading and the perfection of that art. He is well represented in various shooting sports magazines and is editor of Metallic Car¬ tridge Reloading , technical editor for Handloader’s Digest and columnist for Precision Shooting magazine. His inter¬ est in ballistics has led to invitations from Oehler Labs, Accurate Arms and Norma Precision to visit those ballistic laboratories where insights in the volatile field of internal ballistics were gleaned. He has recently written a book on home gunsmithing for rifle accuracy McPherson’s other interests include lost mine and trea¬ sure hunting. Recently, he was involved with Bob Corbin, former president of the NRA, on one such treasure hunt— no luck! However, in 1989, McPherson along with his friend and prospecting partner, Ron Feldman, identified the location of the fabled “Lost Adams Gold Diggin’s”—an adventure that led to the co-authored, historical novel Zigzag Canyon, the Legend of Gold Gulch. Owing to that experience, Ron and Mic were featured in one of the most popular episodes of Unsolved Mysteries , originally aired in January 1992. ISBN 0-87349-178-5 9 780873 491 785 900 00 CARTRIDGES OF THE WORLD 8TH EDITION, REVISED AND EXPANDED By FRANK C. BARNES M.L. McPherson, Editor DBI BOOKS a division of Krause Publications , Inc . » STAFF ASSOCIATE EDITORS Harold A. Murtz Ray Ordorica PRODUCTION MANAGER John L. Duoba ELECTRONIC PUBLISHING DIRECTOR Sheldon L. Factor ELECTRONIC PUBLISHING MANAGER Nancy J. Mellem ELECTRONIC PUBLISHING ASSOCIATE Laura M. Mielzynski COVER PHOTOGRAPHY John Hanusin MANAGING EDITOR Pamela J. Johnson PUBLISHER Charles T. Hartigan Copyright© 1965, 1969, 1972, 1980, 1985, 1989, 1993, 1997 by Frank C. Barnes and Krause Publications, Inc. Published by DBI Books, adivision of Krause Publications, Inc., 4092 Commercial Ave., Northbrook, IL 60062. Printed in the United States of America. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted m any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission of the publisher. The views and opinions of the author and editor expressed herem are not necessarily those of the publisher, and no responsibility for such views will be assumed. Since the author, editor and publisher have no control over the compo¬ nents, assembly of the ammunition, arms it is to be fired in, the degree of knowledge involved or how the resulting ammunition may be used, no responsibility, either implied or expressed, is assumed for the use of any of the cartridge loading data in this book. 1st Edition: 1965 2nd Edition: 1969 3rd Edition: 1972 4th Edition: 1980 5th Edition: 1985 6th Edition: 1989 7th Edition: 1993 8th Edition: 1997 ISBN 0-87349-178-5 Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 65-16729 About Our Covers Seventy-five years ago, in 1922, Federal Cartridge Co. opened its doors in Anoka, Minnesota, with fewer than a dozen workers. At first, they produced only shotshells and quickly earned a rep¬ utation for making a good product at a fair price. The company steadily grew, and by the 193 °s Federal had built a strong reputation regionally. Later, during World War 11, Federal’s production capabilities and its workers’ talents were turned to the manufacture of military ammunition for the war effort. And now some of the grandsons and granddaughters ot workers who made 30- and 50-caliber rounds during the war years are making the superior ballistic products used today by marksmen and hunters. Today, the company is considered a world leader in ammunition technology. We are extremely proud Federal is using the occasion of their 75th anniversary to feature their ammunition on the covers of Cartridges of the World, 8th Edition. What you see is just a very small selection of their current offerings. Federal began making centerfire rifle ammunition m 1963 and has expanded its line considerably since then. Their special¬ ly designed Premium High Energy loads come with either the Trophy Bonded Bear Claw or Nosier Partition bullets, and reach velocities of up to 200 fps faster than conventional rounds. They are offered in 308 and 270 Winchester, 30-06, and 300 and 338 Winchester Magnum. For large, heavy and dangerous game, the Premium Safari line offers calibers from 300 Winchester Mag¬ num to 470 Nitro Express with Nosier Partition, Trophy Bonded Bear Claw and Sledgehammer, and Woodleigh Weldcore SP bul¬ lets for optimum performance. Federal ballisticians have mated Sierra’s MatchKing boattail bullet with match-grade brass to offer their Gold Medal ammu¬ nition, and it is the choice of world-class shooters. The Classic centerfire rifle line is Federal’s broadest, available m over forty loads from 222 Remington through 45-70 Government. Available with Federal’s Hi-Shok softpoints or Sierra’s Pro-Hunter bullets, Classic ammunition affords maximum knockdown power and best accuracy in a wide range of hunting conditions. For the handgun enthusiast, Federal’s BallistiClean is the first commercially available, lead-free, non-toxic handgun ammunition on the market. Using a Toxic-Metal Free primer and non-toxic zinc- core bullet encased in a copper-alloy jacket, it is available in popular centerfire pistol calibers and 22 Long Rifle. Their new Premium Personal Defense Hydra-Shok ammo delivers muzzle velocities up to 20 percent faster than conven¬ tional loads, with 20 percent more energy to the target. Its lower recoil helps you stay on target when it counts. The Premium Nyclad handgun ammuniton uses a patented nylon-coated bullet to reduce airborne lead and stop bore leading. Round-nose, semi-wadcutter hollowpoint and hollowpoint styles are available in 9mm Parabellum, 38 Special and 357 Magnum. Federal’s Gold Medal UltraMatch 22 Long Rifle ammunition helped bring home the gold at the Olympics. Both supersonic and subsonic UltraMatch loads are offered, along with Gold Medal Match and Target grades for serious target shooters. New to their shotshell lineup are Premium Tungsten loads that deliver the energy of lead with better penetration than either steel or lead. The tungsten-iron pellets are 94 percent as dense as lead and are loaded in an exclusive six-petal wad for barrel pro¬ tection and tighter patterns. Available in 12-gauge in 2 3 /4- or 3- inch lengths, they have a corrosion-resistant zinc-plated head , that’s stamped “TUNGSTEN” for easy identification in the field. Federal proved its mastery in shotgun ammunition by devel¬ oping the Olympic-medal-winning, 24-gram, high-velocity shells in 1993. At the 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta, U.S. shooters won gold, silver and bronze medals using Federal s “magic bullet” loads in trap shooting competitions. In 1997, Federal celebrates seventy-five years of service to hunters, recreational shooters, law enforcement, soldiers and Olympians alike. It’s a well-deserved celebration. Photo by John Hanusin. FOREWORD SPORTSMEN and firearms enthusiasts in general are fond of indulging in a timeless, endless discussion that usu¬ ally begins something like this: “If you had the opportunity to hunt all over the world, but due to space-weight limita¬ tions could carry only one gun, what would it be?” This sim¬ ple assumption is good for hours or even days of lively debate. Also, on occasion, a few fist fights. This is men¬ tioned, not to engage in any phase of this classic argument, but because it is apropos to a summary of this book. Let me put it this way: If you were traveling to Mars or some other planet by rocket ship, and due to space-weight limitations could only carry one book on cartridges, what would it be? We sincerely hope it would be this one, because it contains more usable information per pound than any other single book on the subject. As of this writing there is no record of any copies of Car¬ tridges of the World having been carried to other worlds, although the effort did get off the ground here on earth. The many letters received by the author and editors indicate that we certainly followed the right path in our treatment of the many known cartridges. The word used most often in describing the book is “useful.” We consider this a high com¬ pliment because it describes our original objective—to pub¬ lish a useful cartridge book. We sincerely believe the buyer of this seventh edition will also find it so. F.C.B. DEDICATION To my parents, Clifford and Margaret Barnes—whose encouragement of my boyhood dreams and ambitions made all that came later possible—this book is wholeheartedly dedicated. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We wish to give special thanks to the following people for their contributions to this the eighth edition of Cartridges of the World: Art Alphin, A-Square Company Randy Brooks, Barnes Bullets Robert T. Buttweiler, International Ammunition Association Randy Craft, Cooper Arms Dave Davidson, 4-D/C-H Tool & Die William T. Falin, Jr., Accurate Arms Co. Bob Forker, Guns & Ammo Thomas Griffin, Lyman Products Corporation Russell Cooper, shotshell collector J.D. Jones, SSK Industries Allan Jones, Speer Products Bob Knopf, Federal Cartridge Co. Paulette Kok, Dakota Arms Christer Larson, Norma Precision Ralph Lermayer, author David Livingston, historian Larry McGhee, PMC Charles Murray, International Ammunition Association Ray Ordorica, British cartridge historian Art Peter, RCBS Troy Potter, Fiocchi Randy Shelly, Tombstone Smoke ’n’ Deals Aubrey White, North American Shooting Systems Bill Wohl, Remington Arms Co., Inc. Bill Woodin, Woodin Laboratory CONTENTS Introduction . 6 Chapter 1 : Cartridge Nomenclature. . Chapter 2 : Current American Rifle Cartridges.. Centerfire Sporting—Blackpowder and Smokeless Chapter 3: Obsolete American Rifle Cartridges .. Centerfire Sporting—Blackpowder and Smokeless Chapter 4: Wildcat Cartridges.. Rifle and Handgun Chapter 5: Proprietary Cartridges. 201 Rifle and Handgun Chapter 6 : Handgun Cartridges of the World .231 Current and Obsolete—Blackpowder and Smokeless Chapter 7: Military Rifle Cartridges of the World.276 Current and Obsolete—Blackpowder and Smokeless Chapter 8 : British Sporting Rifle Cartridges.. Current and Obsolete—Blackpowder and Smokeless Chapter 9: European Sporting Rifle Cartridges.. Current and Obsolete—Blackpowder and Smokeless Chapter 10 : American Rimfire Cartridges .. Current and Obsolete Chapter 11 : Shotgun Shells.. Current and Obsolete—Blackpowder and Smokeless Chapter 12 : Cartridge Identification.. Chapter 13: A Short History of Propellant Powders. 417 By M.L. McPherson Chapter 14: The Cartridge Case —Why Brass?.426 By Bob Forker Chapter 15: The Future of High Velocity.. By Ralph Lermayer Chapter 16: Revolutionary Bullet Designs .. By M.L McPherson Chapter 17: Military Ammunition 5.56 to 20 mm. 447 Description and Identification Chapter 18: Cartridge Identification by Measurement.464 Index to Cartridges.. INTRODUCTION THE ORIGINAL PHILOSOPHY worked out by the author and the late John T. Amber (the original editor) was to assemble a practical and useful book that would appeal to as broad a spectrum of the shooting fraternity as possible. The sales record of the book over the years would indicate that this was the proper approach. The Eighth Edition carries on in the same tradition as the pre¬ vious seven editions in offering both something new as well as retaining old data that is either useful or of gener¬ al interest. There is not really much that can be done in the area of, say, obsolete cartridges because nothing changes except that from time to time one or two of the old-timers will be picked up and reintroduced. This requires moving such cartridges back into the chapter cov¬ ering modem cartridges, or on the other hand, some com¬ mercially loaded number will be discontinued and relegated to the obsolete chapter. This happens between editions and is something that must be kept abreast of. We have retained the encyclopedic reference format and tried to continue presenting the information from the sporting/shooting point of view. Included is information covering handgun, rifle, shotgun, obsolete blackpowder, European, British, military, wildcat and proprietary car¬ tridges along with data on the guns that shoot these car¬ tridges. Something for everybody. The information contained in Cartridges of the World was obtained from many sources, including textbooks, cat¬ alogs (old and new), periodicals and individuals. The late John T. Amber supplied many out of print and rare car¬ tridge catalogs from his extensive library. Much informa¬ tion is from the author’s and editor’s files and other original sources and will not be found elsewhere. Practical experience also weighs heavily in the balance. The author had over 50 years of hunting, shooting, reloading and col¬ lecting experience. Former editor John Amber was a gun collector with extensive hunting experience in North America, Europe and Africa. Ken Warner, successor to John Amber and editor of Gun Digest , is also a collector, hunter and shooter with many years experience. The pre¬ sent editor, M.L. McPherson, has over 25 years experience in the manufacturing and marketing of all types of ammu¬ nition both domestic and international. This collective experience is reflected in the pages of this book. The book is divided into chapters based on each category of ammu¬ nition: Current American Rifle, Obsolete American Rifle, Handgun, Military, etc. Ballistics and basic loading data has been included with each individual cartridge where possible. Extensive dimensional charts and tables are to be found at the end of each chapter. Dimensional data is presented in this manner rather than with the individual cartridge in order to simplify the identification of unknown cartridges. Cartridges are listed in the order of increasing bullet diameter, or length or power, where cal¬ iber is the same. One of the more difficult bits of informa¬ tion to establish with any certainty is the date of origin of the older obsolete cartridges. This is a matter of some importance to historians and occasionally also to archae¬ ologists digging into our recent past when they happen onto spent cases or cartridges in graves or old battlefields. It can also be useful when attempting to fix the caliber of certain guns or the relationship between between fire¬ arms, ammunition and historical events. Those who write western novels or make similar movies might be well served if they would peruse the pages of this book so that they would not constantly be placing the wrong guns in the wrong time period. It might surprise them to discover that the U.S. cavalry in the 1870s did not carry either Model 1892 or 1894 Winchester lever-action carbines. Not only were these guns unavailable, but in addition none of the cartridges they chambered were ever adopted by the military. The date of origin, insofar as can be determined, has been included with the historical notes. Many law enforcement agencies, military organizations and defense ordnance groups have found Cartridges of the World to be a very worthwhile reference source. It is also used as a basic text in colleges and universities for firearms identifi¬ cation courses. Firearms identification involves working with cartridges as much as working with firearms. Car¬ tridges of the World even made it into television when it showed up in one episode of the popular cop show, “Miami Vice.” Under the heading, “General Comments,” an effort has been made to rate the various cartridges for hunting pur¬ poses. Admittedly any such ratings are highly subjective since there is no quantitative formula for determining what cartridge is suitable for what game. Evidence (or 6 Cartridges of the World lack thereof), observations in the hunting field and per¬ sonal opinion enter inevitably into this process. If the reader takes issue with the author or editor regarding the efficacy of a particular cartridge for some specific pur¬ pose, it doesn’t necessarily follow that someone is wrong, but rather that the problem is evaluated from different points of view. I remember reading several years ago about the fellow in Africa who fired a 22 Long Rifle at an elephant in an effort to scare it away from his garden. Unfortunately, he hit the poor beast and dropped it in its tracks with a single misplaced round and then really had a hell of a time getting it out. I hardly think that this qualifies the 22 Long Rifle as an elephant gun, although some might think so. Also, many years ago I ran into an old-time trapper in the Yukon Territory of Canada who had a much used Savage Model 99 lever action cham¬ bered for the 303 Savage. He handloaded all his ammu¬ nition with hand cast 190-grain bullets at a muzzle velocity of about 1950 fps. He insisted that this 30-30 class combination was more than adequate for moose, grizzly bear or any thing else, and with his experience as a woodsman, trapper and hunter, it was. However, not many present-day gun writers would agree. So ideas as to what’s good for what in the world of hunting cartridges depends a great deal on personal experience, skill and opinion. In any event the ratings of the various cartridges for hunting purposes is, in all cases, based on the assumption that the hunter uses the proper bullet type for whatever game is to be hunted. Finally we come to the subject of what cartridges should or should not be included within the pages of Car¬ tridges of the World. Obviously, the book does not include every known cartridge in the world. If it did it would have to be divided up into many volumes. From time to time certain readers write rather irate letters wondering why such and such a cartridge has not been included, or on the other hand, why we bothered to include certain cartridges. Admittedly, there must be several hundred cartridges and variations including obsolete, military, European, etc., that have been left out. There are several reasons for this, one being editorial constraints as to the number of pages and contents. There simply isn’t sufficient room in one general volume for everything. The book has to be kept in balance to appeal to a general rather than specific audi¬ ence. Secondly, while most gun nuts are casual cartridge collectors, only a very small percentage of the shooting public are what might be classed as avid collectors. In oth¬ er words, not many people have even a remote interest in all the obsolete and little known cartridges that have been available at one time or another. There are already a large number of excellent books aimed specifically at the car¬ tridge collector per se such as those written by Charles Suydam, Herschel Logan, Fred Datig and others. The cri¬ teria used to determine what cartridges to include is based largely on what the author and editor perceive as being of greatest general interest, what has historical sig¬ nificance or is of unusual interest. A survey has demon¬ strated, for example, that 98 percent of readers are interested in modem cartridges and many purchase the book for that information alone. That chapter (Chapter 2) is based on commercially loaded ammunition readily available through most gun stores. Obsolete cartridges (Chapter 3) includes all the better known smokeless and blackpowder cartridges no longer commercially loaded, but not every known obsolete cartridge. In other words, there has to be some sort of cut off or the whole thing could get out of hand. A number of currently popular wildcat cartridges have always been included, but we have great¬ ly expanded the chapter on wildcats because of new devel¬ opments and renewed interest in this area. The reader will note a considerable reorganization of Chapter 11: Shotgun Shells. As information, samples and illustrations become available we intend to further expand this chap¬ ter. In this edition we have created a separate and greatly expanded proprietary cartridge chapter. This reflects the growing popularity of this class of custom chamberings. Also, we have included a master dimensional table, Chap¬ ter 18, organized by bullet diameter and case length to ease identification of unknown cartridges or spent car¬ tridge cases, through measurement. Finally, we have reor¬ ganized the Index at the back of the book to ease location of information on a cartridge, once its name is known. The author and the editor try to please as many potential readers as possible, but remember, as in the biblical para¬ ble of the man and his donkey, it is impossible to please everybody. 8th Edition 7 Chapter 1 CARTRIDGE NOMENCLATURE IT IS DIFFICULT or impossible for the novice to follow the action without some knowledge of cartridge caliber designation. Even the individual experienced with stan¬ dard American ammunition may be ignorant of British, European or even obsolete American cartridge nomencla¬ ture. The subject, regrettably, is hill 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 lat¬ er. Caliber may be given in terms of bullet or bore diame¬ ter (land or groove), and is neither accurate nor consistent. For example, the 303 Savage cartridge, which often uses .308-inch diameter bullet as opposed to the 303 British with a .312-inch diameter bullet. Then there is 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 dimen¬ sional tables. The second figure, if there is one, is usually some dis¬ tinguishing feature such as the case length or powder charge. Cartridges of European origin are, almost without exception, designated in metric units by caliber and case length. Obsolete American cartridges, or any that have a blackpowder origin, are designated by caliber and powder charge weight; 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 system is no longer used. However, there are again such exceptions as the 30-30 Winchester 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 Springfield means a 45-caliber bullet with 70 grains of blackpowder; or 45-70-405 spells out the same cartridge with 405-grain bullet to distinguish it from such other bul¬ let 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 is meant. For example, take the 30-06, a very popular military and sporting round. Here, the first figure shows the caliber, the second last two numbers are the date of origin. In oth¬ er 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 blackpowder cartridges included the case length and type; thus the 44-90 Sharps 2 5 /s-inch necked, or 45-120 Sharps 3V4-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 sec¬ ond 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 wild¬ cat (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 diame¬ ter, case length and type. The 7x57mm Mauser is a car¬ tridge, 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 8 Cartridges of the World either. The Germans used two rim types in some of their older cartridges, and this resulted in duplicate designa¬ tion of cartridges that differ only in the rim (9.05x36.4R, 10.85x24.9R, etc.), and there must be at least three 9.3x72mm cartridges that differ only in case configura¬ tion. It is all something of a mess and probably too late to change. The author, in an effort to straighten things out or perhaps add to the confusion, developed two wildcat cartridges which he designated as the 308xl.5-inch and 458x2-inch. To further elucidate, the reader needs to know that there are two major classifications of cartridges—center- fire 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 it is fired. It is possible, but not practi¬ cable to reload rimfire cases after they have been fired. Centerfire cartridges are subdivided into two types 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 a part of the primer. All American-made ammunition is normally Boxer primed, whereas much British and Cartridge Nomenclature European ammunition is Berdan primed. Most foreign- made ammunition manufactured for the American mar¬ ket has the Boxer-type primer. Rim Types 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 new 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 extrac¬ tor 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 black- powder 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. Anvil Primer cap Priming mixture Rimmed Semi-Rimmed Rimless Rebated Belted 8th Edition 9 Chapter 1 Some of the very early rimfire cartridges were of the necked type. The latest fad in cartridges is the caseless, or com¬ bustible 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 some¬ times 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 princi¬ pal motivating factor at the time was the severe shortage of brass and other metal for cartridge cases. The Ger¬ mans are known to have had at least partial success, and some insist complete success. United States military ord¬ nance facilities as well as private industry have been working on the problem of caseless ammunition for the past 50 years or more. There has been considerable suc¬ cess 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 com¬ pressed 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 per¬ cussion or electrical, and there is, in some types, a boost¬ er charge extending through the center of the powder charge. Cartridge Collectors Though this book is not a collectors’ manual, it includes nonetheless considerable material of use and interest to collectors or any serious student of cartridges and related weapons. The tables of dimensions are orga¬ nized to facilitate cartridge identification. The key to this is bullet diameter and case type. The reader must under¬ stand that in measuring cartridge dimensions, certain manufacturing tolerances must be allowed, and these can affect the last, or even the second, decimal figure. Dimen¬ sional tolerances can be rather considerable with old blackpowder cartridges. Also, the true diameter of the obsolete paper-patched bullet should include the patch, not just the lead slug protruding from it. Minor variations in dimensions should not be mistaken for errors or the existence of an unknown caliber. The dimensional tables can also be used to identify the caliber of a weapon if the chamber dimensions are known. This can best be deter¬ mined by means of a chamber cast and the means of doing this is explained in Chapter 3. If you own an obso¬ lete or foreign weapon for which ammunition is not avail¬ able, the tables of dimensions will assist in determining if ammunition can be made by reforming some similar existing case. Metallic Cartridge Development The self-contained metallic cartridge is a fairly mod¬ ern development, “perfected” only within the last 150 years or so. The use of blackpowder as a propellant in guns in the western world goes back something like 650 years, and the knowledge of gunpowder over 700 years. The Chinese knew about gunpowder 500 or 600 years before it was introduced to Europeans, although they used it as fireworks and not as a propellant any earlier than the Europeans. The centerfire cartridge, a neces¬ sary 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 bullet construction 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 1888 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 modem 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 mod¬ em 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 pow¬ der 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 Rem¬ ington Magnum that pre-date it by quite a few years and are identical in performance. Yet another Remington innovation is the 280 Reming¬ ton, 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 noth¬ ing very original here. However, none of these cartridges are interchangeable. 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 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 stat¬ ed 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. 10 Cartridges of the World 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 wild¬ cat 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 neck¬ ing 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 car¬ tridge (DWM 237A) that originated around 1900 or ear¬ lier. 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 direct¬ ing the imagination of the modem 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 condi¬ tions 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 con¬ siderable 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. Modern Ammunition The most important factor influencing the ammuni¬ tion available at any given time is economics. The ammunition manufacturers are willing to produce any¬ thing 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 devel¬ oped 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 Cartridge Nomenclature 8mm Remington Magnum, to name most of them. Actu¬ ally, we must recognize that Winchester adopted the 22 Hornet (an original wildcat development) in 1930. Also the 300 Winchester Magnum and possibly the 358 Win¬ chester were around in wildcat versions before the com¬ pany 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 oth¬ er more popular wildcats introduced in commercial ver¬ sion as time goes on. This is a healthy trend, and I hope it will continue. Nostalgia is another factor that is now exerting con¬ siderable 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 manu¬ facture of replica arms. Muzzle-loading clubs with sev¬ eral 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. If you are interested in the full extent of the offerings in this field, I suggest you buy the latest edition of Gun Digest (DBI Books, Inc.) and look in the catalog section in the back of the book. How does all this affect modem cartridges? The nostal¬ gia syndrome is responsible for the reappearance of a number of long obsolete cartridges, or at least new reload¬ able 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. 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. These, then, are the factors that shape our modem ammunition and this includes some very exciting innovations (some old and some new) since the First Edition of Cartridges of the World came off the press. Cartridge Loading Data Basic loading data has been furnished as part of the general information on each cartridge, except in those cas¬ es where such information was unavailable and test rifles or cartridges unobtainable. Insofar as possible, the loads listed are for those powders that provide the most efficient velocity and energy for the caliber and bullet weight involved. With old blackpowder cartridges or obsolete smokeless powder numbers, the objective has been to sup¬ ply data that more or less duplicates the original factory performance figures. The cartridge loading data has been 8th Edition li Chapter 1 gathered from various published sources and the author’s very extensive experience. The data selected for inclusion in COTW provides a good starting point for the hand- loader, but there are many more good powders available for loading each cartridge than can possibly be presented here. It is therefore recommended that the serious reloader obtain one or more of the very fine reloading manuals pub¬ lished by DBI Books, (Metallic Cartridge Reloading, 3rd Edition) Lyman, Speer, Homady, Hodgdon, Sierra, Nosier, P.O. Ackley and others. Loading data listed here does not necessarily agree with that published elsewhere as to the velocity obtainable with a given charge of powder because the test conditions and equipment are not the same. There is no such thing as absolute loading data and all published loads reflect the conditions of testfiring, which includes a number of important variables such as barrel length, chamber configuration, temperature, components used, test equipment, etc. Test firings conducted by the author some years ago with different makes and models of 30-06 rifles demonstrated that there can be a variation of over 300 fps between different rifles firing the same, very care- fully-loaded ammunition. All loading data, wherever published, should be used with caution and common sense. If you are not sure or don’t know what you are doing, DON’T DO IT!!! Since nei¬ ther the author, editor or publisher has any control over the components, assembly of the ammunition, arms it is to be fired in, the degree of knowledge involved or how the resulting ammunition may be used, no responsibility, either implied or expressed, is assumed for the use of any of the cartridge loading data in this 8th edition of COTW. Cartridge Dimensional Data The reader should understand that the tables of car¬ tridge dimensional data at the end of each chapter are based on actual cartridge measurements and not derived from SAAMI or other drawings. In some instances, data is based on measurement of a single specimen; in others, it may be an average taken from several cartridges of differ¬ ent manufacture. The tables are intended primarily to assist the reader in identifying cartridges, and their use for the purpose of chambering rifles is not recommended unless checked carefully against manufacturers’ chamber dimensions. The reason for this is that there are far greater differences in cartridge dimensions between dif¬ ferent makes and lots than most people realize. There are differences in the third decimal place even within most 20- round boxes, in fact. This brings up another point. From time to time, the author or editor will receive letters from readers com¬ plaining that their measurement of some cartridge dimen¬ sion does not agree with ours, and therefore we must be wrong. I have, for example, two letters before me—one claiming that a certain figure is too high, the other stating that the very same figure is too low. The differences are all in the third decimal place. This is not a matter of any¬ one being wrong, but rather variances in manufacturing tolerance. As a more specific example of the tolerance factor, I acquired a box of 10mm pistol ammunition for the Bren 10 and other semi-autos and in measuring several rounds, found some discrepancy in the rim diameters. Just to see what the minimum and maximum figures were, I mea¬ sured the entire 20-round box. It turned out that the min¬ imum rim diameter was .419-inch and the maximum was .426-inch or a difference of .007-inch. Is that a sufficient range to cause the pistol to misfunction? I hardly think so, but people have written letters over a difference of .002- inch or even .001-inch between their measurements and mine. All of this is just to get the subject of cartridge dimen¬ sions into proper perspective. In any event, if your mea¬ surements don’t match someone else’s by a few thousandths of an inch, don’t get excited and don’t get the idea you may have discovered a new and heretofore unknown cartridge. You may be dealing with maximum and the other guy with minimum dimensions. Frank C. Barnes 12 Cartridges of the World Chapter 2 CURRENT AMERICAN RIFLE CARTRIDGES (Centerfire Sporting) THE CRITERION used to determine which cartridges should be included in Chapter 2 is the requirement that the cartridge be currently manufactured and available to the American sportsman through local dealers either on an over-the-counter basis, or by special order, since no gun store carries every single item of ammunition that is man¬ ufactured. The cartridges listed here include not only the most mod¬ em developments, but also some that are ancient and obso¬ lete by any standard. The characteristic they share is that they are manufactured on a commercial basis, still used, and rifles are available chambered for the round, although perhaps not made by the major American arms companies. Two of the oldest American centerfire cartridges are includ¬ ed in this group, the 44-40 Winchester and the 45-70 Gov¬ ernment, both of which originated in 1873 and have been in continuous use since. Several replica rifles are now chambered for the 44-40, and the 45-70 has staged a remarkable comeback as a short-range brush or woods car¬ tridge. Both modem and replica rifles are being chambered for the 45-70. Today the popularity of this grand old mili¬ tary and sporting cartridge is once again increasing. One thing that can be said about many cartridges in Chapter 2 is that they have stood the test of time and include among their number the best and most useful designs available to the American shooter. Those that ended up in second place, often for good reasons but some¬ times for no reason anyone could reasonably understand or explain, will be found in Chapter 3: Obsolete American Rifle Cartridges. Interestingly, nostalgia is in the process of moving a few of these back into Chapter 2. For many years, the new trend in cartridge and rifle design has been toward high velocity and flat trajectory, often at the expense of almost any other consideration. It appears to be the fashionable thing in some circles to show up on a big game hunt with the largest caliber or most pow¬ erful rifle in the crowd. This odd psychosis is partly respon¬ sible for the success of the Weatherby line of rifles and cartridges, although prestige and owning a perceived supe¬ rior product also enter into this. The major gun manufactur¬ ers in the United States were slow in recognizing this as a fact of life, but have since closed the gap. Modem high-veloc¬ ity magnum cartridges can cancel out some small measure of poor judgment in estimating range or lead if the shooter can handle the added recoil and muzzle blast without flinch¬ ing. C Editor's Note: Recently this trend has slowed with many new chamberings now middle-of-the-road offerings.) The author has, at various times, owned and shot most of the modem magnum rifles and handguns and has a very high regard for their capabilities, but has reserva¬ tions as to any real need for the larger calibers under nor¬ mal North American hunting conditions. A great deal depends, of course, on what is to be hunted and under what conditions. Is there any actual advantage, for exam¬ ple, in owning a 300 Magnum if your hunting area is con¬ fined to, say, southern California? What game would one encounter there so large or so dangerous that would require all this extra power? Yes, I understand the mag¬ num might provide an extra 100-yard sure-hit range. But with a little practice in range estimation, wouldn't some¬ thing like the 257 Roberts, 270 Winchester or the 30-06 do just as well? However, one should never disparage a man’s wife, his automobile or his favorite hunting rifle. There¬ fore, far be it for me to make enemies by casting asper¬ sions on those who favor the magnum cartridges for whatever reason. My only point is that one doesn’t need a magnum to kill a mouse, not that there is anything wrong with doing so. In any event, if you are looking for the latest and the most powerful, it will be found in Chapter 2. The reader who is trying to determine which of the cur¬ rent American rifle cartridges best suits his hunting needs should first determine what game animals he intends to hunt. Secondly, he should decide which type of rifle action is preferred: bolt-, lever-, semi-auto, slide- or single shot action. Next, sit down with a copy of Gun Digest or a vari¬ ety of gun catalogs to see what calibers are available for the different actions. Next, give some careful and realistic thought as to how the gun is to be used, type of cover, average range and the variety of game animals to be legal¬ ly hunted. Once you have all of these factors in hand, 8th Edition 13 Chapter 2 check through the cartridges listed in this chapter and pick the one that matches your particular needs and situ¬ ation. Don’t select the most powerful or the one with the highest velocity in the ballistics tables unless this actual¬ ly offers some real advantage to you. Bear in mind that high velocity and flat trajectory offer no advantage if the bulk of your hunting is confined to brush or heavy timber with ranges that average only 50 yards or so. On the oth¬ er hand, a big, heavy, slow bullet won’t put meat in the freezer if you are shooting antelope at 300 yards and beyond. Always bear in mind that the 20 foot pounds of recoil energy produced by cartridges in the 30-06 class is about all the average person can stand without flinching badly. In other words, use a little common sense and be realistic in your choice of hunting calibers. All the velocity, energy and killing power in the world is of no value if you can’t hit anything with it. From time to time, readers write and ask the author what his favorite hunting calibers are or what type rifle action he prefers. I happen to be very partial to the 257 Roberts and the 30-06 for the simple reason that I have always had extremely good results with both, and they will (if you reload) allow great flexibility in the variety of game or pests that can be hunted. If you handload, the 30- 06 can be adapted to shoot anything from varmints right on up to moose and brown bear under most hunting situ¬ ations. However, I also happen to like the 45-70 and have been shooting rifles of this caliber since I was 14 years old when an uncle gave me an 1873 Trapdoor Springfield rifle as a birthday present. Actually, I have fired, at one time or another, nearly eveiy cartridge listed in Chapter 2.1 don’t really have anything against any of them for their intend¬ ed purpose. As for rifle actions, I prefer the bolt action, sin¬ gle shot and lever action, in about that order. One thing about cartridges, there is certainly sufficient variety to please just about anyone. As the saying goes, “Whatever turns you on.” ( Editor's Note: Being of the 11 percent who are left- handed, I learned early to appreciate Remington's almost ambidexterous pump-action rifle. Left-handed bolt actions have long been available but are seldom seen in gun stores or pawn shops. If one wants to handle such a rifle, one is welcome to order and pay for it and when it arrives at the dealer's store, one can then see if he likes it. It is a small miracle any ever sold. I have long since tried all manner of rifle actions and I now, more than ever, prefer the pump.) Matching the caliber to the job at hand is a most important factor for the hunter, and it doesn’t make sense to be over-gunned. This hunter wisely chose the 270 Win. to take this nice mule deer. 14 Cartridges of the World Current American Rifle Cartridges 17 Remington Historical Notes The 17 Remington was introduced in 1971 as a new caliber for Remington’s 700 series bolt-action rifles. It is the smallest caliber centerfire rifle cartridge offered on a commercial basis to date. The case is based on the 223 Rem¬ ington necked-down to 17-caliber, with the shoulder moved back .087-inch to lengthen the neck while retaining the same shoulder angle. The 17 Remington is similar to, but not iden¬ tical with, the 17-223 wildcat developed about 1965. Experi¬ ments with 17-caliber rifles go back to 1944 when P.O. Ackley, the well-known gunsmith and experimenter, devel¬ oped the 17 Ackley Bee based on necking-down the improved 218 Bee case. There are a number of other 17-caliber wildcat cartridges made by necking-down 22-caliber centerfire cases such as the 221 Remington Fireball, 222 Remington, etc. Remington, Ultra Light Arms, Wichita, and Sako offer rifles in this caliber. General Comments The 17 Remington has had a steady, though unspectacular, sales record since its introduction. Its greatest drawback is that it is a special-purpose cartridge suited almost exclusively for varmint shooting. For the sportsman who wants a rifle only for that purpose, this is not a disadvantage, however those requiring a rifle for both varmint and deer hunting would be better served with some other caliber. With the 25-grain hollowpoint bullet loaded by Remington and similar bullets available for handloading by Hornady, the 17 Remington must be rated as a short-range varmint cartridge. On the other hand, it has certain advantages such as minimal recoil, ricochet probability, and a very flat trajectory due to the high ini¬ tial velocity of over 4000 fps. Disadvantages include: rapid barrel fouling, extreme sensitivity to slight charge weight variation and limited component availability. Factory loaded ammunition is available only from Remington. 17 Remington Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 25 HP 1 MR-4064 22.5 3800 801 Hornady 25 HP 1 MR-4320 24.7 4000 888 Hornady 25 HP 1 MR-4895 23.8 3900 845 Hornady 25 HP 1 MR-3031 21.6 3800 801 Hornady 25 HP IMR-4198 19.1 4040 906 Hornady 25 HP N135 22.8 4040 906 Vihtavuori 25 HP FL 4020 900 Remington factory load. Note: Remington cases and Remington 7 V 2 primers used in all loads. .378" -► 1 f J 199" i i 8th Edition 15 Chapter 2 22 Hornet (5.6 x 35Rmm) Historical Notes The 22 Hornet, based on the blackpowder 22 WCF, was developed during the late 1920s by a group of experi¬ menters at Springfield Armory—Col. Townsend Whelen, Captain G. L. Wotkyns, and others. Winchester produced the first com¬ mercial ammunition in 1930. Within a few years the Hornet had been standardized by all American manufacturers. The original rifles were based on Springfield M1903 military and Martini sin¬ gle shot actions. Winchester announced its Model 54 bolt action in 22 Hornet caliber in 1932, but rifles did not actually reach the market until early 1933. Savage Model 23-D bolt-action rifles were available in 22 Hornet by August, 1932. The Stevens single shot Model 417 “Walnut Hill” target and 417V2 sporting rifles were advertised in 22 Hornet caliber in 1933. During WWII, mil¬ itary survival rifles were made for the Hornet. At the present time, Anschutz, Ruger and Ultra Light Arms chamber rifles for the Hornet and Thompson/Center has their TCR and Contender in the caliber. In Europe, the Hornet is known by the metric des¬ ignation 5.6x35Rmm. General Comments The 22 Hornet was the pioneer small-bore, high-velocity cartridge marketed in the United States primarily for varmint and small game shooting. It has never been commer¬ cially available in anything but bolt-action and single shot rifles. For this reason, it quickly established a reputation for superb accuracy. No other cartridge of this type has ever caught on so fast or achieved such wide popularity. Although not quite as powerful as the 218 Bee, it is a perfectly adequate small game and varmint cartridge. It remains popular, but suffers in comparison with the 223 Remington and the 22- 250. It remains a fine choice for economical shooting at ranges between 100 and 150 yards. Due to its reduced powder capacity, the Hornet won’t do as well with heavier bullets of 50 or 55 grains as will the 218 Bee. It is a good cartridge for use in settled areas because of the light report and low incidence of ricochet. Early rifles had bores requiring bullets of .223-inch diameter. Sierra still offers such bullets. Later rifles had normal bores for .224- inch diameter bullets. Most bullet manufacturers offer special bullets for loading the Hornet. The improved “K” Hornet is among the best known wildcats based on the Hornet and most common of all Improved chamberings. Loaded ammunition is available from Remington, Winchester and Norma. 22 Hornet Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 40 SP 2400 10 2700 648 Sierra 40 SP IMR 4227 11.4 2700 648 Speer, Sierra 45 SP 2400 9.2 2500 725 Homady, Sierra 45 SP IMR 4227 11 2600 678 Nosier, Homady, Sierra 50 SP 2400 9 2400 640 Sierra, Homady, Nosier 50 SP IMR 4227 11 2550 694 Homady, Nosier, Sierra 55 SP IMR 4227 10.8 2400 704 Sierra, Homady 55 SP IMR 4198 12 2400 704 Sierra 45 SP FL 2690 723 Factory load. ▼ .350" 1.080"—- .244" 16 Cartridges of the World Current American Rifle Cartridges 218 Bee Historical Notes The 218 Bee, introduced by Winchester in 1938, was originally chambered in the Model 65 lever-action rifle, a modernized version of the Model 1892. Considerable enthusi¬ asm greeted the announcement of this cartridge, and many mag¬ azine articles were devoted to comparing its superior killing power and range to the 22 Hornet. Although criticized as inaccu¬ rate, some Model 65s were capable of minute-of-angle accuracy. After WWII, Winchester brought out the Model 43 bolt-action rifle in 218 Bee. Mechanical troubles developed in some early models, and the rifle was discontinued. For a time, one or two European manufacturers, such as Sako and Krico, furnished small Mauser-type rifles in 218 Bee. At the present time, Ruger, Marlin, Thompson/Center and Browning chamber guns for the 218 Bee. The 218 Bee is based on the 32-20 case necked-down to 22-caliber. Cases can be made by necking-down 25-20 or 32-20 brass, then fire forming. General Comments The 218 Bee has a larger case and some¬ what greater powder capacity than the 22 Hornet. It provides higher velocity and a greater effective range than the Hornet, and in a good single shot or bolt-action rifle, is just as accurate. It is one of the most economical small game or varmint cartridges available. On small varmints it can be counted on out to 200 yards, but on coyote, bobcat or the like, it cannot be depended on for one-shot kills farther than 150 yards. On rabbits or other edi¬ ble game it is necessary to use full-jacketed bullets or reduced loads, otherwise it ruins much of the meat. The Bee is easy to reload, and one can duplicate anything from the 22 Short up to and exceeding the 22 Hornet. With modem powders, the factory performance can be improved safely. By using heavier bullets of 50 or 55 grains, its killing power and range can be increased. Although still a fine cartridge and useful for many purposes, the 218 Bee has been largely displaced by the 223 Remington and 22-250 Remington. The 218 Bee, like the 22 Hornet, has a rela¬ tively mild report compared to the more powerful 22 centerfires and can be used under circumstances in which the larger car¬ tridges would not be acceptable. It is a better performer than the 22 Hornet and its lack of popularity has always been something of a mystery to me. The Bee is the basis of several useful wild¬ cats. Ackley’s version approximately equals 222 Remington per¬ formance. The 17 Bee Improved offers impressive short-barrel performance. Factory loaded ammunition is available from Win¬ chester. 218 Bee Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 40 HP 2400 12 2800 697 Sierra 40 HP 1 MR-4227 11.7 2600 601 Homady, Sierra 45 SP 2400 11.6 2700 729 Sierra 45 SP 1 MR-4227 13 2800 784 Nosier, Sierra 50 SP 2400 10.5 2500 694 Sierra, Nosier 50 SP 1 MR-4227 12 2700 810 Homady, Sierra 55 SP 2400 10 2300 646 Sierra 55 SP IMR-4198 14 2500 763 Sierra 55 SP 1 MR-4227 12.5 2500 763 Sierra 46 SP FL 2760 778 Winchester factory load. 1 . 242 " 8th Edition 17 Chapter 2 222 Remington Historical Notes The 222 Remington was introduced by Rem¬ ington in 1950 for their 722 bolt-action rifle which was later super¬ seded by the current 700 series. For a short time, the Remington Model 760 slide-action repeater was also available in this caliber. Much of the credit for the 222 is due to Mike Walker, a longtime Remington employee. The cartridge became very popular with benchrest competitors in the 1970s and varmint hunters also found its performance excellent. But by the early 1990s the 222 Remington had lost much of its popularity to the 223 Remington. General Comments The 222 Remington is in about the same class as the older 219 Zipper, but is rimless and adapted to mod¬ em bolt-action rifles. It is not based on any older case necked- down, but is of original design. It is a more or less scaled-down version of the 30-06, and fills the gap between the 218 Bee and the 220 Swift. It is well suited to the needs of the average person who desires a high-velocity 22. A great many benchrest matches have been won with the 222 Remington, and it has a reputation for superb accuracy. It is an excellent 200-yard cartridge for the full range of varmint and small game animals up to, but not including, deer. It has been outlawed for big game in many of the 50 states because, like the 220 Swift, you can’t always depend on it to kill large animals humanely. I have seen several deer and antelope killed very cleanly with the 222 handloaded with heav¬ ier-jacketed 55- and 60-grain bullets. Range was about 125 yards. This caliber is offered by all large domestic ammunition manu¬ facturers and several foreign companies. 222 Remington Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 40 HP IMR 4198 20 3300 967 Speer, Sierra 40 HP W748 26.3 3400 1027 Speer, Sierra 45 SP H335 24.5 3100 960 Homady, Speer 45 SP IMR 4198 21 3300 1088 Homady, Speer, Sierra, Nosier 50 SP W748 25.8 3100 1067 Speer, Sierra, Homady 50 SP RE 7 20.9 3150 1102 Homady, Speer, Sierra 50 SP IMR 4198 20 3200 1132 Speer, Homady, Sierra 55 SP H335 24 3200 1174 Sierra, Speer, Homady, Nosier 55 SP IMR 4320 25 3000 1099 Homady, Speer 55 SP IMR 4895 24.5 3000 1099 Speer, Hornady, Sierra 55 Varget 25.0 2095 1170 Hodgdon 60 HP IMR 4895 23 2900 1121 Nosier, Hornady, Speer 50 SP FL 3140 1094 Factory load 55 FMJ FL 3020 1114 Factory load 18 Cartridges of the World Current American Rifle Cartridges 223 Remington (5.56x45mm) Historical Notes The 223 Remington first appeared in 1957 as an experimental military cartridge for the Armalite AR-15 assault rifle. In 1964, it was officially adopted by the U.S. Army as the 5.56mm Ball cartridge M193. It is used in the selective-fire M16 rifle which is based on the original AR-15 design. The car¬ tridge was the work of Robert Hutton, who was technical editor of Guns & Ammo magazine and had a rifle range in Topanga Canyon, California. One of the requirements for the cartridge was that the projectile have a retained velocity in excess of the speed of sound (about 1080 fps at sea level) at 500 yards, something you could not achieve with the 222 Remington. Working with Gene Stoner of Armalite, Bob Hutton designed a case slightly longer than the 222 and had Sierra make a 55-grain boattail bullet. This combination met the design requirements. All this was docu¬ mented in the 1971 issue of the Guns & Ammo Annual. Originally an alternate military cartridge, the 223 (5.56x45mm) is now the official U.S. and NATO military round. Additional information will be found in Chapter 6 covering mili¬ tary cartridges. We should note here that NATO forces, includ¬ ing the U.S., have standardized a new 5.56x45mm round with a heavy bullet and the M193 is no longer standard. Shortly after the military adopted the cartridge, Remington brought out the sporting version, which has largely replaced both the 222 Remington and Remington Magnum in popularity. Practi¬ cally every manufacturer of bolt-action rifles has at least one mod¬ el chambered for the 223. In addition, there are a large number of military-type semi-auto rifles available in this caliber. At one time the Remington Model 760 slide action was available in 223. General Comments The 223 Remington is nearly identical to the 222 Remington Magnum, the only difference being that the 223 has a slightly shorter case. The two are not interchangeable, although the 223 will chamber in a 222 Magnum rifle. The result, though, is to create a gross headspace problem, and the 223 case will rupture if fired in the 222 Magnum chamber. The 223 has proven to be an effective military cartridge for fighting in jungle or forested areas and for close-in fire support, and has been improved lately by NATO with heavier (SS109 designed by FN of Belgium) bullets fired through fast-twist (1 in 7-inch) barrels. As a sporting round, it is just as accurate as any of the other long-range, centerfire 22s. Military brass cases are usually heavier than commercial cases so maximum loads should be reduced by at least 10 percent and approached cautiously. That is because the reduced case capacity results in a higher load¬ ing density and increased pressure with the same powder charge. The 223 Remington can be classed as an excellent medium-range varmint cartridge at ranges out to 250 yards. In 1979, SAAMI cautioned shooters that 5.56x45mm military chambers and throats differ from 223 Remington sporting rifle chambers. Therefore military ball ammo may produce high cham¬ ber pressures in sporting rifles. 223 Remington Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 40 SP IMR 3031 25 3300 1140 Sierra, Speer 40 SP IMR 4198 22 3200 995 Sierra, Speer 45 SP IMR 3031 25 3300 1162 Hornady, Sierra 45 SP IMR 4198 22 3200 965 Hornady, Sierra, Speer 50 SP IMR 3031 25.2 3250 1250 Sierra, Nosier, Hornady, Speer 50 SP IMR 4198 21.5 3200 1155 Nosier, Hornady, Speer, Sierra 55 SP IMR 3031 24.5 3200 1330 Hornady, Nosier, Sierra 55 SP W748 25 3000 1110 Hornady, Nosier, Sierra 55 Varget 27.5 3384 1395 Hodgdon 60 HP IMR 3031 24 3100 1130 Hornady, Sierra 80 Varget 25.0 2869 1460 Hodgdon 55 SP FL 3240 1280 Factory load 55 FMJBT FL 3250 1290 Military load 40 HP FL 3650 1185 Federal factory load 60 HP FL 3100 1280 Remington factory load 64 SP FL 3020 1296 Winchester factory load 69 HP FL 3000 1380 Federal factory load 8th Edition 19 Chapter 2 222 Remington Magnum Historical Notes The 222 Remington Magnum was originally developed as an experimental military cartridge in a cooperative effort between Remington and Springfield Arsenal. Since it was never adopted by the military, Remington introduced it as a sporting round in 1958 as one of the calibers for their Model 722 bolt-action rifle, and also for a time in the later 700 series bolt- action rifles. At present, no Remington rifles are available in this caliber. None of the other major American sporting arms manu¬ facturing companies offer the 222 Remington Magnum among their choice of calibers. The 222 Remington Magnum is fast head¬ ing for obsolescence. General Comments In comparison to the standard 222 Rem¬ ington, the magnum version has about 20 percent greater case capacity, and consequently delivers 100 or so fps higher muzzle velocity and an effective range of between 50 and 75 yards greater than the 222. Though its case capacity is 4 to 5 percent greater than the 223 Remington, the performance of these two is indistinguishable because the 222 Remington Magnum is factory loaded to a lower maximum pressure. The 222 Magnum is near¬ ly Vio-inch longer than the 223 in overall case length and it is also slightly longer in body length. As a result, the two are not inter¬ changeable, and although the 223 can be chambered and fired in a 222 Magnum rifle, a dangerous headspace condition exists and case rupture is certain to occur when the round is fired. The 222 Remington Magnum is every bit as accurate as the standard 222 or the 223 and is certainly adequate for anything up to, but not including, deer. It never achieved the popularity of the standard 222 and has been largely superseded by the 223 Remington. It is, nevertheless, a very fine long-range varmint cartridge. Reming¬ ton still manufactures ammunition in this caliber. 222 Remington Magnum Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 45 SP H-380 29.5 3400 1125 Homady 45 SP BL-C2 27 3400 1236 Homady, Sierra 45 SP IMR 4895 27 3400 1082 Speer, Hornady 50 SP H-380 30 3400 1180 Homady 50 SP BL-C2 26 3300 1190 Nosier, Homady, Speer 50 SP IMR 3031 26 3300 1204 Speer 55 SP H-380 29 3200 1234 Homady 55 SP RL-7 22 3200 1170 Sierra 55 SP IMR 3031 26 3300 1332 Speer 55 SP IMR 4064 26 3300 1340 Homady 60 HP IMR 4895 25 3000 1242 Nosier, Hornady 55 SP FL 3240 1282 Remington factory load. 1 . 850 " -- 1 . 463 " 1.586"-* 20 Cartridges of the World Current American Rifle Cartridges 22PPC Historical Notes The 22 PPC was developed in 1974 by Dr. Louis Palmisano and Ferris Pindell, primarily as a benchrest car¬ tridge. Although originally a wildcat, Sako of Finland introduced commercial rifles and ammunition late in 1987. Norma followed suit in 1993 with loaded ammunition. Since it is an American development, it is listed here as a current American rifle car¬ tridge rather than as a European cartridge. The cartridge is based on the 220 Russian case which is a necked-down version of the 7.62x39mm Soviet military cartridge. The Wichita Engineer¬ ing and Supply Co. made the first rifles for both the 22 and 6mm PPC cartridges. Many custom rifles have been turned out in this caliber. In 1993 Ruger announced their No. IV and M77 varmint rifles in this caliber. General Comments The originators altered the 220 Russian case by giving it a 10-degree body taper and 30-degree shoulder angle, as well as expanding the neck to accept the standard .224- inch diameter bullet used in the U.S. The cartridge cases are made in Finland by Sako or in Sweden by Norma and use Small Rifle primers. Although the 22 PPC is a short rather stubby case only 1.51 inches long, it nevertheless develops ballistics superior to some larger, longer cartridges such as the 222 and 223 Rem¬ ington. The 52-grain bullet can be pushed out of the muzzle at over 3500 fps, and this definitely places the 22 PPC in the varmint and small game class. A 1 in 14-inch twist has become pretty much standard for these rifles although 1 in 12-inch twist will sometimes be found. 22 PPC Loading Data and Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 52 HP BL-C2 28.3 3400 1335 Speer 52 HP W748 28.0 3300 1258 Speer, Nosier, Hornady 55 SP H-335 27.0 3200 1251 Speer, Nosier 55 SP W748 28.0 3200 1251 Hornady, Nosier, Speer 52 HP FL 3400 1335 Sako factory load. 1 . 505 " .445 8th Edition 21 Chapter 2 225 Winchester Historical Notes The 225 Winchester was officially announced in June 1964. Both the standard and a heavier-barreled varmint version of the Model 70 bolt action were offered for this round. The 225 replaced the older 220 Swift in the Winchester lineup. It is a rimmed case with an unusually large rim for this type of car¬ tridge. The 220 Swift never achieved great popularity and neither did its replacement, the 225. The last Winchester catalog to list the cartridge as a caliber available for the Model 70 rifle was in 1972. No other manufacturer picked it up as a standard cham¬ bering because the already popular 22-250 was standardized by Remington less than a year later, and it was just common sense to adopt it instead. Winchester still loads 225 ammunition but this cartridge did not have a very long life, being semi-obsolete in only 8 years. General Comments The 225 is a fine varmint cartridge with performance similar to the 224 Weatherby or the 22-250. But the 22-250 was already established as a popular wildcat with an out¬ standing reputation, and it was inevitable that it would dominate the field. Those who purchased 225 Winchester rifles have no need to feel bad or trade them off for anything else because the 225 cartridge is just as accurate and will do anything that the more popular 22-250 will do. It simply turned out to be a design or idea whose time had not yet arrived. As a matter of fact, it might be well to hang on to your 225 because not a great many were sold and eventually some gun writer will rediscover it as the greatest 22 varmint cartridge conceived by the mind of man, and at that point all your shooting friends will wish they had one too. The 225 has an edge over both the 222 and the 223 Remington for long- range varmint shooting because of the increased muzzle velocity. At one time, Winchester was supposed to furnish a 50-grain load¬ ing at 3800 fps and a 60-grain at 3500 fps, along with the stan¬ dard 55-grain at 3650 fps (now reduced to 3570 fps), but these loads never materialized. For handloaders, this cartridge is noth¬ ing more than a slightly modified 30-30. Neck down the 30-30 to 22 caliber, shorten the case slightly, turn the rim to ’06 dimen¬ sions and slightly improve and you have the 225 Winchester. 225 Winchester Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet(grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 40 HP IMR 4064 31.5 3400 1027 Speer, Sierra 45 SP IMR 4064 33 3600 1295 Homady, Speer 50 SP IMR 3031 31 3400 1284 Speer, Nosier, Homady 50 SP IMR 4895 33 3600 1439 Sierra 55 SP IMR 4320 34.5 3700 1672 Homady 60 HP IMR 4064 31.8 3500 1632 Homady 70 SP IMR 4350 34.5 3000 1399 Speer 55 SP FL 3570 1556 Winchester factory load 22 Cartridges of the World Current American Rifle Cartridges 224 Weatherby Magnum Historical Notes The Weatherby line of proprietary cartridges was somewhat incomplete for lack of an ultra-velocity 22. The previous 220 Weatherby Rocket was actually an improved wild¬ cat based on the 220 Swift case, and Weatherby never manufac¬ tured ammunition of this caliber. The 224 Varmintmaster was introduced in 1963, but according to the late Roy Weatherby, development work went back 10 years prior to this. Introduction of the cartridge was delayed due to lack of a suitable action. The caliber is available in a reduced-size version of the Weatherby Mark V rifle. At present no one else chambers this caliber. General Comments The 224 Weatherby lies ballistically between the 223 Remington and the 220 Swift. It is a belted case with the advantages and disadvantages inherent in this type of construction. For the handloader, it eliminates certain headspace and case-stretch problems and should provide maximum case life. It is an excellent long-range varmint cartridge with performance similar to the 22-250 Remington. Its popularity has been deter¬ mined largely by economic factors. One can buy a Remington, Ruger or Winchester bolt action in 22-250 caliber for about one- quarter the price of a Weatherby. The 224 Weatherby is, never¬ theless, a fine choice to those who don’t mind the extra cost. It is the smallest belted case presently manufactured commercially. 224 Weatherby Magnum Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 40 HP IMR 4198 28.5 4100 1493 Sierra 45 SP IMR 4198 28 3900 1520 Sierra 50 SP IMR 4064 32.8 3800 1604 Homady, Sierra 50 SP IMR 4895 33 3800 1604 Hornady 53 HP IMR 4064 32 3600 1526 Homady, Sierra 55 SP IMR 4064 32 3600 1583 Sierra, Hornady 55 SP IMR 4895 32 3600 1583 Homady 55 SP FL 3650 1627 Factory load 60 HP IMR 4895 31.5 3500 1632 Homady Weatherby Mark V Lazermark 8th Edition 23 Chapter 2 22-250 Remington (22 Varminter, 22 Wotkyns Original Swift) Historical Notes The 22-250 Remington was adopted early in 1965 as one of the calibers for the Remington 700 series bolt-action rifles, and also for the Model 40XB match rifle. Browning bolt- action rifles were offered in 22-250 caliber two years earlier. This is not a factory design, but rather a popular wildcat that has been around for many years and made good. However, Remington’s adoption of the round moved it into the commercial classification. There is some confusion regarding date of origin of the 22-250 which is based on the 250-3000 Savage case necked to 22-caliber. Its moniker is derived from the caliber (22) and the parent case name (250). The parent cartridge was introduced in 1915 and a 22 version may have been made up experimentally shortly thereafter. Harvey Donaldson, Grosvenor Wotkyns, J. E. Gebby, J. B. Smith and John Sweany all worked on versions of the 22-250 between 1934 and 1937. J. E. Gebby and J.B. Smith are usually credited with having developed the present configuration in 1937. However, there are different versions of this cartridge and much depends on which one is referred to. The Gebby version was named the 22 “Varminter” and he obtained a copyright on the name. Other gun¬ smiths renamed it the 22-250. The Wotkyns version was the fore¬ runner of the 220 Swift, although Winchester ended up using the 6mm Lee Navy case rather than the 250 Savage. At the present time, all of the major American and European rifle makers furnish bolt-action rifles in 22-250 chambering. In addition, the Ruger, Thompson/Center, and other single shots are available in this caliber. General Comments The 22-250 is one of the best balanced and most flexible of the high-powered 22 centerfires. It is also the most popular of the long-range 22 varmint cartridges, effective to ranges of400 yards or more. The 22-250 also has a reputation for outstanding accuracy and has been used with some success for benchrest shooting. Many individuals who have had experience with both the 22-250 and the 220 Swift report that the former gives significantly longer case life with full loads than the latter. The 22-250, as with most of the other high-powered 22s, is not recommended for use on deer or other medium game. The reason, of course, is that the fight varmint bullets are made to expand quickly and will not offer sufficient penetration on a large animal. Based on personal experience, and purely as a matter of opinion, I would rate the 22-250 as the best all-round, long-range 22 varmint cartridge available today. 22-250 Remington Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 40 HP IMR 4895 36 3900 1345 Speer, Sierra 40 HP IMR 3031 35 3900 1345 Sierra, Speer 40 Varget 39.5 4135 1515 Hodgdon 45 SP IMR 4064 37 3900 1520 Speer, Sierra 45 SP IMR 3031 32 3500 1224 Hornady, Speer 50 SP IMR 4064 36 3700 1520 Homady, Speer, Sierra 50 SP IMR 3031 34.5 3700 1520 Speer, Homady, Sierra 55 SP IMR 4064 35 3600 1580 Homady, Speer, Sierra 55 SP RL-7 29 3500 1496 Sierra 55 SP IMR 4320 35 3500 1496 Nosier, Homady, Sierra 60 HP RL-7 28 3300 1451 Sierra 60 HP IMR 4320 34 3500 1630 Homady, Nosier, Sierra 70 SP IMR 4064 33 3300 1690 Speer 70 SP N205 41 3300 1690 40 HP FL 4000 1420 Federal factory load. 55 SP FL 3680 1655 Factory load. 24 Cartridges of the World Current American Rifle Cartridges Historical Notes The 220 Swift was developed by Winchester and introduced in 1935 as a new caliber for their Model 54 bolt- action rifle. When the Model 70 Winchester bolt action was first issued in 1936, the 220 Swift was one of the standard calibers offered and continued to be until 1964 when it was discontinued. Now the Savage Model 112V, the Ruger Model 77 and the Ruger No. IV single shot are offered in the 220 Swift chambering. The Model 70 Winchester is no longer made in this caliber. Norma of Sweden lists the 220 Swift with a 50-grain bullet at 4110 fps, and they also sell unprimed brass cases for reloading. Homady/Fron- tier offers a 55-grain SP and a 60-grain HP loading. The prototype for the 220 Swift was developed in 1934-35 by Grosvenor Wotkyns who necked-down the 250-3000 Savage as a means of achieving very high velocities. However, the final com¬ mercial version developed by Winchester is based on the old 6mm Lee Navy cartridge necked-down. It is a semi-rimmed case. General Comments The 220 Swift was and still is the fastest commercial cartridge in the world. It is also one of the most accu¬ rate super-velocity 22 cartridges ever developed. Its popularity has been somewhat retarded by the fact that ammunition in this caliber is expensive. Swift barrels have never been noted for long life, but this factor has been negated to a large degree by devel¬ opment of modem, erosion-resistant barrel steels since WWII. Factory ammunition has always featured the 48-grain and 50- grain bullets, but the Swift will handle the 55-grain or heavier bullets quite well, at slightly reduced maximum velocity. The 220 Swift is considered adequate on all animals up to deer-size. There is certainly plenty of field evidence to demonstrate that on occa¬ sion it will give fantastic one-shot kills on deer and antelope. However, the 220 Swift tends to be erratic in its performance on large animals, and most states will not permit its use on big game of any kind. Properly constructed bullets would almost certainly solve this problem on animals to mule deer size. In any case, fac¬ tory bullets are designed for quick expansion on light animals. Most varmint hunters agree that the 220 Swift is the best varmint cartridge made. It remains a popular caliber despite the fact that no domestic major manufacturer offers it. 220 Swift Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 40 HP IMR 4064 39 4000 1421 Speer, Sierra 40 Varget 40.5 4113 1500 Hodgdon 45 HP IMR 4350 41.5 3600 1295 Hornady, Speer, Sierra 45 SP IMR 3031 37 4000 1599 Hornady, Speer, Sierra 45 SP IMR 4895 38.5 3900 1520 Sierra 45 SP H-380 43 3850 1481 Speer, Sierra 50 SP IMR 4320 39 4400 1689 Sierra 50 SP IMR 3031 37 4000 1777 Sierra 55 SP IMR 4350 44 3800 1764 Speer, Hornady 55 SP IMR 4320 40 3000 1955 Sierra 55 SP H-380 42 3800 1764 Nosier, Sierra, Speer 60 HP IMR 4895 33 3400 1541 Hornady, Sierra *48 SP FL 4110 1800 Factory Load 50 SP FL 4110 1877 Norma Factory Load 55 SP FL 3650 1627 Hornady/Frontier Factory Load 60 HP FL 3600 1727 Hornady/Frontier Factory Load Discontinued loading. - 2 . 205 " ^. 049 " 1 . 722 "- - 1 . 905 " 8th Edition 25 Chapter 2 Historical Notes The 22 Accelerator is not a new cartridge, but rather a special loading of 30-30, 308 and 30-06 cartridges using a sub-caliber .224-inch diameter bullet held in a discarding 30- caliber plastic sabot. These loadings were introduced by Reming¬ ton, the 30-06 in 1977 and the 30-30 and the 308 in subsequent years. All versions employ a 55-grain .224-caliber softpoint bullet retained in a 7-grain, six-fingered, plastic sabot with a hollow base. According to the 1979 Remington catalog, the rifling of the barrel imparts spin, which, combined with air resistance, causes the bullet and sabot to separate approximately 14 inches from the muzzle. The 30-30-224 Accelerator has a muzzle velocity of 3400 fps; the 308 version has a cataloged muzzle velocity of 3800 fps; and the 30-06-224 the impressive muzzle velocity of4080 fps. The existence of three different 30-caliber Accelerator rounds seems to indicate commercial success. Remington originally intended to offer other Accelerator calibers but these never materialized. General Comments The author’s experience shooting Acceler¬ ator cartridges indicated that accuracy is not as good as when the same 55-grain bullet is fired in one of the high-velocity centerfire 22 rifles, such as the 222 Remington, 22-250, etc. Most of these rifles, when properly tuned, will deliver minute-of-angle groups or better. Shooting at 100 yards and using various rifles, I was unable to print any groups with the 30-30 Accelerator that ran under 2 V 2 inches or under 2 inches with the 30-06 (five-shot groups). Actually, the Accelerator cartridges appear to group about the same as the standard 30-caliber cartridge does in the same rifle. This is just what the factory says it will do. In other words, if your rifle ordinarily makes 3-inch five-shot groups at 100 yards, it isn’t going to do any better with the Accelerator. However, from a practical point of view, the Accelerator loads will allow one to use a regular 30-30 or 30-06 big game rifle for varmint shooting. The lack of MOA accuracy might restrict effec¬ tive range to 200 yards or less, but this will vary greatly with individual rifles. The Accelerator concept is of greater usefulness to the shooter who does not reload than to the fellow who can cook up his own varmint loads with light 110-grain 30-caliber bullets. After firing, the plastic sabots are usually found anywhere from 40 to 100 feet in front of the muzzle. Remington has applied an old principle to modem sporting ammunition and come up with a very useful innovation. Sabotted military loads, both as new loadings for old chamber- ings and for sabot specific guns, are most effective. Likely, sabot- specific sporting guns could be accurate enough for sporting purposes and external ballistics could be most impressive. 22 Accelerator Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) MV ME Source 30-30 Accelerator 55 SP 3400 1412 Remington factory load 308 Accelerator 55 SP 3770 1735 Remington factory load 30-06 Accelerator 55 SP 4080 2003 Remington factory load Remington “Accelerator” bullet leaving muzzle at 4080 feet per second. Remington “Accelerator” sabot and bullet 18 inches from muzzle. 26 Cartridges of the World Current American Rifle Cartridges 6mm PPC Historical Notes The 6mm PPC is an outgrowth of the 22 PPC and based on the same case configuration with the neck expanded to take 6mm (.243-inch) bullets. This cartridge was also developed by Dr. Louis Palmisano and Ferris Pindell and based on the 220 Russian case, which is a variation of the 7.62x39mm (M43) Soviet militaiy cartridge. The original rifles were made by Wichita Engi¬ neering and Supply Co. in 1975. Many custom rifles have been made up in this caliber in both sporter and benchrest types. Although originally a benchrest wildcat, Sako of Finland began turning out commercial bolt-action rifles and supplying loaded ammunition late in 1987. In 1993 Ruger announced that their M77 Varmint and No. 1 Varmint rifles would be offered in this caliber and at the same time Norma announced factory loaded ammuni¬ tion. The 6mm PPC is one of the top competitive benchrest car¬ tridges. In addition to loaded ammunition and factory cases, many handloaders make their own cases by fireforming 220 Russian cas¬ es or necking-down and reforming 7.62x39mm brass. General Comments Chronograph tests by various individu¬ als have demonstrated that the 6mm PPC gives very uniform velocity readings, which accounts for its fine accuracy. On the other hand, practically all rifles chambered for the cartridge are heavy barrel accuracy jobs, and that must also be a factor. Rifles for match shooting usually have a 1 in 14-inch twist, although a few are turned out with a 1 in 12-inch twist. The 6mm PPC is not only an outstanding benchrest cartridge, but gives very good results on small game and varmints. It is only slightly less powerful than the 243 Winchester despite the much smaller case. It should also do well on deer or antelope at moderate ranges. The velocity with the 90-grain bullet is only some 100 to 150 fps less than the 243 Winchester. Popu¬ larity of this caliber is growing beyond benchrest shooting; varmint hunters are now taking it up as well. Look for contin¬ ued growth here. 6mm PPC Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 60 HP H322 28.4 3200 1365 Sierra 70 HP H335 29 3100 1494 Homady, Sierra 75 HP H-322 26.7 3100 1601 Homady, Speer, Sierra 80 SP W748 29 2800 1393 Speer 85 SP H-335 28.0 3000 1699 Speer 90 SP H-335 29 3000 1799 Speer 70 SP FL 3140 1535 Sako factory load. < 1 . 243 - 8th Edition 27 Chapter 2 6mm Bench Rest Remington (6mm BR Remington) Historical Notes The 6mm BR Remington is one of eight car¬ tridges based on the 308xlV2-inch case necked either up or down. It is impossible to determine who first came up with the 6mm version because a number of individuals claim the honor, dating back to 1962 and 1963, shortly after the author introduced the 308x1V 2 -inch. However, Mike Walker of Remington Arms deserves credit for standardizing dimensions and configuration in 1978. This allowed the cartridge to be adopted as a standard commercial cartridge. In late 1988, Remington announced that the 6mm BR would be produced as loaded factory ammunition. Prior to that, it was a sort of factory wildcat. Cases had to be formed from Remington BR brass, which is actually a modified 308 Winchester with a Small Rifle primer pocket, comparatively thin walls and annealing to facilitate reforming. The factory load has a 100-grain bullet with a muzzle velocity of 2550 fps and muzzle energy of 1444 fpe. The 6mm BR was intended primarily as a benchrest cartridge, but it also makes a good varmint num¬ ber. It is currently available as one of the chamberings for the Remington XP-100 single shot pistol. ( Since the 6mm BR was in use before it was a factory round, there will be some chamber con¬ fusion. The original chambers were mostly intended for cases with turned necks. Editor) General Comments The 6mm BR is similar to the 6mm PPC, except that the case is of larger diameter and has about 10 per¬ cent greater volumetric capacity. The 6mm PPC is loaded some¬ what hotter them the 6mm BR with some loading manuals fisting the 90-grain bullet at around 3000 fps. There is no reason why the 6mm BR can’t do anything the 6mm PPC can. And, the avail¬ ability of factory ammunition should increase its popularity. This will also help overcome one of the problems with the 6mm PPC— the matter of obtaining suitable brass on an over-the-counter basis and at a reasonable price. Remington is the only manufac¬ turer to take up commercial production of this caliber. 6mm BR Remington Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 70 SP W748 32 3200 1592 Homady 75 HP W748 33 3200 1706 Homady 80 SP W748 31.5 3100 1708 Hornady 80 SP RL-7 24 2900 1494 Hornady 80 Varget 32.5 3159 1740 Hodgdon 87 SP W748 31 3000 1739 Homady 87 SP H-322 25.5 2800 1515 Homady 100SP FL 2550 1444 Remington factory load. 28 Cartridges of the World Current American Rifle Cartridges 243 Winchester Historical Notes The 243 Winchester was introduced by Win¬ chester in 1955 for their Model 70 bolt-action and Model 88 lever- action rifles. The 243 was quickly adopted by Savage for their Model 99 lever- and Model 110 bolt-action rifles. All of the British and European manufacturers began chambering bolt-action rifles for this round. In fact, even Remington, who developed their own 6mm, had to recognize the popularity of the 243 and start cham¬ bering their rifles for it. The 243 (6mm) Winchester is nothing more than the 308 Winchester case necked-down. Original devel¬ opment and publicity was due largely to the efforts of gun writer, the late Warren Page, who along with other wildcatters worked out a similar version before Winchester. The 243 is probably chambered in more different rifles than any other cartridge, except possibly the 30-06 Springfield. All other manufacturers of rifles offer this caliber. General Comments The 243 Winchester represents a success¬ ful effort to develop light deer rifle caliber that could hold its own with the high-velocity 22s for long-range use on small targets and still be adequate for larger animals. The 243 does this job well. It eliminates the need to own two different rifles for anything from small game and pests up to and including deer and antelope. The 80-grain bullet is intended primarily for varmint and small game and the 100-grain bullet for deer-size animals. The 257 Roberts and the 250-3000 Savage are supposed to cover the same range and certainly do. However, the 25-caliber bullets don’t have the sectional density for long-range varmint shooting until bullet weight gets up to 120 grains, and then the velocity falls off badly. All major domestic and overseas manufacturers of commercial ammunition offer this caliber. Its popularity as a deer caliber has prevailed over its varmint capabilities. 243 Winchester Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 75 HP IMR 4064 40 3300 1814 Homady, Speer 80 SP IMR 4320 38 3000 1599 Speer, Hornady 85 SP H-380 38.5 3100 1814 Sierra 90 SP IMR 4831 44 3000 1799 Speer, Sierra 95 SP IMR 3031 35 2900 1775 Nosier 100 SP IMR 4350 42 2900 1868 Sierra, Hornady 80 SP FL 3550 1993 Factory load 85 SP FL 3320 2080 Factory load 100 SP FL 2960 1945 Factory load 105 SP FL 3100 2133 Factory load. Chapter 2 6mm Remington (244 Remington) Historical Notes The 6mm Remington has exactly the same case dimensions as the 244 Remington. They differ only in the fact that the 6mm Remington is loaded with bullets of up to 100 grains, whereas the 244 Remington was never loaded with bul¬ lets of over 90 grains weight. Ammunition marked 244 Reming¬ ton can be fired in 6mm Remington chambers and vice versa. However, rifles marked 244 Remington will not stabilize the 100- grain bullet. The difference in the two is that 244 rifles (if manu¬ factured by Remington) have a 1 in 12-inch rifling twist and rifles marked 6mm have a 1 in 9-inch twist. When Remington intro¬ duced the 244 in 1955 they selected the 1 in 12-inch twist as best suited to long-range accuracy with bullets of 80 grains. They were correct except that most shooters wanted to be able to use bullets of 100 to 105 grains in order to cover the range of game from varmints through deer with the same rifle. To correct this mis¬ judgement, Remington renamed the cartridge 6mm Remington and changed to a 1 in 9-inch twist. To have retained the 244 des¬ ignation and simply change the twist would have brought on com¬ plaints from purchasers of the original 244s with the slower twist when they tried to use the new 100-grain load. The change in car¬ tridge nomenclature to 6mm and the faster twist occurred in 1963. The Remington 700 series and 788 bolt-action rifles as well as their autoloaders and the slide actions have been available in 6mm. General Comments The original 6mm Remington was loaded only with the 100-grain bullet. However, it is now available with 80-, 90- and 100-grain bullets which greatly extends its flexibility. Although the older 244 lost out to the 243 Winchester, the 6mm Remington is gradually picking up a following. It is an excellent choice for the varmint hunter who also wants to use his rifle for deer and antelope. Although the 6mm has a slightly larger pow¬ der capacity than the 243, the difference in performance is negli¬ gible as far as killing power is concerned. Nevertheless, this small advance in ballistics appeals to some people and so does the longer neck of the 6mm case, which many handloaders consider desirable. This caliber is commercially loaded by Federal and Winchester as well as Remington. 6mm Remington Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV3 ME Source 60 HP H-335 42 3700 1824 Sierra 70 SP IMR 4350 47 3400 1797 Sierra, Hornady 75 HP IMR 4064 41 3500 2041 Speer, Nosier 75 HP IMR 4350 47 3450 1983 Nosier, Speer, Sierra 80 SP IMR 4350 45 3200 1820 Hornady 80 SP IMR 4831 47 3200 1820 Hornady, Speer 90 HP IMR 4350 45 3200 2047 Speer, Sierra 90 HP IMR 4831 45 3100 1921 Speer, Sierra 100 SP IMR 4350 42 2900 1868 Hornady, Speer, Sierra, Nosier 100 SP IMR 4831 44 2900 1868 Speer, Sierra, Hornady 100 H1000 51.0 3111 2145 Hodgdon 105 SP IMR 4350 42 2950 2030 Speer 105 SP IMR 4064 37 2900 1961 Speer 80 SP FL 3470 2139 Factory load. 90 SP FL 3190 2133 Factory load. 100 SP FL 3100 2133 Factory load. 1 . 724 " 1.881 * 2 . 233 " 30 Cartridges of the World Current American Rifle Cartridges 240 Weatherby Magnum Historical Notes The 240 Weatherby was added to round out the Weatherby proprietary magnum line in 1968. It differs from other 6mms in having a belted case with somewhat greater pow¬ der capacity. It is very similar to the 240 Belted Rimless Nitro- Express introduced by Holland & Holland around 1923. Thus far, it is available only in the Weatherby Mark V bolt-action rifle or through custom gunsmiths. It is an excellent cartridge and will push the 100-grain 6mm bullet with about 200 fps greater muzzle velocity than the 6mm Remington and around 400 fps faster than the 243 Winchester. However, a considerable portion of this bal¬ listic advantage results from increased barrel length and loading pressure. It is important to allow plenty of barrel cooling time with this, and all, high-intensity cartridges. It is a more effective deer and antelope cartridge than the other two. The principal detraction regarding the 240 Weatherby Magnum is that ammu¬ nition is expensive and difficult to find outside of the large cities. The 240 case has about the same capacity as the 30-06 and the rim diameter is also the same. General Comments The 240 Weatherby is the most powerful of the 6mm cartridges. It represents the maximum performance that one can squeeze through a 6mm tube with modem powders. The 244 H&H Belted Rimless Magnum, based on necking-down the 375 H&H Magnum case, will hold more powder but doesn’t produce any improvement in ballistics. The late Roy Weatherby built a successful proprietary gun business on the basis of a good product plus the all-important element of ballistic one-upman¬ ship. The Weatherby magnum cartridges have traditionally offered higher velocity and energy than their standard factory counterpart. The 240 was bom of this same tradition. Of course, Remington, Winchester, Norma et al have their own magnum line in various calibers, and Winchester offered the 300 and 375 H&H Magnums before WWII. However, Roy Weatherby was the first to really popularize this British innovation in the U.S. He convinced the American shooters that it was something they tru¬ ly needed. For the hunter who must have that extra edge in a 6mm rifle, the 240 Weatherby is the cartridge of choice. 240 Weatherby Magnum Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 60 HP IMR 4350 53 3800 1924 Sierra 70 HP IMR 4350 52 3700 2128 Homady, Nosier 75 HP IMR 4320 50.5 3800 2405 Homady 80 SP IMR 4831 52.5 3500 2177 Homady, Speer 85 SP IMR 4350 51 3450 2247 Nosier, Speer, Sierra 90 SP IMR 4831 52 3400 2311 Speer, Hornady, Sierra 95 SP IMR 4350 47 3050 1963 Nosier 100 SP IMR 4831 52 3300 2419 Homady 105 SP IMR 4831 49.5 3150 2314 Speer 70 HP FL 3850 2304 Weatherby factory load 87 SP FL 3500 2366 Weatherby factory load 100 SP FL 3395 2559 Weatherby factory load Chapter 2 25-20 Winchester (25-20 WCF) Historical Notes The 25-20 Winchester Center Fire was devel¬ oped for the short action of the Winchester Model 1892 lever- action rifle. It is the repeating version of the older 25-20 single shot, but is based on the 32-20 necked-down. There is a difference in opinion as to when it was actually introduced. Some authori¬ ties say 1893, others 1895. In any event, it was quickly adopted by a majority of the gun manufacturers and achieved consider¬ able popularity. The Winchester lever-action 1892 and modern¬ ized Model 65, Remington slide-action Model 25, Marlin slide-action 27 and lever-action Model 94, and the Savage bolt- action repeater Model 23, were all available in 25-20 WCF. Mar¬ lin has reintroduced the 25-20 WCF in their Model 1894CL lever action. Winchester also loaded this same chambering with a slightly different bullet shape and headstamped it 25-20 Marlin. General Comments Prior to the 22 Hornet and the 218 Bee, the 25-20 WCF was one of the most popular small game and varmint cartridges. It was also advertised as being suitable for deer and similar animals. No doubt it has killed plenty of deer, but it is not a satisfactory big game cartridge by any standard. (Editor’s note: Decades ago my uncle dropped two bull elk, quite dead, with three shots from his Model 92 in 25-20. Marksmanship has always mattered.) Today, it is universally outlawed for big game hunting. On smaller animals, the 60-grain bullet is quite effective for 100- to 150-yard varmint shooting. The 86-grain soft- point or lead bullet does a fine job on rabbit or turkey to 125 yards. A great many rifles were made in this caliber and are still in use by trappers, ranchers and farmers. Under certain condi¬ tions, the 25-20 repeater is still a useful small game number. It will probably be around for a good many more years. The 60- grain bullet can’t be improved by handloading, but the 86-grain can be stepped up to over 1700 fjps. The 25-20 is another old-timer the author has played around with at various times. Ownership of a Winchester Model 1892 lever action and later a Winchester Low Wall single shot in this caliber allowed ample opportunity to test its potential for small game and varmint hunting. It will do the job, but has serious range limitations due in part to bullet design. The 60-grain high- velocity load achieves its maximum expansion at a range of between 50 and 70 yards. Beyond that good bullet placement is essential if the animal is not going to crawl off and die a lingering death. At ranges out to 50 yards the bullet expansion will ruin most of the edible meat on small game. The 86-grain bullet is a better load for meat hunting although the lower velocity requires good distance judgement at ranges much beyond 75 yards. On the other hand, the 25-20 is one of those cartridges that can be improved to a satisfying degree by handloading. The 86-grain bullet can be loaded to deliver around 1700 fps, but the 60-grain bullet can’t be improved much over the factory load. The 25-20 is also capable of very good accuracy when fired in a single shot or bolt-action rifle. My Winchester single shot would do better than 2-inch groups at 100 yards with handloads. Both Winchester and Remington continue to offer this caliber only with the 86-grain bullet. 25-20 Winchester (25 WCF) Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 60 SP 2400 9.6 2200 645 Homady 60 SP H-4227 11 2200 645 Hornady 60 SP FL 2250 675 Factory load. 86 SP FL 1460 407 Factory load. 32 Cartridges of the World Current American Rifle Cartridges 25-35 Winchester (25-35 WCF) Historical Notes The 25-35 was developed by Winchester and introduced in 1895 for the Model 94 lever-action rifle. Along with the 30-30, it was one of the first small-bore, smokeless powder, sporting cartridges developed in the United States. Winchester, Marlin and Savage all chambered repeating lever-action rifles for this cartridge. Quite a few single shot rifles also chambered the 25-35, and in Europe it was used in combination-type arms. No American rifles have been made for the 25-35 since the end of WWII. General Comments The 25-35 is one of the most accurate car¬ tridges available in the older lever-action rifles. In a good solid- frame single shot, it will shoot about as accurately as any 25 ever developed. It does not have sufficient velocity for long-range shooting. It has never been noted for great stopping power on deer or similar animals. In fact it is illegal for this purpose in many states. There are still a large number of 25-35 rifles in use, but it is more or less obsolete. It is not nearly as effective as the 250-3000 Savage, 257 Roberts or any of the more modem 6mm cartridges. However, it does have moderate recoil and will do a good job on small game and varmints at medium ranges. Modem powders would allow significant ballistic improvement if loads were at the same pressure as the current 30-30 factory ammuni¬ tion. Loaded thus, this cartridge might not appear quite so ane¬ mic and would be better suited to deer hunting. Ackley’s improved version provides impressive performance. Winchester is the only remaining manufacturer of this caliber. 25-35 Winchester (25 WCF) Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 60 SP IMR 4064 30.5 2800 1045 Homady 60 SP IMR 4320 32 2900 1120 Homady 117 SP IMR 3031 25.5 2300 1375 Homady 117 SP IMR 4320 27 2200 1258 Homady 117 SP FL 2230 1292 Winchester factory load. Winchester Repeating Rifle, Model 1894. Made For 25-35 And .50 W. C. F.3s W. S.32-40 And .38-55 Cartridges. 8th Edition 33 Chapter 2 250 Savage (250-3000) Historical Notes Designed by Charles Newton, the 250 Savage was introduced by the Savage Arms Company as a high-velocity round for the Model 99 lever-action rifle. The original loading used an 87-grain bullet at 3000 fps muzzle velocity, and Savage named it the 250-3000. One suspects the 87-grain bullet was cho¬ sen because it could be safely driven at 3000 fps with the powders then available. This allowed Savage to introduce it with the ever so sexy name 250-3000. Remember in 1915, when this cartridge was introduced, riflemen were still marvelling at cartridges achieveing 2000 fps. About 1932, the 100-grain bullet load was marketed by Peters Cartridge Company and later the velocity of the 87-grain bullet was slightly increased. Now it is simply called the 250 Savage. The Savage Model 20 and 40 bolt-action rifles also chambered the round, as did the Winchester Model 54 and 70 bolt actions. Late in 1971, Savage announced that their Model 99 would again be available in this caliber. Others, such as Ruger and Remington, have made rifles in this caliber also. General Comments Flat trajectory, outstanding accuracy and good killing power on anything up to and including deer are established characteristics of the 250 Savage. It was, and is, excellent on varmints through deer. In the past few years it has been edged out by the 257 Roberts and the new 6mm cartridges. It is far superior as a deer cartridge to the 30-30 or anything in that class, regardless of what some 30-30 addicts claim. Because of its light recoil, it is an excellent choice for youths and women. The 250-3000 is the basis of one of Ackley’s best wildcats, the 250 Ackley Improved. Both Remington and Winchester continue to load this caliber. However, the 87-grain and 120-grain bullets are no longer factory loaded. 250 Savage (250-3000) Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. 60 SP IMR 4064 39 87 SP IMR 4895 36.5 87 SP IMR 4064 35 100 SP IMR 4320 36 117 SP IMR 4064 32.5 87 SP FL 100 SP FL 120 SP FL MV ME Source 3500 1632 Homady 3200 1979 Sierra 3100 1857 Sierra 2800 1741 Nosier 2700 1894 Homady 3030 1770 Factory load. 2820 1765 Factory load. 2645 1865 Factory load. 34 Cartridges of the World Current American Rifle Cartridges 257 Roberts (257 Roberts +P) Historical Notes The commercial version of the 257 Roberts was released by Remington in 1934 chambered in their Model 30 bolt-action rifle. It was quickly picked up by Winchester for their Model 54 and the later Model 70. The Remington 722 bolt-action and the 760 slide-action models were also available in 257-cal¬ iber. In recent years many American manufacturers have discon¬ tinued it, although Ruger continues to offer it their Model 77 bolt action. The original cartridge was designed by N. H. Roberts (a well-known experimenter and gun writer during the 1920s and ’30s) and is based on the 7x57mm Mauser necked-down. Reming¬ ton changed the Robert’s shoulder angle from 15 to 20 degrees. The name of the cartridge was adopted to honor its original devel¬ oper. Custom rifles in this caliber were made by the Niedner Rifle Co. as early as 1928. General Comments The 257 Roberts has often been referred to as the “most useful rifle cartridge ever developed.” That is not very far wrong. It is suitable for a wide range of hunting under a variety of conditions. As a long-range varmint cartridge, it is as good as they come, being only slightly inferior to the newer 6mms. On deer, antelope, black bear, sheep or goat it is as good as any other cartridge available. Naturally, it is not as powerful as the 270 Winchester, 30-06, but it has ample power for the game mentioned at all practical ranges. The 257 was underloaded by ammunition companies. Howev¬ er, in the late 1980s higher pressure +P loads were introduced which enabled factory loaded 257 Roberts ammunition to reach full potential. With modem powders the reloader can improve performance safely in all bullet weights. With 117- or 120-grain boattail bullets at velocities of around 2800 fps the 257 can be used successfully on elk and caribou. It is at this end of the scale that it has an advantage over the 6mms. The author has used it for many years and it is one of his favorite calibers for western hunting. Ackley’s improved version of the 257 Roberts practically duplicates the ballistics of the larger 25-06. Winchester, Federal and Remington all offer this caliber. The 87-grain bullet is no longer factory loaded. 257 Roberts (257 Roberts +P) Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 60 SP IMR 4064 44 3600 1727 Homady 75 HP IMR 4064 42 3300 1814 Sierra 87 SP IMR 4320 37.5 3000 1739 Homady 87 SP H-380 46 3200 1979 Sierra, Hornady 100 SP* IMR 4831 45.5 3100 2134 Nosier, Speer 100 SP IMR 3031 34 2800 1741 Hornady, Sierra 117 SP IMR 4320 36 2600 1757 Sierra 117 SP IMR 4064 34.5 2600 1757 Homady, Sierra 120 SP* IMR 4831 42.5 2800 2091 Nosier 120 SP IMR 4350 38.5 2600 1802 Homady 87 SP FL 3200 1980 +P Factory load. 100 SP FL 3000 1998 +P Factory load. 117 SP FL 2780 2009 +P Factory load. 120 SP * +P data FL 2645 1865 Factory load. 8th Edition 35 Chapter 2 25-06 Remington Historical Notes The 25-06, originally a wildcat cartridge, was picked up by Remington and added to their commercial line late in 1969. The wildcat version dates back to 1920, when it was introduced by A. O. Niedner. Remington has stuck to his original configuration of simply necking-down the 30-06 case. The Rem¬ ington Model 700 series bolt-action rifles were the first to be offered in the newly-adopted caliber. At the present time, Rem¬ ington, Interarms, Ruger, Savage, Winchester, Weatherby, Sako and almost every other manufacturer of bolt-action rifles offer at least one version in 25-06. In addition, the Ruger single shot is available in this caliber. Since its commercial introduction, the 25-06 Remington has become a very popular number. General Comments The 25-06 was probably the finest of the 25-caliber wildcats. Its emergence as a standardized factory load has been welcomed by many. As a varmint cartridge with the 87- grain bullet it is said to be unsurpassed. However, a comparison of factory ballistics and a little chronographing can be most infor¬ mative. Comparing factory data, we see that as a varmint car¬ tridge both the 6mm Remington and 270 Winchester beat anything the 25-06 can offer in every category that matters. Amazingly, in spite of its much smaller case, the 6mm Rem. 100- grain load is only marginally behind the 25-06 120-grain load in retained energy at long range. There really isn’t any comparison between hunting loads in the 25-06 and the 270 Win. Chrono¬ graphing results suggest that factory data is equally representa¬ tive of what each can realistically do. So just exactly what does the 25-06 offer? Evidently something, because many laud the 25- 06 as among the best. Federal, Winchester and Remington offer this caliber in several bullet weights. 25-06 Remington Loading Data and Factory Baliistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 75 HP IMR 4350 55 3500 2041 Homady, Sierra 87 SP IMR 4831 57 3500 2367 Homady 100 SP IMR 4831 54.5 3300 2419 Sierra, Speer 120 SP IMR 4064 44 3000 2399 Homady 120 SP IMR 4831 50 3000 2399 Nosier, Speer 87 SP FL 3500 2370 Factory load. 90 SP FL 3440 2364 Factory load. 100 SP FL 3230 2316 Factory load. 117 SP FL 2990 2320 Factory load. 120 SP FL 2940 2382 Factory load. 36 Cartridges of the World Current American Rifle Cartridges 257 Weatherby Magnum Historical Notes This cartridge was designed by Roy Weather¬ by in 1944, a year before he went into the commercial gun busi¬ ness. Like most other Weatherby cartridges, it is based on the necked-down and blown-out 300 H&H case. Commercial ammu¬ nition under the Weatherby name has been available since 1948. These have been based on Norma components since 1951. There are a number of wildcat versions of the 300 H&H Magnum necked-down to 25-caliber, but the Weatherby cartridge has largely displaced these. General Comments The 257 WM is one of the first modem, ultra-velocity, small-bore, rifle cartridges to be produced on a commercial basis that developed and retained a degree of popu¬ larity. It is accurate and well-suited for long-range varmint shoot¬ ing on one hand and delivers sufficient velocity and energy to take on almost any North American big game on the other. A superb deer, antelope, sheep, goat or black bear cartridge, it has also been used successfully on elk, moose, brown bear, bon, buf¬ falo and zebra. Many authorities insist that it is much too light for heavy game, but high-velocity advocates insist that with prop¬ er bullets, it is adequate for anything except the largest game in close cover. However, like most of its ilk, this number can be extremely hard on its barrel especially if not enough time is allowed between shots to allow the barrel to cool down or if the barrel has not been cleaned adequately. And, like all high inten¬ sity chamberings, it loses a great deal of velocity with barrels shorter than 26 inches. It is in its element for long-range plains or mountain hunting. The author used a custom Model 70 Winches¬ ter and later a Weatherby Mark V in this caliber, and it is dyna¬ mite on deer-size animals. For long-range varmint shooting it can only be described as “spectacular.” 257 Weatherby Magnum Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 75 HP IMR 4350 66.5 3800 2405 Homady 87 SP IMR 4831 71 3700 2645 Speer 100 SP IMR 4831 66.5 3400 2568 Sierra, Speer, Nosier 117 SP IMR 4831 61.5 3100 2497 Homady, Sierra 120 SP IMR 4350 59 3200 2729 Homady 87 SP FL 3825 2827 Weatherby factory load. 100 SP FL 3602 2882 Weatherby factory load. 120 SP FL 3305 2911 Weatherby factory load. 8th Edition 37 Chapter 2 6.5x55 Swedish Mauser Historical Notes Adopted by the Swedish Army in 1984, the 6.5x55 remained in active Swedish military service until quite recently. This caliber is quite popular throughout Scandinavia for hunting all types of game including moose. It is also a popular choice for 300-meter target shooting and other forms of rifle com¬ petition. Prior to World War II, the 6.5x55 Swedish was almost unknown in the U.S. After the war, Canadian and U.S. sports¬ men became acquainted with this caliber through the thousands of surplus Swedish Mauser rifles sold in North America. Many of these excellent rifles were sporterized leaving them in their orig¬ inal caliber. Canadian sportsmen were first off the mark to appre¬ ciate the virtues of this caliber in the 1950s and 1960s. Later U.S. sportsmen arrived at the same conclusions in the 1970s and 1980s. Other than imported rifles from Scandinavian countries, few sporting rifles in this caliber were available in the U.S. until the 1990s. This has now changed as Winchester offers their Featherweight M70 rifle and Ruger their M77 rifle in this caliber. General Comments The 6.5x55 is one of the few 6.5mm cal¬ ibers ever to catch on in the U.S. For many years, Norma of Swe¬ den was the only manufacturer of this caliber until 1991-92 when Federal Cartridge Co. added this caliber to their Premium prod¬ uct line. This caliber continues to gain popularity as surplus Swedish Mauser rifles are still being imported. Two reasons for its growth in popularity are low recoil and superb accuracy. It is an excellent deer and antelope caliber and is also suitable for bear and elk under good conditions at moderate ranges. Because of its flat trajectory, it is an outstanding choice for hunting sheep and goat in mountainous terrain using lightweight rifles. Lack of suit¬ able bullets and handload data handicapped the full potential of the caliber for many years. This has changed now as good bullets and reloading data are now available from most component man¬ ufacturers. The 140-grain bullets are best for most types of hunt¬ ing and are also the most accurate. The 6.5x55 Swedish Mauser case is not related to typical Mauser cartridges. 6.5x55mm Swedish Mauser Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 85 HP IMR 4320 47 3100 1814 Sierra 100 HP H-380 43.5 3000 1999 Homady 120 SP H-4350 47 3000 2399 Nosier, Barnes 129 SP H-380 43.5 2800 2246 Homady 140 SP IMR 4831 47 2600 2102 Speer, Barnes 160 SP H-4831 44 2600 2402 Speer 140 SP FL 2550 2020 Federal factory load. 38 Cartridges of the World Current American Rifle Cartridges 264 Winchester Magnum Historical Notes This cartridge was officially announced by Winchester in 1958. The 264 Magnum is one of a series of car¬ tridges based on the original Winchester 458 belted case, necked- down. It is historically significant as it is the first American 6.5mm cartridge since the long-defunct 256 Newton was announced back in 1913. It was originally available only in the Winchester bolt-action Model 70 “Westerner” with a 26-inch stainless steel barrel. For a time, the Remington 700 Series was offered in 264-caliber as was the Ruger M77. General Comments The 264 Winchester is a very fine, ultra¬ velocity cartridge with excellent long-range capabilities and bal¬ listics superior to the time-tried 270 Winchester. Its development may well have been suggested by the 257 Weatherby Magnum, for the two are quite similar. The 264 is able to equal the 257 WM, but with the added advantage of the heavier 140-grain bul¬ let for larger species of big game. The 100-grain bullet is intended for animals in the deer and antelope class, the 140-grain for elk and above. The rifling twist used by Winchester is not quick enough to stabilize spitzer bullets of more than 140 grains. The handloader has a wide choice of bullets ranging from 87 to 160 grains. All things considered, the 264 Magnum is adequate for any North American big game. It is a plains and mountain car¬ tridge. Like most of its ilk, this number can be extremely hard on its barrel, especially with either careless shooting, inadequate barrel cooling between shots or inadequate cleaning. (Joyce Hor- nady said they went through three barrels for this chambering just trying to work up the data for three bullets with a few pow¬ ders each. They were tipped off to a problem when the maximum charge for the 140-grain bullet turned out to be quite a bit higher than the maximum charge for the 120-grain bullet with the same powder.) And, like all of the high-intensity chamberings, it loses a great deal of velocity with barrels shorter than 26 inches. To quanitify this: Best possible safe 264 Winchester Magnum loads from 22-inch barrels produce less energy than best possible 270 Winchester loads from a 22-inch barrel with equal weight bullets. Both Remington and Winchester still offer this caliber. However, only the 140-grain bullet is available. 264 Winchester Magnum Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 85 SP IMR 4895 57 3700 2585 Sierra 100 SP IMR 4831 65 3500 2721 Homady 120 SP IMR 4350 60 3200 2729 Nosier, Sierra 129 SP IMR 4350 57 3100 2753 Hornady 140 SP IMR 4831 61 3100 2988 Homady 140 SP IMR 4350 55 3000 2799 Speer, Nosier 160 SP IMR 4831 54.5 2700 2591 Homady 140 SP FL 3030 2854 Factory load Loads shown are for the factory 26" barrel, using Winchester-Western cases. 8th Edition 39 Chapter 2 270 Winchester Historical Notes Designed by Winchester in 1925 for their Model 54 bolt-action rifle, the 270 caused quite a stir in shooting circles. It has remained somewhat controversial ever since. At the time of introduction, it offered better long-range performance than any big game cartridge available on the American market. It has now been adopted by practically every manufacturer of standard bolt-action high-powered sporting rifles in the world. The Remington slide actions and Remington and Browning semi¬ autos are also available in 270-caliber. The cartridge is based on the 30-06 case necked-down to .277-inch. (It is just possible that Winchester chose a 0.277-inch bullet to avoid paralleling any¬ thing European or British and they could possible have been inspired by a Chinese cartridge that used a 0.277-inch bullet. We will likely never know. The case neck is 0.050-inch longer but, except for the neck and headstamp, the 270 Winchester is other¬ wise identical to the 30-06. This cartridge was a long-time favorite of well-known gun writer the late Jack O’Connor, who probably contributed more to popularizing the 270 than any oth¬ er individual. Today the 270 Winchester is one of the most popu¬ lar calibers on the market. General Comments Along with the 30-06, this is one of the most accurate and effective all-round American big game car¬ tridges. Its reputation and popularity have increased steadily since its introduction. Although not intended as a varmint car¬ tridge, the 270 will serve very well in that capacity when loaded with bullets of 100 grains. It is generally conceded to be a better long-range varmint cartridge than its parent, the 30-06. The 130- grain bullet at over 3000 fps muzzle velocity is considered ade¬ quate by many experienced hunters for any North American big game. When first introduced, some deer hunters complained that the 130-grain bullet had such an explosive effect it ruined too much meat. To satisfy the demand for a deer load, Winchester brought out a 150-grain bullet at a reduced velocity of 2675 fps. However, it was short-lived because the people who demanded it wouldn’t buy it. The present 150-grain bullet at 2860 fps is intended for maximum penetration on heavier animals such as elk, moose or bear. Some disagree, but current evidence rein¬ forces the conclusion that the 270 is adequate for any North American big game and some African plains game as well. Assuming the hunter uses the proper bullet for the job at hand, the 270 will deliver reliable performance. In any comparison of the 270 with the 30-06, much depends on intended use and hunt¬ ing conditions. For some reason many individuals shoot better with the 270 than the 30-06. The 270 is flatter shooting than the 30-06, and thus makes a better varmint/big game rifle where this is a consideration. The 30-06, with its 180-, 200- and 220-grain bullets, must be conceded as a better woods, brush or heavy game caliber. In accuracy and general performance, there isn’t a great deal to argue about. Anyone trying to make a big case for one against the other is beating a pretty dead horse. The 270 Win¬ chester is commercially loaded by all large domestic and most for¬ eign ammunition manufacturers. 270 Winchester Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) 90 HP IMR 4350 100 SP IMR 4064 110 HP IMR 4350 130 SP IMR 4350 140 SP IMR 4350 150 SP IMR 4831 150 SP IMR 4350 160 SP IMR 4350 100 SP FL 130 SP FL 150 SP FL ME 2449 2568 2502 2775 2615 2612 2612 51 2800 2786 3480 2612 3060 2702 2850 2705 Source Sierra Homady Sierra Nosier, Sierra, Homady, Speer Homady Speer, Sierra, Homady Nosier, Speer, Homady, Sierra Nosier Factory load. Factory load. Factory load. rs. MV 60.5 3500 53.5 3400 55 3200 55 3100 53 2900 54 2800 52 2800 40 Cartridges of the World Current American Rifle Cartridges 270 Weatherby Magnum Historical Notes Most shooting enthusiasts think that the 270 Weatherby was developed to satisfy a demand for this caliber after the popularity of the 300 Weatherby Magnum had been established. As a matter of fact, the 270 was the first of the line developed by Roy Weatherby on the necked-down 300 H&H case. This was in 1943, following experiments with an improved 220 Swift which Weatherby called the 220 Rocket. It was due largely to actual hunting experience with the 270 WM that started Weatherby on the high-velocity trail. This culminated in his starting a commercial gun business in September, 1945. General Comments The popularity of the 270 Winchester made it almost mandatory for Weatherby to add this caliber to his line of commercial magnum rifle cartridges. The 270 WM has been used extensively, and successfully, on all species of North American big game. It has also achieved notable success on African plains game. Those who have used it claim the 270 Weatherby provides flat trajectory, excellent long-range stopping power on all thin-skinned game and noticeably less recoil than the famous 300 WM. As an added attraction, the 270 WM is not impractical for varmint shooting. The 100-grain bullet is excel¬ lent for this purpose thus making the 270 WM a very versatile all-round caliber. However, it is important to allow plenty of bar¬ rel cooling time with this, and all, high-intensity cartridges. The 270 WM is easy and economical to reload, and empty cases are available for it. Like the other large-capacity magnum cases, it does not lend itself to reduced loads and is at its best with full or nearly full charges. It is a very fine choice for the man who wants to include a varmint hunting potential in his big game rifle. It is one of the most popular calibers that Weatherby offers. 270 Weatherby Magnum Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 90 HP IMR 4350 73 3800 2886 Sierra 100 SP IMR 4350 71 3600 2878 Speer 100 SP H-4831 76.5 3500 2721 Homady 130 SP IMR 4350 68 3300 3144 Speer, Sierra, Nosier 130 SP IMR 4831 70 3300 3144 Sierra, Speer 140 SP IMR 4350 66.5 3100 2988 Nosier 150 SP IMR 4350 66 3000 2998 Hornady, Speer 150 SP IMR 4831 67 3000 2998 Nosier, Sierra 160 SP IMR 4831 65 2900 2989 Nosier 100 SP FL 3760 3139 Weatherby factory load. 130 SP FL 3375 3283 Weatherby factory load. 150 SP FL 3245 3501 Weatherby factory load. 2 . 220 " 8th Edition 41 Chapter 2 7-30 Waters Historical Notes The 7-30 Waters was introduced by in 1984 for the U.S. Repeating Arms Model 94XTR Angle Eject rifle and carbine. The cartridge was the work of Ken Waters, a well-known gun writer and ballistics expert. He began planning the cartridge in 1976 as a high-velocity, flat-trajectory round for short, handy, lever-action carbines. There are many problems to be overcome by those who would improve on the performance of the 30-30- class cartridges in lever-action rifles. Severe restrictions are imposed by tubular magazines, the length of the action and per¬ missible working pressures. However, by 1982 Ken had devel¬ oped a cartridge that would push the 139-grain 7mm bullet at 2600 fps. At this point, U.S. Repeating Arms Co. became inter¬ ested in the project and decided in 1983 to produce Model 94 lever-action rifles for this new cartridge. Federal Cartridge Co. then completed the final version of the cartridge by making vari¬ ous dimensional changes and opting for a lighter 120-grain bullet to achieve higher velocity at less pressure. The current commer¬ cial loading uses a 120-grain Nosier Partition bullet which devel¬ ops a velocity at the muzzle of 2700 fps when fired from a 24-inch barrel. General Comments The 7-30 Waters does offer improved per¬ formance for those who like lever-action carbines or rifles. This caliber should make a good deer/black bear-class cartridge. How¬ ever, the majority of 30-30 lever-action shooters prefer the short carbine since most are woods hunters. The 7-30, with its light 120-grain bullet is unlikely to best the 30-30, 32 Special, 38-55, etc. with shots at close range. Also, it is not going to be the answer for the long-range plains or mountain hunter. When fired from a 20-inch barrel, its performance is considerably reduced. So any¬ one interested in this caliber will be better served if they buy the rifle rather than the carbine. The light recoil of this cartridge makes it an excellent choice for a woman, boy or anyone who is recoil sensitive. The 7-30 is at its best in broken country with shots varying from patches of brush and trees to open areas with shots ranging from 75 to 175 yards. 7-30 Waters Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 120 SP H-335 28.5 2500 1666 Nosier 130 SP H-335 33 2600 1952 Speer 140 SP W748 35 2500 1943 Hornady 140 SP H-335 34 2600 2102 Homady 145 SP 748 34 2400 1855 Speer 120 SP FL 2700 1940 Federal factory load. 42 Cartridges of the World Current American Rifle Cartridges 7mm Mauser (7x57mm) Historical Notes Developed by Mauser as a military cartridge the 7x57mm was introduced in 1892. Shortly afterward this cal¬ iber was adopted by the Spanish government and chambered in a limited quantity of Model 92 Mauser bolt-action rifles. In 1893, Spain adopted a new model Mauser rifle in this same caliber. This rifle has been called the Spanish Mauser ever since, although it was also adopted by Mexico and a number of South American countries. Remington chambered their rolling block and Lee rifles for the 7mm about 1897, and later the Model 30. The Winchester Model 54 and 70 also chambered it. Currently, the Ruger Model 77 and Winchester Featherweight bolt action, plus the Ruger Number One single shot offer the 7mm as stan¬ dard. Also, most European-made bolt-action rifles and combina¬ tion guns chamber the 7mm Mauser, as do many custom-made rifles each year. General Comments Although originally a military cartridge, the 7x57mm Mauser has proven one of the best all-round sport¬ ing rounds ever developed. It is particularly useful in lightweight rifles because it delivers good killing power with moderate recoil. It has been used successfully on every species of big game on earth. However, it is no dangerous game cartridge in the true sense of the term. Its success in the field is due largely to the abil¬ ity of the hunters who have used it. Ballistically, it is only slight¬ ly less powerful than the 270 Winchester or the 280 Remington. It is adequate for most American big game, but is perhaps on the light side for large bear or moose. The 7mm Mauser was discon¬ tinued by American gun manufacturers about 1940 due to lack of popularity. Since the end of WWII, it has become increasingly common due to the influx of surplus 7mm military rifles. The wide selection of 7mm bullets now available for handloading has also contributed to an increase in popularity. The 7x57mm Mauser is commercially loaded by all domestic and most foreign ammunition manufacturers. 7mm Mauser (7x57mm) Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 100 HP W748 52.6 3300 2419 Homady 115 SP IMR 3031 46 3000 2299 Speer 120 SP IMR 4064 46 2900 2241 Homady 130 SP IMR 4350 52 2850 2345 Speer 139 SP IMR 4064 45 2800 2420 Homady 150 SP IMR 4064 41.5 2700 2429 Sierra, Nosier, Homady 160 SP IMR 4895 38 2500 2221 Sierra, Nosier 175 SP IMR 4895 42 2500 2430 Homady 175 SP IMR 4064 39 2450 2333 Nosier, Sierra 140 SP FL 2660 2199 Factory load. 145 SP FL 2690 2334 Factory load. 154 SP FL 2690 2475 Factory load. 175 SP FL 2440 2313 Factory load. 8th Edition 43 Chapter 2 7mm-08 Remington Historical Notes Remington introduced this medium-capacity rifle cartridge to the marketplace in 1980. It is based on the 308 Winchester case necked-down to 7mm and loaded with a 140- grain bullet at 2860 fps. Remington advertised this cartridge as the “...first modem 7mm round designed for use in short-action rifles.” This is an interesting claim in view of the fact that the 284 Winchester, designed for the same purpose, arrived on the scene in 1963. Furthermore, the 7mm-08 is a direct copy of the 7mm/308 wildcat dating back to 1958 and earlier. This is not meant to denigrate a fine cartridge, but to demonstrate that there really isn’t much new under the sun despite advertising claims. The 7mm-08 is chambered in exactly the same actions as the 284 Winchester but does not and can not equal 284 ballistics. Original rifles chambered for the 7mm-08 were the Remington Model 788 and 700BDL Varmint Special bolt actions. Current Remington catalogs list the 700 series and Model Seven bolt actions as available in this chambering. Other makers are begin¬ ning to chamber it; among them Savage. Silhouette shooters of all types favor the 7mm-08 Remington for its excellent ballistics. Remington has hung their hat on the 7mm caliber and with considerable success. They now offer five chamberings: 7mm-08, 7x57mm Mauser, 7mm Express (280 Remington), 7mm Reming¬ ton Magnum and 7mm BR. However, the 7mm BR originated as something of a semi-wildcat based on the 308xl.5-inch necked- down. Remington has contributed more than any other company to the belated recognition of the ballistic advantages of the 7mm caliber by U.S. shooters. General Comments The 7mm-08 140-grain load surpasses the 308 Winchester 150-grain load downrange, according to Reming¬ ton tests from a 24-inch barrel. This appears to be true. At 500 yards the 7mm-08 bullet has an edge of 238 fps and 750 fpe over the 308 bullet. This would make quite some difference in poten¬ tial killing power and also help in better bullet placement at unknown distances. There is not sufficient difference to cause owners of 308-caliber rifles to rush down and trade them off for 7mm-08s, but it does illustrate the ballistic advantages of the smaller caliber loaded with more streamlined bullets. The 7mm-08 is a great favorite with many metallic silhouette shooters, and I have heard many glowing reports regarding its accuracy on the range, particularly with handloads. It is also building a good reputation as a long-range deer and antelope car¬ tridge. When handloaded with heavier bullets than the factory 140-grain, it would also be suitable for heavier game such as elk. Unfortunately, the two factory bullet weights do not make for a very flexible big game cartridge. On the other hand, by handload¬ ing, this cartridge can be adapted to anything from varmint shooting through elk. The case capacity of the 7mm-08 is slightly less than the 7x57mm Mauser and performance with the heavier bullets of around 175 grains is about 100 to 150 fps less, which is not anything to get real excited about. The fact of the matter is that the 7mm-08 is adequate for most North American hunting, but is handicapped by only two commercial bullet loadings. Remington has been joined by Federal in offering factory loaded ammunition in this caliber. 7mm-08 Remington Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 100 HP H-335 40.5 3000 1999 Hornady 120 SP IMR 4320 41 2700 1943 Homady, Sierra, Nosier 130 SP IMR 4064 45 3000 2599 Speer 140 SP IMR 4895 44 2900 2615 Sierra 150 SP IMR 4320 38 2400 1919 Hornady, Sierra 160 SP IMR 4350 44 2650 2496 Nosier, Sierra, Speer 175 SP IMR 4350 44 2600 2627 Speer 120 SP FL 3000 2398 Factory load. 140 SP FL 2860 2542 Factory load. 2 0 ‘ i ‘ M : -7-i . 473 " . 470 " . 454 " 1 - HJ > 1 . 315 " 1 . 560 " 1 . 751 " 2 . 035 " 44 Cartridges of the World - 4 - Current American Rifle Cartridges 7x64mm Brenneke Historical Notes This caliber was developed by Wilhelm Bren¬ neke in Germany in 1917. Although nearly unknown in the U.S., this caliber rivals the 7mm Remington Magnum for popularity in Europe. Unlike the 7mm Remington Magnum, the 7x64 is not belted although is has virtually the same case length. However, base and rim diameter are much smaller. Both fit in standard length actions as loaded length is nearly the same. The 7x64 is unique in that it is one of the few cartridges in mod¬ em times made by American manufacturers to meet European demand without a significant demand in the U.S. In 1991-92 Fed¬ eral Cartridge Co. added the 7x64 to its Premium product line. General Comments Ballistically, the 7x64 is very similar to the 284 Winchester. However, the 7x64 is outclassed by the 7mm Remington Magnum which offers 11 percent more muzzle veloci¬ ty and 24 percent more muzzle energy. This explains why Amer¬ ican sportsmen prefer the 7mm Remington Magnum. Still, higher velocity is not always better and the 7x64 is an excellent choice for hunting deer, antelope, and other medium game at longer ranges. Loading data is not yet available. If you do wish to handload, cases for this cartridge can not be formed from stan¬ dard Mauser-type cartridge cases. However, cases are commer¬ cially available for the 7x64 from Remington and Federal. 7x64mm Brenneke Factory Ballistics _ Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 160 SP FL 2650 2495 Federal factory load. 8th Edition 45 Chapter 2 284 Winchester Historical Notes The 284 was introduced by Winchester in 1963 for their Model 88 lever-action and Model 100 semi-auto rifles. Both have since been discontinued. This is the first Ameri¬ can commercial cartridge to have a rebated or undercut rim of smaller diameter than the body of the case, though British and European designers used this type of case years ago. For a short time, the Savage Model 99 lever action was available in 284. No major gun makers offer this caliber now. General Comments The 284 Winchester has the rim diam¬ eter of the 30-06 and the body diameter of the belted mag¬ nums. This provides increased case capacity in a relatively short case. The cartridge is designed for short actions and will increase the performance of these short, light rifles. Bal¬ listics are practically identical to the 280 Remington. There is no difference in killing power, range or capability between the two. (Except in some gun writer’s imagination!) The 284 Winchester should be a good long-range cartridge for any North American big game. It could also be adapted for varmint shooting. This cartridge has recently staged a well- deserved comeback. 284 Winchester Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 100 HP IMR 4350 60.5 3200 2274 Sierra 120 SP IMR 4350 58 3200 2729 Homady 130 SP IMR 4350 58 3100 2775 Speer 140 SP IMR 4350 55 3000 2799 Homady 140 SP IMR 4895 46 2800 2438 Sierra 145 SP IMR 4831 57 2900 2708 Speer 150 SP IMR 4350 53.5 2800 2612 Sierra 160 SP IMR 4350 52 2700 2591 Speer, Sierra 175 SP IMR 4350 50 2600 2627 Homady, Sierra, Speer 150 SP FL 2860 2724 Winchester factory load. * .473" A 46 Cartridges of the World 1.885" 280 Remington/7mm Express Remington Current American Rifle Cartridges Historical Notes The 280 Remington was introduced by that company in 1957. Initially it was chambered in the Remington Model 740 autoloader, later in the 760 slide action and the 721 and 725 bolt actions. The Remington 700 series bolt-action rifles originally included the 280 chambering. In an effort to increase sales, from 1979 to 1980 Remington cataloged the 280 as the “7mm Express Remington.” But too much confusion resulted and Remington went back to the original 280 moniker. The 280 Rem¬ ington, actually a 7mm with a bullet diameter of .284-inch, is based on the 30-06 case necked-down. It is very similar to the wildcat 7mm-06 which has been around for a good many years. In 1979, Remington introduced a new 150-grain loading. General Comments This is a 30-06 case necked down and with the shoulder moved forward 0.050-inch to prevent its being cham¬ bered in 270 Winchester rifles. Had this been possible, the over¬ size neck might not have had room to open enough to free the bullet and the results could have been extremely dangerous. However, by moving the shoulder forward, Remington created an even more dangerous situation. The 270 Winchester cartridge, which is visually almost indistinguishable from the 280 Rem., chambers effortlessly in 280 Remington rifles. Should the extrac¬ tor catch the case during loading and then allow it to slip forward when the firing pin strikes the primer, or should the striker reach the primer of a load that was chambered ahead of the extractor, the results would be a 0.050" headspace problem with almost cer¬ tain head separation and the resulting flood of 50,000 psi gas in ones face. Not a pretty thought. Remington could have solved the original problem and eliminated the one they created by simply enlarging the case at the shoulder. The 280 Remington is slightly more powerful than the 270 Winchester. It would be stretching a point to say that the 280 is better than the 270 Winchester, although it is probably a little more versatile due to the wider variety of factory bullets avail¬ able. If you are a handloader, any difference would be one of per¬ sonal preference. The 280 is certainly adequate for any North American big game and would also lend itself for use on large varmints. It is another case of a good wildcat cartridge finally emerging in a commercial version. It has picked up a modest fol¬ lowing among 7mm fans since its introduction. Loaded with the 120-grain or new 100-grain varmint bullets, the 280 becomes an excellent varmint cartridge. The 150-grain bullet at 2970 fps brings out some of the latent potential of the caliber, which is tru¬ ly an excellent long-range big game cartridge. Both Remington and Winchester commercially load this caliber. However, Rem¬ ington offers four bullet weights to Winchester’s one. 280 Remington Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 100 HP IMR 3031 45.5 3200 2274 Homady 120 SP IMR 4350 54.5 3000 2399 Sierra 130 SP IMR 4350 57 3100 2775 Speer 140 SP IMR 4350 54 2900 2615 Sierra 150 SP IMR 4831 48 2900 2802 Sierra, Nosier 160 SP IMR 4350 51.5 2700 2591 Speer, Sierra, Homady 175 SP IMR 4350 52 2650 2730 Speer, Homady 120 SP FL 3150 2643 Factory load. 150 SP FL 2890 2781 Factory load. 165 SP FL 2820 2913 Factory load. 140 SP FL 3050 2799 Factory load. 8th Edition 47 Chapter 2 7mm Remington Magnum Historical Notes Introduced by Remington during 1962, the 7mm Remington Magnum was brought out at the same time as the improved, bolt-action 700-series rifles, which replaced the earlier Models 721, 722 and 725. Most other manufacturers have since added this popular caliber to their lines. It took American firearms manufacturers nearly 40 years to realize that the 275 Holland & Holland (made long ago by Western Cartridge Co.) is a first-rate, medium-game, long-range caliber. The long line of 7mm wildcats is much like the old 275 H&H which came out in 1912. Remington chose to ignore the classic 7mm bullet—a 160- grain spitzer—in its 7mm Magnum loads. General Comments The 7mm Remington Magnum is a fine, long-range, big game cartridge. There is a good selection of facto¬ ry loaded 7mm bullets available and the handloader could make it do for just about anything. It has ample power for any North American big game and most thin-skinned African varieties. However, it is an open-country, plains or mountain cartridge rather than a woods or brush number. Many will compare it with the 7mm WM or the 7x61mm Sharpe & Hart Super. Bitter argu¬ ments will ensue as to which is the best or most powerful. This will be akin to the ancient Greek pastime of discussing how many spirits can dance on the head of a pin. However, any difference in these cartridges will be strictly a matter of opinion or imagina¬ tion. They all have nearly the same case capacity and none will do anything the others can’t duplicate. In fact, the 7mm Remington is hardly a new or brilliant design. It is largely a commercial ver¬ sion of several wildcat short-belted 7mm magnums (Ackley, Luff, Mashbum, etc.). Its principal advantage lies in the fact that it is a standard factory product that is widely distributed and avail¬ able in well-made, moderately-priced rifles. Come to think of it, that’s quite a bit to a lot of people. However, don’t trade off your present 7mm Magnum with the idea that the Remington round is going to provide some mysterious extra margin of power or knockdown. The 7mm Rem can be somewhat hard on barrels especially with either careless shooting, inadequate barrel cool¬ ing between shots or inadequate cleaning. And, like all similar chamberings, loses significant velocity with barrels shorter than 24 inches. Actual ballistics may be closer to the 7mm Weatherby Magnum than factory data suggests. Ammunition in 7mm Rem¬ ington Magnum caliber is available in a wide variety from all domestic and most foreign ammunition manufacturers. 7mm Remington Magnum Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 100 HP IMR 4831 71.5 3500 2721 Homady 115 HP IMR 4831 71 3400 2953 Speer 120 SP IMR 4350 66 3350 2991 Sierra, Nosier 130 SP IMR 4350 63 3200 2957 Speer 140 SP IMR 4350 64 3100 2988 Nosier, Sierra, Homady 150 SP IMR 4831 62 3000 2998 Nosier, Sierra 160 SP IMR 4831 62.5 3000 3198 Sierra, Nosier, Speer 175 SP H-450 64.5 2900 3269 Sierra 140 SP FL 3175 3133 Factory load. 150 SP FL 3110 3221 Factory load. 160 SP FL 2950 3090 Factory load. 165 SP FL 2900 3081 Factory load. 175 SP FL 2860 3178 Factory load. 2.035" .313" 48 Cartridges of the World Current American Rifle Cartridges 7mm Weatherby Magnum Historical Notes The 7mm Weatherby Magnum was developed in 1944 as one of a series of cartridges based on the necked-down 300 H&H case. There are several similar wildcat versions, but Weatherbys design is the most popular due to the availability of commercial ammunition. General Comments The 7mm (or 284-caliber) has long been popular in the United States in various wildcat cartridges, yet the original 7mm Mauser never generated any great enthusiasm. The 7mm Weatherby Magnum, offered as a maximum perfor¬ mance cartridge is probably the best known and widely used of the current 7mm Magnums with the single exception of the 7mm Remington Magnum. This is due in part to the availability of fac¬ tory-loaded ammunition with a good selection of bullet weights. The 7mm Weatherby has a slight edge over the 270 Weatherby on tough or dangerous game because it uses heavier bullets and chums up greater energy. However, if long-range varmint shoot¬ ing is on the agenda, the 270 is the better choice. The 7mm WM is adequate for any North American big game and all thin-skinned African game. The 7mm Weatherby Magnum has, to a large extent, lost popularity to the 7mm Remington Magnum because the Remington version is available in a wide variety of rifles less expensive than the Weatherby. Like most high-intensity car¬ tridges, the 7mm WM can be somewhat hard on its barrel espe¬ cially with either careless shooting, inadequate barrel cooling between shots or inadequate barrel cleaning. And, like all similar chamberings, it loses significant velocity with barrels shorter than 24”. Ammunition in this caliber is now available from Rem¬ ington and PMC as well as Weatherby. For many years now Nor¬ ma has loaded Weatherby ammunition in all calibers under the Weatherby brand name. In 1992 Norma began offering Weather¬ by calibers under the Norma brand name. Norma ammunition is distributed by Dynamit Nobel in the U.S. 7mm Weatherby Magnum Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 100 HP IMR 4350 73.5 3600 2878 Homady 115 HP IMR 4831 76 3600 3310 Speer 120 SP IMR 4350 70 3400 3081 Sierra, Nosier, Homady 130 SP IMR 4320 63 3300 3144 Speer 139 SP IMR 4350 68 3200 3161 Sierra, Nosier, Homady 154 SP IMR 4350 67 3100 3287 Homady 160 SP IMR 4350 65 3000 3198 Sierra, Speer 175 SP IMR 4350 65 2800 3047 Speer, Homady 195 SP IMR 7828 61 2500 2707 Speer 139 SP FL 3340 3443 Weatherby factory load. 154 SP FL 3260 3633 Weatherby factory load. 175 SP FL 3070 3662 Weatherby factory load. . 220 " 8th Edition 49 Chapter 2 30 Remington Historical Notes A rimless version of the 30-30, the 30 Rem¬ ington was introduced by Remington in 1906 for their Model 8 autoloader. When the Model 14 slide action came out in 1912, it was also chambered for the 30 Remington as was the Model 30 bolt action introduced in 1921. The Stevens lever-action Model 425 and the Standard gas-operated rifle also used the 30 Rem¬ ington. No new rifles have chambered this round since immedi¬ ately following WWII. Some domestic ammunition companies have loaded it continuously since the war’s end. There are a very large number of rifles for this caliber still in use. General Comments Identical to the 30-30 in performance, the 30 Remington is strictly in the small-, medium- and deer-size game class. Its advantages are in the nature of the guns that chambered it. For one thing, it is possible to use spitzer bullets in most 30 Remington rifles which helps retain velocity at longer ranges. Secondly, most rifles chambered for this round will stand slightly higher pressures than the typical lever-action 30-30. The 30 Remington can be reloaded to better performance than the 30- 30 Winchester. Interestingly, handloading data has seldom, if ever, reflected this possibility. Similarly, factory load ballistics have uniformly downplayed the Remington rimless series with loads rated a ftill 100 fps slower than their rimmed counterparts. However, the difference is not great enough to take the 30 Rem¬ ington out of the 30-30 class. Note: The nominal bullet diameter is given as .307". 30 Remington Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 150 SP IMR 4895 35.5 2350 1840 Lyman 150 SP IMR 4320 36.0 2320 1794 Lyman 170 SP IMR 3031 30.0 2115 1690 Lyman 170 SP IMR 4895 33.0 2145 1735 Lyman 170 SP FL 2120 1696 Remington factory load. ▼ .422" .3316 50 Cartridges of the World Current American Rifle Cartridges 30 Carbine (30 M-1 Carbine) Historical Notes In 1940, the U.S. Ordnance Dept, concluded that a light carbine would have advantages over the 45-caliber pistol in many combat situations. Various designs were submit¬ ted by a number of private manufacturers and, in the end, Win¬ chester’s offering was selected. The semi-auto 30 Ml Carbine was officially adopted in 1941. The cartridge, a modification of the 32 Winchester Self-Loading round of 1906, was hardly a rev¬ olutionary new design, but it served the purpose. At about the same time, the Germans developed their Stg 44 assault rifle and the 7.92mm Kurz cartridge. The Ml Carbine is not an assault rifle. The military insists it was designed to fulfill a different purpose. For a few years, starting in 1966, the Marlin Model 62 Lever- matic was available in 30 Carbine caliber. Iver Johnson, Plain- field and others manufactured several versions of the Ml carbine for the sporting trade. Federal, Remington and Winchester load softpoint sporting ammunition. One version of the Ruger Black- hawk single-action revolver is available in 30 Carbine. General Comments In mid-1963, the government began releasing 30-caliber Ml Carbines for sale to civilians through the National Rifle Association at the moderate price of around $20. Thousands of these guns are, as a result, used for sporting pur¬ poses. The 30 Carbine cartridge is in the same class as the 32-20 WCF. It is wholly a small game and varmint number, despite contrary claims by those who love the short, light, handy Ml Car¬ bine. The accuracy of the carbine combined with the ballistics of the cartridge limit the effective sporting accuracy range to about 150 yards, maximum. The author used an Ml Carbine to hunt small game and deer as early as 1943, before most people could get their hands on one, so he has a pretty good idea of the capa¬ bility of the cartridge. Remember that the 32 Winchester Self- Loading round became obsolete in 1920 because it was more or less useless for sporting purposes. The 30 Carbine was derived from it and shares the same shortcomings. Because of inadequate energy, the 30 Carbine is illegal for deer hunting in most states. It is, however, effective against the smaller deer species where shots are at short range. It is ideal for hunting smaller game such as peccary. 30 Carbine Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 100 H-110 14.5 1950 845 Speer 100 H-110 16.5 2200 1075 Homady 110SP H-110 14 1900 882 Homady, Speer 110 FMJ FL 1900 882 Military load. 110SP FL 1990 967 Factory load. 8th Edition 51 Chapter 2 30-30 Winchester (30-30 WCF/30 Winchester/7.62x51 Rmm) Historical Notes The 30-30, or 30 WCF, was the first Ameri¬ can small-bore, smokeless powder sporting cartridge. It was designed by Winchester and first marketed in early 1895 as one of the calibers available for the Model 1894 lever-action rifle. The original loading used a 160-grain softpoint bullet and 30 grains of smokeless powder. Thus the name 30-30 for 30-caliber bullet and 30 grains of powder. This is really an older way of describing a caliber based on blackpowder. Muzzle velocity was 1970 fps. It was adapted to the Winchester Model 54 bolt action as well as various versions of the original 1894 action such as the Models 55 and 64. Marlin chambered it in their Model 1893 lever action and the improved 36. The latest Model 336 is also available in SO¬ SO. At one time, the Savage Model 99 lever action was made in 30-30, and they also chambered the old Model 40 bolt action for it as well as Model 340. The Remington rolling block and Winches¬ ter single shot were also at one time available in this caliber. In Europe, the 30-30 is known as the 7.62x51R and is popular in sin¬ gle shot and combination guns. Modem factory loads in this cal¬ iber are assembled with 150- or 170-grain bullets. Despite the designation .308 diameter bullets are used. General Comments The 30-30 has long been the standard American deer cartridge, and it is still the yardstick by which the performance of all others is compared. To say that a cartridge is in the 30-30-class means that it is suitable for game up to and including deer at moderate ranges. Its popularity is due to the fact that this cartridge has always been available in short, fight rifles or carbines. It is extremely popular in Mexico and Latin America. So much so that in many backcountry areas, the treinta- treinta is the only high-powered cartridge anyone knows or has heard of. It was, and to a large extent still is, the most popular small-bore sporting cartridge. Despite this popularity, the 30-30 is no wonder cartridge with regard to accuracy or killing power. For larger deer the 170-grain bullet is a good choice and the 170- grain Nosier Partition is the best choice for those who wish to tackle elk. For smaller species, 125- to 150-grain bullets give ade¬ quate penetration with reduced recoil. In no case is it suited to shots beyond about 200 yards. Although sometimes reloaded with fight bullets of 80 to 110 grains, it has neither the velocity nor accuracy in most rifles to make a very good varmint round. Despite its faults, it is a perfectly adequate deer cartridge if prop¬ erly used by a good shot. The author’s first modem high-powered rifle was a 30-30 Model 1894 Winchester carbine, and it served for many useful and game-filled years. All major domestic ammu¬ nition companies offer this caliber. 30-30 Winchester Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 100 SP IMR 3031 33 2600 1394 Speer 110 HP IMR 4064 35 2500 1527 Sierra, Speer 125 SP IMR 4064 35.5 2500 1735 Sierra 150 SP IMR 3031 31 2200 1612 Nosier, Hornady, Sierra 170 SP IMR 3031 29 2100 1665 Sierra, Nosier 150 SP FL 2390 1902 Factory load 170 SP FL 2200 1827 Factory load Always use round- or flat-pointed bullets in tubular magazine rifles; sharp-pointed bullets might set off other cartridges in the magazine. 52 Cartridges of the World Current American Rifle Cartridges 300 Savage Historical Notes Developed and introduced by Savage Arms company for their Model 99 lever-action rifle in 1920, the 300 Savage was later chambered in the Savage Models 20 and 40 bolt actions. The 300 Savage was intended as a cartridge that would work through medium-length actions and deliver ballistics simi¬ lar to the 30-06. Remington chambered it in their Model 81 autoloader, 760 slide action and 722 bolt action. The cartridge achieved considerable popularity, but has now lost out to the superior 308 Winchester. General Comments The 300 Savage provided lever-, slide- action and semi-auto fans with performance close enough to the 30-06 to make rifles of this type useful for most American big game. The original factory load was with the 150-grain bullet and matched the original 30-06 sporting load at 2700 fps. If loaded to original factory pressure levels with IMR-4064, it can significant¬ ly exceed that velocity safely. It is not fully adequate for moose or brown bear, but it is a fine deer and elk cartridge. It is a better choice than the 30-30 for deer under any conditions. The 308 Win¬ chester fulfills the same function as a short-action cartridge and has somewhat more power, so it has gradually replaced the 300 Savage. However, many thousands of 300 Savage caliber rifles are still in use so the cartridge will continue to be loaded for many more years. In a bolt-action rifle, it is as accurate as any other 30- caliber. All the major domestic ammunition companies offer this caliber. 300 Savage Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 100 SP IMR 4064 46 3000 1999 Speer 110SP IMR 4895 43 2800 1915 Speer, Sierra 110SP BL-C2 42 2800 1915 Homady, Speer, Sierra 125 SP IMR 4895 43.5 2800 2177 Sierra 130 SP IMR 4064 43 2700 2105 Speer, Hornady 150 SP IMR 4064 41.5 2600 2252 Sierra, Hornady, Speer 150 SP IMR 4895 40.5 2600 2252 Sierra 150 SP IMR 4064 44.0 2800 2610 Homady 165 SP IMR 3031 37.8 2500 2290 Homady, Sierra 180 SP IMR 4350 46 2400 2303 Homady, Speer 180 SP IMR 4895 39.5 2400 2303 Sierra 150 SP FL 2630 2303 Factory load. 180 SP FL 2350 2207 Factory load. 8th Edition 53 Chapter 2 30-40 Krag (30 Army) ' _ i Historical Notes The 30 U.S. Army, or 30-40 Krag, the first United States small-bore military cartridge, was adopted in 1892. The Winchester high-wall single shot was the first commercial rifle in the U.S. produced for a small-bore, smokeless powder car¬ tridge. This happened when the 30-40 Krag was added to the available calibers during 1893. The Remington-Lee bolt action, Remington rolling block, Winchester Model 95 lever action and high-wall single shot were the first commercial sporting rifles to offer this caliber. No commercial rifles used the cartridge from 1936 to 1973. The first smokeless sporting cartridge (30-30) did¬ n’t arrive until 1895. From 1973 until 1977 the Ruger No. 3 single shot was chambered for the 30-40 Krag, thus stimulating a renewed interest in the cartridge. General Comments The 30-40 (30-caliber/40 grains of the orig¬ inal smokeless powder load) Krag holds the unusual distinction of being the cartridge used to take what is still the world’s record Rocky Mountain elk in 1899. This cartridge has retained its pop¬ ularity primarily because large numbers of fine sporting conver¬ sions of the Krag military rifles and carbines chambered for it are still in use. This speaks highly for both the cartridge and the gun. If there is or has been a smoother working bolt-action rifle, I have not seen it. Although not quite as powerful as either the 30-06 or the 308 Winchester, the 30-40 is well suited for use against North Amer¬ ican big game. Just as with any cartridge, marksmanship and bullet choice are important, especially when going after the biggest and the meanest species on this continent. The Krag earned its reputation with the 220-grain loading, but it can be loaded to great advantage with lighter bullets for smaller species. Interestingly, most authorities consider the 1895 Winchester chambering to be safe with loads at a somewhat higher pressure than the Krag rifle. However, both actions have limitations and one should be particularly circumspect in this regard. Bountiful loading data can be found in current manuals. The 30-40 is the basis of an entire genre of powerful Ackley Improved chamber- ings particularly suited to strong single shot rifles. Winchester is the only remaining manufacturer of this caliber. Only the 180- grain bullet is still offered. 30-40 Krag Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 100 SP H-322 45 3000 1999 Speer 110SP IMR 4320 47 2700 1781 Sierra, Speer 125 SP IMR 4895 44.5 2600 1877 Sierra 130 SP IMR 4064 45.5 2900 2428 Hornady, Speer 150 SP IMR 4895 40 2400 1919 Nosier, Sierra 165 SP IMR 4350 47 2500 2290 Hornady, Nosier, Sierra 180 SP IMR 4350 46 2450 2400 Nosier, Sierra, Speer 180 SP IMR 4895 39 2200 1935 Sierra 200 SP IMR 3031 34 2100 1959 Nosier, Speer, Sierra 220 SP IMR 4350 42 2100 2155 Hornady, Speer, Nosier 180 SP FL 2430 2360 Factory load. 220 SP FL 2200 2360 Factory load. 2 . 314 ' 1 . 725 - -> 54 Cartridges of the World 1 . 830 " Current American Rifle Cartridges 307 Winchester Historical Notes The development of the rimmed 307 Win¬ chester began in 1980, with the first public announcement in December, 1982. However, the cartridge and the Model 94 XTR Angle Eject carbine chambered for it were not available until ear¬ ly 1983. The Marlin Model 336ER in 307 chambering introduced at the same time is no longer offered. The Angle Eject feature is a design modification of the beefed-up Model 94 XTR that ejects spent cartridge cases to the side rather than straight up, which was the way they ejected from earlier Model 94 actions. This was accomplished by changing the position of the extractor and ejec¬ tor and lowering the right receiver side wall. The 307 caliber designation is to avoid confusing this cartridge with the other 30 calibers. It actually uses standard .308-inch bullets. The 307 Winchester is essentially a rimmed 308 Win¬ chester although there is a difference in the overall cartridge length and case thickness. Original factory loadings had 150- and 180-grain bullets. General Comments The popular Model 1894 Winchester lever action has always suffered from two major deficiencies: The design did not allow center mounting of a scope sight; and the tubular magazine required the use of flat-point bullets to prevent one cartridge from setting off others in the magazine under recoil. These factors combined to relegate the Model 1894 to largely short-range woods and brush use. The new XTR Angle Eject redesign eliminates the scope mounting problem and modernizes an old, but popular action. The 307 Winchester will certainly enhance the range and pow¬ er of lever-action rifles so chambered. It is, based on factory bal¬ listic figures, faster than the 30-30 by some 375 fps in muzzle velocity. Although the 307 Winchester has the same general con¬ figuration as the rimless 308 Winchester, there are slight differ¬ ences that prevent it from achieving the full power of the 308. For one thing, the bullet is seated slightly deeper to maintain an over¬ all length compatible with the length of the Model 1894 action. The result is that for any given barrel length with the same bul¬ let weight the 308 will deliver approximately 60 to 110 fps more muzzle velocity. Also, with its pointed bullet, the 308 will lose velocity at a slower rate than the 307 flat-point. It is possible to chamber and fire 308 cartridges in some 307 rifles. However, for various reasons, this is an unsafe practice that could result in damage to the rifle and possible injury to the shooter. The 307 has slightly less velocity at 200 yards than the 30-30 has at 100 yards. If the 30-30 is an adequate 100-yard-plus deer cartridge, then the 307 is certainly a 200-yard deer cartridge. It is not likely to replace the 30-30 as America’s favorite deer cartridge, but it is a more versatile cartridge and certainly takes the Model 94 carbine out of the woods, bush and short-range class. Although it has been reported that the 307 Winchester has thicker case walls and, therefore, reduced internal volume, measurements do not verify this. Winchester is the only manufacturer of ammuni¬ tion in this caliber. Only the 180-grain bullet is still offered. 307 Winchester Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.)* Powder/grs. MV ME Source 110SP IMR 4895 44 2700 1781 Speer 130 SP H-335 45 2800 2264 Speer 150 SP IMR 4064 41 2500 2082 Homady, Speer 150 SP H-335 41 2500 2082 Speer 170 SP IMR 4064 41 2500 2360 Homady 170 SP W748 41 2450 2266 Speer, Hornady 150 SP FL 2760 2538 Factory load. 180 SP FL 2510 2519 Factory load. In tubular magazine rifles , load only flat-point bullets. 8th Edition 55 Chapter 2 308 Winchester (7.62x51 mm NATO) Historical Notes Introduced by Winchester as a new sporting cartridge in 1952, the 308 is nothing more than the NATO 7.62x51mm military round. This was a very smart move, to tack the Winchester name on what was sure to become a popular sporting number. Practically every manufacturer of high-pow¬ ered sporting rifles chambers the 308 since it will work through medium- or standard-length actions. The Model 70 bolt-action and 88 lever-action Winchester were the first American sporting rifles so chambered. It was adopted as the official U.S. military rifle cartridge in 1954, although weapons for it were not ready until 1957. General Comments In power, the 308 Winchester is superior to the 300 Savage and almost equal to the 30-06. It delivers about 100 fps less muzzle velocity than the larger 30-06 with any given bullet weight. Most authorities consider the 308 suitable for most North American big game, although it’s on the light side for moose or big brown bear. This caliber is a favorite of target shooters and has a reputation for excellent accuracy. It is the basis for a number of wildcat cartridges that have been adopted as factory chamberings: 243 Winchester, 7mm-08 Remington, 358 Winchester and the rimmed versions 307 Winchester and 356 Winchester. All major domestic and foreign ammunition companies offer this cartridge. 308 Winchester Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) 110SP IMR 4064 110 SP IMR 4895 125 SP W748 150 SP IMR 4064 150 SP IMR 4895 165 SP IMR 4064 180 SP IMR 3031 180 SP IMR 4064 190 SP IMR 4064 200 SP IMR 4064 150 SP FL 168HPBT FL 180 SP FL ME 2502 2502 2668 2612 2429 2477 2500 2499 41.5 2500 2499 41.5 2500 2637 41.5 2400 2559 2820 2648 2600 2180 2620 2743 Source Sierra Hornady, Sierra Sierra, Nosier Nosier, Sierra, Speer Nosier, Speer, Sierra Sierra, Speer, Nosier, Hornady Nosier Nosier, Sierra, Hornady Hornady, Speer, Sierra Sierra Factory load. Factory load. Factory load. Powder/grs. 50 48 51.5 46 44 43 41 MV 3200 3200 3100 2800 2700 2600 1 . 560 • 1 . 710 »-» 56 Cartridges of the World 30-06 Springfield (7.62x63mm/ 30 Government M’06) Current American Rifle Cartridges Historical Notes The 30-06 Springfield is a United States mili¬ tary cartridge adapted from the 30-03 by adopting a lighter streamlined bullet and making other minor changes. In this it par¬ allels other military cartridge developments at about the same time, with French and German developments leading the way. It was adopted in 1906 for the Model 1903 Springfield service rifle, which was based on the Mauser bolt-action system. The Winches¬ ter Model 1895 lever action appears to have been the first sporting rifle chambered for the 30-06. The cartridge was added to the line in 1908. The Remington bolt-action Model 30, introduced in 1921, and the Winchester bolt-action Model 54 brought out in 1925 both offered the 30-06, among other calibers. The Savage bolt-action Model 40 and 45 Super-Sporter rifles were also so chambered when introduced in 1928. At present, in addition to the many bolt- action rifles, the Remington Model Six slide action and Four semi¬ auto, as well as the Browning semi-auto, include the 30-06 as standard calibers. The Ruger Number One single shot rifle is also offered in 30-06. A number of British and European side-by-side or over/under double rifles can be ordered in this caliber, and so can some European rifle-shotgun combination guns. General Comments The 30-06 is undoubtedly the most flexible, useful, all-round big game cartridge available to the American hunter. For many years it has been the standard by which all oth¬ er big game cartridges have been measured. To say that a car¬ tridge is in the 30-06 class means it is suitable for any game in North America. The secret of success when using this cartridge is to select the right bullet for the game and hunting conditions at hand. Lighter bullets of 100 to 130 grains should be used only for varmint and small game hunting. While these bullets can be dri¬ ven at impressive velocities (well over 3000 fps), they are designed to expand rapidly on small game and will not penetrate properly on large game. For deer, antelope, goat, sheep, black or brown bear, under most hunting conditions, the 150- or 165-grain bullet is proper and a good compromise for those seeking one load for medium to heavy game. For heavier game such as elk, moose or the big brown bear, the 180-, 200- or 220-grain bullets are the best choice. The heavier bullets are also considered best for woods or brush hunting, regardless of the quarry. The ’06 performs impres¬ sively with handloads using 250-grain bullets. Many experienced hunters consider the 180-grain bullet the most satisfactory all¬ round loading for the 30-06 because it can be used effectively on anything from deer to the heaviest game under almost any hunt¬ ing conditions. As a matter of fact, the 30-06 will give a good account on all but the heaviest or most dangerous African or Asi¬ atic species under average hunting conditions. The 220-grain bul¬ let is generally recommended for African game although the 180-grain also has a good reputation there. With the proper bullet, this cartridge can be adapted to any game or hunting situation in North or South America, whether in the mountains, plains, woods or jungles. Few other cartridges can claim equal versatility. 30-06 Springfield Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 100 SP IMR 4064 59 3400 2568 Speer 110SP IMR 4064 54.5 3300 2660 Sierra, Homady 110SP H-380 56 3300 2660 Sierra 125 SP IMR 3031 50 3100 2668 Sierra 130 SP IMR 4350 58 3000 2599 Homady, Speer 150 SP IMR 4350 59 3000 2998 Nosier, Speer, Sierra, Hornady 150 SP IMR 4895 51 2900 2802 Nosier 165 SP IMR 4320 50.5 2800 2873 Sierra 180 SP IMR 4320 48.5 2700 2910 Sierra, Nosier 180 SP IMR 4831 57 2750 3023 Speer, Nosier, Sierra 190 SP IMR 4350 54 2700 3076 Hornady, Speer, Sierra 200 SP IMR 4320 47 2400 2559 Nosier, Sierra 220 SP IMR 4350 50.5 2400 2854 Homady, Sierra, Barnes 220 SP IMR 4831 54 2500 3054 Homady, Sierra 250 SP IMR 4831 47 2100 2499 Barnes 55 SP FL (Accelerator) 4080 2033 Remington factory load. 125 SP FL 3140 2736 Factory load. 150 SP FL 2920 2839 Factory load. 165 SP FL 2800 2873 Factory load. 168HPBT FL 2700 2720 Factory load. 180 SP FL 2700 2913 Factory load. 220 SP FL 2410 2837 Factory load. -2.494"- l7°-30 .473" Q .470" .441" ~7 1.948"- -2.109" .340' 8th Edition 57 Chapter 2 300 Holland & Holland Magnum (300 H&H Super) Historical Notes The 300 H&H Magnum was introduced in 1925 by the British firm of Holland & Holland as “Holland’s Super 30.” The Western Cartridge Co., the first American com¬ pany to load this round commercially, offered it here in 1925. No American-made commercial rifles were chambered for the 300 H&H until 12 years after its introduction. However, Griffin & Howe and other custom rifle makers turned out rifles for it almost as soon as the British. In 1935, Ben Comfort won the 1000-yard Wimbledon Cup Match with this cartridge, and overnight it became the new sensation. The Model 70 Winchester was chambered for the 300 H&H in 1937, and the Model 721 and succeeding Model 700 Remingtons were also available in this cal¬ iber. Most European bolt-action rifles chambered it as standard. General Comments Since 1935, the 300 H&H has enjoyed a lim¬ ited popularity in the United States. Many shooters consider it the best all-round 30-caliber available to the American hunter; others insist it is hardly better than the 30-06. Regardless of which side one favors, this is an accurate cartridge and adequate for any North American big game. Its most useful range is from elk on up, but it is also a veiy fine long-range cartridge for antelope, sheep or goat. It is popular in Africa as an all-round caliber for plains game. Lately, its popularity has suffered considerably from competition with the 300 Weatherby and 300 Winchester Magnums. It is no longer used for match competition. Derived from the earlier 375 H&H, the 300 H&H is the direct progenitor of an entire family of “belted magnums.” With modem powders and best handloads the 300 H&H is very close ballistically to even the biggest 300 Mag¬ nums. Winchester, Remington and Federal all load this caliber. 300 Holland & Holland Magnum Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 110 HP IMR 4350 76 3600 3166 Sierra, Homady 130 SP IMR 4320 64 3400 3338 Homady 150 SP IMR 4831 73 3300 3628 Nosier, Sierra, Speer 165 SP IMR 4350 69 3100 3522 Sierra, Speer, Hornady 180 SP IMR 4831 68 2900 3362 Sierra, Speer 190 SP H-380 65.5 3000 3798 Homady 200 SP IMR 4831 67.5 2800 3483 Sierra, Speer 220 SP IMR 4350 63 2700 3562 Homady, Sierra 150 FL 3190 3390 Factory load. 180 FL 2880 3315 Factory load. 220 FL 2620 3350 Factory load. .336 // 58 Cartridges of the World Current American Rifle Cartridges 300 Winchester Magnum Historical Notes This cartridge was introduced in 1963 for the Winchester Model 70 bolt-action rifle. Rifles chambered for the 300 Winchester Magnum have since been introduced by most domestic and European manufacturers. General Comments The 300 Winchester Magnum’s arrival was rather anti-climatic because everyone had been predicting it from the day the 338 Winchester Magnum was brought out in 1958. The 30-338 wildcat quickly followed. The newer 300 Win¬ chester Magnum has a slightly longer body (by about .12-inch) and a shorter neck than its predecessors. This short neck is con¬ sidered a poor feature as it means the heavy bullets have to pro¬ ject back into the powder space quite a bit. Whether Winchester just wanted to make sure their round was different from the rest or made the body longer so owners of 30-338 or 308 Norma rifles could rechamber to the new cartridge is anyone’s guess. In any event, the 300 Winchester Magnum is a fine long-range big game cartridge in the same class as the 300 Weatherby and suitable for any North American species. Actual factory-load ballistics may be closer to 300 Weatherby Magnum ballistics than published data suggests. With cartridges in this class and above recoil becomes a factor for many shooters. It is loaded by all domestic and many foreign ammunition manufacturers. 300 Winchester Magnum Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 110 HP IMR 4350 80 3600 3166 Homady, Sierra 125 SP IMR 4350 77 3400 3209 Sierra 130 SP IMR 4064 66 3300 3144 Speer, Hornady 150 SP IMR 4350 76 3300 3628 Sierra 150 SP IMR 4895 62 3150 3306 Speer, Sierra 150 SP IMR 4350 76 3200 3412 Speer, Sierra 165 SP IMR 4831 76 3200 3753 Speer, Sierra 180 SP IMR 4350 71 3000 3598 Sierra 190 SP IMR 4831 74 3150 4187 Speer 200 SP IMR 4350 68 2950 3866 Nosier 220 SP IMR 4350 60 2500 3054 Homady, Sierra 150 SP FL 3290 3605 Factory load. 180 SP FL 2960 3501 Factory load. 200 SP FL 2825 3544 Factory load. 220 SP FL 2680 3508 Factory load. 2.196* 2.356" 8th Edition 59 Chapter 2 300 Weatherby Magnum Historical Notes The 300 Weatherby Magnum is the most pop¬ ular and well-known cartridge of the Weatherby line. At the same time, it is one of the most controversial. It was developed in 1944 as the last of the necked-down or improved Weatherby develop¬ ments based on the 300 H&H case. Commercial ammunition has been available since 1948, under the Weatherby label. Weatherby brand ammunition is loaded by Norma of Sweden. The Weather- bys were the only U.S. rifles chambered for this round on a com¬ mercial basis, but it is a popular caliber among custom rifle makers. In 1989, Remington offered their model 700 Classic in 300 Weatherby. Recently, Remington and PMC have begun offer¬ ing ammunition in this caliber. General Comments The 300 Weatherby Magnum is the biggest of the commercial 300 belted magnums. As such, it is capable of delivering the best ballistics. Barrel life can be short, some might classify recoil as severe, and ballistics suffer greatly when shorter barrels are tried. None of these limitations matter to many who use it strictly for big game hunting and seldom fire it more than a few dozen times a year. It can be adapted to long- range varmint shooting if one can develop an accurate enough load, but it is not very flexible in that regard. For the hunter who wants one rifle suitable for any species of non-dangerous big game worldwide, the 300 WM is an excellent choice. However, because of caliber restrictions, local game laws may prohibit its use, even against non-dangerous species. This is another case of archaic regulations, where the law might allow one to use an entirely inappropriate loading from a much less powerful big- bore; where, given the right choice of bullets, the 300 WM would be much more effective and humane. 300 Weatherby Magnum Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 110 HP IMR 4064 79.5 3800 3528 Homady, Sierra 125 SP IMR 4831 87.5 3500 3401 Sierra 150 SP H-380 77 3300 3628 Sierra 150 SP IMR 4350 80.5 3200 3412 Homady, Speer 165 SP IMR 4831 82 3200 3753 Speer, Sierra 180 SP IMR 4350 76.5 3000 3598 Hornady, Speer, Nosier, Sierra 180 SP MRP 84 3100 3842 Speer 200 SP IMR 4350 75 2900 3736 Speer, Sierra 220 SP H-450 77 2800 3831 Hornady 250 SP IMR 7828 69 2350 3066 Barnes 150 SP FL 3600 4316 Factory load. 165 SPBT FL 3450 4360 Factory load. 180 SP FL 3300 4352 Factory load. 190 SPBT FL 3030 3873 Factory load. 220 SP FL 2905 4122 Factory load. 60 Cartridges of the World Current American Rifle Cartridges 303 Savage Historical Notes Originally developed as a potential military cartridge in 1895, the 303 Savage was later introduced commer¬ cially as one of several calibers for the popular Savage Model 1899 lever action. Savage discontinued this caliber when rifle pro¬ duction was resumed after WWII. In England it is known as the 301 Savage. No new rifles are chambered for this round at the present time. The current Winchester loading uses the original 190-grain bullet weight. They are the only manufacturer of this caliber. General Comments Dogma holds that the 303 Savage is not a true 303 but instead uses standard 0.308-inch bullets. However, current SAAMI specifications call for a bullet of 0.311-inch. Mea¬ surements of bullets on three lots of each of two makes of WWII era factory loads yeilds mixed results. Some were 0.308-inch+, others 0.310-inch+. The 303 is similar to the 30-30 in size, shape and performance, but the two are not interchangeable. With its 190-grain bullet, many old woods hunters swore by it as a brush cartridge. With the relatively heavy bullet at moderate velocity, it gave good penetration on deer-size animals. However, it is holis¬ tically no more powerful than the 30-30 so its use should be restricted to deer at short ranges. Unfortunately, Savage never took advantage of the fact that the 99 rifle is particularly suited to the use of spitzer bullets. Proper loadings of 150-grain spitzers in the 303 could have moved it completely out of the 30-30 class and might have come a long way toward increasing its popularity. As it has always been loaded, it is effective only at close range. This need not have been the case. Many handloaders still use the 303 Savage with 150-grain spitzer bullets loaded to about 2500 fps. It is still no long-range wonder, but such a load gives it a decided edge over any other 30-30-class chambering. Although still loaded commercially, it is rapidly becoming obsolete. 303 Savage Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 150 SP IMR 4064 36 2400 1919 Lyman 170 SP IMR 3031 31 2170 1778 Lyman 180 SP FL 2140 1830 Factory load. 190 SP FL 1890 1507 Winchester factory load. 8th Edition 61 Chapter 2 7.62x39 (7.62x39mm Soviet) Historical Notes This cartridge is the standard military caliber for the Russian armed forces. It has become a modem favorite of U.S. sportsmen by virtue of the thousands of new and used SKS and AK 47-type carbines being imported and sold at very low prices. Ruger, Sako, and others are now making sporting rifles in this caliber. For example the Ruger Mini Thirty semi-auto car¬ bine and bolt-action M77 rifle are both offered in 7.62x39mm. All major American ammunition manufacturers now offer this cal¬ iber with a softpoint bullet, brass case, and non-corrosive Boxer primer. Imported, low cost surplus military ammunition from present and former Communist countries is usually steel cases with corrosive Berdan primers. General Comments While previous military cartridges gener¬ ally made suitable hunting calibers with proper bullets, many writers condemn the 7.62x39 out of hand as being unsuited for hunting anything beyond small game. In short, it is very much like the Ml Carbine cartridge—fine for military use but useless for hunting. But at 100 yards, the 125-grain bullet of the 7.62x39 still retains 1129 fps of striking energy compared to the 1356 fps of the 30-30 Winchester. That is only 17 percent less and nearly twice that of the 30 Carbine (600 fps). And what of the 44 Mag¬ num with 988 fps at 100 yards? Still, the 7.62x39 is very definite¬ ly a close-range number suitable for deer, javelina and the like. With the best handloads and the proper bullet, it can do even bet¬ ter. It can be loaded to good advantage with 150-grain bullets and then becomes a very good 30-30-class deer rifle. Youthful shooters and women will appreciate its low recoil and mild report. After¬ market bullet manufacturers now offer suitable bullets. Bore diameter is nominally .311-inch but .308-inch diameter bullets can be used with good results and most reloading dies will accom¬ modate this by including expander balls for both bullet sizes. 7.62mm Soviet Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 110SP IMR 4727 42 2500 1527 Speer 125 SP RL-7 26.5 2400 1599 Hornady, Sierra 130 SP IMR 4198 25 2250 1462 Speer 135 SP IMR 4227 22.5 2200 1451 Sierra 150 SP IMR 4198 22 2100 1469 Hornady 123 SP FL 2300 1445 Federal factory load. 123 SP FL 2365 1527 Winchester factory load. 125 SP FL 2365 1552 Remington factory load. 62 Cartridges of the World Current American Rifle Cartridges Historical Notes The 303 British was the official military rifle cartridge of England and the British Empire from its adoption in 1888 until the 7.62 NATO came along in the 1950s. Original load¬ ing was a 215-grain bullet and a compressed charge of blackpow- der—smokeless powder became the propellant in 1892. Manufacture in the U.S. began about 1897. Remington cham¬ bered their Lee bolt-action magazine rifle for this cartridge and Winchester did likewise in their Model 95 lever action. No Amer¬ ican rifle has chambered the 303 British since 1936. However, Winchester, Federal and Remington continue to load this popular caliber. General Comments The 303 British has always been popular in Canada and other parts of the British Empire. In the U.S. it has not been as widely used because of its performance similari¬ ty to the 30-40 Krag. However, since the end of WWII, the impor¬ tation of large numbers of British Lee-Enfield military rifles has altered this situation. At the present time, the 303 is more popu¬ lar than the 30-40 Krag. Norma imports 130- and 180-grain loads that greatly increase the flexibility and usefulness of this car¬ tridge for the American hunter. The 215-grain bullet has always had a good reputation for deep penetration and is a favorite for moose and caribou in the Canadian backwoods. The 303 is suit¬ able for anything the 30-40 Krag is in the way of game. In Aus¬ tralia, a number of popular sporting cartridges are based on necking-down and/or reforming the 303 case. (Editor's Note: Although often classed with the 30-40 Krag, this cartridge is loaded to higher pressures and delivers superior bal¬ listics. Foreign factory loads place it very close ballistically to the 308 Winchester and measurably above any factory 30-40 load, though handloads for the 30-40 in the Model 95 Winchester can match the 303 British.) 303 British Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 150 SP IMR 4064 43 2600 2252 Speer, Hornady 150 SP IMR 4895 42 2400 1919 Sierra, Speer 150 SP IMR 4064 43 2600 2252 Speer, Sierra 180 SP IMR 4895 42 2400 2303 Sierra 180 SP IMR 4350 46 2400 2303 Speer, Hornady 130 SP FL 2789 2246 Factory load. 150 SP FL 2690 2400 Factory load. 180 SP FL 2460 2420 Factory load. 215 SP FL 2180 2270 Factory load. Century International RI-02 Lee Enfield No. I MKIII 1.790" * 1.890" * A ----- 2 . 222 " 8th Edition 63 Chapter 2 32-20 Winchester (32-20 WCF) Historical Notes Introduced by Winchester in 1882 for their Model 73 lever-action rifle, the 32-20 quickly attained consider¬ able popularity as a medium-power cartridge in both rifle and revolver. Practically all American makers have chambered rifles for the 32-20 in lever, slide or bolt action, and most single shot rifles have also chambered it. Colt, Smith & Wesson and Bayard made revolvers in this caliber. Marlin reintroduced it for their Model 94CL lever action in 1988. Winchester once offered a lighter 100-grain bullet blackpowder load for the 32 Colt Light¬ ning magazine rifle, headstamped .32 C.L.M.R. A similar 100- grain loading specifically for Marlin rifles was headstamped .32-20. Both Remington and Winchester still offer factory loaded ammunition in this caliber. General Comments Although semi-obsolete, the 32-20 still enjoys modest popularity with farmers, ranchers, trappers and pot hunters. It can be reloaded easily and at moderate cost. In addition, it delivers good killing power on small and medium game at ranges out to 100 yards without destroying all the edible meat. Winchester once advertised it as a combination small game and deer cartridge. It is much too underpowered for deer-size ani¬ mals. It is, nonetheless, a useful small game and varmint car¬ tridge at short ranges, and it is quite accurate in a bolt-action or solid-frame single shot. The author has had considerable personal experience with the old 32-20, having owned and hunted with several rifles of this cal¬ iber. These included (in chronological order), a Winchester Model 1892 lever action, Savage Model 23C bolt action, Remington Model 25A slide action and a rechambered Greener single shot Cadet rifle. The only one I still have is the Remington slide action, which is one of those things, along with my wife, that I just won’t part with. The Savage bolt action with a scope sight would shoot very con¬ sistently into 1 to IV4 inches at 100 yards. This was a very nice little varmint and small game combination at ranges of 100 to 125 yards. I used this in the immediate post WWII era when nothing else was available, and it worked out very well within its range limitations. I have also used the 25-20, but always consid¬ ered the 32-20 a better all-around caliber in this class. It’s a bet¬ ter killer on just about anything at practical ranges. In a strong single-action revolver, the 32-20 can be loaded to 1050 to 1100 fps from a 6-inch barrel, which makes a very effec¬ tive field gun. Trouble is, the cartridge is too long for most mod¬ em revolver cylinders. The 32 H&R Magnum is shorter and will serve to fill the requirement for a high-performance 32-caliber handgun round. The 357 Magnum revolver cartridge chambering in a rifle will out perform the 32-20 by a substantial margin. In any event, the author has always liked the 32-20 for certain pur¬ poses, although by today’s standards it is a bit on the obsolete side. The 32-20 is the basis for the 25-20 and the 218 Bee. 32-20 Winchester Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 85 SP 2400 12.5 2100 833 Rifle only—Homady 85 SP IMR 4227 17 2300 999 Rifle only—Homady 85 SP H-110 14 2100 833 Rifle only—Homady 110SP IMR 4227 15 2000 977 Rifle only—Homady 110SP H-110 15.5 2100 1077 Rifle only—Homady 110SP 2400 10.5 1700 706 Rifle only—Homady 80 SP FL 2100 780 Factory load. 100 SP FL 1210 325 Factory load. WARNING: Do not use rifle loads in revolvers; pressures develop beyond what the average handgun is designed to withstand. 64 Cartridges of the World Current American Rifle Cartridges 32 Winchester Special (32 WS) Historical Notes Introduced in 1895 for the then-new Win¬ chester Model 1894 lever action, the 32 Special was an original smokeless powder design. Because it is a rimmed shell, it has never been used in anything but lever-action and single shot rifles. Remington brought out a rimless version to function in their bolt and semi-auto rifles. Winchester and Marlin were the principal American companies to chamber the 32 Special. Feder¬ al, Remington and Winchester continue to offer factory loaded ammunition in this caliber. General Comments In their 1916 catalog Winchester had this to say about the 32 Special: “The 32 Winchester Special, which we have perfected, is offered to meet the demand of many sports¬ men for a smokeless powder cartridge of larger caliber than the 30 Winchester and yet not so powerful as the 30 Army.” They go on to explain that the 32 Special meets these requirements and the 1916 ballistics chart shows it generating 10.6 percent more energy than the 30-30 at the muzzle and retaining an edge to any reasonable hunting range. Today, it is still loaded to higher velocity, and if loaded to equal pressure, it easily beats the 30-30 by over 100 fps. However, bul¬ let selection is limted. Speer’s 170-grain flat point, the most streamlined available, actually has a higher ballistic coefficient than most 170-grain 30-30 bullets. For those whose 32 Special rifle has a truly shot-out barrel, Homady’s 170-grain round-nose 0.323-inch bullet works wonderfully. There has been a mountain of bunk written as to how the 32 Special answered the demand of handloaders who wanted to use blackpowder. Since the same rifle was originally chambered for the 32-40 at about one-half the price of the nickel steel 32 Special version, this seems fantastic. They would have us believe that the man wanting to save money on ammunition would for no reason spend the price of two rifles for the privilege. Much ink has also been spilled claiming the 32 Spe¬ cial just wouldn’t shoot straight after the barrel got a bit of wear. I have experimented with two 32 Special carbines, a very early Winchester and a 1936 Marlin. With bullets that fit, both shoot inside 3 inches at 100 yards with open sights. The Winchester had been so abused that its rifling hardly showed until we thor- oughtly cleaned it. The bore is pitted but it shoots just fine. 32 Winchester Special Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 170 SP RL7 31.0 2283 1965 Lyman 170 SP W748 36.2 2240 1890 Winchester 170 SP FL 2250 1910 Factory load. 8th Edition 65 Chapter 2 8mm Mauser (7.92mm Mauser/ 8x57mmJ/8x57mml/ 8x57mmS/8x57JS) Historical Notes The 8mm or 7.92 Mauser was the German military rifle cartridge through both world wars. It was officially adopted in 1888 with a bullet diameter of .318-inch. In 1905, the bullet diameter was increased to .323-inch. In Europe, the 8mm Mauser and several other 8mm cartridges are available in both sizes. The larger size is always designated as S or JS bore. In the U.S., ammunition companies load only the .323-inch diameter or “S” bullet. The 8mm Mauser is widely chambered in European sporting rifles, but American gunmakers have not adopted it as a standard sporting caliber. The “J” or “I” in the name denotes infantry ammuntion. The German capital “I” was mistaken for a capital “J” by U.S. military interpreters after WWI and the “J” misnomer came into common use here thereafter. General Comments The 8mm Mauser had not been very pop¬ ular in the U.S. prior to WWII. However, the large number of obsolete, surplus 8mm military rifles sold here since the end of WWII has increased its use substantially. American cartridge companies only put out one loading; the 170-grain bullet at 2360 fps or so. As loaded by Norma and by other European companies, such as RWS, it is in the same class as our 30-06. It is adequate for any North American big game if the proper bullets and full loadings are used. A large variety of good .323-inch bullets is now available for the individual handloader, and this has increased the usefulness of the 8mm Mauser for the American shooter. 8mm Mauser (8x57mm JS) Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 125 SP H-4198 44 3100 2668 Homady 125 SP IMR 3031 49 3100 2668 Homady 150 SP IMR 4320 53.5 2900 2802 Homady 150 SP IMR 3031 49 2750 2519 Speer 175 SP IMR 3031 45.5 2600 2627 Sierra 200 SP IMR 4831 54 2400 2559 Speer 220 SP IMR 4831 2200 2365 Homady 159 SP FL 2723 2618 European factory load. 170 SP FL 2360 2100 U.S. factory load. 196 SP FL 2526 2778 European factory load. 198 SP FL 2625 3031 European factory load. 200 SP FL 2320 2390 European factory load. 227 SP FL 2330 2737 European factory load. WARNING! Many J-bore (.318-inch) rifles still exist and will fire S-bore (.323-inch) cartridges, creating dangerous pressures. When in doubt, check bore diameter CAREFULLY! 2 . 240 "- 66 Cartridges of the World Current American Rifle Cartridges Historical Notes This cartridge was a Remington development announced in 1978 for their Model 700 BDL bolt-action rifle. The 8mm Magnum is something of a departure from the usual belted, short magnum configuration favored by Remington in the past, a design which will work through the standard-length bolt action. The 8mm Magnum is based on the full-length 375 H&H case blown out, thus requiring a .375-inch longer bolt travel than the standard 30-06 length action. Again, this is not an entirely original design since it was pre¬ ceded by similar developments in years past. The 8x68mm (S) Magnum, for example, originated in Germany around 1940, and a number of 8mm wildcat magnums such as the 8mm Ernst, 8x62 Durham, 323 Hollis, 8mm PMM, etc., date back to the late 1950s and early 1960s. However, this is the first commercial 8mm magnum cartridge introduced by an American company. Remington originally offered two loadings: a 185-grain bullet at a muzzle velocity of 3080 fps and a 220-grain at 2830 fps. The 220- grain load has since been dropped. There is a good selection of 8mm (.323-inch diameter) bullets available for handloading this cartridge. General Comments Comparing either handloaded or factory ballistics for the 338 Winchester Magnum and the 8mm Reming¬ ton Magnum, one can easily see why the latter failed to gamer any great following. Any minuscule ballistic advantage it might have just doesn’t justify the increased cartridge length and recoil resulting from a heavier powder charge. Add to that a limited bul¬ let selection and the 8mm Remington Magnum dims even fur¬ ther. With lighter recoil and potentially flatter trajectories, the various 300 Magnums have it beat on that side; with heavier bul¬ lets shooting almost as flat and delivering more energy the 338 Winchester Magnum and the 340 Weatherby Magnum have it beat on the other side. This is a classic example of a cartridge that fails to fill any useful niche. Do to its large powder capacity, this cartridge is another that is particularly sensitive to barrel length. 8mm Remington Magnum Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 125 SP IMR 4064 76 3600 3598 Homady 150 SP IMR 4350 79.5 3300 3628 Speer, Hornady, Sierra 175 SP IMR 4831 80 3100 3735 Speer, Sierra, Hornady 200 SP IMR 4831 78 3050 4132 Nosier, Speer 220 SP IMR 4831 76 2800 3831 Sierra, Hornady 250 SP IMR 7828 72 2550 3611 Barnes 185 SP nnn on FL 3080 3896 Remington factory load. 220 SP FL 2830 3912 Remington factory load. 2.389"- -2.530“ 8th Edition 67 Chapter 2 338 Winchester Magnum Historical Notes Announced in 1958, the 338 is another of the series based on the 458 Winchester necked-down. Initially avail¬ able only in the Winchester Model 70 “Alaskan” bolt-action rifle, Remington adopted it for their 700 Series bolt action. Some of the European rifle makers also chamber it, as does Ruger for their Model 77 and No. 1 rifle and many custom and semi-custom rifles. Browning’s autoloader also chambers it. General Comments Designed to cover the heaviest of North American big game, the 338 has also done well in Africa on the larger varieties of plains game. Although slightly less powerful than the 375 H&H Magnum, the 338 is better suited for North American hunting conditions and game. It is a well-balanced car¬ tridge for anything from elk through moose and grizzly bear under almost any situation. It could also serve very well for deer or antelope, even though it is overly powerful for this class. Like the 300 WM, the 338 Winchester would make an excellent one- gun cartridge for the worldwide hunter who has to travel light. The 338 is automatically barred in some African countries in which the 375 is the minimum caliber. Lately, the 338 has enjoyed a renewed and well-deserved popularity. Winchester, Remington and Federal all load this caliber. 338 Winchester Magnum Reloading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 175 SP IMR 4895 67.5 3200 3980 Barnes 200 SP IMR 4831 76.5 3000 4000 Homady, Speer 200 SP IMR 4350 71.5 2900 4048 Speer, Homady 210 SP IMR 4350 73 2900 3923 Nosier 225 SP IMR 4831 72 2800 3918 Hornady 250 SP IMR 4831 71 2700 4048 Speer, Sierra 250 SP IMR 4350 70 2700 4048 Sierra 275 SP IMR 4831 68 2500 3817 Speer 275 SP IMR 4064 58 2400 3518 Speer 300 SP IMR 7828 70 2500 4164 Barnes 200 SP FL 2960 3890 Factory load. 225 SP FL 2780 3860 Factory load. 250 SP FL 2660 3921 Factory load. 2.040'- .369" - 4 - 68 Cartridges of the World 2.170"- Current American Rifle Cartridges 340 Weatherby Magnum Historical Notes The growing popularity of the 338 Winches¬ ter Magnum for elk and larger game undoubtedly influenced the development of the 340 Weatherby. First announcement of the new caliber came in 1962. John Amber had one of the first 340 WM rifles and reported 100-yard groups of 2 inches or less—quite good for such a heavy-caliber hunting rifle. General Comments With its larger case, the 340 Weatherby develops higher velocity with any given bullet weight than the 338 Winchester. Velocity of 3260 fps with the 200-grain bullet and 2980 with the 250-grain is impressive. This means around 4700 fpe with either bullet. This should be quite effective on African game. A 210-grain Nosier bullet loading is also available with an MV of 3250. All of these figures derive from 26-inch bar¬ rels. The cartridge is suitable for all North American big game and most African species as well. Weatherby ammunition is loaded by Norma of Sweden. Handloaders will find that case life with Weatherby (Norma) cases is very limited with top hand¬ loads due to soft case heads. This problem can be eliminated by reforming 8mm Remington Magnum cases but these require a significant reduction in charge due to much reduced capacity. Nevertheless, such loads can surpass any safe load in Norma cases because Remington cases can safely withstand somewhat higher pressures and because the lost powder space wasn’t real¬ ly necessary anyway. Ballistics are greatly handicapped if short¬ er barrels are used. 340 Weatherby Magnum Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 175 SP IMR 4350 85.5 3250 4105 Barnes 200 SP IMR 4350 82 3000 3998 Speer, Homady 200 SP IMR 4350 84 3200 4549 Homady 210 SP IMR 4350 83.5 3200 4776 Nosier 225 SP IMR 4831 83 3000 4498 Homady 250 SP IMR 4350 77 2800 4353 Sierra, Speer, Homady 250 SP IMR 4831 80 2800 4353 Sierra, Hornady, Speer 275 SP IMR 4350 76 2600 4129 Speer 275 SP IMR 7828 88 2750 4619 Speer 300 SP IMR 7828 77.5 2550 4333 Barnes 200 SP FL 3260 4719 Weatherby factory load. 210 SP FL 3250 4924 Weatherby factory load. 250 SP FL 2980 4931 Weatherby factory load. Federal 215 primers used in all cases. 8th Edition 69 Chapter 2 348 Winchester Historical Notes Developed by Winchester for their Model 71 lever-action rifle and introduced in 1936, the 348 is a modernized version of the 33 Winchester. No other rifle has ever been com¬ mercially available for this cartridge and the Model 71 was dis¬ continued in 1958. In 1987, Browning marketed a limited number of reproduction Model 71s that were made in Japan. At this writing, only Winchester still loads the 348, and the 200- grain bullet load is the lone survivor. The Model 71 was the smoothest lever action ever built. General Comments One of the more powerful rimmed car¬ tridges available for the lever-action rifle, the 348 was supposed¬ ly made obsolete by the newer 358 Winchester and the more modem Model 88 lever-action rifle (now also discontinued). The 348 is an excellent woods and bush cartridge for any North Amer¬ ican big game. Due to the flat-point bullets required by the tubu¬ lar magazine of the Model 71 rifle, it is not a particularly good long-range cartridge. The 150-grain bullet has very poor ballistic properties due to its short, flat shape, and the 200- or 250-grain bullets are preferred for anything beyond 100 yards. Winchester dropped the 150-grain and 250-grain loads in 1962 but still offers the 200-grain loading. Remington no longer loads the round. The 348 is the basis of an entire list of improved cartridges. Perhaps the best of these, a somewhat improved 45-caliber version, which is very close to 458 Winchester Magnum performance, is still prized as among the best combination ever invented for use in Alaska against heavy game in close quarters. 348 Winchester Reloading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 200 SP H-4895 53 2500 2776 Homady 200 SP IMR 4350 60.5 2500 2776 Homady 200 SP IMR 4064 51 2400 2559 Homady 250 SP IMR 4350 55 2300 2937 Barnes 150 SP FL 2890 2780 Factory load 200 SP FL 2520 2820 Winchester factory load 250 SP FL 2350 3060 Factory load 70 Cartridges of the World Current American Rifle Cartridges 35 Remington Historical Notes Introduced with the Remington Model 8 semi¬ automatic rifle in 1906, the 35 Remington was later also cham¬ bered in the Remington Models 14 and 141 slide action, the Model 81 semi-auto, Model 30 bolt action, and for a short time, in the Winchester bolt-action Model 70. At one time, the Marlin 336 lever, Mossberg 479 lever and Savage 170 slide-action rifles were offered in 35 Remington. Currently, only the Marlin is still avail¬ able in rifles; the Remington XP-100 and T/C pistols are cham¬ bered for the 35 Remington. General Comments The 35 Remington is the only one of the Remington rimless line of medium-powered cartridges still alive. It has proven itself over the years as a reliable short-range woods cartridge on deer or black bear. It has far better knockdown pow¬ er than the 30-30 under any conditions and at any range. The velocity and energy figures are not very different from the 30-30, but the larger, heavier bullet has greater shock and makes a more severe wound. The 200-grain bullet is the only one that should ever be used on big game. The 35 Remington, with its moderate recoil, is a good cartridge for fight rifles or carbines at short ranges of 150 yards or less. It was originally the Remington counter to the much more powerful 35 Winchester. When I was a boy, my “hunting uncle” used a Model 8 Remington rifle in 35 Remington caliber with great success. However, I don’t think he ever chanced a shot at much over 150 yards, and that probably had a great deal to do with it. Remington, Winchester and Feder¬ al offer ammunition in this caliber. 35 Remington Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 125 SP W680 32 2400 1599 Speer 140 HP RL-7 40 2500 1943 Speer 158 SP IMR 3031 37 2200 1698 Homady, Speer 180 SP IMR 4895 37 2050 1680 Speer 200 SP IMR 3031 36 2000 1777 Homady, Sierra 220 SP IMR 4064 36 1850 1672 Speer 150 SP FL 2300 1762 Factory load. 200 SP FL 2080 1921 Factory load. For light loads for small game or varmint shooting at short range, use any 150-160-gr. lead, gascheck or half-jacketed 38 revolver bullet and 15 grs. of 2400. MV will be about 2200 fps. .384" 1.584" 8th Edition 71 Chapter 2 356 Winchester Historical Notes The 356 Winchester is a rimmed cartridge developed concurrently with the 307 Winchester for the Winches¬ ter Model 94 XTR Angle Eject lever-action carbine. Development of both cartridges began in 1980, and guns and ammunition were available on the market early in 1983. Marlin introduced their lever-action Model 336ER in 356-caliber at about the same time as the Winchester hit the market. The Winchester Model 94 XTR is a beefed-up version of the original Model 94 lever action to allow the use of higher pressure cartridges. The angle-eject feature is an additional modification to eject spent cartridge cases out to the side instead of straight up. This feature allows center mounting of a scope sight, something not possible with the original 1894 action. This was accomplished by repositioning the extractor and ejector and lowering the right side wall of the receiver slightly. The 356-caliber designation is to avoid confusion with the rim¬ less 358 Winchester. In fact, the 356 is little more than a rimmed 358 and uses the same diameter bullets. The 356 and the 358 are not identical since the 356 not only has a rim, but also the bullet is seated deeper to reduce the overall length and the case is heav¬ ier. It’s possible to chamber 358 cartridges in 356 rifles, but firing them is an unsafe practice that could damage to the gun and cause serious injury to the shooter. General Comments The ballistics of the 356 are slightly below the older rimless 358. Although it has been reported that the 356 Winchester and 307 have thicker case walls than the correspond¬ ing rimless 308 and 358 cartridges and, therefore, reduced inter¬ nal volume, measurements do not verify this. However, the 356 delivers performance superior to the 35 Remington by a signifi¬ cant margin. Factory-published ballistics data show that the 35 Remington 200-grain bullet has a muzzle velocity of 2080 fps, whereas the 356 Winchester delivers 2460 fps with the same bul¬ let weight, both from a 24-inch barrel. While the 35 Remington is largely a short-range woods or brush cartridge for deer or black bear, the 356 Winchester would be adequate for larger game up to elk at longer ranges. One should consider though that both the Winchester and Marlin lever-action carbines with their short 20-inch barrels are intend¬ ed primarily as fight, handy guns for use in heavy brush or tim¬ ber. A hunter armed with one of the 356 carbines could probably take on just about anything likely to be encountered in the conti¬ nental U.S. at short to moderate ranges. The 358 Winchester nev¬ er achieved great popularity, and it will be interesting to see how well the 356 is received over the next decade or so. Winchester is the only commercial manufacturer of this caliber. 356 Winchester Loading Data and Factory Ballistics jllet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 158 SP H-322 49 2600 2372 Speer 180 SP H-322 48 2600 2703 Speer 180 SP H-335 48 2500 2500 Speer 180 SP IMR 4320 47 2300 2115 Speer 220 SP IMR 4064 46 2300 2585 Speer 220 SP H-335 43 2250 2474 Speer 220 SP IMR 4895 46 2250 2474 Speer 200 SP FL 2460 2688 Factory load. 250 SP FL 2160 2591 Factory load. In tubular magazine rifles, load only flat-point bullets. 72 Cartridges of the World Current American Rifle Cartridges 358 Winchester Historical Notes Introduced in 1955 by Winchester for its Model 70 Lightweight bolt-action and Model 88 lever-action rifles, the 358 Winchester is based on the 308 Winchester case necked-up. It is known in Europe as the 8.8x51mm. Many Euro¬ pean rifle makers chamber the round. In the U.S., only the Browning BLR lever action is currently chambered for this car¬ tridge. The Model 99 Savage was also once available in 358. General Comments The 358 Winchester is one of the best com¬ mercial (non-magnum) 35-caliber cartridges turned out by any American manufacturer. It is a big improvement over the 35 Remington, slightly more powerful than the old 35 Winchester, and more useful than the 348 Winchester. As the 308 Winchester is a shortened and scaled-down version of the 30-06, by the same token the 358 is a scaled-down 35 Whelen. With its spitzer-point- ed bullets, the 358 is a good medium- to long-range cartridge with capabilities out to 250 yards on big game. Although a good woods number, it is definitely out of the short-range, deer-only class. In fact, the 358 is adequate for any North American big game. With the 250-grain bullet, it is better than the 30-06 on heavy game in thick cover. The 358 in a bolt-action rifle with a good scope sight is as accurate as any hunting cartridge available. Performance can be improved by handloading. Winchester is the only remain¬ ing manufacturer of this caliber. 358 Winchester Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 158 SP RL-7 48 2850 2850 Speer 180 SP IMR 3031 51 2700 2914 Speer 200 SP IMR 4320 50.5 2500 2776 Homady, Sierra 200 SP H-4198 40.5 2500 2776 Homady 220 SP BL-C2 49 2500 3054 Speer 250 SP IMR 3031 41.5 2200 2687 Homady, Speer 250 SP IMR 4064 44 2250 2811 Speer 300 SP IMR 4895 43 2200 3225 Barnes 200 SP FL 2490 2753 Factory load. 250 SP FL 2250 2810 Factory load. 8th Edition 73 Chapter 2 35 Whelen Historical Notes Facts uncovered in recent research suggest that Col. Townsend Whelen may, after all, have been intimate¬ ly involved in the creation of this cartridge which has generally been heretofore attributed to James Howe of Griffin & Howe, whom it was said developed it and named it after the famous writer, hunter and gun authority. The 35 Whelen is simply the 30-06 case necked up without any other change. Ackley cham¬ pioned an improved version, which features less body taper and a sharper shoulder. The improved version has two significant advantages. First is about 10 percent more usable capacity, pro¬ viding a similar increase in ballistics. The second is the more distinct shoulder which completely solves the poor headspacing problem 35 Whelen rifles have, resulting from a too narrow, steeply sloping shoulder. One is hard pressed to explain why Remington chose to standardize the inferior version when they adopted the 35 Whelen as a factory chambering in 1987. In addition to numerous custom rifles, the 35 Whelen is now offered in several factory bolt actions, Remington’s pump action and Ruger’s single shot. General Comments Remington has been active in adding pop¬ ular wildcats to their line of commercial cartridges. The 35 Whe¬ len is another example. The author has had considerable past experience with the 35 Whelen, and it is an excellent cartridge for any North American big game and most African species as well. A slide-action rifle of this caliber increases the potential of this type of rifle for those who favor it. The 35 Whelen is one of the best balanced and most flexible medium bores for North American big game. There is a large variety of 35-caliber bullets available to the handloader, ranging from 110 to 300 grains in weight. Practically all of the reloading tool manufacturers furnish dies and cases are easy to make. The popularity of the 35 Whelen has waxed and waned over the years, reaching a peak during the 1920s and again shortly after WWII. Only Remington manufac¬ tures this caliber. 35 Whelen Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 180 SP IMR 4895 59 2700 2914 Hornady 180 SP IMR 4320 56 2700 2914 Nosier 200 SP IMR 4064 58.5 2600 3003 Hornady 225 SP IMR 4320 56 2500 3123 Sierra 250 SP IMR 4895 52.5 2500 3470 Hornady 250 SP IMR 4064 54.5 2400 3198 Hornady 250 SP RL-15 55 2400 3198 Hornady 300 SP BL-C2 57 2500 4164 Barnes 200 SP FL 2675 3177 Remington factory load. 250 SP FL 2400 3197 Remington factory load. 74 Cartridges of the World 350 Remington Magnum bfB Current American Rifle Cartridges Historical Notes The 350 Remington Magnum first appeared in the 1965 Remington catalog concurrently with the Model 600 Magnum bolt-action carbine that chambered it. The original car¬ bine had an 18-inch barrel but in 1968 this was lengthened to 20 inches as the Model 660 Magnum carbine. By 1971, the Model 600 and 660 Magnum carbines had been discontinued, but the 350 Magnum was continued as a standard chambering for the Model 700 bolt-action rifle until 1974. For a short time, the Ruger Model 77 bolt-action rifle was available in 350 Magnum. At the present time, no factory rifles are regularly chambered for this cartridge, but ammunition is still loaded by Remington. The car¬ tridge is unique in having a somewhat short, fat-belted case with the same capacity as the 30-06. This allows for its use in short- action rifles that can be made a bit fighter and handier than those based on the standard-length bolt action. General Comments With bullets of moderate weight, the 350 Remington Magnum can about duplicate 35 Whelen ballistics but can be chambered in short bolt-action rifles. This is a significant advantage for those preferring a fight handy rifle with plenty of punch. Also, many find the short-throw bolt to be much easier to master and use. For those preferring heavier bullets, the round- nose design doesn’t take up so much of the powder space and, therefore, can safely develop better muzzle energy. For use where shots will not be long these may be the best choice. For those with 350 Remington Magnum rifles in full-length actions, heavy spitzers can sometimes safely be seated to exceed the nominal 2.80 inches length for the cartridge and increased muzzle energy can be achieved. Here though, it is hard to see any advantage over the 35 Whelen, which generally feeds smoother from a mag¬ azine holding one additional cartridge. The 350 Remington Mag¬ num is adequate for any North American big game at short to medium ranges. 350 Remington Magnum Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 125 HP IMR 4895 60 2850 2255 Speer 158 SP IMR 3031 58 2850 2850 Speer 180 SP IMR 4064 62 2900 3362 Speer 200 SP IMR 4320 60 2700 3238 Homady, Sierra 220 SP IMR 4895 60 2650 3431 Speer 250 SP IMR 4895 53 2350 3066 Speer, Nosier 300 SP IMR 4064 52 2300 3525 Barnes 200 SP FL 2710 3261 Factory load. 1.700" 1.815 8th Edition 75 Chapter 2 375 Winchester Historical Notes Developed by Winchester, the 375 was announced in 1978 as a new cartridge for their Model 94 Big Bore lever-action carbine. The gun is a strengthened version of the standard Model 94 action and can be distinguished by the beefed- up rear quarter of the receiver as opposed to the flat sides of the regular Model 94. The cartridge is based on a shortened (about Vio-inch) 38-55 case, although 375 Winchester brass is heavier and stronger than that of the 38-55. Two carbines were initially available in this caliber, the Winchester Model 94 Big Bore and the Ruger Number 3 single shot. It is a rimmed case and not well suited to Mauser-type bolt actions. Two bullet weights are offered: a 200-grain at 2200 fps muzzle velocity and a 250-grain at 1900 fps, as advertised by Winchester. General Comments The 375 Winchester fills a gap in the line of cartridges available for the popular Winchester Model 1894 lever-action series. Many hunters who live in heavily-wooded areas prefer large- or medium-caliber rifles firing heavy bullets as the best combination for their particular hunting environment. Such a combination was not available for the Winchester Model 1894. The 375 helps meet the competition offered by lever actions chambered for the 35 Remington and the 444 Marlin. Compar¬ isons will be made between this 375 and the other popular woods or brush cartridges such as the 35 Remington, 44 Magnum, 444 Marlin and the 45-70. Ballistically, the 444 Marlin with its 240- grain bullet and 2400 fps muzzle velocity has the edge on all the others in the group. However, all of these cartridges have one common failing, and that is that they are used in lever-action rifles with tubular magazines. This requires a flat-pointed bullet so that under recoil, one cartridge won’t set off the one ahead of it. These blunt bullets have very poor aerodynamic form and offer high air resistance. No matter what the initial velocity, they all slow down quite rapidly. The result is that at 200 yards or less they all end up with about the same energy, which varies from 1000 foot pounds to 1100 foot pounds. All of these brush car¬ tridges, then, are at their best at ranges of 150 yards or less. Certainly the 375 Winchester is a fine deer or black bear car¬ tridge and would probably also do well on heavier game such as moose or brown bear. Within its range limitations, it would also serve as a good meat-getter on thin-skinned African species. The 375 cartridge can be chambered in 38-55 rifles, but must never be fired in any rifle except those specifically marked for it because it develops much higher pressure than the older 38-55. To fire it in any of the old blackpowder rifles would almost certainly result in a wrecked gun and serious injury to the shooter. Winchester is the only commercial manufacturer of this caliber. 375 Winchester Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 200 SP IMR 4198 33 2100 1962 Sierra 220 SP IMR 4198 32 2000 1955 Hornady 220 SP RL-7 38 2200 2365 Homady 235 SP IMR 4198 32 2000 2088 Speer 235 SP RL-7 35 1950 1985 Speer 255 SP IMR 3031 36 1900 2045 Barnes 200 SP FL 2200 2150 Winchester factory load. 250 SP FL 1900 2005 Winchester factory load. 76 Cartridges of the World Current American Rifle Cartridges 375 Holland & Holland Magnum (375 H&H Magnum) Historical Notes Originated by the British firm Holland & Hol¬ land in 1912, this is one of the original belted, rimless, magnum- type cartridges. It has been used as the basis for numerous wildcats and some of the Weatherby cartridges. H&H furnished it in a magnum Mauser action and Griffin & Howe chambered rifles for it beginning about 1926. The Western Cartridge Com¬ pany first offered it in 1925. At present, Federal, Remington and Winchester load the 375. The first commercial rifle of American make to chamber the round was the Model 70 Winchester in 1937; Weatherby rifles were at one time available in 375 H&H as was the Remington Model 725 “Kodiak.” At present, several American manufacturers list the 375 H&H as standard includ¬ ing Ruger, Winchester and Remington. General Comments Long considered the best all-round African caliber, the 375 H&H is overpowered for North American big game. However, many Alaskan hunters and guides prefer it for moose and grizzly bear. It isn’t a very flexible cartridge for the American hunter unless he expects to hunt the heaviest species and spend time in Africa or Asia. John Taylor, in his book African Rifles and Cartridges , Georgetown, South Carolina, 1948, rates the 375 as the best of the medium bores for African hunting. It is his candidate for the most effective, “all-round” cartridge. This cartridge was the basis for H&H’s latter 300 H&H Magnum and is therefore the great-grandfather of almost all modem belted magnum chamberings. It can certainly be said that it inspired the entire genre. 375 Holland & Holland Magnum Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 200 SP IMR 4064 80 3200 4549 Sierra 220 SP SR4759 42 2300 2585 Homady 235 SP IMR 4064 77 3000 4697 Speer 270 SP RL-15 74 2700 4372 Homady 270 SP IMR 4064 70 2600 4054 Homady 285 SP IMR 4831 85 2700 4615 Speer 300 SP IMR 4064 68 2500 4164 Homady 300 SP IMR 4350 77 2600 4504 Sierra, Homady 350 SP IMR 4320 65.5 2400 4478 Barnes 270 SP FL 2690 4340 Factory load. 300 SP FL 2530 4265 Factory load. 2.412" 2.500" 8th Edition 77 Chapter 2 378 Weatherby Magnum Historical Notes Another development by the late Roy Weath¬ erby dating back to 1953, this is an original design not based on any existing cartridge although it is hard to miss the similarity in all critical dimensions to the 416 Rigby. It was first field-tested in the spring of 1953 by Weatherby who downed an elephant with it, using a single round for the job. The Federal Cartridge Co. 215 Magnum large rifle primer was originally developed for this car¬ tridge as existing primers did not properly ignite the large quan¬ tity of powder used. Only the Weatherby line of rifles is commercially chambered for this round. General Comments According to the Weatherby catalog, the 378 WM was designed for deep penetration on heavy, thick- skinned game. It is also intended to furnish an extra margin of insurance when facing dangerous game such as rhino, Cape buf¬ falo, elephant or Hon in thick cover. Field reports indicate that it lives up to these expectations. However, for proper performance at the velocities developed, it is necessary to use bullets with a very heavy jacket. Although considerably overpowered for any North American big game, it is nonetheless a fine cartridge for the man who requires optimum stopping power. Recoil of these cartridges is extremely heavy, so one should be sure such power is really needed before selecting anything in this class. 378 Weatherby Magnum Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 235 SP H-4831 115 3200 5345 Barnes 250 SP H-4831 113 3050 5165 Barnes 270 SP IMR 4350 108 3100 5763 Homady 300 SP H-4831 112 2900 5604 Sierra, Nosier 350 SP H-4831 102 2650 5459 Barnes 270 SP FL 3180 6062 Weatherby factory load. 300 SP FL 2925 5701 Weatherby factory load. 78 Cartridges of the World Current American Rifle Cartridges 38-55 Winchester (38-55 Ballard) Historical Notes Like the smaller 32-40, the 38-55 was origi¬ nally a Ballard-developed target cartridge. The present commer¬ cial version was introduced in 1884 as one of the calibers for the Ballard Perfection No. 4, which was originally chambered for the 38-50 Everlasting. According to Satterlee in his Catalog of Firearms , 2nd ed., Detroit, 1939, the Union Hill Nos. 8 and 9 were also chambered for the 38-55 Ballard in 1884. The external dimensions of the 38-55 Everlasting and the 38-55 Winchester & Ballard are nearly identical, but the heavier, thicker Ever¬ lasting version was a handloading proposition. The implication in Saterlee’s book is that the original Everlasting case was intro¬ duced when Marlin Fire Arms Co. took over Ballard in 1881. The 38-55 Everlasting is nothing more than a Vio-inch longer case than the 38-50 that Ballard introduced in 1876. The Marlin Model 93 and Winchester 94 lever-action repeaters were avail¬ able in 38-55, as was the Remington-Lee bolt action, Colt new Lightning slide action, Stevens, Remington and Winchester sin¬ gle shot rifles and also the Savage Model 99. No commercial rifles were available after Winchester dropped the 38-55 from the Model 94 list of calibers in 1940. However, the cartridge has been reintroduced by Winchester in several versions of the Mod¬ el 94 in recent years. The 225 Winchester, 22 Savage High Pow¬ er, 25-35 Winchester, 32-40 Winchester, 30-30 Winchester, 32 Winchester Special, 375 Winchester and a host of wildcat car- ridges are based on this case. General Comments The 38-55 built up a reputation for fine accuracy at ranges out to 200 yards. It also developed a modest popularity with deer and black bear hunters. It gave good knock¬ down on deer-size animals with the 255-grain bullet at velocities of over 1500 fps. At one time, factory-loaded cartridges were available with the 255-grain bullet at a muzzle velocity of 1700 fps. At these higher velocities, it is a better deer cartridge than the 30-30. Present factory loading more or less duplicates the old blackpowder ballistics. In old Ballard and Stevens single shot rifles, it is not safe to use loads developing velocities over 1500 fps. Discontinued in 1970, the 38-55 is again fisted in Winchester ammunition catalogs. Proper bullet diameter for cast bullets is .379-inch. 38-55 Winchester & Ballard Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 200 FN XMP5744 25.5 1853 1525 Accurate Arms 220 SP RL-7 31 1600 1257 Homady 220 SP IMR 3031 33 1600 1251 Hornady 220 SP IMR 3031 34.5 1700 1412 Homady 220 SP IMR 4198 26 1600 1251 Homady 220 SP RL-7 29.5 1400 958 Homady 240 Lead XMP5744 22.0 1601 1365 Accurate 222 FN XMP5744 23.5 1648 1325 Accurate 255 SP H-4895 35 1700 1637 Barnes 255 SP FL 1320 987 Winchester factory load. 8th Edition 79 Chapter 2 38-40 Winchester (38-40 WCF) Historical Notes The 38-40 was developed by Winchester as a companion cartridge to their 44-40 introduced in 1874. It is based on the 44-40 case necked-down to what is actually 40-cal¬ iber (.401-inch). It was originally a blackpowder cartridge cham¬ bered in the Winchester Model 73 lever action. Shortly after it came out, Colt began chambering revolvers for it. It was later offered in the Remington Model 14V2 slide action, Winchester 92 and Marlin 94 lever actions, plus a number of single shot rifles. No rifles have been chambered for the 38-40 since 1937. Winchester loaded a slightly different version especially for the Colt Lightning magazine rifle, headstamped 38 C.L.M.R. Another version was loaded with the same 180-grain bullet as the 38 Winchester, but with 40-grains of blackpowder instead of Winchester’s standard load of 38 grains and was head- stamped 38-40 instead of 38 W.C.F. This raises the intriguing possibility that the name we now use, 38-40, came from 38 grains of blackpowder and a 40-caliber bore. General Comments The 38-40 was at one time a popular medi¬ um-power cartridge. Winchester used to load a high-velocity rifle version with a 180-grain bullet at 1775 fps. This was considered a pretty good short-range deer number, but was not intended for old blackpowder rifles or revolvers. It was discontinued because it caused a lot of trouble for people who never read labels. The pre¬ sent factory loading is strictly for revolvers, and it is necessary to handload in order to realize the full potential in a rifle. With prop¬ er load and bullets, the 38-40 can be used on small game, varmints, medium-size game or even deer at short range. Rifle loads should not be used in revolvers as they develop pressures beyond safe limits. The author’s experience with the 38-40 is limited to one Rem¬ ington Model I 4 V 2 R slide-action carbine that was used for sever¬ al years before being traded off for something more useful. Although it was a nice, handy little rifle, I was not particularly impressed with the cartridge. The 38-40 is a bit much for most varmint and small game shooting and really not adequate for deer-size animals. In any event, it is quite limited in its effective range on whatever you happen to be using it for. This lack of enthusiasm notwithstanding, the 38-40 enjoyed a certain popu¬ larity from its inception until about 1920, after which it declined in sales volume and was finally discontinued in 1937. Actually, there is no great difference in performance between the 38-40 and the 44-40, although some considered the 38-40 a better cartridge for a woman or young boy because it had less recoil. Honestly, neither one has any great recoil, and I could never tell much dif¬ ference between the two in that regard. The 38-40 made a better revolver cartridge than it did a rifle cartridge. The present factory load with the 180-grain bullet at 1160 fps (Winchester) can not be considered adequate for deer, and only by handloading can one achieve acceptable performance for much of anything except self-defense. 38-40 Winchester Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 155 SP 2400 15 1200 496 Homady 155 SP IMR 4227 19.5 1200 496 Homady 180 HP 2400 14.5 1100 484 Homady 180 HP Unique 9 1100 484 Homady 180 HP IMR 4227 18.5 1100 484 Homady 200 HP Unique 8.4 1000 444 Homady 200 HP 2400 13.5 1050 490 Homady 180 SP FL 1160 538 Winchester factory load. 80 Cartridges of the World Current American Rifle Cartridges 416 Remington Magnum Historical Notes Officially announced in November, 1988, the 416 Remington Magnum is the first dangerous game cartridge introduced since the 458 Winchester Magnum back in 1956. The 416 is based on the 8mm Remington Magnum necked-up to 416- caliber. It was initially available with either a 400-grain pointed softpoint or a 400-grain solid bullet loaded to a muzzle velocity of 2400 fps and a muzzle energy of 5115 fpe. The company says that the 400-grain solid is exactly that, turned from solid brass and not a lead core with a heavy jacket. The cartridge is available in the Remington Model 700 Safari bolt-action rifle. Other rifle manufacturers have picked up the 416 Remington. It is available in a variety of bolt and single shot rifles including Ruger. It has proved to be a fairly popular cartridge. General Comments There has been a persistent call by those who hunt dangerous game for a cartridge to fill the gap between the 375 Holland & Holland Magnum and the 458 Winchester Magnum. The 416 Rigby accomplished this rather well, but both rifles and ammunition became increasingly difficult to obtain until Federal began offering that caliber in the late 1980s. This problem was then solved to some extent by a number of wildcat cartridges such as the 416 Taylor, 416 Hoffman and the 425 Express. These cartridges all more or less duplicated the perfor¬ mance of the 416 Rigby. The 416 Remington does pretty much the same thing. However, the Remington version has one great advantage in that it is available as a commercial loading in a proven commercial rifle. The combination will be much easier and less expensive to come by than a custom rifle and wildcat or proprietary cartridges. Although the 416 bullet is 100 grains fighter than the 458 Win¬ chester, it starts out with almost 300 fps higher velocity. That, combined with better sectional density and a superior aerody¬ namic shape, gives it certain ballistical advantages. It not only has a higher initial velocity, but it also increases its retained velocity over the 458 as the range increases. According to the fac¬ tory figures, it has an 11 percent advantage in muzzle energy, and this increases to 18 percent at 100 yards and 30 percent at 200 yards. The 416 Remington should be ideal for dangerous game includ¬ ing Cape buffalo, elephant, lion and North American brown bear. It would also do well on moose and elk. The 416 Remington has a trajectory very similar to the 375 H&H and is a better long-range cartridge than the 458 Winchester for use against soft-skinned game. For the man who has to travel fight, the 416 would be a good one-gun cartridge choice for use in Africa. To date, only Remington loads ammunition in this caliber. 416 Remington Magnum Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 300 SP H-4895 78 2850 5412 Barnes 350 SP H-4895 80 2700 5667 Barnes 400 SP IMR 4064 78 2400 5117 Homady 400 SP IMR 4895 76.5 2400 5117 Homady 300 SP FL 2530 4262 Remington factory load. 350 SP FL 2520 4935 Remington factory load. 400 SP FL 2400 5115 Remington factory load. 8th Edition 81 Chapter 2 416 Rigby Historical Notes Introduced by John Rigby of London, the 416 Rigby is a good example of a sound design that refuses to die. Throughout its production history, less than 10,000 rifles in this caliber have been made. Rigby continues to make perhaps two dozen a year with other custom gun makers half that. However, most of the older rifles in that caliber continue in service. Rigby does a brisk business refurbishing rifles in this caliber. In 1992, Ruger added this caliber to their rifle product line. At a single stroke, they increased the total number of guns in this caliber by 10 percent in one year and continue to do so. In 1989 Federal Car¬ tridge Co. added the 416 Rigby to their Premium product line. In so doing Federal became the first major American manufacturer to offer this classic African caliber. By their actions, both Ruger and Federal took much of the momentum from the new 416 Rem¬ ington Magnum cartridge. Their efforts in reintroducing the 416 Rigby have been succesful and sales remain brisk. This only goes to show that not all new product success stories use totally new products. General Comments The 416 Rigby is a great favorite today of African game wardens and professional hunters alike. It is an excellent choice for the man who wishes to take only one rifle to Africa. Federal ballistics are identical to previous British loads so the point of impact with metal express sights will be the same. Breech pressures of the 416 are only about 40,000 CUP in order to avoid sticky extraction due to high pressures on very hot days. This is strictly good sense based on many years of African experi¬ ence. Remington has chosen to load their 416 Remington Mag¬ num to pressure levels of50,000 CUP which makes one wonder if extraction at very high temeratures has been adequately tested. In any case, handloaders should resist the urge to improve the 416 Rigby ballistics for this reason. Bullets and brass for hand¬ loading are available from Huntington’s in Oroville, CA. 416 Rigby Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder (grs.) MV ME Source 300 SP RL-19 109 2950 5799 Barnes 325 SP RL-19 106 2900 6071 Barnes 350 SP H-4350 102 2750 5879 Barnes 400 SP H-4350 98 2600 6006 Barnes 410 SP/FMJ FL 2370 5115 Federal factory load. .446" 82 Cartridges of the World Current American Rifle Cartridges r 416 Weatherby Magnum <#t Historical Notes There has been a moderate, but persistent, interest in 40-caliber dangerous game cartridges for a good many years. The demand has been filled by several wildcat cartridges, but the call for a factory 40-caliber has intensified over the past decade. Remington was the first to exploit this potential market with their 416 Remington Magnum in 1988, followed by the 416 Weatherby Magnum in 1989. In the game of cartridge one- upmanship, the Weatherby version was bound to be somewhat more powerful than an ordinary 416. General Comments The 416 Weatherby Magnum has over 300 fps higher initial velocity than the Remington Magnum with the same bullet weight. How useful this will be in the field is difficult to assess, because both cartridges are adequate for the intended purpose, which is to dispatch large and/or dangerous game with a minimum of fuss. On the other hand, Weatherby rifles carry a certain prestige and there is nothing wrong with having a little extra power when the moment of truth arrives. The choice between the two will probably be a matter of personal preference. 416 Weatherby Loading Data Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 300 SP IMR 4831 115 3000 5997 Barnes 350 SP IMR 4831 110 2800 6095 Barnes 400 SP IMR 4831 110.5 2700 6477 Homady 400 SP H-450 119 2700 6477 Homady 400 SP IMR 7828 117 2600 6006 Homady 400 SP FL 2700 6474 Weatherby factory load. 8th Edition 83 Chapter 2 44-40 Winchester (44 WCF) Historical Notes This was the original cartridge for the famous Winchester Model 1873 lever-action repeating rifle. Shortly after its introduction, Colt was offering revolvers in 44-40-caliber. At one time or another, just about every American arms manufac¬ turer has offered some kind of gun chambered for this cartridge. The Colt-Burgess lever-action rifle of 1883 was made for the 44- 40 and so was the 1885 Colt Lightning slide-action rifle. The Remington Model 14V2 slide action used it, as did the Winchester 92 and Marlin 94, both lever-action repeaters. Most of the single shot rifles made in the United States had a 44-40 model at one time or another. In Spain, they manufactured a copy of the Win¬ chester Model 92 in 44-40 caliber for police and civil guard use. No American-made rifles have chambered the round since 1937, but Colt revolvers retained it until 1942. Several foreign-made replicas of the Henry Carbine and the Winchester Model 66 and 73 are currently available in 44-40-caliber. Winchester once loaded a 217-grain bullet in two separate headstamps: 44 C.L.M.R., for the Colt Lightning Magazine Rifle, and 44-40 for Marlin rifles. They also offered a 34-grain black- powder load behind a 115-grain bullet for the Marble Game Get¬ ter rifle headstamped 44 G.G. General Comments The 44-40 is one of the all-time great American cartridges. It is said that it has killed more game, large and small, and more people, good and bad, than any other com¬ mercial cartridge ever developed. In its original blackpowder loading, it was the first effective combination cartridge that could be used interchangeably in rifle or revolver, and was a great favorite in the early days of the American West. With proper handloads used in strong rifles the 44-40 can safely propel the 200-grain jacketed bullet at 1800 fps. Com¬ pared to the standard 30-30 load with a 170-grain bullet at about 2100 fps, this is a superior combination against deer at short range. It was once offered in a high velocity loading specifically designed to take advantage of the Model 92 Winchester’s strength. Like many other high-velocity loadings of yesteryear, it had to be discontinued because certain types just insisted on chambering anything that would fit in whatever gun was at hand. The 44-40 was made obsolete in the revolver by the 357 and 44 Magnums, and in the rifle by the 30-30 and similar car¬ tridges that have a flatter trajectory at ranges beyond 100 yards. Present factory loads by Remington and Winchester are intend¬ ed for revolvers and it is necessary to handload in order to get top performance from the rifle. Many 44-40 rifles have been rebarreled to the 44 Magnum. 44-40 Winchester Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. 180 SP 2400 18 180 SP SR4756 11 180 SP 2400 16.5 180 SP Unique 10.4 200 SP IMR 4227 20 200 SP 2400 15.3 200 SP Unique 9.5 200 SP FL MV ME Source 1250 625 Homady 1150 529 Homady 1000 400 Homady 1150 529 Homady 1100 537 Homady 1000 444 Homady 1050 490 Homady 1190 629 Factory load. 84 Cartridges of the World Current American Rifle Cartridges 444 Marlin Historical Notes News and data on the 444 Marlin round was released to the public in June, 1964. The cartridge was designed for the Marlin Model 336 lever-action rifle. Initially, the rifle was manufactured with a 24-inch Micro-Groove barrel, two-thirds length magazine and recoil pad. The straight-grip stock had a Monte Carlo cheekpiece. Original ammunition was made by Remington. The 444 Marlin is amazingly similar to the 44 Van Houten Super. The 44 VH was developed by E.B. Van Houten and “Lucky” Wade of Phoenix, Arizona. It was made by necking-up 30-40 Krag brass, trimming it to 2 inches and turning down the rim slightly. It was designed for the 336 Marlin or 94 Winchester actions. It predates the Marlin round by at least 3 years. Ballis¬ tics of the two rounds are nearly identical. General Comments The 44 Magnum revolver cartridge achieved popularity as a rifle round. Although it makes a good brush buster, anyone using it discovers quite quickly that it has a high trajectory, and its killing power on heavier game such as elk or moose is adequate only at close range. Consequently, there was need for a somewhat more powerful version. The 444 Marlin will extend both the effective range and killing power inherent in the 44 Magnum. The new round fires the same 240-grain softpoint bullet, at 2330 fps as compared to 1850 for the average 44 Mag¬ num rifle. The 444 Marlin is substantially more powerful than the old 30-30 or the 35 Remington at short ranges. It develops about the same energy as the 348 Winchester and slightly more than the later 358 Winchester. However, with its larger diameter bullet it should provide better knockdown power. It is a short- to medium-range cartridge and should be adequate for any North American big game. It would also be effective on most thin- skinned African game, except dangerous varieties. Its advantage over the above-named cartridges is all at ranges out to 150 yards. Beyond that, due to better bullet shape and sectional density, they all catch up to and finally surpass the 444 in retained veloc¬ ity and energy. The 444 Marlin was formerly available in what had to be a superior all around hunting load with a 265-grain bul¬ let. Remington is the only manufacturer of this caliber. 444 Marlin Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 180 HP IMR 4198 51 2500 2499 Sierra 220 SP IMR 4198 49 2350 2698 Sierra 240 HP IMR 4198 46.5 2300 2820 Homady, Sierra 240 HP H-322 53 2300 2820 Homady, Sierra 250 SP IMR 4198 47 2250 2811 Sierra 265 SP H-4198 47 2200 2849 Homady 275 SP RL-7 47 2250 3092 Barnes 300 SP RL-7 46 2150 3080 Barnes 240 SP FL 2330 2942 Remington factory load. 8th Edition 85 Chapter 2 45-70 Government (45 Government/ 45-70-330/45-70-350/45-70-405/ 45-70-500) Historical Notes Adopted by the U.S. militaiy in 1873 with the single shot “Trapdoor’’ Springfield rifle, it continued as the offi¬ cial service cartridge for 19 years. It was then replaced in 1892 by the 30-40 Krag. It was also a popular cartridge for sporting use and many repeating and single shot rifles were chambered for it—the Remington rolling block, Remington-Keene, Remington- Lee, Marlin Model 81, Winchester Model 86 and Hotchkiss, plus many others. Though the Krag officially replaced the 45-70 in 1892, all volunteer Spanish-American War regiments—with the reported sole exception being TR’s Rough Riders—were equipped with the Trapdoor 45-70. Many state militias were armed with the 45-70 Springfields well beyond 1900. American companies dropped the 45-70 as a rifle caliber in the early 1930s. However, it has staged a major comeback in popularity, and currently Marlin, Ruger and Browning chamber rifles for the 45-70. Winchester once loaded many versions of the basic 45-70 case with different bullet weights and shapes and with different blackpowder charges. They also loaded one variant of the 45-70-405 Winches¬ ter load expressly for the Marlin 1881 lever-action rifle. It fea¬ tured a differently shaped 405-grain bullet and was headstamped 45-70 Mar. General Comments “Old soldiers never die,” and apparently neither do old military cartridges. The 45-70 has been with us for over 120 years and is still very much alive. As a short-range woods or brush cartridge for anything from deer to grizzly bear, the 45-70 will hold its own with most of our more modem devel¬ opments. Its greatest fault is the curved trajectory that makes it difficult to place shots beyond 150 yards with any certainty. Unfortunately, the U.S. Springfield and most of the other black- powder rifles won’t stand pressures over 25,000 psi or so. This prevents the use of heavy loads of smokeless powder. In late Mod¬ el 86 Winchester or other smokeless powder rifles, the 45-70 can be loaded to deliver very impressive knockdown on our heaviest species of big game. Winchester, Remington and Federal offer ammunition in this caliber. 45-70 U.S. Government Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 300 HP IMR 4198 34 1400 1306 Homady, Sierra 300 HP IMR 4227 29 1400 1306 Homady, Sierra 300 HP IMR 3031 43 1400 1306 Homady 300 HP SR 4759 27 1400 1306 Homady Loads for Modem Smokeless Powder Rifles Only 300 HP IMR 4198 46 2000 2665 Homady 300 HP IMR 4227 43 2100 2938 Sierra 350 SP IMR 3031 54 1800 2519 Homady 400 SP H-322 56 1900 3207 Speer 400 SP IMR 3031 54 1800 2878 Speer 300 SP FL 1880 2355 Factory load. 405 SP FL 1330 1590 Factory load. 86 Cartridges of the World Current American Rifle Cartridges 458 Winchester Magnum Historical Notes The 458 Winchester Magnum was introduced in 1956 for a dressed-up version of the Model 70 rifle called the “African.” The Remington 700 Safari is available in 458 and so are many other American- and European-made rifles such as the A-Square, Dakota 76, BRNO and the Ruger 77. The 458 has become a world standard and many factories and individual mak¬ ers provide hunting arms for it. Ruger also chambers the 458 in their No. 1 single shot rifle. General Comments With the increasing number of American sportsmen making the trek to Africa, and with the Weatherby Magnum line of cartridges selling rather well, Winchester decid¬ ed to get into the act. The result is the fine 458, a caliber suitable for any of the most dangerous game in the world. This cartridge has been tested thoroughly in Africa and has proven itself ade¬ quate for the toughest game found there. It is as powerful as most of the oversized English big-bore elephant cartridges. Although overpowered for North American big game, it has nonetheless found favor with many hunters as a woods and brush cartridge when reloaded with lighter than standard factory bullets. With the 300-, 350- or 405-grain bullets, it can be loaded to duplicate the 45-70 at any level, and to cover a wide range of game and hunting conditions. As a factory load, it is not good for anything but the biggest and toughest. But then that is what it was intend¬ ed for. Federal, Winchester and Remington offer ammunition in this caliber. 458 Winchester Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 300 SP RL-7 58 2100 2938 Homady 300 SP IMR 4198 49 2100 2938 Homady, Sierra 350 SP IMR 4198 70.5 2500 4859 Homady 400 SP IMR 4198 64 2250 4498 Speer 400 SP IMR 4320 77 2200 4300 Speer 500 SP IMR 4320 81 2350 6133 Barnes 500 SP IMR 3031 70 2100 4897 Homady 350 SP FL 2470 4740 Factory load. 500 FMJ FL 2040 4620 Factory load. 510 SP FL 2040 4712 Factory load. 8th Edition 87 Chapter 2 460 Weatherby Magnum Historical Notes This big, potent caliber was brought out in 1958 for the avowed purpose of providing the world’s most pow¬ erful commercial rifle cartridge. It was developed by necking the 378 Weatherby case up to 45-caliber. Rifles and ammunition are available only through Weatherby, Inc. on a commercial basis, but custom-made rifles based on Mauser-type bolt actions are occasionally chambered for this round. General Comments Until the advent of the 700 Nitro Express, which is just barely in the ranks of commercial cartridges, the 460 Weatherby Magnum was among the most powerful available. Recent factory ballistics have been toned down a bit but it still delivers better than 7500 foot pounds of muzzle energy, which far exceeds most dangerous game loads. The big 460 is overly power¬ ful for any North American big game, but it does provide that ultimate bit of insurance against the dangerous African or Asiat¬ ic varieties under adverse conditions. It would, of course, be preferable to be caught slightly over-gunned than to be eaten by a lion or trampled by an elephant. In any event, for the man who insists on the biggest and the most of everything, the 460 Weath¬ erby is the most powerful. Two wildcat cartridges, the 450 and 475 Ackley are in the same class as the 460 WM insofar as ener¬ gy is concerned. The 475 A&M Magnum reportedly develops a muzzle energy of some 10,000 foot pounds. However, none of these are commercial cartridges. 460 Weatherby Magnum Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 300 SP IMR 4320 112 3000 5997 Barnes 350 SP IMR 4064 111 2900 6538 Homady 500 SP IMR 4350 123.5 2650 7799 Homady 500 SP IMR 4320 108 2550 7221 Homady 500 SP IMR 3031 99 2500 6941 Homady 500 SP H-4831 125 2650 7799 Barnes 500 SP/FMJ FL 2600 7507 Weatherby factory load. 2.908- 88 Cartridges of the World 470 Nitro Express (470 NE) Current American Rifle Cartridges Historical Notes Since its introduction in 1907, the 470 Nitro Express has proven to be one of the most popular and long lived of the British Nitro Express cartridges. Guns in this caliber are not excessively heavy and recoil, while heavy, is acceptable. This makes a good combination for the hunter who wants to use one caliber for all African game without fear of being under¬ gunned. For this reason, most guns in this caliber are the tried and true double rifles. H&H, Purdey, J. Rigby & Co., Westley Richards, Powell and a few others still make double rifles in England. Production of such rifles is also abundant in Europe with Beretta of Italy, Francotte of Belgium, and Heym of Ger¬ many offering models priced from $10,000 on up. The 5130 fpe of muzzle energy generated by the 500-grain steel jacketed sol¬ id bullet is the stuff from which myths are made in the hot stove league. General Comments In 1989 Federal Cartridge Co. added this caliber to their Premium product line making it the first British Nitro Express caliber offered by a major American manufacturer. Ammunition in this caliber is again being made in the U.K. by Kynoch. Ballistics are identical to previous British loads so the point of impact with metal sights will remain the same. The 470 is generally too powerful for most North American game but works well on medium-to-large game worldwide. Many 470 shooters reload the cartridge because of the high cost of factory ammo. For those who do or wish to, components are available from Huntington’s in Oroville, CA. 470 Nitro Express Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 500 SP/FMJ FL 2150 5130 Federal factory load. Custom Ruger No. 1 8th Edition 89 Chapter 2 50 Browning Machine Gun (50 BMG) Historical Notes The 50 BMG was invented by its namesake and adopted into United States Military service in 1918 for John M. Browning’s famous heavy machinegun. Browning’s attentions in this area were prompted by a battlefield need recognized dur¬ ing WWL There have been other developments and at least once the Pentagon was considering dropping the 50 BMG in favor of more modem and generally bigger chamberings. However, the 50 BMG has remained. The advent of saboted loads, generating 4500 fps muzzle velocities with devastating armor-penetration capabilities, and its performance in the recent Gulf War has seemed to cement its continued existence as a stable part of NATO’s arsenal. Battlefield use is against lightly armored vehi¬ cles to ranges of a mile or more, and used against the unprotect¬ ed, it is effective to several times that range. General Comments There has long been interest in the 50 BMG as a quasi-sporting round. Today, the only significant sport¬ ing use for this chambering is long-range accuracy shooting with some competitions exceeding one mile. The 1000-yard 50-caliber record, as of this writing, is a five shot group of just over 3 inches on centers. Several bolt-action rifles are currently or have recent¬ ly been, available for the big fifty. The 50 BMG easily launches the 750-grain bullets available for it at 2700 fps. The fighter 647- grain bullets available can be launched at 3000 fps. For obvious reasons sporting rifles chambered for the big fifty uniformly fea¬ ture muzzlebrakes and weigh twenty pounds or more. Regard¬ less, recoil is still a bit harsh. The only commercial ammunition that has ever been available for the 50 BMG is from PMC. Components and specialized tools and equipment to handload this cartridge are available to the advanced reloader. 50 Browning Machine Gun Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 750 H870 225.0 2769 12,775 Barnes 800 AA8700 215.0 2675 12,720 Barnes 660 FL 3080 13,910 PMC Factory Load 90 Cartridges of the World Current American Rifle Cartridges CURRENT AMERICAN RIFLE CARTRIDGES Centerfire Sporting Dimensional Data (SAAMI Maximum Cartridge Data) Case Bullet Neck Shoulder Base Rim Case Ctge. Cartridge type dia. dia. dia. dia. dia. length length Twist Primer 17 Remington c .172 .198 .355 .374 .377 1.79 1.86 9 S 22 Hornet A .223 .242 .274 .294 .345 1.40 1.72 16 S 218 Bee A .224 .241 .331 .349 .408 1.35 1.68 16 S 222 Remington C .224 .253 .355 .375 .375 1.70 2.15 14 S 223 Remington C .224 .249 .349 .373 .375 1.76 2.10 12 S 222 Remington Mag. C .224 .253 .355 .375 .375 1.85 2.21 14 S 22PPC C .224 .245 .430 .440 .441 1.52 1.96 1-14 S 225 Winchester A .224 .260 .406 .422 .473 1.93 2.50 14 L 224 Weatherby Mag. E .224 .247 .405 .413 .425 1.92 2.44 14 L 22-250 Remington C .224 .254 .412 .466 .470 1.91 2.33 14 L 220 Swift G .224 .260 .402 .443 .472 2.20 2.68 14 L 6mm PPC C .243 .260 .430 .441 .442 1.50 2.12 1-12 S 6mm Bench Rest Remington C .243 .263 .457 .466 .468 1.52 2.19 12 S 243 Winchester C .243 .276 .454 .470 .470 2.05 2.71 10 L 6mm Remington/244 Rem. C .243 .276 .429 .470 .472 2.23 2.91/2.825 9/12 L 240 Weatherby E .243 .271 .432 .453 .473 2.50 3.06 10 L 25-20 Winchester A .257 .274 .329 .349 .405 1.33 1.60 13-14 S 25-35 Winchester A .257 .280 .355 .420 .5000506) 2.04 2.53 8 L 250 Savage C .257 .286 .413 .468 .470 1.91 2.52(2.515) 14 L 257 Roberts (+P) C .257 .290 .430 .468 .473 2.23 2.74 10-12 L 25-06 Remington C .257 .287 .441 .470 .471 2.49 3.00 10-12 L 257 Weatherby Mag. E .257 .285 .490 .511 .530 2.55 3.25 12 L 6.5x55 Swedish C .264 .297 .435 .480(477) 480(479) 2.16 3.15 7.9 L 264 (6.5mm) Win. Mag. E .264 .289 .490 .515(.5127) .532 2.52 3.29 9 L 270 Winchester C .277 .307 .440 468 .470 2.54 3~28 10 L 270 Weatherby Mag. E .277 .305 .490 .511 .530 2.55 3.25 12 L 7-30 Waters A .284 .306 .399 422(4215) .506 2.04 2.52 9V 2 L 7mm Mauser C .284 .320 .420(.4294) .470 .474 2.24(2.235) 3.06 8-10 L 7mm-08 Remington C .284 .315 .454 .470 .473 2.04(2.035) 2.80 9 L 7x64 Brenneke C .284 .313 .422 .463 .468 2.51 3.21 — L 284 Winchester 1 .284 .320 .465(.4748) 495(.500) .470 2.17 2.75 10 L 280 Remington (7mm R. Ex.) c .284 .315 .441 .470 .472 2.54 3.33 10V 2 L 7mm Remington Mag. E .284 .315 .490 .511 .525 2.50 3.24 91/2 L 7mm Weatherby Mag. E .284 .312 .490 .511 .530 2.55 3.25 12 L 30 Remington C .307 .328 .402 .420 .421 2.03 2.525 12 L 30 Carbine D .308 .335 — .355 .360 1.29 1.65 16 S 30-30 Winchester A .308 .328 .402 422(4215) .502 2.03(2.039) 2.53 12 L 300 Savage C .308 .339 .443(.4466) .470 .470 1.87 2.62 12 L 30-40 Krag A .308 .338 .415(.419) 457(4577) .540 2.31 3.10(3.089) 10 L 307 Winchester G .308 .344 .454 .470 .506 2.02(2.015) 2.60(2.56) 12 L 308 Winchester C .308 .344 .454 .470 .470 2.01(2.015) 2.75 12 L 30-06 Springfield C .308 .340 .441 .470 .473 2.49 3.34 10 L 300 H&H Mag. E .308 .338 .447 .513 .530 2.85 3.60 10 L 300 Winchester Mag. E .308 .334 .4891 .5126 .530 2.60(2.62) 3.30 10 L 300 Weatherby Mag. E .308 .337 .495 .51305117) .530 2.82(2.825) 3.56 12 L 303 Savage A .308(.311) .334(.3322) .408(4135) .439 .501 2.00(2.015) 2.52 12 L 7.62x39mm C .311 .340(.337) .344(.396) 438(433) .440 1.52(1.528) 2.20 9.4 S 303 British A .311 .338 .401 .458 .530 2.21(2.222) 3.05(3.075) 10 L 32-20 Winchester A .312 .326 .338(.3424) .353 .405 1.32(1.315) 1 59 20 S 32 Winchester Special A .321 .343 .396(4014) 422(4219) .506 2.04 2.55(2.565) 16 L 8mm Mauser C .323 .353(.3493) .431 .469 .473 2.24 3.17(3.25) 9-10 L 8mm Remington Mag. E .323 .351 (.3541) 485(4868) .509(.5126) .530 2.85 3.57(3.600) 10 L 338 Winchester Mag. E .338 .369 480(491) .51505127) .530 2.49(2.50) 3.30(3.34) 10 L 340 Weatherby Mag. E .338 .366 .495 .513 .530 2.82 3.60 12 L 348 Winchester A .348 .379(.3757) .485 .553 .610 2.26(2.255) 2.80(2.795) 12 L 8th Edition 91 Chapter 2 CURRENT AMERICAN RIFLE CARTRIDGES Centerfire Sporting (Continued) Dimensional Data Cartridge Case type Bullet dia. Neck dia. Shoulder dia. Base dia. Rim dia. Case length Ctge. length Twist Primer 35 Remington c .358 .384 .419(4259) 458(4574) 460 1.92 2.52 16 L 356 Winchester G .358 .388 .454 .4703 .508 2.02(2.015) 2.56 12 L 358 Winchester C .358 .388 .454 .4703 .473 2.01(2.015) 2.78 12 L 35 Whelen C .358 .388 .441 .470 .473 2.50(2.494) 3.34 12-14 L 350 Remington Mag. E .358 .388 .495 .5126 .532 2.17 2.80 16 L 375 Winchester B .375 .400 — 415(4198) .502 2.02 2.56 12 L 375 H&H Mag. E .375 .402 .440(4478) .521 .530 2.85 3.60 12 L 378 Weatherby Mag. E .375 .403 .560 .584 .580 2.92 3.69 12 L 38-55 Win. & Ballard B .379 .392 .3938 .422 .506 2.12(2.085) 2.51 18 L 38-40 Winchester A .401 .416 438(4543) .465 .520 1.30 1.59 36 L* 416 Rem. Mag. E .416 .447 .487 .509 .530 2.85 3.60 14 L 416 Rigby C .416 .445(.4461) .539(.5402) .589 .586 2.90 3.75 16.5 L 416 Weatherby E .416 .444 .561 .584 .580 2.915 3.75 14 L 44-40 Winchester A .4277429 .443 .4568 .471 .525 1.31 1.92 20-36 L* 444 Marlin B .429 .453 .4549 .469 .514 2.16(2.225) 2.57 38 L 45-70 Government B .458 .475(.480) .4813 .500 .600(.608) 2.105 2.55 18-22 L 458 Winchester Mag. F .458 .478(.4811) .4825 .513 .532 2.50 3.34 14-16 L 460 Weatherby Mag. E .458 .485 .560 .584 .580 2.91 3.75 14 L 470 Nitro Express A .475 .504 .528(.5322) .5728 .655 3.25 3.98 20 L 50 BMG C .510/.511 .560 .714 .804 .804 3.91 5.545 16 ** A—Rim, bottleneck B—Rim, straight C—Rimless, bottleneck D—Rimless, straight E—Belted, bottleneck F—Belted, straight G—Semi-rimmed, bottleneck H—Semi-rimmed, straight I—Rebated, bottleneck Primer: S—Small rifle (1.75") L—Large rifle (.210") *—Pistol **—Vihtavouri 110/CCI-35 Twist (factory) is given as inches per complete revolution, e.g., 12=1 turn in 12", etc. Unless otherwise noted, all dimensions are in inches. Data in parenthesis is SAAMI maximum 92 Cartridges of the World Current American Rifle Cartridges 1961 Ballistics WINCHESTER C.F. RIFLE CARTRIDGES'—BALLISTICS AND PRICES CARTRIDGE „ -BULLET VELOCITY—FT. PE? SEC ENERGY—FT. LBS. MID-RANGE TRAJECTORY PRICE Wt. Grs. Type Muzzle 100 yd* *. 200 yd*. 300 yd*. Muzzle 100 yd*. 200 yd*. 300 yd*. 100 yd*. 200 yd*. 300 yd*. For 20 218 Boo Supor Spood*. 46 H.P. 2860 2160 1610 1200 835 475 265 145 0.7 3.8 11.5 $6.90 219 Zipper Super Speed. 56 H.P. 3110 2440 1940 1550 1200 740 465 300 0.6 2.9 8.3 3A0 22 Hornet Supor Spood*. 45 S.P. 2690 2030 1510 1150 720 410 230 130 0.8 4.3 13.0 6.70 22 Hornet Super Speed*. 46 H.P. 2690 2030 1510 1150 740 420 235 135 0.8 4.3 13.0 6.70 220 Swift Super Spood. 46 P.S.P. 4110 3490 2930 2440 1800 1300 915 635 0.3 1.4 3.8 345 222 Remington. 50 S.P. 3200 2660 2170 1750 1140 785 520 340 0.5 2.5 7.0 3.11 243 Winche*ter Supor Speed. 80 S.P. 3500 3080 2720 2410 2180 1690 1320 1030 0.4 1.8 4 J 440 243 Winchester Supor Spood. 100 S.P 3070 2790 2540 2320 2090 1730 1430 1190 0.5 2.2 5.5 4.30 25-20 Winchester High Velocity Supor Spood*.. 60 H.P. 2250 1660 1240 1030 675 365 205 140 1.2 6.3 21.0 6.20 25-20 Winchester!*. 86 Lead 1460 1 180 1030 940 405 265 200 170 2.6 12.5 32.0 25-20 Winchester*. 86 S.P. 1460 1180 1030 940 405 265 200 170 2.6 12.5 32.0 5.90 25-35 Winchester Supor Spood. 117 S.P. 2300 1910 1600 1340 1370 945 665 465 1.0 4.6 12.5 3.70 250 Savage Supor Spood. 87 P.S.P. 3030 2660 2330 2060 1770 1370 1050 820 0.6 2.5 6.4 4.00 250 Savage Supor Speed. 100 S.T.Exp. 2820 2460 2140 1870 1760 1340 1020 775 0.6 2.9 7.4 4.00 257 Roberts Super Speed. 87 S.P. 3200 2840 2500 2190 1980 1560 1210 925 0.5 2.2 5.7 4.45 257 Roberts Super Speed. 100 S.T.Exp. 2900 2540 2210 1920 1870 1430 1080 820 0.6 2.7 7.0 4.45 257 Robert* Supor-X. 117 S.P. 2650 2280 1950 1690 1820 1350 985 740 0.7 3.4 8.8 4.49 264 Winchester Magnum. 100 S.P. 3700 3260 2880 2550 3040 2360 1840 1440 0.4 1.6 4.2 5.85 264 Winchester Magnum. 140 Power Pt. 3200 2940 2700 2480 3180 2690 2270 1910 0.5 2.1 4.9 5.15 270 Winchester Supor Spood. 100 S.P. 3480 3070 2690 2340 2690 2090 1600 1215 0.4 1.8 4.8 4.75 270 Winchester Supor Speed. 130 SJ.Exp. 3140 2850 2580 2320 2840 2340 1920 1550 0.5 2.1 5.3 475 270 Winchester Super Speed. . . 150 S.P. 2800 2400 2040 1750 2610 1920 1380 1020 0.7 3.0 7.8 4.75 7x57 m/m Mauser Supor Speed. 175 S.P. 2490 2170 1900 1680 2410 1830 1400 1100 0.8 3.7 9.5 4.75 30-30 Winchester Super Speed. 150 H.P. 2410 2020 1700 1430 1930 1360 960 680 0.9 4.2 11.0 3.75 30-30 Winchester Super Speed. 150 SJ.Exp. 2410 2020 1700 1430 1930 1360 960 680 0.9 4.2 11.0 375 30-30 Winchester Supor Spood. 170 S.P. 2220 1890 1630 1410 1860 1350 1000 750 1.2 4.6 12.5 3.75 30-30 Winchester Super Speed. 170 SJ.Exp. 2220 1890 1630 1410 1860 1350 1000 750 1.2 4.6 12.5 375 30-30 Winchester Super Speed. 170 P.P. 2220 1890 1630 1410 1860 1350 1000 750 1.2 4.6 125 3.75 30 Remington Supor Speed. 170 S.T.Exp. 2120 1820 1560 1350 1590 1280 870 645 1.1 5.3 14.0 3.75 308 Winchester Super Spood. 110 S.P. 3340 2810 2340 1920 2730 1930 1340 900 0.5 2.2 6.0 475 308 Winchester Supor Speed. 150 S.P. 2860 2570 2300 2050 2730 2200 1760 1400 0.6 2.6 6.5 479 308 Winchester Super Speed. 150 SJ.Exp. 2860 2570 2300 2050 2730 2200 1760 1400 0.6 2.6 6.5 4.75 308 Winchester Super Speed. 180 S.P. 2610 2390 2170 1970 2720 2280 1870 1540 0.8 3.1 7.4 475 308 Winchester Supor Speed. 180 SJ.Exp. 2610 2390 2170 1970 2720 2280 1870 1540 0.8 3.1 7.4 475 308 Winchester Supor Speed. 200 SJ.Exp. 2450 2210 1980 1770 2670 2170 1750 1400 0.8 3.6 9.0 4.75 30-40 Krag Supor Spood. 180 S.P. 2470 2120 1830 1590 2440 1790 1340 1010 0.8 3.8 9.9 475 30-40 Krag Supor Spood. 180 SJ.Exp. 2470 2250 2040 1850 2440 2020 1660 1370 0.8 3.5 8.5 475 30-40 Krag Supor Spood. 220 SJ.Exp. 2200 1990 1800 1630 2360 1930 1580 1300 1.0 4.4 11.0 475 30-06 Springfield Super Speed. 110 S.P. 3310 2830 2400 2010 2680 1960 1400 985 0.5 2.2 5.9 471 30-06 Springfield Super Speed. 150 S.P. 2970 2620 2300 2010 2930 2280 1760 1340 0.6 2.5 6.5 475 30-06 Springfield Supor Speed. 150 SJ.Exp. 2970 2670 2400 2130 2930 2370 1920 1510 0.6 2.4 6.1 475 30-06 Springfield Supor Speed. 180 S.P. 2700 2330 2010 1740 2910 2170 1610 1210 0.7 3.1 8.3 4.75 30-06 Springfield Super Speed. 180 SJ.Exp. 2700 2470 2250 2040 2910 2440 2020 1660 0.7 2.9 7.0 475 30-06 Springfield Wimbledon Cup. 180 F.P.B.T. 2700 2520 2350 2190 2910 2540 2200 1900 0.6 2.8 6.7 6.05 30-06 Springfield Supor-X. 180 M.C.B.T. 2700 2520 2350 2190 2910 2540 2200 1900 0.6 2.8 6.7 6.05 30-06 Springfield Supor Speed. 220 S.P. 2410 2120 1870 1670 2830 2190 1/10 1360 0.8 3.9 9.8 4.71 30-06 Springfield Super-Speed. 220 SJ.Exp. 2410 2180 1980 1790 2830 2320 1910 1560 0.8 3.7 9.2 4.75 300 Savage Supor Speed. 150 S.P. 2670 2350 2060 1800 2370 1840 1410 1080 0.7 3.2 8.0 440 300 Savage Super Speed. 150 SJ.Exp. 2670 2390 2130 1890 2370 1900 1510 1190 0.7 3.0 7.6 4.60 300 Savage Super Speed. 180 S.P. 2370 2040 1760 1520 2240 1660 1240 920 0.9 4.1 10.5 440 300 Savage Super Speed. 180 S.T.Exp. 2370 2160 1960 1770 2240 I860 1530 1250 0.9 3.7 9.2 440 300 H. & H. Magnum Super Speed. 150 SJ.Exp. 3190 2870 2580 2300 3390 2740 2220 1760 0.5 2.1 5.2 6.00 300 H. & H. Magnum Supor Speed. 180 SJ.Exp. 2920 2670 2440 2220 3400 2850 2380 1970 0.6 2.4 5.8 6.00 300 H. & H. Magnum Match. 180 F.P.B.T. 2920 2740 2550 2380 3400 3000 2600 2260 0.6 2.4 5.7 7.10 300 H. & H. Magnum Super Speed. 220 S.T.Exp. 2620 2370 2150 1940 3350 2740 2260 1840 0.7 3.1 7.7 4.00 303 Savage Super Speed. 190 SJ.Exp. 1980 1680 1440 1250 1650 1190 875 660 1.3 6.2 15.5 4.05 303 British Supor Speed. 215 S.P. 2180 1900 1660 1460 2270 1720 1310 1020 1.1 4.9 12.5 4.75 32-20 Winchester High Velocity Supor Speed*. . 80 H.P. 2100 1430 1090 950 780 365 210 160 1.5 8.5 24.5 7.10 32-20 Winchester (Otlproof)t*. 100 Lead 1290 1060 940 840 370 250 195 155 3.3 15.5 38.0 5.35 32-20 Winchester (Oilproof)*. 100 S.P. 1290 1060 940 840 370 250 195 155 3.3 15.5 38.0 4.40 32 Winchester Special Super Speed. 170 S.P. 2280 1870 1560 1330 1960 1320 920 665 1.0 4.8 13.0 3.15 32 Winchester Special Super Speed. 170 SJ.Exp. 2280 1870 1560 1330 1960 1320 920 665 1.0 4.8 13.0 3.19 32 Remington Supor Spood. 170 SJ.Exp. 2220 1840 1530 1280 I860 1280 885 620 1.1 5.0 13.5 3.19 32-40 Winchester . 165 S.P. 1440 1250 1100 1030 760 570 445 390 2.4 11.0 28.0 370 8x57 m/m Mauser Super Speed. 200 S.P. 2320 1990 1720 1500 2390 1760 1310 1000 0.9 4.4 11.5 475 338 Winchester Magnum. 200 Power Pt. 3000 2690 2410 2170 4000 3210 2580 2090 0.5 2.4 6.0 6.30 338 Winchester Magnum. 250 S.T. 2700 2430 2180 1940 4050 3280 2640 2090 0.7 3.0 7.0 640 338 Winchester Magnum. 300 Power Pt 2450 2160 1910 1690 4000 3110 2430 1900 0.8 3.7 9.5 6.30 348 Winchester Super Speed. 150 SJ.Exp. 2890 2460 2060 1710 2780 2020 1410 975 0.6 2 9 7.9 545 348 Winchester Super Speed.. 200 S.T.Exp. 2530 2220 1940 1680 2840 2190 1670 1250 0.9 3.6 9.0 5.65 348 Winchester Super Speed. 250 SJ.Exp. 2350 1970 1660 1410 3060 2150 1530 1100 0.9 4.4 11.5 545 35 Remington Super Speed. 200 S.P. 2100 1710 1390 1160 1950 1290 865 605 1.2 6.0 16.5 440 35 Remington Super Speed. 200 S.T.Exp. 2100 1710 1390 1160 1950 1290 865 605 1.2 6.0 16.5 4.30 351 Winchester Self-Loading (Oilproof)*. 180 S.P. 1850 1560 1310 1140 1370 975 685 520 1.5 7.8 21.5 145 351 Winchester Self-Loading (Oilproof)*. 180 F.P. 1850 1560 1310 1140 1370 975 685 520 1.5 7.8 21.5 1.05 358 Winchester Super-Speed. 200 S.T. 2530 2210 1910 1640 2840 2160 1610 1190 0.8 3.6 9.4 4.95 358 Winchester Super Speed. 250 S.T. 2250 2010 1780 1570 2810 2230 1760 1370 1.0 4.4 11.0 4.95 375 H. & H. Magnum Super Speed. 270 S.P. 2740 2460 2210 1990 4500 3620 2920 2370 0.7 2.9 7.1 4.50 375 H. & H. Magnum Super Speed. 300 SJ.Exp. 2550 2280 2040 1830 4330 3460 2770 2230 0.7 3.3 8.3 6.50 375 H. & H. Magnum Super Speed. 300 F.P. 2550 2180 1860 1590 4330 3160 2300 1680 0.7 3.6 9.3 440 38-40 Winchester (Oilproof)*. 180 S.P. 1330 1070 960 850 705 455 370 290 3.2 15.0 36.5 7.15 38-55 Winchester. 255 SJ. 1320 1160 1050 1000 985 760 625 565 2.9 13.0 32.0 3.75 44-40 Winchester (Oilproof)*. 200 S.P. 1310 1050 940 830 760 490 390 305 3.3 15.0 36.5 1.25 45-70 Government. 405 S.P. 1320 1160 1050 990 1570 1210 990 880 2.9 13.0 32.5 5.00 458 Winchester Magnum Super Speed. 500 F.P. 2125 1910 1700 1520 5010 4050 3210 2570 1.1 4.8 12 12.15 458 Winchester Magnum Super Speed. 510 S,P. 2130 1840 1600 1400 5140 3830 2900 2220 1.1 5.1 13.2 7.95 thsido Lubricated H.P.—Hollow Point O.P.E.—Open Point Expanding S.P.—Soft Point P.S.P.—Pointed Soft Point P.P.—Full Patch S.T.—Silvertip M.C.B.T.—Metal Ca*e loot Toll *50 per Box F.P.B.T.—Pull Patch Boat Tail H.C.P.—Hoilow Copper Point Courtesy Western-Winchester Bullet upset performance of the 264 Winchester Magnum 140 gr. Power Point at ranges of 100, 200, 300, 400 and 500 yards. 8th Edition 93 Chapter 3 OBSOLETE AMERICAN RIFLE CARTRIDGES (Centerfire Sporting—Blackpowder and Smokeless) CHAPTER 3 covers obsolete rifle cartridges no longer loaded by American ammunition manufacturers or no longer chambered in commercially available rifles. A few of these are still available out of dealers’ old stocks. Both smokeless powder and blackpowder cartridges are includ¬ ed. The total number of old blackpowder sporting car¬ tridges is quite large, and many of these are now collectors’ items. Some authorities are bound to disagree with a few of the cartridges placed in the obsolete category. The New¬ ton cartridges, for example, have been kept alive over the years by wildcat experimenters, and it might be argued they belong in that classification. A wildcat car¬ tridge is usually defined as one that is not loaded, cham¬ bered or available on a commercial basis. Strictly speaking, this would make wildcats of almost all the car¬ tridges listed in this chapter. However, they have one common, differentiating characteristic—all were at one time available as true commercial cartridges. Further¬ more, used rifles and ammunition out of old stock are sometimes still available for the majority of smokeless powder types. They are also listed in old catalogs and ballistics tables, and it might create confusion to call them wildcats. The cartridges in Chapter 3 can be considered as commercial innovations that have not stood the test of time. This is as true of the Newton cartridges as the oth¬ ers, but in addition, the Newton designs must be recog¬ nized as too advanced for their day. If Charles Newton were alive and his cartridges introduced today, they would be hailed as brilliant and modern in every respect. Unfortunately, modern powders and entirely suitable actions were not available back around 1910, nor was the sporting world quite ready to accept high- intensity cartridges. The general big game hunting con¬ ditions at that time made the benefits of this development of doubtful value. The trouble with being ahead of the times is that your genius is not appreciated until some future generation. Posthumous recognition must be of precious little comfort to the individual involved. The late Roy Weatherby, on the other hand, arrived on the scene at the right time. He was also a far better promoter and businessman than was Charles Newton. Result? Ultra-velocity Weatherby rifles are a commercial success and his ideas accepted the world over by all but a few diehards. The principal importance of obsolete commercial car¬ tridges to today’s sportsman is that rifles for many of them are still floating around, particularly the smoke¬ less types. It is well to be aware of their existence and disadvantages before some sharpy unloads an obsolete rifle on you. Obtaining ammunition in any of these cal¬ ibers is going to be an ever-increasing problem. Of course, certain handloaders like to play around with obsolete cartridges just to be different or to try and improve performance. If you belong to this group, well and good, you probably know what you are doing. How¬ ever, the average sportsman would be better served by cartridges in Chapter 2. Up to this point most of the remarks are aimed at the obsolete smokeless powder cartridges. The true blackpowder types are a different story. Many of the old blackpowder rifles are now quite valuable, and there is a considerable and growing trend toward the use of these old rifles for target shooting and hunting. Cartridge Development Blackpowder cartridges discussed in this chapter cover arms development from about 1868 to 1895. Ideas and experiments of this interval were a necessary prerequi¬ site to perfection of modem, high-powered rifles and ammunition. This was also one of the most romantic peri¬ ods of American history—the consolidation and settling of the western frontier. The first successful, self-con¬ tained metallic cartridge produced on a commercial basis in the United States was the 22 rimfire Short, introduced by Smith & Wesson for their small tip-up revolver in 1857. Commercial cartridge production from then until sifter the close of the Civil War was mostly in the rimfire field. Essential features of the modern centerfire were 94 Cartridges of the World covered in patents of George W. Morse, issued in 1856 and 1858. His design had an anvil formed out of a wire soldered to the inside of the case. The primer or cap was supported by a perforated rubber disc within the base of the case. American Col. Hiram Berdan perfected his priming system, with the anvil formed in the bottom of the primer pocket, during 1866. British Col. Edward Box¬ er developed his self-contained primer and anvil in 1867. Oddly, the Berdan type is used extensively in Europe while the Boxer primer is used by American manufactur¬ ers almost exclusively. Frankford Arsenal initiated exper¬ iments to develop a satisfactory centerfire system as early as 1858. The Union Metallic Cartridge Co. (now Remington) began manufacturing Berdan centerfire car¬ tridges in 1868, about a year after the company was formed. The first of the American outside primed, Berdan-type cartridges were probably the 50-70 Govt, and 50 Remington Navy rounds. After 1870, development and introduction of improved centerfire cartridges was quite rapid. In 1885 the French chemist, Vielle, developed the first practical smokeless powder, and in 1886 this was adopted for the new French 8mm Lebel military car¬ tridge. The United States military adopted their first smokeless small-bore cartridge in 1892 for the Krag bolt- action rifle. Winchester developed the first smokeless powder sporting round, the 30-30 WCF, during 1895. Blackpowder cartridges did not begin a serious decline in the United States until after about 1910. Both Remington and Winchester were still loading blackpowder in some of the old cartridges as late as 1936 or ’37. Several black¬ powder cartridges such as the 44-40,45 Colt, 45-70, 32-40 and 38-55, survived the change to smokeless powder and are, or were, still manufactured, but no longer with black¬ powder. Those loaded at present are included with mod¬ em cartridges. Caliber Confusion Two great sources of confusion with blackpowder sporting cartridges are the method of nomenclature and the manufacturer’s habit of sticking his name on any cartridge he made or chambered. Two or three numbers were used to designate a particular cartridge, such as the 45-70 Govt, or the 45-70-500 Govt. The first numeral is the caliber or bullet diameter, the second is the powder charge in grains and the third is the bullet weight in grains. This last was then usually followed by the manu¬ facturer’s name. The same cartridge loaded by Winches¬ ter was called, in one version, the 45-70-350 WCF. As offered for Marlin rifles of the same caliber, it was called the 45-70-300 Marlin. As a matter of confusing fact, the Sharps Rifle Co. designated this same 45-70 Govt, as the 45-2.1-inch Sharps. Winchester introduced the tapered cased 40-65 WCF, but Marlin loaded it with only 60 grains of powder for their rifle, so named it the 40-60 Marlin. They are nearly identical and are interchange¬ able. However, Winchester also introduced the 40-60 WCF, a shorter and quite different case than the so- called “40-60 Marlin.” The 50-100, 50-105 and 50-110 Winchester are sometimes listed as different cartridges, but they are, in reality, just different loadings of the orig¬ inal 50-110. Confusing! To add a bit more to the mess, consider the “Everlasting” or heavy reloadable-type case Obsolete American Rifle Cartridges that was popular for many years. These were so thick and heavy they didn’t always have sufficient volume to hold the original powder charge. Manufacturers got around this by making the case a little longer than stan¬ dard. This practice gave rise to all kinds of different cal¬ ibers that are nothing more than a slightly lengthened version of something else. Trying to tie the standard original and the longer reloadable version together is often difficult. We have attempted to unravel as much of this confusion as possible. Bullet diameter, as listed in most cartridge books, is based on that portion protruding from the case mouth. This is all right for identification purposes, but not much help to the man trying to load ammunition. Bul¬ let diameter, as given here, is that recommended for loading and shooting and is related to average groove diameter. It was obtained by measuring bullets removed from factory ammunition or from old Ideal cat¬ alogs or manufacturers’ specifications. Ideal catalogs had a reference table listing various cartridges and the loading tool and standard bullet furnished. This is a good index for bullet diameter in any given caliber, but there was considerable variation in old rifle bores. It is a good idea to measure the bore diameter before you order a mould, just to be on the safe side. If you can’t figure out the caliber of your rifle, have it checked by a gunsmith or make a chamber cast and measure it. A comparison of the chamber dimensions with the car¬ tridge dimensions in this or other chapters should allow you to determine the caliber of almost any rifle. These cartridge dimensions will also assist in making up ammunition for the old-timers, or determining the caliber of unmarked cases. Chamber Casting In making chamber castings one can use lead alloy (not recommended), sulphur, or a low melting point bismuth alloy. Flowers of sulphur, obtainable at any drugstore, is fair¬ ly satisfactory. However, sulphur casts are extremely brit¬ tle and prone to breakage while being removed from the chamber or during later handling. The sulphur solution (4 ounces of sulphur, a pinch of lampblack and about a tea¬ spoon of camphor) must be heated very slowly with con¬ tinuous stirring. When completely molten, it is ready for pouring into the chamber. It should be poured quickly and allowed to cool thoroughly before any attempt to remove the cast is made. The chamber must be thoroughly cleaned and then lightly oiled before pouring. The bore should be plugged forward of the chamber, thus also giving you a cast of the bore for measurement, with a tightly fitting cork attached to a piece of wire extending from the breech. A finger loop on the end of the wire mandrel aids in remov¬ ing the cast. The most satisfactory and durable chamber casts are accomplished with chamber cast metal available from gunsmith supply houses. These are bismuth alloys, and casts made from them can be remelted for repeated use. Oil the chamber and throat as above. One of the typical bismuth alloys used for chamber castings is Cerrosafe, available from Brownells, Montezuma, Iowa. This alloy 8th Edition 95 Chapter 3 has a pouring temperature of 190 degrees Fahrenheit, or 22 degrees below the boiling point of water. Care should be taken that the material is not over-heated, as this pre¬ vents its being reused. It shrinks slightly for a few min¬ utes after it hardens, which simplifies removal of large or long casts. Measurements made approximately 1 hour after removal will give the truest dimensions. Surfaces of bismuth alloy casts are very smooth, unlike those of lead alloy which are almost always badly wrinkled. Blackpowder Loads and Shooting Although there is considerable difference in knockdown or killing power between some of the blackpowder sport¬ ing cartridges, there is not much variation in effective range. There are plenty of stories about old buffalo hunters killing game at ranges of V 2 -mile or more, and there may be an element of truth in this. Some of the big- bore match cartridges were used for 1000- and even 1400- yard shooting. Buffalo hunters, generally professionals who had spent years in the field, must have developed a keen ability for estimating distance. On the target range, distance was known and the rifle sighted-in before the match started. Many people can’t tell 100 feet from 100 yards in the field and that is why blackpowder rifles, with their rainbow trajectories, are restricted to an effective game range of not much over 150 yards. An experienced hunter or anyone who has practiced with his rifle and knows how to judge distance with reasonable accuracy can, of course, do much better than this. Blackpowder car¬ tridges below about 38-caliber are mostly for small or medium game. Above this are many good short- to medi¬ um-range deer and black bear calibers. The big and long 45- to 50-caliber numbers would knock the stuffing out of the largest moose or grizzly bear that ever lived. All you have to do is hit him in the right place. Loading ammunition for blackpowder rifles requires caution if you intend to use smokeless powder. Velocity and pressure must be kept at the original level in most rifles as a matter of safety. Jacketed bullets and high velocity are out of the question unless you have a modem action and a smokeless steel barrel. A few of the old actions are strong enough to be rebarreled to modem calibers, but most are not. Among the strongest are the Peabody-Martini, Remington rolling block and Hepburn, Sharps-Borchardt, Stevens 44V2 and the Winchester single shot. Late models of these are as strong as many modern actions, but early models don’t have the improved smokeless steel and caution is advis¬ able. The weakest of the lot are the U.S. 1866 and 1873 Springfield, Kennedy, Whitney, and the Win¬ chester Models 1873 and 1876. Nothing but very light loads of smokeless powder should be used in these and it is better to stick to blackpowder. Also, don’t use a smokeless charge given for one bullet weight with a heavier bullet as this will raise pressure, perhaps beyond safe limits. Old cartridge cases are often of the folded-head (balloon) type and not very strong and, since blackpowder residue is corrosive to brass, inspect your cases very carefully. It is actually better and safer to use modem-made brass in original or reformed cases if at all possible. Noncorrosive primers don’t leave chloride salts in the bore, hence, reduce corrosion, but they also raise pressure, so bear that in mind when working up loads. Shooting blackpowder rifles and cartridges is lots of fun, and there is no reason for it to be any more dangerous than shooting modern rifles. On the other hand, it requires common sense and a knowledge of what you are trying to do. If in doubt, don’t!!! Ask a good gunsmith and follow his advice—it’s cheaper in the long run. Shooting old blackpowder rifles has become such a pop¬ ular pastime that furnishing ammunition for these obso¬ lete guns is a growing business. As a further aid in obtaining ammunition, get a copy of the book, Cartridge Conversions by the late Maj. George C. Nonte, Jr. This will tell you how to make, via reforming, most of the non¬ existent blackpowder cartridges. An article in the 1962, 16th Edition of the Gun Digest by Nonte will provide a good introduction to this subject. The Lyman Reloaders Handbook and the NRA— Illustrated Reloading Hand¬ book (out of print) also have much valuable information on making and loading obsolete cartridges. It is not surpris¬ ing to see replicas of some of the more popular blackpow¬ der cartridge rifles being manufactured, following the success with percussion replica arms. Bell Basic Brass (formerly Brass Extrusion Laboratories) and now called M.A.S.T. Technologies made 45- and 50-caliber brass cas¬ es from which many obsolete blackpowder cartridges could be formed. Further information can be found under individual cartridges in this chapter. Red Willow Tool and Armory and Bertram Bullet Company currently manufac¬ ture many obsolete American and British obsolete car¬ tridges. These can be obtained from Huntington’s (601 Oro Dam Blvd., Oroville, CA 95965) or The Old Western Scrounger (12924 Hwy. A-12, Montague, CA 96064). 96 Cartridges of the World Obsolete American Rifle Cartridges 219 Zipper Historical Notes The 219 Zipper was brought out in 1937 by Winchester for their Model 64 lever-action rifle, which was a modernization of the Model 94. As with the 218 Bee, the lever action did not prove sufficiently accurate for long-range shooting on small targets and in addition did not allow the proper mount¬ ing of telescopic sights. Winchester discontinued the Model 64 after WWII. The last commercial rifle chambered for this car¬ tridge was the Marlin Model 336 lever action, discontinued in this caliber in 1961. A number of custom-made single shot and Krag- Jorgensen rifles have been made for the 219 Zipper. It is not and never has been very popular, largely because of the rifles avail¬ able. It is based on the necked-down 25-35 WCF case. Winchester dropped the 219 Zipper in 1962, and Remington followed shortly thereafter. General Comments In a good solid-frame single shot or bolt- action rifle, the 219 Zipper is just as accurate as any other high- velocity 22 in its class. Since it was designed for tubular maga¬ zines, all factory-loaded ammunition is furnished with flat- or round-nosed bullets, and this causes rapid velocity loss. Although overshadowed by the 222 Remington, it is still an entirely satis¬ factory small game, varmint or target cartridge when used in a suitable action. It is one of the few American cartridges that will work well in the British Lee-Enfield action, and some of these rifles have been rebarreled and altered to handle the Zipper. It is just as good on any count as the 222 Remington, but is handi¬ capped by being rimmed and hence not suitable for modem Mauser-type bolt-action rifles. The Marlin Model 336 permitted the proper positioning and use of scope sights, and this has added to the usefulness of the Zipper to those who favor the lever action. The Zipper has adequate power for small game and varmints up to, but not including, deer. 219 Zipper Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 45 SP IMR 4320 30 3600 1295 Homady 45 SP BL-C 27 3400 1152 Homady 45 SP H-380 30.5 3500 1224 Sierra 50 SP IMR 3031 26 3400 1284 Sierra 50 SP H-380 31 3500 1360 Sierra, Homady 55 SP IMR 4320 29 3300 1330 Homady, Sierra 55 SP H-380 30 3300 1330 Homady, Sierra 55 SP IMR 4320 27 3300 1330 Sierra 60 SP IMR 4064 28 3300 1451 Homady 60 SP H-380 31 3300 1451 Homady 55 SP FL 3110 1200 Factory load 22-15-60 Stevens Historical Notes One of a number of cartridges for the Stevens 44 or 44V2 series of single shot rifles, this cartridge was intro¬ duced by Stevens in 1896. Actual design is credited to Charles H. Herrick of Winchester, Massachusetts. It did not enjoy a particu¬ larly long life as most shooters preferred the 25-21 or some of the larger calibers. Many shooters claimed the 22-15 Stevens gave better accuracy than the 22 WCF. General Comments This is an improved centerfire 22 of sub¬ stantially better killing power than other 22s of its day. With the heavy 60-grain bullet, it would shoot relatively flat for 125 yards or so. As a target or match cartridge, most of the blackpowder 22s fouled the bore badly and required frequent cleaning. Most shoot¬ ers preferred the larger calibers of from 25 on up. The 22-15-60 was displaced by the 22 WCF and smokeless powder develop¬ ments in the rimfire group. Original primer was the IV 2 size, the same as our modem Small Rifle or Pistol primer of .175-inch diameter. Charge was 15 grains of FFFFg or FFFg. Lyman No. 22636 or 22637 in 54- to 60-grain weight is the proper bullet if you should have one of these old rifles in shooting condition. 22-15-60 Stevens Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 60 Lead Unique 3.4 1070* 152 Lyman #22636 60 Lead FL(FFg 15) 1150 176 Factory load 'Estimated 8th Edition 97 Chapter 3 22 Extra Long Centerfire (Maynard) f.——. Historical Notes The 22 Extra Long centerfire is one of a series of cartridges for the Model 1882 Maynard single shot hunting and gallery rifles. It is, in effect, a centerfire version of the 22 rimfire Extra Long. It originally used the small number 0 primer which has not been manufactured for many years. It was replaced by the longer 22 centerfires and the 22 WCF. Ballard and Stevens rifles were also available in this caliber. General Comments Powder charge varied from 8 to 10 grains of FFFg or FFFFg black or semi-smokeless powder. Case lengths of l 5 /32 inches to IV 4 inches will be encountered. Three or 4 grains of IMR 4756 shotgun powder makes a fairly satisfactory load. Lyman’s No. 228151 (45-grain) bullet is proper for this cartridge. 22 Extra Long Centerfire (Maynard) Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 45 Lead FL (FFFg 8-10) 1100 122 Factory load 22 Winchester Centerfire (22 WCF) Historical Notes The 22 WCF was introduced in 1885 as one of the original cartridges for the famous Winchester single shot rifle, first manufactured in that year. It was also chambered in the Remington No. 7 rolling block rifle in 1904. It was actually too long for most of the short repeating actions of the day, although Winchester once cataloged it for the Model 1873, so its use was confined mostly to single shot rifles. It is the predecessor of the 22 Hornet. General Comments The 22 WCF enjoyed considerable popular¬ ity as a target, small game and varmint cartridge until 1925. Win¬ chester advertised it as a 200-yard cartridge, but with its midrange trajectory of some 13.5 inches, it was more of a 100- to 125-yard number. Although originally a blackpowder cartridge, it was loaded in smokeless version with identical ballistics. In Europe it was stepped up to about 1700-1800 fps and used in drillings or oth¬ er combination guns. The 22 WCF was discontinued in 1936. 22 Winchester Centerfire Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 45 SP Unique 4 1500 226 45 SP 2400 6 1650 273 45 Cast FFg 13.0 1560 244 Lyman #228151 45 Lead FL (FFFg 13) 1540 240 Factory load Winchester Special Sporting Single Shot 98 Cartridges of the World Obsolete American Rifle Cartridges 22 Savage High-Power (22 High-Power) Historical Notes Designed by Charles Newton and introduced as a commercial cartridge by Savage Arms Co. in their Model 99 lever-action rifle about 1912. The cartridge was first called the “Imp.” In the United States only Savage produced a commercial rifle in this caliber, although a great many custom rifles were chambered for it. In England the BSA Martini single shot was chambered for it about 1912. In Europe it is known as the 5.6x52Rmm and has been chambered in various drillings or com¬ bination rifle and shotgun arms. The 22 Savage is based on the 25-35 case necked-down. It has been obsolete since the 1930s. Norma still manufactures ammunition in this caliber. General Comments The 22 Savage High-Power enjoyed con¬ siderable popularity through the early 1900s. Unfortunately, like some later high-velocity 22s, it did not prove very accurate in some of the lever-action rifles chambered for it. The bullets then available may have held some share of the blame. It was origi¬ nally advertised as a small game and deer cartridge, but it quick¬ ly proved to be rather undependable on the latter. Nonetheless, the 22 Savage was used in Africa and Asia on such unlikely beasts as lion and tiger, with some glowing reports on its effec¬ tiveness. It is a perfectly adequate small game and varmint car¬ tridge, but no big game number by any standard. It has been rendered obsolete by new and much improved modem cartridges such as the 222 Remington. For single shot rifles, most modem shooters prefer the 225 Winchester because of the availability of ammunition and cases, plus the fact that the 225 uses standard .224-inch diameter bullets, as opposed to the .228-inch bullets of the 22 Savage. 22 Savage High-Power Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 55 SP 4895 27 2870 1106 55 SP 3031 30 3260 1291 55 SP H-380 29 3200 1249 70 SP RL-7 23 2900 1308 Homady 70 SP IMR 4198 23 3000 1399 Homady 70 SP IMR 3031 27 3100 1494 Homady 71 SP FL 2790 1228 Norma factory load 244 Remington Historical Notes The 244 Remington was introduced by Rem¬ ington in 1955 in their Model 722 bolt-action rifle. The cartridge is based on the 257 Roberts necked-down to 6mm. It was actual¬ ly originated as a wildcat by Fred Huntington of Oroville, Cali¬ fornia. The wildcat version preceded the factory design by several years and was called the 243 Rockchucker. Only Remington chambered the 244 among American manufacturers, but several European-made bolt-action rifles were available in this caliber. General Comments The 244 Remington is ballistically almost identical to the 243 Winchester. The only notable difference is that Remington made their 6mm rifles with a 12-inch twist (one turn in 12 inches), whereas Winchester adopted a 10-inch twist for their 6mm. The faster twist rate of the Winchester enabled use of 100-grain bullets for deer whereas the slower twist of the Remington did not. The net result is that the 244 Remington will not stabilize spitzer bullets over 90 grains in weight while the 243 Winchester does very well with 100- or even 105-grain bullets. The reason for this is that a quick twist of 1 in 10-inches or better is required to stabilize long, heavy bullets. Remington looked on the 6mm as largely a varmint and small game development and concluded that anything beyond the 90-grain bullet was unneces¬ sary. Winchester, on the other hand, decided the 6mm was very much a big game cartridge and therefore the heavier bullets would be highly desirable. Who was right? It appears as if some¬ thing like ten 243 Winchester-chambered rifles were sold for one 244 Remington. Remington changed to a 9-inch twist at the last, but too late to rescue the 244 from oblivion. What Remington did to extricate themselves from this dilemma was to change the name of the 244 to the 6mm Remington and make all such rifles with a 1 in 9-inch twist. Remington was the only commercial manufacturer of this caliber. (Since, with lighter bullets, the 6mm Remington is interchangeable with the 244 Remington, then strictly speaking only the headstamp is obsolete.) 244 Remington Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 75 HP IMR 4831 48 3300 1814 Speer, Homady 75 HP IMR 4350 47 3400 1926 Nosier, Sierra 75 HP H-380 42 3150 1653 Homady 90 SP IMR 4831 47 3200 2047 Speer, Sierra, Homady 90 SP IMR 4350 44.5 3100 1921 Sierra, Speer, Homady 90 SP H-380 39 3000 1799 Sierra, Speer 90 SP IMR 3031 36.6 3000 1799 Sierra 75 SP FL 3500 2040 Remington factory load 90 SP FL 3200 2050 Remington factory load 8th Edition 99 Chapter 3 6mm Lee Navy Historical Notes The 6mm Lee cartridge (also known as the 236 Navy) was used in the 1895 Lee Straight Pull bolt-action mil¬ itary rifle manufactured by Winchester for the United States Navy. About 15,000 of these rifles were made and used by the Navy on a trial basis. Winchester, Remington and Blake also chambered sporting rifles for this cartridge. No factory-loaded ammunition has been available since 1935. General Comments The 244 or 6mm caliber was revived in two cartridges introduced by Remington and Winchester in 1955, the 244 (now the 6mm Remington) and 243. The 6mm Lee car¬ tridge died out mainly because it was too far ahead of its time. The powders available in 1895 were not suitable to this small cal¬ iber. A few shooters who have old rifles for this round reload and use it for hunting. It is a good varmint, medium game, deer, black bear and antelope cartridge at moderate ranges. It is not as pow¬ erful as the 6mm Remington or the 243 Winchester. By increas¬ ing the rim to fit the standard Mauser bolt face and necking the case to accept 0.224-inch bullets, Winchester created the 220 Swift. 6mm Lee Navy Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 75 SP IMR 3031 37 3300 1809 Ackley 95 Cast Unique 5.0 1200 305 Lyman #244203 100 SP IMR 4895 34 2680 1595 112 SP IMR 3031 30 2650 1895 Ackley 112 SP IMR 4895 34 2670 1946 112 SP FL 2560 1635 Factory load 25-20 Single Shot Historical Notes Designed by J. Francis Rabbeth, a gun writer at the turn of the century who used the pen name of J. Francis, the 25- 20 Single Shot first appeared about 1882, and was one of the first centerfire, 25-caliber wildcats. The first commercial cartridges were loaded by Remington (UMC), and shortly thereafter Maynard, Remington, Stevens and Winchester chambered single shot rifles for the round. No commercial rifles have been available in this cal¬ iber since the late 1920s and the manufacturers stopped loading this number in the mid ’30s. Bell Basic Brass (now MAS.T. Technolo¬ gies and formerly Brass Extrusion Laboratories, Ltd.) turned out at least one run of25-20 Single Shot brass in 1987 and 1988. General Comments The 25-20 Single Shot was too long to work through the action of the Winchester Model 1892, so Win¬ chester designed the 25-20 WCF or Repeater version, a shorter, more bottlenecked case. The 25-20 SS is quite accurate and was used almost entirely in single shot rifles. As a varmint or small game cartridge, it is in the same class as the 25-20 WCF. At one time there was a good deal of leftover ammunition on the dealer’s shelves, but as this cartridge is the base for forming the once-pop- ular 2R Lovell wildcat, most of this was bought up by 2R fans. Most rifles for this cartridge have been rechambered for the still available 25-20 WCF. 25-20 Single Shot Lading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 60 SP 2400 8.0 1535 310 Ackley 65 Cast 2400 8.0 1620 380 Lyman #257420 86 SP 4227 8.5 1400 370 Ackley 86 SP FL 1410 380 Factory load 100 Cartridges of the World Obsolete American Rifle Cartridges 25-20 Marlin Historical Notes This cartridge was loaded for the Marlin repeating rifle Model 1894. Winchester loaded the 25-20 Marlin beginning around the turn of the century and until about WWI. It is nothing more than a special version of the 25-20 Winchester, except perhaps for the bullet nose shape, seating depth and the 25-20 Marlin headstamp. It is otherwise identical to the current 25-20 Winchester. In 1916 Winchester offered five versions of this cartridge: lead, blackpowder (86 grains, 17 grains); softpoint, smokeless; full-patch, smokeless; high-velocity softpoint; and high-velocity, full-patch. General Comments Evidently sales of Marlin’s Model 1894 rifles generated sufficient demand for special versions of the car¬ tridges for which that rifle was nominally chambered or perhaps cartridges with slightly different bullet shapes or loading lengths were found to function better in it. There must have been some good reason, for Winchester’s 1916 catalog shows separate car¬ tridge loadings with the following names: 25-20 Marlin, 32-20 Marlin, 38-40 Marlin and 44-40 Marlin. It is possible the 25-20 Marlin was somehow unique from the 25-20 Winchester because the catalog does not specify adaptation to Winchester rifles, as it does with the others. Also, Winchester showed the same black- powder load and bullet weight for both the 25-20 Winchester and the 25-20 Marlin. The 32-20, 38-40 and 44-40 were unique load¬ ings. 25-21 Stevens Historical Notes The 25-21 Stevens was developed about 1897 as a shortened version of the slightly older 25-25. First introduced for the 44 Stevens rifles and later available in the 44V2 series, it was designed by Capt. W.L. Carpenter of the 9th U.S. Infantry, who also designed the 25-25 Stevens. The Remington-Hepbum was available in various models for the 25-21, and it was a popu¬ lar target and small game number. Many shooters of the period disliked the bottlenecked case and the 25-21 was intended as a straight case version of the 25-20 SS. General Comments The 25-21 was noted as a very accurate cartridge, reportedly capable of V 2 -inch, 100-yard groups. It gave about the same performance as the 25-20 SS, but was much too long for the standard repeating actions. It is easy to reload and quite pleasant to shoot. Use Lyman No. 25720 flat- point or No. 25727 hollowpoint cast bullets. The former weighs 86 grains, the latter 75 grains. Twenty to 23 grains of FFFg blackpowder can be used or the light smokeless loads listed below. 25-21 Stevens Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 86 Lead 2400 9 1610 498 86 Lead Unique 5 1500 434 88 Cast Unique 5.5 1440 406 Lyman #257231 86 Lead FL 1470 415 Factory load 8th Edition 101 Chapter 3 25-25 Stevens Historical Notes The 25-25 was the first straight shell manu¬ factured for Stevens. Designed by Captain Carpenter in 1895, Stevens introduced it for their Model 44 single shot rifles and for the 44V2 series after this action was marketed in 1903. It was also a standard caliber for some of the Remington-Hepbum target rifles. It was fairly popular, but the shorter 25-21 developed prac¬ tically the same performance and was a little cleaner shooting. General Comments A very freakish appearing cartridge with its excessive length-to-diameter ratio, it is the 25-21 with about V 2 -inch added to its overall length. The late Phil Sharpe wrote (The Rifle in America , 1938) that the 25-25 gave great extraction trouble and that is why the shorter 25-21 was developed. Howev¬ er, modem users say this is not so, although the 25-25 fouls the bore a little more than the 25-21. It is highly probable the 25-21 was developed because it was found that 20 or 21 grains of pow¬ der gave practically the same ballistics as the extra 4 grains or so. You can use any 257 bullet of from 60 to 86 grains weight, the gascheck type preferable with smokeless powder. 25-25 Stevens Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 86 Lead Unique 5.5 1525 448 86 Lead IMR 4198 10.2 1520 446 86 Lead FL 1500 434 Factory load 25-36 Marlin Historical Notes This cartridge, adopted by Marlin in 1895 for their lever-action Model 93 rifle, was designed by William V. Lowe a year or so prior and originally called the 25-37. It was probably inspired by the 25-35 Winchester. The two are very sim¬ ilar but not interchangeable although the 25-35 can be fired in the slightly longer 25-36 chamber. The 25-36 Marlin was loaded in smokeless version and survived until the early 1920s. General Comments The 25-36 and the 25-35 WCF are similar, however, many rifles for the Marlin cartridge were not strong enough to withstand maximum loads safely. In general, one should not exceed 2000 fps velocity with the 25-36. It is not an adequate deer cartridge, and its use should be confined to small or medium game. Used in the lever action, it did not acquire a reputation for outstanding accuracy. 25-36 Marlin Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 87 SP IMR 3031 20 2010 770 117 SP IMR 3031 20 1800 845 117 SP FL 1855 893 Factory load 102 Cartridges of the World Obsolete American Rifle Cartridges 256 Winchester Magnum Historical Notes The 256 Winchester Magnum was an¬ nounced in 1960 as a new handgun cartridge; however, the only handgun that chambered it was the single shot, enclosed- breech Ruger “Hawkeye” introduced in late 1961. The 256 Winchester Magnum is listed as a rifle cartridge because Mar¬ lin produced their Model 62 lever-action rifle in this caliber and Universal Firearms made the semi-auto “Ferret” on the Ml Carbine action. The Marlin rifle was available about a year after the Ruger “Hawkeye” and both were discontinued after a relatively short production life. The Thompson/Center Contender, a single shot pistol, was also available for this round. The cartridge is based on the necked-down 357 Mag¬ num revolver case. General Comments As a rifle cartridge, the 256 is considerably more potent than the 25-20 and several jumps ahead of the 22 Hornet or the 218 Bee. The factory-loaded 60-grain bullet devel¬ ops over 2760 fps muzzle velocity when fired from a 24-inch rifle barrel. This offers 1015 foot pounds of muzzle energy, which is well above the Hornet or the Bee. The 256 Magnum is an effective varmint cartridge out to ranges of 200 yards. It can be hand- loaded with heavier 75- or 87-grain bullets to velocities of 2500 and 2230 fps respectively. Although a good varmint and small game caliber, it is not an adequate deer cartridge and most states won’t allow its use for this purpose. This caliber is now obsolete. Winchester was the only commercial manufacturer to offer the 256 Winchester Magnum but discontinued it in the early 1990s. 256 Winchester Magnum Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 60 SP H-4227 14 2500 833 Homady 60 SP H-4227 16 2800 1045 Homady 60 SP 2400 14 2600 901 Homady 75 HP H-4227 14 2400 958 Homady 75 HP IMR 4227 15.5 2500 1041 Sierra 87 SP IMR 4227 14 2200 935 Sierra 87 SP H-4227 14 2200 935 Homady 60 SP FL 2760 1015 Winchester factory load 25 Remington Historical Notes The 25 Remington is one of a series of rimless cartridges developed for the Model 8 autoloading rifle and later used in other Remington rifles. It was introduced in 1906. The Remington Model 14 slide action, Model 30 bolt action and the Stevens Model 425 lever action also used the 25 Remington. No rifles have chambered this cartridge since 1942, and the ammu¬ nition companies stopped loading it about 1950. General Comments The 25 Remington is nothing more than a rimless version of the 25-35, but differs slightly in shape. The two are not interchangeable. Since the Remington line of rifles, par¬ ticularly the Model 30 bolt action, would stand higher pressures than the lever action, it is possible to get slightly better perfor¬ mance out of the 25 Remington. However, the difference is not sufficient to make the rimless version anything but a barely able deer cartridge. It will do for varmints and small to medium game quite well and deer in a pinch, provided the hunter is a good shot. The 30-30 is a better cartridge for anything, and the 25 Reming¬ ton is hardly in the same class as the 250 Savage or the 257 Roberts. 25 Remington Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 60 SP H-4895 31 2900 1121 Hornady 60 SP IMR 4320 32 2900 1121 Homady 117 SP H-4895 26.5 2200 1258 Homady 117 SP IMR 3031 25.5 2300 1375 Homady 100 SP FL 2330 1216 Factory load 117 SP FL 2125 1175 Factory load 8th Edition 103 Chapter 3 256 Newton Historical Notes One of several high-velocity, rimless cartridges designed by Charles Newton for his bolt-action rifles, the 256 Newton was introduced in 1913 by the Western Cartridge Com¬ pany. Until the 264 Winchester Magnum came along in 1958, this was the only American-designed 6.5mm to be offered on a com¬ mercial basis. The last of the Newton rifle companies failed in the early 1920s, and Western quit loading Newton cartridges in 1938. The 256 Newton is based on the 30-06 case necked-down. General Comments The 256 Newton has hung on as a wildcat cartridge and occasional custom rifles are made for it. Cases can be made by necking-down, reforming and shortening 30-06 brass. This is a good cartridge and is adequate for practically all North American big game, but it is not as effective as the 270 Winches¬ ter. With modem, slow-burning powders, its performance can be improved over the original factory ballistics. 256 Newton Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 120 SP IMR 4350 55 2980 2362 130 SP IMR 4895 46 2900 2425 140 SP IMR 4831 57 2890 2598 129 SP FL 2760 2180 Western factory load 6.5mm Remington Magnum Historical Notes The 6.5mm is a Remington innovation intro¬ duced in 1966 for their Model 600 carbine. The 6.5mm Remington Magnum is based on the 350 Remington Magnum case necked down to 6.5mm (.264-inch). The Remington Model 600 carbine had an 18V2-inch barrel and the later 660 carbine a 20-inch bar¬ rel. Neither of these carbines allowed the cartridge to develop its full velocity potential and both were discontinued. By 1971, only the Remington Model 700 and 40-XB target rifle with 24-inch barrels were cataloged as available in 6.5mm Magnum caliber. For a short time, the Ruger Model 77 was offered in this caliber. All of the rifles referred to are bolt actions. At the present time, no one offers rifles chambered for the 6.5mm Remington Magnum. Remington has discontinued ammunition in this caliber. General Comments The 6.5mm Remington Magnum has greater case capacity and develops higher velocity than any of the European military 6.5s. It is an excellent cartridge for North American big game and can double as a varmint cartridge by handloading the lighter bullets. Probably one reason it never achieved great popularity was because the rifles it was offered in had short magazines which required deep seating of heavier bul¬ lets with a consequent loss in powder capacity and performance. Combined with the short barrels of the Remington Model 600 and 660 carbines, this added up to ballistics well below the 30-06 class of cartridges. In a standard long action that will allow seating heavier bullets farther out, one can approach the performance of the 270 Winchester. With the proper bullet, the 6.5mm Magnum is adequate for North American big game at moderate ranges under normal hunting conditions. Unfortunately, this is another case of a basically good cartridge that didn’t catch on. At one time, Remington offered two bullet weights, a 100-grain bullet at an advertised muzzle velocity of 3450 fps and a 120-grain bullet at 3220 fps. The older 6.5mm cartridges gained their reputation with heavier bullets of 140 to 160 grains—the lack of such a fac¬ tory load is very likely another reason for the demise of the Rem¬ ington version. Early factory advertised ballistics were based on a longer than standard barrel and were, therefore, unrealistic. This caliber is now obsolete. 6.5mm Remington Magnum Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 85 SP IMR 4350 57 3100 1814 Sierra 100 SP H-4831 56.2 3200 2274 Homady 100 SP H-380 51.5 3100 2134 Sierra 120 SP IMR 4831 55 3000 2399 Speer 129 SP H-4831 54 3000 2579 Homady 140 SP IMR 4831 52 2750 2352 Speer 160 SP H-4831 2800 2786 Homady 120 SP FL 3210 2745 Remington factory load 104 Cartridges of the World Obsolete American Rifle Cartridges 275 Holland & Holland Magnum (275 H&H Magnum) Historical Notes First loaded in Great Britain about 1912, this caliber was introduced in the U.S. by Western Cartridge Co. in 1926. Western loaded this cartridge only with the 175-grain bul¬ let until production was discontinued in 1939. General Comments The 275 H&H was never particularly pop¬ ular in this country. It resembled the 280 Ross, but did not give the velocity of the Ross. Its chief advantage over other 7mm cal¬ ibers was its ability to handle a 175-grain bullet at increased velocity. The Western cartridge loading, with a 175-grain soft- point boattail bullet gave a muzzle velocity of 2690 fps, a muzzle energy of 2810 and a mid-range (iron sight) trajectory at 100 yards of 0.7-inch. Loading data and cartridge dimensions will be found in Chapter 8. 275 H&H Magnum Loading Data Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 140 4064 48.0 2810 2455 Ackley 160 4350 59.0 3050 3305 Ackley 180 4350 58.0 2850 3245 Ackley 195 4350 52.0 2671 3090 Ackley 7x61 mm Sharpe & Hart Super Historical Notes The 7x61mm was developed in the United States by Philip B. Sharpe and Richard F. Hart. Its design was originally based on a rimless, experimental French 7mm semi¬ auto military cartridge. It was copyrighted and made available on a commercial basis in the Schultz & Larsen rifle in 1953. Ammunition was loaded and imported by Norma. The final ver¬ sion had a belted case with “Super” added to its name. Loaded ammunition is again available through Norma, who is now offer¬ ing a 154-grain bullet, instead of the original 160-grain. General Comments The 7x61mm Sharpe & Hart (now listed as the S&H Super) is very similar to the 275 H&H Magnum, a belted case chambered and loaded in England. It is in the short 7mm magnum class and its performance is the same as a number of other wildcat cartridges, based on the blown out and shortened 300 H&H Magnum case. However, the Sharpe & Hart case has a slightly larger rim and base diameter than the 300 H&H. This cartridge is quite popular in Canada, but its popularity in the United States was limited by competition from the 7mm Weath- erby Magnum, the 7mm Remington Magnum and various wild¬ cats. The 7mm S&H is, nonetheless, a fine cartridge for any North American game and most African plains game. The fact that Norma is once again loading ammunition will be good news for those who have rifles of this caliber. Like any of this ilk, this number can be somewhat hard on its barrel, especially with either careless shooting, not allowing plen¬ ty of time between shots for barrel cooling, or inadequate clean¬ ing. And, like all similar chamberings, it loses significant velocity with barrels shorter than 24 inches. Actual ballistics may be clos¬ er to the 7mm Weatherby than factory data suggests. 7x61 mm Sharpe & Hart Super Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 120 SP IMR 4350 64 3300 2902 Sierra 140 SP IMR 4831 63 3100 2988 Sierra 140 SP IMR 4350 62.5 3200 3184 Homady, Sierra 150 SP IMR 4831 64.5 3100 3202 Sierra 160 SP IMR 4350 58 2900 2989 Homady, Sierra 175 SP IMR 4350 60.5 2900 3269 Homady 154 SP FL 3060 3200 New Norma factory load 160 SP FL 3100 3410 Old Norma factory load 280 Rimless (Ross) See Chapter 8. 8th Edition 105 Chapter 3 28-30-120 Stevens Historical Notes The 28-30 was probably the first American- designed, commercial 7mm cartridge. Introduced by the J. Stevens Arms & Tool Co. in 1900, it was designed by Charles H. Herrick of Winchester, Massachusetts. Both 44 and 44V2 Stevens rifles were chambered for the round. It was an early favorite of Harry M. Pope, who made up and fitted barrels to a variety of sin¬ gle shot actions in this caliber. As a match cartridge, it estab¬ lished a reputation for exceptional accuracy. General Comments Remington made the first factory loads for the 28-30, and these used the 120-grain bullet and 30 grains of Fg blackpowder. By 1918 it was no longer fisted in the Remington catalog. Some match shooters who used the 28-30 considered it superior to the 32-40 out to 300 yards. It makes a good 150-yard small game or varmint cartridge. Lyman No. 285222 or 285228 is the proper cast bullet, but one can use any standard 7mm bullet up to 180 grains weight. Don’t use jacketed bullets in the old blackpowder barrels as they will wear the bore excessively and the fine accuracy may be destroyed within a few hundred rounds. Gascheck bullets are ok. 28-30-120 Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 135 Lead Fg 28 1410 602 135 Lead IMR 4198 17 1500 605 120 Lead FL 1500 605 Factory load 30-30 Wesson Historical Notes The 30-30 Wesson was used in rifles designed and marketed by Frank Wesson of Worcester, Massachusetts, who operated from the 1860s into the late 1880s. During the Civil War, the government purchased about 150 Wesson military carbines in caliber 44 rimfire. Some of the state militia also purchased Wesson carbines. His sporting rifles were marketed, in rimfire types, as early as 1861. As near as can be determined, the 30-30 Wesson was probably developed sometime around 1880. Frank Wes¬ son was a brother of Daniel B. Wesson, co-founder of the firm of Smith & Wesson. Both Remington and Winchester made bullets and cases of this caliber, and U.S. Cartridge Co. cat¬ alogs listed it. Usable cases can probably be fabricated from 357 Maximum cases. General Comments The most common Wesson rifle was a sin¬ gle shot with a double trigger arrangement. The forward trigger unlatched the breech, allowing the barrel to be tipped up for load¬ ing and unloading. Several models were marketed, including sporting and target types. There were, in addition, under-lever, falling block, solid-frame types that are quite scarce, as are the Wesson cartridges. The 30-30 Wesson is not the same as the 30- 30 Winchester, and there is nothing to indicate that it had any influence on the design of the 30-30. Smokeless loads would not be advisable in this rifle. 30-30 Wesson Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 165 Lead FL (Fg 30) 1250 1010 Factory load 106 Cartridges of the World Obsolete American Rifle Cartridges 30-03 Springfield 30-03 Government Historical Notes In 1903 the United States government adopt¬ ed a new military loading to replace the 30 Army (30-40 Krag), which had been adopted in 1892. Like the 30-40 Krag, this new (30-Caliber, Model of 1903) cartridge featured a 220-grain round¬ nosed lull metal jacket bullet. However, the ’03 increased muzzle velocity by about 100 fps, even though the M1903 rifle featured a significantly shorter barrel. The rimless cartridge design, gener¬ ously borrowed from Mauser, was also an improvement as it fea¬ tured superior feeding from a box magazine. Nevertheless, as seems to have been typical in that era, the U.S. Army was slow to the task of modernizing. As the 30-03 was standardized, all other world powers were in the process of adopting spitzer bulleted mil¬ itary loadings. The brand new 30-03 became instantly obsoles¬ cent. A crash program was instituted and in 1906 a modified version of this basic cartridge was adopted as the 30 Caliber, Model of 1906. That loading featured a lighter spitzer bullet and a shorter case neck. The spitzer bullets had a much shorter bear¬ ing surface so the existing rifles were modified by turning back the barrels two threads and recutting the chambers. General Comments Despite its short life, this cartridge, like the 30-06, found application in John M. Browning’s Winchester Model 1895. Considering the ambitious pressure levels that were common in the early days of these chamberings, that was, per¬ haps, not such a good idea. For the handloader, case life could be extremely limited, owing to case stretching as a result of the rear lockup on those rifles. Compared to the 30-06, the 30-03 offers no advantage as a sporting round. Ammunition was available at least until WWI. By today’s standards that is remarkable, for there were very few sporting rifles chambered for this cartridge and very soon after 1906 virtually all the 1903 Springfields had been converted to 30-06. Winchester Model 1895 rifle. 30 Newton Historical Notes The 30 Newton was originally designed for Fred Adolph, and was called the “Adolph Express” when introduced in 1913. It was not until several years later that Charles Newton produced rifles for his own brainchild, and it received the inventor’s name. The Western Cartridge Compa¬ ny produced the 30 Newton cartridge. No commercial rifle other than the Newton ever chambered it. Production of rifles ceased in the early ’20s, and Western dropped the cartridge about 1938. General Comments The 30 Newton is a rimless, magnum-type cartridge similar to the 30-06, but larger in diameter. Neither ammunition nor brass cases are readily available since it has been obsolete for over 50 years. A limited quantity of new brass cases was manufactured right after WWII by Richard Speer. The 30 Newton is powerful enough for any North American big game. The 300 H&H Magnum and 300 Weatherby Magnum outperform it even though its performance can be improved by handloading with modem powders. 30 Newton Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 150 SP IMR 4320 67 3175 3361 150 SP IMR 4831 76 3100 3206 180 SP IMR 4320 62 2840 3235 180 SP IMR 4831 73 2890 3350 200 SP IMR 4350 66 2730 3318 180 SP FL 2860 3270 Western factory load 8th Edition 107 Chapter 3 308 Norma Magnum Historical Notes The 308 Norma Magnum was introduced in 1960 by A.B. Norma Projektilfabrik of Amotfors, Sweden. In its original form, this cartridge was something of a semi-wildcat, because only unprimed brass cases were available and no com¬ mercial rifles were chambered for it. However, about 18 months after it was introduced, Norma began producing factory ammuni¬ tion in this caliber. Several European manufacturers chamber the round as standard or on order. General Comments The 308 Norma Magnum is practically identical to the wildcat 30-338, which is the 338 Winchester Mag¬ num necked-down to 30-caliber. However, the two cases are not interchangeable due to a difference in body length. Almost any standard-length 30-06 rifle can be rechambered to take the 308 Norma cartridge. This cartridge is also similar to a number of 30- caliber wildcat magnums based on the blown-out and shortened 300 H&H case, and known collectively as the 300 short magnum group. The 30 Luft, 300 Apex and Ackley Short 30 Magnum are representative of this class. Needless to say, the 308 Norma Mag¬ num is adequate for any North American big game and should also do well on African plains game. Powder capacity is only a hair greater than the 300 H&H, but the shape of the case is radi¬ cally different. This is a proprietary cartridge of European origin designed specifically for the American market. It is placed with the American cartridges because most U.S. readers will look for it here. Technically, it belongs in the chapter covering European cartridges. 308 Norma Magnum Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 100 SP H-380 70 3500 2721 Speer 110SP IMR 4350 75.5 3400 2824 Sierra, Homady 125 SP IMR 4350 76 3400 3209 Sierra, Homady 150 SP IMR 4350 72 3200 3420 Hornady, Nosier, Sierra, Speer 150 SP IMR 4831 73 3150 3306 Nosier, Speer 165 SP IMR 4350 71 3100 3522 Sierra, Speer, Nosier 180 SP IMR 4831 73 3000 3598 Sierra 220 SP IMR 4350 68 2800 3831 Hornady 180 SP FL 3100 3842 Norma factory load. 32-40 Remington Historical Notes The 32-40-150 (2V8 inches) Remington was one of the calibers for the single shot, rolling block Sporting Rifle No. 1, introduced in 1870. This cartridge appears to have been introduced shortly after the rifle, about 1871-72. The 32-40 Rem¬ ington was also one of the calibers for the No. 3 Hepburn, and some of the Farrow single shot rifles. Other than this, no one else seems to have adopted it. Remington quit loading it in 1910. General Comments This is a very odd-looking cartridge with a long tapered shoulder that merges imperceptibly with an elon¬ gated neck. It is usually listed as a straight case, but it isn’t real¬ ly straight and isn’t exactly necked. It might best be described as a “taper-necked” case. On the dimensional chart it is shown as type “A”, or rimmed, bottleneck, but this isn’t 100 percent correct. The shoulder diameter is arbitrary since it is difficult to decide just where the shoulder begins. Although called a 32-caliber, the true bullet diameter is .308- or .309-inch, hence it is really a 30- caliber. It was both a hunting and target round of limited popu¬ larity. It lost out to the 32-40 Ballard which was available in both single shot and repeating rifles. It was a small to medium game cartridge, but was probably also used to some extent for hunting deer-size animals. Usable cases might be formed from either 30- 40 Krag or 303 British brass. 32-40 Remington Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 150 Lead IMR 4198 14.5 1350 607 Lyman #308156 150 Lead FL 1350 607 Factory load 108 Cartridges of the World Obsolete American Rifle Cartridges 32-20 Marlin Historical Notes This cartridge was loaded for the Marlin 1894 repeating rifle. Winchester loaded this cartridge beginning around the turn of the century and until about WWI. It is nothing more than a special version of the 32 WCF (32-20 Winchester). Compared to the Winchester round, it was loaded with a lighter bullet, 100 grains ver¬ sus 117 grains. With the exceptions of perhaps bullet nose shape, seating depth and headstamp, this loading appears to have been oth¬ erwise identical to the 32-20 Winchester. In 1916 Winchester offered three versions of this cartridge: lead, blackpowder (100 grains, 20 grains); softpoint (117 grains) smokeless; and full-patch (117 grains) smokeless. High-velocity loadings were not offered. General Comments Evidently sales of Marlin’s Model 1894 rifle generated sufficient demand for special versions of the cartridges for which that rifle was nominally chambered. Per¬ haps cartridges with slightly different bullet shapes or load¬ ing lengths were found to function better in it. Whatever the reason, the 1916 catalog shows separate cartridge loadings with the following names: 25-20 Marlin, 32-30 Marlin, 38-40 Marlin and 44-40 Marlin. Winchester says this cartridge was adapted to both Winchester and Marlin rifles as were the 38- 40 and 44-40 Marlins. 32-30 Remington Historical Notes This bottleneck cartridge, similar to the 32-20 WCF, was one of the calibers available for the Remington-Hep- bum No. 3 series single shot rifle introduced in 1880. The car¬ tridge was first made in November of 1884. Not a true 32, bullet diameter is .312-inch. General Comments The Remington-Hepbum was billed as a “long-range hunting and target rifle,” but the 32-30 is hardly a long-range cartridge. It is only a notch or so above the 32-20 WCF. It was not a popular caliber, and died out in 1912. Like most other single shot cartridges, this one was too long for the short repeating actions such as the Model 92 Winchester. They were, in addition, too small for the larger actions. This in-between position eliminated them as the repeater gained popularity. Rifles for the 32-30 are comparatively rare today. Ammunition can be made by reforming 357 Magnum or 357 Maximum brass. 32-30 Remington Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source Ill Lead IMR 4198 14 1650 676 Lyman #311316 115 Lead FFg 35 1430 528 125 Lead FL 1380 535 Factory load 32-35 Stevens & Maynard Historical Notes A match cartridge introduced by J. Stevens Arms & Tool Co. in the mid-1880s, it was one of the calibers avail¬ able for the New Model Range Rifle Nos. 9 and 10, which first appeared in 1886. These were on a tip-up single shot action and some of the earlier models of this type may also have chambered the 32-35. Later rifles based on the 44 and 44V2 under-lever sin¬ gle shot actions were also available in 32-35. General Comments This was one of the most accurate of the Stevens target cartridges, and many records were established with it. The 32-40 was responsible for its gradual obsolescence. Best accuracy was usually obtained by seating the bullet in the chamber Vie-inch or so ahead of the case; the case, full of powder with a wad to prevent spilling was then inserted in the chamber behind the bullet. Lyman No. 3117 bullet of 153 grains weight was popular with many riflemen. Correct load of blackpowder was 35 grains of Fg or FFg. 32-35 Stevens & Maynard Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 153 Lead IMR 4198 14 1410 683 165 Lead IMR 4227 11 1380 696 165 Lead FL 1400 683 Factory load 8th Edition 109 Chapter 3 32-40 Bullard Historical Notes This is the smallest caliber of a series designed for the Bullard single shot and repeating rifles. Bullard patents were granted in 1881, and manufacture of their rifles is believed to have started during 1882 or 1883. Exact date of intro¬ duction of the individual cartridges is difficult to establish, but all were available by 1887. General Comments The Bullard lever-action repeating rifle resembled the Winchester, but employed a different rack and pin¬ ion mechanism. The loading port in the magazine was located on the bottom rather than the side, as is the Winchester. The single shot was of the under-lever type and quite strong. Although Bullard rifles and cartridges were as good as any of contemporary manufacture, they did not endure beyond 1900. Some Bullard cartridges were made by Remington and Winchester. Perfor¬ mance of the 32-40 Bullard is the same as the 32-40 Winchester and Marlin. Both are scarce items. Usable cases can be easily formed from 357 Remington Maximum brass. 32-40 Bullard Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 150 Lead IMR 4198 15 1470 719 Lyman #311241 155 Lead 2400 13 1400 674 150 Lead FL 1492 750 Factory load 32 Long (CF) Historical Notes A centerfire, reloadable version of the 32 Long rimfire with an outside-lubricated bullet. It was introduced in 1875 in a variety of light-frame single shot rifles and also the Marlin Models 1891 and 1892. Some of these were constructed so that both rim- and centerfire ammunition could be used by changing the firing pin or hammer. General Comments The 32 Long was not a satisfactory or effective cartridge. A longer case was soon used, called the “Extra Long,” in order to increase range and killing power on small game. Eventually the 32 Long was replaced by such numbers as the 32-20 WCF, 32 Ideal and the 32-35 Stevens. It is very similar to the 32 Colt revolver cartridge. Standard load consisted of 13 grains of FFFg blackpowder and an 80- to 85-grain bullet. Muzzle velocity was only about 800 to 900 fps, depending on load and barrel length. The 32 S&W Long or 32 Long Colt will work in most old rifles of this caliber. Cartridges in this caliber are now collector’s items. 32 Long (CF) Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 85 Lead FL 850 136 Factory load 32 Ballard Extra Long Historical Notes The 32 Extra Long is an elongated version of the 32 Long centerfire, the latter being one of the calibers avail¬ able for the J.M. Marlin 1876 Ballard No. 2 Sporting Rifle. The 32 Extra Long cartridge appeared in 1879. This was after Marlin Fire Arms Co. began manufacturing Ballard rifles. They intro¬ duced (or continued) the Sporting Rifle No. 2 in 1881. Stevens, Remington, Wurfflein and other single shot rifles were also avail¬ able in this caliber. It was fairly popular, but lost out to the 32-20 WCF. Most companies stopped loading it by 1920. Rifles cham¬ bered for this cartrdige will usually chamber and fire both the 32 S&W Long and 32 Long Colt. General Comments This is essentially a centerfire version of the 32 Extra Long rimfire, and ballistics are practically identical. It was used as a target and small game cartridge throughout the late 1800s. It is very similar in performance to the blackpowder loading of the 32-20 WCF. Most of the old rifles for this cartridge will not safely withstand heavy loads of modem smokeless powder. An outside-lubricated bullet of the same diameter as the case neck was first used. 32 Ballard Extra Long Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 115 Lead IMR 4198 9 1360 473 115 Lead FL (FFg 20) 1200 372 Factory load 110 Cartridges of the World Obsolete American Rifle Cartridges 32 Winchester Self-Loading (32 Winchester SL) Historical Notes This, the second of two cartridges developed for the Winchester Model ’05 self-loading rifle which was intro¬ duced in 1905-1906. It became obsolete when the rifle was dis¬ continued in 1920. The case is of the semi-rimmed type similar to the 35 SL which was the original cartridge for the Model ’05 rifle. The 32 Winchester SL was probably the prototype of the 30 U.S. Carbine cartridge. The two are very similar except for bullet diameter and the fact that the 30 Carbine cartridge is rimless. General Comments The 32 Winchester SL cartridge is in the same class as the 32-20 Winchester, strictly a small to medium game number at close range. However, it isn’t nearly as flexible as the 32-20 because of the semi-automatic rifle in which it was used. This was never a very popular cartridge. Not only was the cost of ammunition relatively high, but in addition, the cartridge is not well-suited to reloading, even if you could find the empty cases after being ejected from the action. Some might reason this cartridge as the number one candidate for the title: “World’s most useless centerfire rifle cartridge.” 32 Winchester Self-Loading Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 155 Cast 2400 9.5 1270 556 Lyman #321298 165 SP 2400 12.0 1450 775 165 SP IMR 4227 12.5 1440 760 165 SP FL 1400 760 Winchester factory load 32-40 (32-40 Ballard/ 32-40 Winchester) Kl£AMRQ-R£..~ ‘. 02-40 WINCHESTER I Historical Notes Originally developed as a blackpowder match or target cartridge for the single shot Ballard Union Hill Rifle, Nos. 8 and 9, the 32-40 was introduced in 1884 loaded with a 165- grain lead bullet in front of 40 grains of Fg blackpowder. It estab¬ lished a reputation for fine accuracy and Winchester and Marlin added it to their line of lever-action repeating and single shot rifles late in 1886 et seq. The late Harry Pope’s favorite cartridge was the 32-40 and his variant, 33-40. Ammunition has been dis¬ continued by major companies. However, in the early 1980s Win¬ chester loaded this caliber to boost sales of their John Wayne Commemorative rifle. General Comments In a good solid-frame rifle, the 32-40 will shoot as well as any modem high-powered match cartridge out to 200 or 300 yards. It was a fairly popular hunting cartridge for medium game and deer, and while it has certainly killed its share of deer, the factory load¬ ing barely qualifies in that class. However, in a strong action it can be handloaded to equal the 30-30. For small to medium game or varmints, it will do very well at moderate ranges. Do not use high-velocity loadings in the old Ballard or Stevens 44 rifles. A number of modem copies of old Sharps single shot rifles and a special commemorative M1894 Win¬ chester have chambered the 32-40 in recent years. Usable cases can easily be formed from 30-30,32 Special or 38-55 brass. 32-40 Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 155 Lead 2400 13.0 1460 786 165 Lead H-4895 16.0 1410 729 OK for old rifles—Hodgdon 165 Lead H-4198 14.0 1340 658 OK for old rifles—Hodgdon 165 Lead H-4895 22.0 1865 1275 Not for old rifles—Hodgdon 165 Lead H-335 23.0 1890 1309 Not for old rifles—Hodgdon 170 Lead XMP5744 20.0 1802 1226 Accurate Arms 165 SP FL 1440 760 Winchester factory load 165 SP FL 1752 1125 High velocity Winchester factory load 32 Remington Historical Notes Another of the Remington rimless line of medium high-power rifle cartridges, this one is a rimless version of the 32 Winchester Special. Introduced in 1906, it was original¬ ly chambered in the Model 8 autoloader and later available in Remington slide-action and bolt-action rifles. The ammunition companies discontinued it many years ago. General Comments Remington felt some need to counter the pop¬ ular series of rimmed cartridges chambered in Winchester’s Model 94 lever action. The incentive was great enough to persuade Remington to invent substitutions for Winchester’s rimmed 25, 30 and 32 cal¬ ibers, and it could be argued that the 35 Remington was an answer to Winchester’s 38-55. A bit of reflection suggests that the folks at Rem¬ ington were confused. It wasn’t the cartridges that made Mr. Brown¬ ing’s invention successful, it was Mr. Browning’s invention that made the cartridges successful. The 32 Remington is, nonetheless, perfectly adequate for any task to which the 30-30 or 32 Special are suited. 32 Remington Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 170 SP IMR 4895 33.0 2070 1578 Lyman 170 SP IMR 3031 30.0 2020 1546 170 SP IMR 4198 26.0 1992 1718 170 SP FL 2220 1860 Remington factory load 8th Edition 111 Chapter 3 32 Ideal Historical Notes One of the calibers available for the single shot Stevens 44 and 44V2 rifles, as well as for other single shot rifles, this cartridge was introduced in 1903 and was quite popu¬ lar for 20 years or so. General Comments The 32 Ideal is an improvement over the older 32 Extra Long Ballard in having inside lubrication and bet¬ ter performance. It is cleaner to handle and easier to reload. It was also quite accurate and an adequate 150-yard small or medi¬ um game number. Use of bullets lighter than standard provides room for more powder and gives higher velocity. Sometimes called the 32-25-150, the 32 Ideal uses a bullet diameter of .323- inch and, as pointed out in early Ideal Hand Books, it offered new life, via reboring and rerifling, to “thousands of 32 calibers, Short, Long and Extra Long, Rim and Center Fire rifles that have been shot out or rusted...” 32 Ideal Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 115 Lead FFg 38 1425 524 Lyman #32359 150 Lead Fg 25 1250 526 Lyman #32360 150 Lead IMR 4198 12 1330 596 150 Lead FL (FFg 25) 1250 526 Factory load 33 Winchester Historical Notes Introduced in 1902 for the Winchester Model 86 lever-action rifle and discontinued along with the rifle in 1936, it was replaced by the 348 Winchester developed for the improved Model 71 rifle. It was also chambered in the Marlin Model 95 lever action and in the Winchester Model of 1885 single shot. This round was dropped in 1940. General Comments The 33 Winchester earned a good reputa¬ tion as a deer, black bear and elk cartridge when used in the woods at moderate ranges. Its paper ballistics are no better than the 35 Remington rimless, but it uses a smaller diameter bullet with better sectional density than the 200-grain 35-caliber. It gave good penetration and satisfactory killing power when prop¬ erly used. It is still a good cartridge for anything up to and includ¬ ing elk, and it can be improved safely with modem powders. In any case, it is not quite as powerful as the 348 Winchester and the Model 86 action is not quite as strong as the Model 71. Cases can be formed from 45-70 brass. 33 Winchester Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 200 SP H-4895 45 2200 2150 Homady 200 SP IMR 3031 40 2100 1959 Homady 200 SP FL 2200 2150 Winchester factory load 35 Winchester Self-Loading (35 WSL) Historical Notes The 35 SL was the original cartridge for the Winchester Model ’05 semi-auto rifle introduced in 1905. The Model ’05 was the only rifle that ever chambered it, and the car¬ tridge was such a poor one that it was discontinued in 1920. General Comments The 35 SL cartridge was unsuitable for anything but small to medium game at very close ranges. How¬ ever, it was too expensive for such shooting. It is too underpow¬ ered for deer and ranks right along with the 32 SL as a rather useless cartridge. It is semi-rimless, and can be fired in the 38 Special or 357 Magnum revolver if reloaded with .357-inch diam¬ eter lead bullets. Just what value this might have is difficult to imagine, but it is an interesting fact, just in case the reader didn’t already know it. 35 Winchester Self-Loading Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 180 SP IMR 4227 13.5 1440 834 180 SP 2400 13.0 1430 823 165 Lead 2400 8.0 920 312 180 SP FL 1452 842 Winchester factory load 112 Cartridges of the World Obsolete American Rifle Cartridges 351 Winchester Self-Loading (351 WSL) Historical Notes Introduced in 1907 to replace the 35 SL, the 351 Self-Loading is a more powerful round for the improved Mod¬ el 1907 Winchester autoloading rifle. This cartridge was used to a very limited extent in both WWI and II by the French as a mili¬ tary cartridge. The rifle was discontinued in 1957. General Comments The 351 SL doesn’t have much to offer, even though it is an improvement over the older 35. It won’t qual¬ ify as a suitable deer cartridge, although it has been used for that purpose. It is a good medium-game cartridge for coyote, mountain lion or animals in that class, but is too powerful for small game. It is expensive, not accurate enough and too limited in range for varmint shooting. Nevertheless, it far surpasses even the best 357 Magnum rifle loads and comes very close to duplicating the 357 Remington Maximum. It has been popular for Latin American jungle hunting because at the short ranges involved it has suffi¬ cient power for the game encountered there. Here in the U.S. the 351 WSL and the handy Model 1907 semi-automatic rifle it was introduced in was used extensively as a prison guard gun and is notorious as one of the guns used in the killing of Bonnie and Clyde. It has been used from low-flying, light aircraft in the west¬ ern United States for pest control. Like the 35, the 351 SL is semi- rimmed and the principal differences are a .24-inch longer case used in the 351 and higher loading pressures. Winchester was the last company to offer ammunition in this caliber. 351 Winchester Self-Loading Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) 177 Cast Powder/grs. MV ME Source IMR 4227 16.0 1550 947 Lyman #351319 180 2400 19.0 1793 1280 Medium game only; Lyman 180 4227 19.5 1751 1225 180 FL 1850 1370 Factory load 350 Griffin & Howe Magnum Historical Notes The 350 G&H Magnum was developed by Grif¬ fin & Howe in the early 1930s. It is also known as the 350 Holland & Holland Magnum since that company chambered it in their rifles for a number of years. In the U.S., ammunition was loaded by Western Cartridge Company. It is based on the 375 H&H case necked-down and is similar to a number of 35-caliber wildcats that came along years later. It did not achieve popularity and died out by the end of the 1930s. Today it is largely a collectors item. 350 Griffin & Howe Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 220 SP IMR 4350 88 3120 4762 250 SP IMR 4831 93 2950 4848 250 SP FL 2700 4055 Western factory load General Comments The 350 G&H Magnum used standard .357-inch diameter bullets and so could be handloaded with a variety of weights and types. It is a good big game cartridge for either North American or African hunting. However, it is obso¬ lete and the 358 Norma Magnum or one of the 35-caliber short magnums would be a better choice. Cases are easy to make and plenty of good bullets are available. 35 Winchester Historical Notes Developed by Winchester for their Model 1895 lever-action rifle, the 35 Winchester was introduced in 1903. The Remington-Lee bolt-action rifle also chambered this round. It was discontinued in 1936 along with the Model 95 rifle. It was listed in the 1962 British Kynoch ammunition catalogs. General Comments The 35 Winchester is a more powerful car¬ tridge than the 33 Winchester, but is not as potent as the 348 or the 358 Winchester. It had a good reputation as a short-range number for elk, moose or brown bear. It is certainly powerful enough for any North American big game, but doesn’t have much to offer as compared to more modem calibers. It can be improved by using modem powders, but pressures in the old 1895 lever action should be kept down to 45,000 psi or less. This cartridge, like the 405 Winchester, is based on the same case as the 30-40 Krag. Safe cases can be trimmed from same with the somewhat shorter neck offset by seating bullets out as crimping is not required in the box magazine of the M95 Winchester. 35 Winchester Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 200 SP IMR 4895 52 2480 2738 200 SP IMR 4064 45 2220 2182 204 IMR 4227 18 1550 1091 Lyman #358315 250 SP IMR 4895 50 2290 2920 250 SP IMR 4320 48 2190 2670 250 SP FL 2195 2670 Winchester factory load 8th Edition 113 Chapter 3 35 Newton Historical Notes The 35 Newton was listed in the Newton Rifle Company catalog in 1915, which presumably is the year it was introduced. It is the 30 Newton case necked-up to 35-caliber. The Western Cartridge Company listed it until 1936, but no commer¬ cial rifles other than the Newton chambered this round. General Comments The 35 Newton is more powerful, in some loadings, than the 375 H&H Magnum. The factory load listed below was the last one offered by the Western Cartridge Compa¬ ny, but at one time other loads were available. This cartridge is somewhat overpowered for most North American big game. It has been used in Africa with considerable success, although the Newton rifle was much too light and poorly stocked for such a powerful cartridge. The only way in which cases can be made is by necking-up the 30 Newton, itself a scarce item. Performance is similar to the later 358 Norma Magnum which would be a far better choice because loaded ammunition. 35 Newton Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 200 SP IMR 3031 78 3030 4100 250 SP IMR 4064 70 2650 3918 250 SP IMR 4320 75 2815 4410 250 SP FL 2660 3930 Western factory load 250 SP FL 2975 4925 Western factory load 358 Norma Magnum Historical Notes This cartridge was developed by Norma and introduced in the U.S. in 1959. At the start no rifles were cham¬ bered for the 358 Norma Magnum. However, empty brass cases and loaded ammunition were available. The Schultz & Larsen Model 65 and the Husqvama bolt action were made available in this caliber early in 1960. No American gun manufacturer cham¬ bers the cartridge. Like the 308 Norma Magnum, it is a propri¬ etary cartridge and perhaps should be listed under European cartridges. However, it was designed for the American market and is listed here. General Comments The 358 Norma Magnum is a short, mag¬ num-type cartridge intended to work through standard-length actions. It is so nearly identical to the wildcat 35 Ackley belted, short magnum. It is also nearly identical to the wildcat 35-338, which is the 338 Winchester necked-up to 35-caliber. The 358 Norma Magnum delivers the same performance as the slightly larger 375 H&H Magnum and would be suitable for the same range of game. It is overpowered for most North Amer¬ ican big game, but would be an excellent choice for the big Kodi¬ ak bears. It is another good all-round number for the man who wants to be prepared for hunting anything, anywhere, at any time, whether or not rifles are in production. 358 Norma Magnum Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 180 SP IMR 4895 69 3100 3842 Speer 200 SP IMR 3031 66.5 2900 3736 Homady 225 SP IMR 4350 75 2900 4203 Nosier 250 SP IMR 4320 68 2800 4353 Hornady 250 SP IMR 4350 76 2700 4048 Speer 250 SP MRP 78 2500 3470 Speer 300 SP IMR 4350 71 2600 4504 Barnes 250 SP FL 2790 4322 Norma factory load. 35-30 Maynard (1882) Historical Notes The 35-30 was one of the series of cartridges designed for and introduced with the Model 1882 Maynard single shot rifle. The Improved Hunters Rifle Nos. 7 and 9, along with the Target & Hunting No. 10 and Improved Target No. 16 were available in this caliber. General Comments Maynard rifles were used during the Civil War. After the war, the company manufactured sporting rifles. The Maynard rifle used a tip-up breech linked to an underlever. They were smooth operating, safe and possessed excellent accu¬ racy. The 35-30 ammunition can be made from 38-55 cases. Bul¬ lets .358-inch diameter can be sized down or used as is. The Lyman 165-grain No. 358429 bullet can be used. 35-30 Maynard 1882 Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 165 Lead IMR 4198 16 1320 645 Lyman #350293 165 Lead 2400 13 1450 787 Lyman #350293 250 Lead FL 1280 918 Factory load 114 Cartridges of the World Obsolete American Rifle Cartridges 35-40 Maynard (1882) Historical Notes This an elongated version of the 35-30 and used in the Model 1882 Maynard rifles. General Comments The 35-40 provides greater powder capac¬ ity than the shorter 35-30. The case dimensions are not identical, but brass can be made from 38-55 brass just as with the 35-30. The long case is probably superior for hunting, but since both are strictly small to medium game numbers, any advantage would be more opinion than anything else. Any .358-inch rifle or revolver bullet can be sized to work. The Lyman No. 358429 (165 grains) would be a good choice. 35-40 Maynard Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 165 Lead IMR 4198 18 1400 725 Lyman #358429 250 Lead FL 1355 1018 Factory load Historical Notes One of the special Stevens “Everlasting” car¬ tridges, this one was introduced with the 1875 tip-up models. It was not very popular and was discontinued within a few years. Today it is one of the rarer Stevens cartridges. General Comments Another of the 38-40 class cartridges, the 38-45 used a heavier bullet, but ballistics are similar. The 38-40 and 38-55 made most of these in-between cartridges obsolete. Original loading called for 45 to 50 grains of Fg blackpowder and a bullet of from 210 to 255 grains in weight. It should be possible to convert 303 British cases to work in these rifles. 38-45 Stevens Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 210 Lead IMR 4198 16 1340 845 Lyman #36275 210 Lead FL 1420 947 Factory load 38-40 Remington-Hepburn Historical Notes Although listed as the 38-40 Remington-Hep- bum, this cartridge was available in the No. 1 Sporting Model rolling block rifle that preceded the Hepburn action by 10 years. The No. 1 rifle was also chambered for the 38-40 WCF shortly after Winchester introduced it during 1873-1874. It is likely that this cartridge was intended as a straight-case version of the bot¬ tlenecked Winchester round. The 38-40 Remington-Hepburn appeared about 1875. General Comments The rifle and ammunition manufacturers went all out to please every segment of the trade during the 1800s. Some riflemen didn’t cotton to the bottlenecked cases, so all kinds of straight, tapered and bottleneck designs appeared in the same caliber and with the same powder charge. This may have provided a great “lift” to the men using them, but it is very confusing. The 38-40 Remington and 38-40 Winchester are a case in point. Neither could do anything the other wouldn’t, but the Winchester round won out in company with the repeating rifle. The Remington cartridge is a good target or small to medium game number. Original bullet is slightly heavier than the 38 WCF, but loading data for one will give similar results in the oth¬ er. It is possible to convert 30-40 Krag cases to load this cartridge. 38-40 Remington-Hepburn Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 190 Lead IMR 4198 16 1427 865 Lyman #373164 250 Lead 2400 15 1300 937 245 Lead FL 1200 790 Remington factory load 8th Edition 115 Chapter 3 Historical Notes This is another of the special cartridges for the Bullard lever-action, single shot and repeating rifles. It was introduced about 1887, but this is only an approximate date. Remington once loaded this round, however it was never a very popular number. General Comments Very few rifles of this caliber are still around. Ballistically it is similar to the 38-40 WCF. It was an accurate car¬ tridge, suitable primarily for small or medium game at close ranges. Cartridges in this caliber are now collector’s items. It should be possi¬ ble to convert 44 Remington Magnum cases to work in these rifles. 38-45 Bullard Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 175 Lead 2400 16 1480 883 Lyman #37582 250 Lead Unique 10 1200 797 190 Lead FL 1388 822 Remington factory load 38 Long, Centerfire (38 Long, CF) Historical Notes The 38 Long is another old-timer designed to replace a similar rimfire cartridge. It was introduced in 1875-76 and used in a number of single shot rifles including the Ballard, Stevens, Remington and others. It was obsolete by 1900, and oddly, the original rimfire version outlived the centerfire. General Comments The 38 Long, like the 32 and 44, was not really very effective and had a short life. It was an alternate choice to the rimfire and many of the old rifles could, by a simple adjustment, fire either. The 38 Long Colt or 38 S&W Special can be used to make ammunition for this caliber. Standard load was 20 to 25 grains of blackpowder and a 140- to 150-grain bullet. 38 Long, Centerfire Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 145 Lead FL 950 291 Factory load 38 Ballard Extra Long Historical Notes This centerfire version of the 38 Extra Long rimfire was introduced in 1885-86 as one of the calibers for the Ballard No. 2 Sporting Model. It was also used by many other companies. It had the old No. 1 primer that has not been made for many years. Some of these rifles were fur¬ nished with a changeable firing pin or hammer arrangement so they could fire the rim- or centerfire version with only a minor adjustment. General Comments The 38 Extra Long was designed to fur¬ nish a reloadable case to those who favored the 38 Extra Long rimfire ballistics. It was a nice little plinking, small game or tar¬ get cartridge for those who wanted economy. Any .358-inch bullet of suitable weight can be used. Using Lyman No. 358161 (145 grains) and 31 grains of FFg blackpowder will work fine. The 357 Remington Maximum case can be converted to work in the 38 Ballard Extra Long chamber. 38 Ballard Extra Long Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 150 Lead Unique 6 1160 450 Lyman #358160 146 Lead FL 1275 533 Factory load 116 Cartridges of the World Obsolete American Rifle Cartridges Historical Notes Introduced in 1875 for the Stevens tip-up sin¬ gle shot rifles, this was one of the special Stevens “Everlasting” calibers. It was not very popular because it was dropped after a few years. In its original form it is occasionally referred to as the 38-33. General Comments Stevens “Everlasting” shells were sold as separate components and the older, less popular numbers are sel¬ dom encountered as loaded rounds. The shells were intended for very long reloading life and were thick and heavy. There were about six of these special calibers that survived. Loadings were not standard, and they may be found with a variety of bullet weights in both grooved and paper patched form. A load of 35 grains or so of Fg blackpowder and any bullet of from 180 to 255 grains can be used in this cartridge. It should be possible to cham¬ ber and safely shoot either 41 Short Colt or the 41 Long Colt lead bullet loads in these rifles. The softer oversize bullet will easily swage down to bore diameter. 38-35 Stevens Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 180 Lead Fg 35 *1350 729 215 Lead FL (Fg 35) 1255 758 Factory load ‘Estimated 38-50 Maynard (1882) Historical Notes The 38-50 Maynard is practically identical to the 38-55 Ballard and Winchester and uses a bullet of similar diameter. It was not popular because it was so similar to the Win¬ chester number. General Comments To reload the 38-50, one can make cases by resizing and trimming 38-55 brass and loading 38-caliber rifle bullets sized to correct diameter. Most shooters don’t know it, but the 38-55 would only hold 48 to 50 grains of blackpowder after the ammunition companies began using heavier, solid head cas¬ es. For all practical purposes there is no performance difference between the 38-50 Maynard and the 38-55. 38-50 Maynard Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 149 Lead IMR 4198 10 1100 420 Lyman #37583 250 Lead IMR 4198 16 1320 974 Lyman #375248 255 Lead FL 1325 990 Factory load 375 Weatherby Magnum Historical Notes The 375 Weatherby Magnum was developed by the late Roy Weatherby between 1944 and 1945, and was chambered only in Weatherby rifles. There are several similar wildcat versions, but the 375 WM had the advantage of commer¬ cial ammunition loaded by Weatherby using Norma brass. Although brass cases are available, Weatherby no longer loads ammunition or chambers rifles for this cartridge. General Comments The 375 WM is a full-length, blown-out and improved cartridge based on the 375 H&H case. It holds more powder and delivers higher velocity with the same bullets than the parent cartridge. It is similar to several wildcats, such as the 375 Improved Ackley Magnum, but had the advantage of being available on a commercial basis. It is really overpowered for North American big game. On African game it will qualify for just about anything and is considered a fine all-round cartridge, par¬ ticularly for dangerous game. The 270-grain bullet approximates 30-06 trajectories and is a fine long-range load for large North American game and for thin-skinned African animals. Commer¬ cial chambers are freebored in the Weatherby tradition. This increases the charge required to achieve any given pressure and velocity. 375 Weatherby Magnum Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 235 SP IMR 4064 84.0 3015 4745 Ackley 270 SP IMR 4064 80.0 2795 4685 Ackley 300 SP IMR 4350 86.0 2675 4770 Ackley 270 SP FL 2940 5181 Weatherby factory load. 300 SP FL 2800 5223 Weatherby factory load. 8th Edition 117 Chapter 3 38-50 Ballard Historical Notes This cartridge was the forerunner of the 38- 55. It was introduced in 1876 for the Ballard Perfection No. 4 and Pacific No. 5 rifles, but was also available in other models. It is an “Everlasting” type case', heavier than the standard 38-55 and 3 / 16 - inch shorter. It was replaced by the 38-55 when that cartridge was introduced in 1884. General Comments The standard bullet diameter for most 38- caliber rifles was .375-inch, but many had a groove diameter of .379-inch, requiring a larger bullet. It is wise to measure the bore diameter before ordering a bullet mould for these old rifles. Lyman moulds are available in a variety of 38 rifle bullets from 150 grains to over 300. Modem 38-55 brass can be used in 38-50 rifles by cutting .188-inch off the case length. Performance and usefulness is on a par with the 38-55 (see Chapter 2). 38-50 Ballard Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 145 Lead IMR 4198 14 1300 550 Lyman #37583 250 Lead IMR 4198 17 1350 1020 Lyman #375248 255 Lead FL 1321 989 Factory load 38-50 Remington-Hepburn Historical Notes Introduced in 1883 as one of the calibers for the Remington-Hepburn match rifles, it was too similar to the popular 38-55 to gain much of a following and was discontinued after a few years. General Comments Loading data for the 38-55 Winchester and Marlin can be applied to this cartridge. There is no difference in the use or performance of the two. It should be possible to con¬ vert 303 British or 40-40 Krag cases to work in these rifles. 38-50 Remington-Hepburn Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 255 Lead IMR 4198 23 1580 1421 250 Lead Unique 10 1200 797 255 Lead FL 1320 989 Factory load 38-56 Winchester Historical Notes Introduced in 1887 for the Model 1886 Win¬ chester repeater, it was used in the single shot and the 1895 Mar¬ lin. The 38-56 made the transition into the smokeless era and was loaded until about 1936. The Colt New Lightning, slide- action, magazine rifles also used this cartridge. General Comments The design of this cartridge was intended to develop increased velocity without lengthening the case. It is a sort of super 38-55 in conception, but not in fact. With smokeless powder, and within allowable pressures, there isn’t any real per¬ formance difference. It is a bottlenecked case and will not inter¬ change with others of similar designation. Although advertised as a powerful big game number, it is little more than a deer or black bear cartridge. With maximum handloads it might do ok for elk at short range. Cases can be made from 45-70 brass. 38-56 Winchester Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 255 Lead IMR 3031 36 1830 1908 265 Lead IMR 4198 25 1600 1512 Lyman #375296 GC 255 SP FL 1395 1105 Factory load 118 Cartridges of the World Obsolete American Rifle Cartridges 38-90 Winchester Express (38 Express) Historical Notes Introduced in 1886 as one of many calibers for the successful Winchester Model 1885 single shot, this was not a popular cartridge, and by 1904 it had been discontinued. General Comments This is a long, bottlenecked case with a light bullet for cartridges of this class. Since it is designated an “Express” caliber, it was probably intended to develop superior velocity for a 38-caliber rifle. Old Ideal catalogs list bullet No. 375248 as standard with the No. 3 loading tool in this caliber, but any of the lighter 38-55 bullets can be used. A charge of 90 grains of Fg blackpowder was the original factory loading. 38-90 Winchester Express Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 218 Lead IMR 4198 21 1350 886 Lyman #37584 218 Lead IMR 4198 23 1470 1045 Lyman #37584 217 Lead FL 1595 1227 Winchester factory load. 38-70 Winchester Historical Notes Introduced in 1894 for the Model 1886 Win¬ chester lever-action repeater, the 38-70 did not catch on and was discontinued within a few years. General Comments This cartridge offers little if any improve¬ ment over the 38-55. It is of bottlenecked design but is not the same as the 38-56 or the 38-72 Winchester. The older Lyman cat¬ alogs indicated it used the standard 38-55 diameter bullet of .379- inch. Although the 38-70 case is longer than that of the 45-70, usable, short-necked cases could be made from the 45-70. How¬ ever, the “basic” 45 cases now available will make perfect replace¬ ment cases. 38-70 Winchester Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 250 Lead IMR 4198 26 1710 1625 265 Lead IMR 3031 41 1700 1698 255 Lead FL 1490 1257 Factory load. 38-72 Winchester Historical Notes Designed for, and introduced with, the Model 1895 Winchester lever-action, box magazine repeater. Both gun and cartridge were obsolete by 1936. It was only moderately popular. General Comments This is a nearly straight case with a very slight neck. Some cases have a pronounced groove around the neck to prevent the bullet from receding under recoil. This tends to obscure the slight neck. This is another 38-caliber cartridge touted as being very powerful when, in fact, it is nearly the same as 38-55 (see Chapter 2). The 38-72 case has the same basic body as the 30-40 Krag but because headspacing is on the rim, it may not be possible to safely use that case to make the 38-72 except for very low pressure loads. 38-72 Winchester Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 255 Lead IMR 3031 33 1735 1715 275 Lead IMR 4198 27 1350 1120 Lyman #375167 275 Cast Fg 72.0 Lyman #357167 275 SP FL 1475 1330 Winchester factory load. 8th Edition 119 Chapter 3 40-50 Sharps (Straight) Historical Notes Introduced in 1879, this is the smallest of the Sharps cartridges. There is a similar, necked version. In addition to Sharps rifles, the Winchester single shot was available in this caliber as was the Remington rolling block. This is also known as the 40-l 7 / 8 " Sharps. General Comments Although listed as the 40-50, this car¬ tridge was actually loaded with 40 or 45 grains of powder and was identical in performance to the 40-40 Maynard and other similar rounds. The standard diameter of most 40-caliber rifle bullets is .403-inch and almost any bullet of that diameter can be used. It should be possible to convert the 30-40 Krag case to work in these rifles. 40-50 Sharps (Straight) Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 260 Lead IMR 4198 21 1450 1220 Lyman #403169 265 Lead FL 1410 1168 Factory load. 40-50 Sharps (Necked) Historical Notes Also known as the 40-1 11 /^", this cartridge was introduced in 1869 for that model Sharps Sporting rifle. It was available with several bullet weights, including 265,285, and 296 grains. The Remington rolling block and other single shot rifles also chambered this cartridge. General Comments The 40-50 bottlenecked cartridge is short¬ er than the straight version, but there is little difference in ballis¬ tics. The 40-50 Sharps (Straight) and 40-50 Sharps (Necked) are not interchangeable. Proper bullet diameter is .403-inch, and sev¬ eral Lyman bullet moulds are available in this size. This is large¬ ly a medium game, deer or intermediate-range target cartridge. It should be possible to convert 45-70 brass to work in these rifles. 40-50 Sharps (Necked) Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 260 Lead IMR4198 21 1500 1308 Lyman #403169 265 Lead FL 1460 1262 Factory load. 40-60 Marlin Historical Notes The 40-60 is one of the calibers for Marlin 1881 and 1895 lever-action repeaters. The 1895 uses the same basic system as the 1893 and 1894 models, but is larger and longer. This appears to be the same case as the 40-65 Winchester, but with a slightly different loading. The slide-action Colt New Lightning rifles used the Marlin loading of this cartridge, too. General Comments During the late 1800s, the same cartridge often went under various names, depending on who loaded it or whose rifle it was used in. It was also common practice to change the name if you furnished more than one load or bullet in the same case; that is what happened here. The 40-60 Marlin and the 40-65 Winchester are interchangeable and either can be used in the same gun. However, the old Ideal catalog states the 40-60 Marlin “must not be confused with the 40-60 Winchester as they are not the same.” This, of course, is true. If the reader isn’t thor¬ oughly confused by now, he should be. Go ahead, read it through a few more times and it will clear up. The 45-70 case can be easi¬ ly converted for 40-60 Marlin brass. 40-60 Marlin Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 260 Lead IMR 4198 23 1500 1308 Lyman #403170 260 Lead IMR 3031 35 1480 1263 260 Lead FL 1385 1115 Factory load. 120 Cartridges of the World Obsolete American Rifle Cartridges 40-63 and 40-70 Ballard Historical Notes These two cartridges have identical length and outside dimensions, so are listed together. The 40-63 is actu¬ ally just a heavier case version of the 40-70 factory cartridge. Both are, in turn, an outgrowth of the original 40-65 Everlasting case which had to be handloaded. The 40-63 and 40-70 were first listed for the Ballard Perfection No. 4 and Pacific No. 5 after the Marlin Fire Arms Company took over manufacture of these rifles in 1881. General Comments This was a fairly popular caliber among Ballard rifle fans and was as good as similar cartridges offered by Winchester and others. However, cartridges designed for repeat¬ ing rifles tended to survive longer than those intended for single shots. These were more match cartridges than anything else, but they also made good deer, black bear or elk numbers. Their per¬ formance is identical to the 40-70 Sharps Straight or the 40-72 Winchester. The 444 Marlin case should work in these rifles. 40-63/40-70 Ballard Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 330 Lead IMR4198 22 1310 1260 Lyman #403149—1/20 or 1/30 tin-lead. 330 Lead_FL_1335 1318 Factory load Historical Notes The 40-65 Ballard Everlasting was intro¬ duced in 1876 as one of the original calibers for the Perfection No. 4 and Pacific No. 5 rifles, and in 1879 it was added to the Hunter No. IV 2 . These were all the same basic, under-lever, single shot action. This cartridge was used in the J.M. Marlin Ballards, and after the Marlin Fire Arms Co. took over, it was altered to the 40- 70 and 40-63. General Comments The 40-70 or 40-63 Ballard can be fired in the older 40-65 rifles, but the 40-65 case will not fit the other chamber. It is a much heavier case of slightly larger diameter, although all have the same length. The ballistics of all of these are the same for practical purposes, and the loading data shown for the 40-63 will give the same results in any of the cases. The 40-65 Everlasting is one of the rarer Ballard cartridges and is sel¬ dom encountered. It should be possible to convert the 45-70 case to work in these rifles. 40-70 Sharps (Straight) Historical Notes This is the 40-2V2" straight case introduced in 1876. It is sometimes referred to as the 40-65 because with heavy reloadable cases that is all the powder it would hold unless a lighter bullet was used. Remington and Winchester single shots also chambered this round. General Comments This is another cartridge with ballistics similar to a half-dozen others of different make or origin. There are actually more than a dozen 40-caliber cartridges with powder charges of from around 40 to 70 grains, and none offer any stu¬ pendous advantage over the others. Like other 40 Sharps num¬ bers, this one used a .403-inch diameter bullet, weighing 330 or 370 grains. There are a number of Lyman moulds available in this size. Although longer, this case has the same basic body as the 30-40 Krag. But because headspacing is on the rim, it may not be possible to safely use that case to make the 40-70 except for very low pressure loads. 40-70 Sharps (Straight) Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 330 Lead IMR4198 23 1250 1150 Lyman #403149 330 Lead_FL_1258 1160 Factory load 8 th Edition 121 Chapter 3 40-70 Sharps (Necked) Historical Notes This is the 40-2 V/ bottlenecked Sharps that was brought out in 1871 for the Model 1871 Sporting rifle. It was used in other single shot rifles also. General Comments The 40-70 necked cartridge had a reputa¬ tion for fine accuracy and was popular as a match cartridge as much as for hunting. While many people regard the Sharps rifles as strictly buffalo guns, Sharps also made match rifles that gained worldwide respect on the range. Whence the name, Sharps-shooter. The best shots were given Sharps rifles in a spe¬ cial squad and their notoriety grew until the single word “sharp¬ shooter” was synonymous with accurate rifle fire. It should be possible to convert the 45-70 case to work in these rifles but the neck would be very short. The 45 Basic will make perfect cases. 40-70 Sharps (Necked) Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 330 Lead IMR 4759 26 1510 1671 330 Lead IMR 4198 27 1450 1542 Lyman #403139 330 Lead FL 1420 1482 Factory load 40-85 Ballard 40-90 Ballard Historical Notes The 40-85 and the 40-90 Ballard are the same case with different loadings. L.D. Satterlee lists the 40-90 Ever¬ lasting with the J.M. Marlin Ballard Pacific No. 5 and Sporting No. 472 (introduced in 1878). He shows the 40-85 chambering for the Pacific No. 5 after the Marlin Fire Arms Co. took over manu¬ facture in 1881. General Comments The 40-90 Everlasting is heavier and about 78-inch longer than the regular 40-90 or 40-85 brass. Many of the 40-90 Everlasting cases were nickeled. This is a hunting cartridge very similar to the 40-90 Sharps straight. The same loading data can be used for both, however they are not inter¬ changeable. Although the case of the 40-85 Ballard is longer, it has the same basic body as the 444 Marlin case. It should be pos¬ sible to make usable, albeit shorter, cases from those. 40-85/40-90 Ballard Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 370 Lead IMR 4198 28 1400 1615 Lyman #40395 370 Lead FL 1427 1672 Factory load 40-90 Sharps (Straight) Historical Notes Sharps catalogs do not list this cartridge although Sharps rifles (and others) chambered for it are known. It was introduced about 1885. The Remington-Hepbum No. 3 sin¬ gle shot was advertised in this caliber and UMC and Winchester manufactured cases and ammunition. General Comments The so-called “Everlasting,” or reloadable case, was popular with hunters and target shooters during the 1880-90 period. These heavy cases could be used over and over many times. In fact, they were made so heavy that the powder capacity was often reduced by 5 or 10 grains. To get around this, the “Everlasting” case was often made longer than the standard. UMC cases of 40-374-inch-caliber are almost always of very heavy, reloadable construction. The reason for mentioning this is that it might have a bearing on the origin of this cartridge. Physical measurements of the so- called 40-90 Sharps Straight are practically identical to the 40- 90 Ballard, except for the length. It is possible that the design of the 40-90 Sharps straight is based on lengthening the Ballard cartridge to create an “Everlasting’’ version with the same capac¬ ity and ballistics. Anyway, the idea is worth mentioning and would probably occur to anyone who compared the two. Although longer, this case has the same basic body as the 444 Marlin. It should be possible to make usable, albeit shorter, cases from those. 40-90 Sharps (Straight) Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 370 Lead IMR4198 30 1400 1612 Lyman #403171 370 Lead FL 1387 1582 Factory load 122 Cartridges of the World Obsolete American Rifle Cartridges 40-90 Sharps (Necked) Historical Notes The 40-90 Sharps was introduced in 1873 for the Sharps side-hammer model rifles. There was also another loading, referred to as the 40-100 Sharps, that had a 190-grain hollowpoint bullet. There is no difference in the 2 5 /s-inch case, however. General Comments This became one of the more popular Sharps cartridges. The hollowpoint Express bullets made by Sharps were designed to accept a 22 rimfire blank, which was supposed to provide explosive expansion and better knockdown. The author has experimented with bullets of this type, and they don’t work as they are intended to. An ordinary hollowpoint or a properly constructed softpoint will do as much damage. Perfect cases can be made from the 45 Basic brass. 40-90 Sharps (Necked) Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 370 Lead IMR 4198 28 1450 1735 Lyman #403171 370 Lead FL 1475 1800 Factory load 40-110 Winchester Express (40 Express) Historical Notes Designed for the Winchester single shot rifle General Comments In its original form, the 40-110 used a copper- and introduced in 1886, the 40-110 was intended to compete with tubed bullet. The Ideal catalog lists bullet No. 403169 (260 grains) as the big Sharps cartridges. proper for reloading. The 50 Basic will make perfect cases. 40-110 Winchester Express Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 260 Lead FG 110 1617 1509 260 Lead IMR 4198 32 1650 1580 Lyman #403169 260 SP FL 1617 1509 Winchester factory load 40-60 Winchester Historical Notes The 40-60 Winchester is a sharply-tapered, slightly-necked cartridge for the Model 1876 Winchester rifle, which is a heavier version of the lever-action Model 1873 designed to handle more powerful cartridges. Rifle and car¬ tridge were marketed from 1876 until 1897. This was a fairly popular caliber and Winchester continued to load it up to 1934. General Comments The big powerful cartridges available for the Sharps and other single shot rifles forced Winchester to bring out a more efficacious line for their repeaters. The cartridges for the Centennial Model were the beginning of such a trend. This is not the same as the 40-60 Marlin. It is a better hunting caliber than the old 44-40 WCF. The 45-70 case can be easily converted to 40-60 Winchester brass. 40-60 Winchester Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 210 Lead IMR 4198 21 1520 1083 Lyman #403168 210 Lead_FL_1562 1138 Winchester factory load 8th Edition 123 Chapter 3 40-70 Winchester Historical Notes This cartridge was developed for the Model 1886 Winchester repeater and also used in the Winchester single shot. It was introduced in 1894, but never became popular or widely used. The Marlin Model 1895 repeating rifle was also available in this caliber. General Comments This is a bottlenecked case generally sim¬ ilar to the 38-70 Winchester. It provides a larger, heavier bullet in a cartridge suitable to the same action as the 38-caliber. This case is not the same as that of the 40-72 Winchester. However, the bal¬ listics are nearly identical. It should be possible to convert the 45- 70 case to work in these rifles but the neck would be short. The 45 Basic will make perfect cases. 40-70 Winchester Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 330 Lead IMR 4759 26 1540 1738 330 Lead IMR 4198 25 1380 1050 Lyman #406150 330 Lead FL 1383 1333 Factory load 40-70 Remington Historical Notes Although listed as the 40-70 Remington, this cartridge is really Remington’s version of the 40-70 Sharps necked. The Remington rolling block No. 1 Sporting Model cham¬ bered it and so did the Hepburn No. 3. It was added to the Rem¬ ington line in 1880. General Comments Two versions of this cartridge were avail¬ able; the regular brass case and a special reloading case with a brass body and steel head. The steel head fastened to the brass body with an inside screw, which served as a primer anvil and also had the flash hole drilled through it. Steel head cases in 1880! There really is nothing new under the sun. The 40-70 was more of a match than a hunting cartridge. It should be possible to convert the 45-70 case to work in these rifles but the neck would be very short. The 45 Basic will make perfect cases. 40-70 Remington Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 330 Lead IMR 4198 27 1450 1542 Lyman #403139 330 Lead FL 1420 1482 Remington factory load 40-65 Winchester Historical Notes The 40-65 Winchester & Marlin was intro¬ duced in 1887 for the Model 1886 Winchester rifle. The Winches¬ ter single shot also chambered it and so did the Marlin Model 1895. The 40-65 Winchester was loaded in both black and smoke¬ less versions and Winchester catalogs listed it to 1935. General Comments The 40-65 was a further effort to put more steam in the repeating rifles’ cartridges so they would be competi¬ tive with similar single shot cartridges. This one, reasonably pop¬ ular, continued for almost 50 years. Rifles of this caliber are fairly common and ammunition can be made by reforming 45-70 brass. 40-65 Winchester Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 260 Lead IMR 4198 23 1500 1308 Lyman #403169 260 Lead IMR 3031 44 1720 1708 260 Lead FL 1420 1165 Factory load 260 Lead XMP 5744 26.0 1651 1573 Accurate Arms 300 Lead XMP 5744 24.0 1515 1528 Accurate Arms 124 Cartridges of the World Obsolete American Rifle Cartridges Historical Notes Introduced for and with the Winchester Mod¬ el 1895 lever-action, box magazine repeater, the 40-72 wasn’t very popular, but was loaded until 1936. General Comments This cartridge uses a smaller diameter bullet 30 grains heavier than the much more powerful 405 Win¬ chester. The latter was preferred by most purchasers of the Mod¬ el 1895. Blackpowder cartridges of the 1890s suffered from com¬ petition with the new smokeless powder cartridges. Most black- powder cartridges of that era didn’t have a chance to establish any degree of popularity. Although longer, this case has the same basic body as the 30-40 Krag. But because headspacing is on the rim, it may not be possible to safely use that case to make the 40- 72 except for very low pressure loads. 40-72 Winchester Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 330 Lead IMR 3031 40 1435 1510 Lyman #406150 300 Lead non | FL 1425 1350 Winchester factory load 330 Lead FL 1407 1451 Winchester factory load 40-82 Winchester Historical Notes Introduced in 1885 for the Winchester single shot and also available for the Model 1886 lever-action repeater, this cartridge was popular enough to make the transition into the smokeless powder era. It was loaded up to 1935. General Comments The 40-82 WCF gained a favorable repu¬ tation on elk and heavy game. It developed a higher muzzle veloc¬ ity than many other blackpowder cartridges which made it easier to hit over unknown distances. Despite the relative popularity, rifles in this caliber are seldom encountered. Most of the original single shots and Model 1886s have been rebarreled to some more modem caliber. It should be possible to convert the 45-70 case to work in these rifles but the neck would be very short. The 45 Basic will make perfect cases. 40-82 Winchester Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 260 Lead IMR4198 28 1425 1180 Lyman #403169 260 Lead_FL_1490_1285_Winchester factory load 401 Winchester Self-Loading (401 WSL) Historical Notes The 401 was introduced by Winchester in 1910 for their new Model 10 autoloading rifle, which was a minor modification of the Model 1907. Both the cartridge and the rifle were discontinued in 1936, but the ammunition was loaded by most ammunition companies until after WWII. It is another obso¬ lete “Self-Loading” cartridge. General Comments The 401 is the most powerful of the Win¬ chester autoloading line, and the only one suitable for deer. The 401 found favor with many hunters as a quick, short-range num¬ ber for hunting deer and black bear. Velocity is too low and the trajectory too high for this to be a useful cartridge for anything but woods and brush use. It can be reloaded, but like all car¬ tridges used in semi-auto guns, it is necessary to stick to the fac¬ tory ballistics or the rifle action may not function properly. Proper bullet diameter is .406-inch. 401 Winchester Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 200 SP 2400 24.7 1915 1625 Lyman 212 Lead IMR 4227 29.0 2074 2025 Lyman 240 Lead IMR 4227 27.5 1968 2150 Lyman 200 SP FL 2135 2020 Winchester factory load 250 SP FL 1870 1940 Winchester factory load 8th Edition 125 Chapter 3 Historical Notes Made for the Peabody-Martini rifles (made by the Providence Tool Co.), this is one of a series of cartridges named for the “What Cheer” rifle range outside Providence, Rhode Island opened in 1875. The first of the Peabody sporting and target rifles was said to have been exhibited at the opening celebration. The 40-70 cartridge actually wasn’t introduced until 1877 or 1878. The Union Metallic Cartridge Co. loaded the round and so did Winchester. 40-70 Peabody “What Cheer” Loading Data and Factory Ballistics _ Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 330 Lead IMR4198 22 1350 1340 Lyman #406150 380 Lead FL 1420 1710_Factory load General Comments This is an odd-shaped cartridge with a long, tapered shoulder and short body. Most samples have Berdan priming. Bullet diameter is .408-inch, but most .406- inch bullets are cast sufficiently oversize to meet this diame¬ ter. This is not a common cartridge in collections, and rifles of this caliber are rare. 40-90 Peabody “What Cheer” Historical Notes This unusually shaped cartridge was for the Peabody-Martini Rifle No. 3, introduced in 1877-78. This rifle was a fancy model similar to the No. 2 “Creedmoor,” but designated the “What Cheer,” in line with the Peabody policy of naming their rifles after famous target ranges of the day. General Comments The 40-90 Peabody is a bottlenecked case similar to the other “What Cheer” cartridges. This was a popular match cartridge until the early 1900s. Proper bullet diameter is .408-inch. Bullets intended for the 405 Winchester cam be sized down and used in this round. No one lists a mould for a 500-grain bullet of this caliber. 40-90 Peabo dy “What Cheer” Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 330 Lead IMR4198 27 1450 1550 Lyman #406150 500 Lead FL 1250 1735 Factory load 405 Winchester .4-05 WINCHESTER MODEL 1895 SOFT POINT Historical Notes The 405 is another of the rimmed cartridges developed for the Winchester Model 1895 lever-action rifle. Intro¬ duced in 1904, the rifle became obsolete in 1936. The Winchester single shot also chambered the 405, and a number of double rifles were turned out in this caliber in England and Europe. The Rem¬ ington-Lee bolt-action rifle was available in 405-caliber between 1904 and 1906. The old Eley-Kynoch catalog lists the 405 Win¬ chester with a 300-grain softpoint bullet and standard factory ballistics. General Comments The 405 Winchester is the most powerful rimmed cartridge ever developed for the lever-action rifle. It is adequate for any North American big game at short- to medium- range and has been used successfully in Africa on all species. In the old Model 1895 Winchester, with its curved buttplate and poorly-designed stock, it had a reputation for punishing recoil. Theodore Roosevelt used the 405 in Africa and thought very high¬ ly of it as a lion cartridge. However, John Taylor in his excellent book, African Rifles and Cartridges , rates it as a poor choice com¬ pared to other available calibers for African use. The short, fat 300-grain round-nosed bullet loses velocity rapidly and lacks the sectional density necessary for deep penetration of heavy game. Nevertheless, it is quite adequate for any North American ani¬ mals at ranges of 100 to 150 yards. Although longer, this case has the same basic body as the 30-40 Krag. But because headspacing is on the rim it is not possible to safely use that case to make 405s except for very low pressure loads, which I have done. With mod¬ em jacketed pistol bullets one can thus make perfectly adequate short-range deer loads. 405 Winchester Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 290 Cast IMR 3031 40.0 1500 1449 Lyman #412263 300 SP IMR 4895 56 2230 3321 300 SP IMR 3031 57 2250 3380 300 SP FL 2200 3220 Winchester factory load 126 Cartridges of the World Obsolete American Rifle Cartridges 40-75 Bullard Proper cast bullet diameter is .413-inch, which is slightly larger than many of the other 40-caliber cartridges which used a bullet of .403-inch. The old Bullard catalog states that the 40-60 Marlin can be fired in guns of the above caliber. If so, then the 40-65 WCF could also be used, as it is the same case as the Marlin round. It should be possible to convert the 45-70 case to work in these rifles. 40-75 Bullard Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 260 Lead Fg 75 1513 1315 Lyman #412174 260 Lead IMR 4198 20 1500 1302 Lyman #412174 258 Lead FL 1513 1315 Factory load Historical Notes Introduced in 1887 for the Bullard lever- action repeating rifle and also available for the single shot, the 40-75 was the same case with a different bullet weight and pow¬ der charge as the 40-60 Bullard. General Comments This is a big game cartridge similar in per¬ formance to the 40-60 Marlin or the 40-65 Winchester. The Win¬ chester cartridge achieved the greatest popularity of the three. 40-90 Bullard Historical Notes This rather odd bottlenecked cartridge was developed for the Bullard single shot and repeating rifles, intro¬ duced in 1886-87. Both Winchester and Remington manufac¬ tured this round for a number of years. General Comments This is a rather large, fat cartridge with ballistics similar to other 40-caliber cartridges of the period such as the 40-82 Winchester. There was not a lot to choose from regarding performance with any of them. The cartridges designed by the big manufacturers for their rifles were more widely adver¬ tised and distributed, and consequently won the popularity race. Cartridges like the Bullard line gradually faded into the back¬ ground. The 40-90 Bullard was undoubtedly an effective big game caliber, particularly if the now-rare 400-grain loading was used. It should be possible to convert the 348 case to work in these rifles. 40-90 Bullard Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 300 Lead Fg 90 1569 1648 Lyman #415175 300 Lead IMR 4198 29 1450 1405 Lyman #415175 300 Lead FL 1569 1648 Factory load Historical Notes A cartridge for the Maynard 1882 rifle, Improved Hunting or Target No. 9 and the Mid Range Target or Hunting No. 10, it was advertised as a combination hunting and target caliber. General Comments In performance, the 40-40 is similar to the 44-40 WCF. Maynard made only two bullet weights in 40-caliber; the 330-grain was intended for the longer 40-60, but was some¬ times used in the 40-40. Bullet diameter of these cartridges is not the same as the .403-inch of most Sharps and Winchester cal¬ ibers. The Maynard Company sold moulds or factory-made bul¬ lets for their rifles. The 40-caliber diameter is usually .415- to .417-inch in these Maynards. It should be possible to convert the 303 British case to work in these rifles. 40-40 Maynard 1882 Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 260 Lead IMR 4198 24 1400 1140 Lyman #413174 270 Lead FL 1425 1222 330 Lead FL 1260 1168 Factory load. 8th Edition 127 Chapter 3 Historical Notes This is an intermediate-range match car¬ tridge for the 1882 Maynard Models 10,12 and 13 Hunting and the Models 15-16 Target rifles. It does not use the same case as the longer 40-70 Maynard. General Comments The 40-60 Maynard is an elongated ver¬ sion of the 40-40 and differs mainly in the longer case length. Unfortunately, it duplicated the performance of similar Marlin, Sharps and Winchester cartridges, and for that reason, it did not become popular or widely used. It should be possible to convert the 303 British case to work in these rifles. 40-60 Maynard 1882 Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME 300 Lead IMR4198 26 1370 1248 330 Lead FL 1370 1380 Source Lyman #413175 Factory load Historical Notes One of three 40-caliber cartridges for the 1882-type Maynard single shot rifle, which was available in both target and hunting models. General Comments Some publications show the 40-70 May¬ nard to be the same as the 40-60, but with a different load. Others indicate that it is identical except for length. As a matter of fact, it has a little longer case (.21-inch) with a slightly larger rim and base diameter. The 40-60 can be fired in a 40-70 chamber, but the reverse is not true. In overall length, this is the shorter of the two cartridges because of the fighter bullet seated farther down in the case. This is more of a hunting cartridge, even though it was also available in the target rifle models. It should be possible to con¬ vert the 303 British case to work in these rifles. 40-70 Maynard (1882) Loading Data and Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 260 Lead IMR4198 27 1450 1211 Lyman#413174 270 Lead FL 1645 1620_Factory load Historical Notes This is the cartridge for the various Old Mod¬ el Evans rifles introduced in 1875. Winchester loaded the ammu¬ nition until the early 1920s. General Comments The Evans rifle was designed for military use, but when it was turned down by the U.S. Ordnance Depart¬ ment, it was manufactured as a sporting number. The Evans had a magazine capacity of 34 cartridges held in the four-column tubular magazine located in the butt. It was an odd-looking lever- action rifle. Evans rifles were once fairly common items and box lots of ammunition could be purchased until 1940-41. It is not a particularly strong action, so use blackpowder loads. A load of 28 grains of Fg or FFg was used in the original round. Cases can be made by cutting off 303 Savage cases and perhaps thinning the rim as required. (As in similar rim thinning situations pistol primers may have to be used, but those are preferable in almost every blackpowder or blackpowder pressure load anyway.) 44 Evans Short Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 215 Lead FL 850 350 Winchester factory load 128 Cartridges of the World Obsolete American Rifle Cartridges 44 Evans Long Historical Notes The 44 Evans Long was developed for the 1877 New Model Evans sporting rifle. It is sometimes referred to as the 44-40 Straight or the 44-40-300 because of its different loadings. General Comments The New Model Evans rifle was similar to the Old Model except for the change to a longer, more powerful cartridge. The magazine capacity was only (!) 26 rounds com¬ pared to 34 for the Old Model. Again, this is not a strong action, so it is advisable to use only blackpowder loads. The cartridge was loaded with 275- to 300-grain bullets and 40 to 43 grains of blackpowder. Although this case is somewhat larger in diameter, usable cases might be made by cutting off 303 Savage cases as with the the Henry Flat Center Fire Flat. As with all similar numbers, it is best to load only with blackpowder or Pyrodex. 44 Evans Long Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 280 Lead FL 1200 903 Factory load 44 Henry Center Fire Flat Historical Notes This is a centerfire version of the rimfire 44 Henry Flat. It is believed to have been a special cartridge manu¬ factured for the final lot of 1866 Henry rifles made by Winchester. Since the rifle was discontinued in 1873, it would be reasonable to assume the above cartridge was developed about that time. General Comments Rifles for this cartridge are extremely rare. The 1866 Henry rifle was not very strong, and if anyone has one of them and wants to shoot it, stick to blackpowder. The prop¬ er charge is 26 or 28 grains of FFg or FFFg. Bullets for the 44-40 WCF can be used. Cases can be made by cutting off 303 Savage cases and, perhaps thinning the rim, as required. (As in similar rim thinning situations, pistol primers may have to be used, but these are preferable in almost every blackpowder or blackpowder pressure load anyway.) 44 Henry Factory Ballistics Bullet (grs.) Powder/grs. MV ME Source 200 Lead FL 1150 594 Factory load 227 Lead FL 1200 Factory load 44 Game Getter 44-40 Marlin 44 Colt Lightning Historical Notes In 1908, Marble Arms Corp. introduced their Game Getter, a double-barrel, over/under pistol with a removable skeleton buttstock. The upper barrel was rifled and chambered for the 22 rimfire cartridge; the lower barrel was smoothbore and chambered for the 44 Shot cartridge. The introduction of this pis¬ tol bolstered the popularity of the several varieties of 44 Shot car¬ tridges. The Stevens Model 101 “Featherweight” rifle (1914-16) cham¬ bered this caliber as well as the 44XL and 44 WCF shot car¬ tridges. The 44 WCF Shot cartridge was a crimped case with cardboard wadding; others were loaded with a wood or paper “bullet” that enclosed the shot. The Marble catalog of 1914 stated, “Shot cartridges with paper or wooden ends are especially adapt¬ ed to rifled barrels. However, they can be used in the Game Get¬ ter, but give uncertain results.” UMC loaded a 44 Round Ball cartridge before the introduction of the Game Getter, using 34 grains of blackpowder and a 115-grain round lead ball bullet. This combination of gun and cartridge became very popular and Winchester and U.S. Ammunition Co. began to offer it, calling it the 44 Game Getter. General Comments The 44-40 is, of course, still loaded today, but during its life span as a blackpowder cartridge (and the early smokeless days) it was available in a variety of loads that are now obsolete. The standard load of 40 grains of blackpowder and a 200-grain bullet of the 44 WCF was altered slightly (a 217-grain bullet was used) and the resulting cartridge was called the 44-40 Marlin or the 44 Colt Lightning Magazine Rifle. All are nothing more than load variations on the standard 44-40 Winchester; some rifles may require shorter overall cartridge lengths. Also obsolete today are the high-velocity smokeless powder loads that were offered for rifles with stronger actions. 8th Edition 129 Chapter 3 44-40 Extra Long General Comments The 44-40 Extra Long is listed in various