.38-40 WCF
| .38-40 WCF | |
|---|---|
|
|
| general information | |
| caliber | .38-40 WCF (10 × 33 R) |
| Sleeve shape | Bottle neck-shaped rim cartridge |
| Dimensions | |
| Sleeve shoulder ⌀ | .457 inch, 11.6 mm |
| Sleeve neck ⌀ | .443 inch, 11.3 mm |
| Floor ⌀ | .401 inch, 10.2 mm |
| Cartridge bottom ⌀ | .520 inch, 13.2 mm |
| Sleeve length | 1.30 inch, 33 mm |
| Cartridge length | 1.587 inches, 40 mm |
| Weights | |
| Bullet weight | 180 grains, 11.7 g |
| Powder weight | Black powder 40 grains, 2.6 g |
| Technical specifications | |
| Speed v 0 | 403 m / s |
| Bullet energy E 0 | 950 y |
| Lists on the subject | |
The .38-40-WCF -cartridge (.38-40 Winchester Center Fire) produced from 1874 was a development based on the .44-40-WCF -cartridge. As this was her one developed for the Winchester Mod-73 rifle powerful centerfire ammunition , however, had a slightly smaller caliber of .401, inches .
history
For the 38-40 WCF cartridge in caliber .401 (10.2 mm), a case similar to the .44 WCF case, but with a slightly more tapered front, was used. The lighter bullet (180 grains instead of 200 grains) has a slightly higher muzzle velocity thanks to the same powder charge of 40 grains, which results in a flatter trajectory. In addition, the recoil of the weapon is slightly less. Like its bigger sister 44-40 it was introduced for the Winchester Mod. 73 .
Colt also manufactured just over 38,000 Colt Single Actions in this caliber between 1884 and 1940 , and in 1885 the Smith & Wesson No-3 drop barrel revolver for the .38-40 cartridge was also available. Both Colt and Smith & Wesson made revolvers for this cartridge until recently. Today revolvers are offered by Uberti, Pietta and others (until recently also USFA), now supposedly even again by Colt.
With the Model 1892 developed by John Browning , Winchester brought a more modern lever action rifle onto the market that same year, which was also suitable for firing heavier loads.
The Colt Lightning front rifle from 1894 (including modern replicas by Pedersoli and Uberti) with a tube magazine was / is available in .38-40 caliber. Colt sold the cartridge for it under the designation .38 CLMR (.38 Colt Lightning Magazine Rifle) Cartridge.
Other manufacturers followed with Marlin with the lever action rifle 1894 and Remington with the rolling block single loader. The number of cartridges sold by the various providers can only be estimated. At the turn of the century, the cartridge made the transition to loading with smokeless powder and was considered the most powerful medium-caliber revolver cartridge until the introduction of the .357 Magnum caliber. From today's perspective, too, she achieves a respectable performance in the revolver.
In the case of the .38-40 cartridges with smokeless powder used by Winchester, the external ballistic data of the black powder cartridges were initially retained, but later more powerful "high-speed" charges were offered in revolvers, Winchester Model 1873 and Colt Lightning - Rifles must not be fired. Production stopped in 1937.
With the advent of the cowboy action shooting , the ammunition is being offered again by various manufacturers.
Modern ammunition
180-grain bullets fired from rifle barrels reach a muzzle velocity of 1330 ft / s (406 m / s) and have a longer firing path than the .44-40-WCF cartridge up to a firing distance of 200 m. From a 5 "turret it is 975 ft / s (297 m / s), the same muzzle velocity is achieved with the .44-40 WCF cartridge in a 7-1 / 2" turret. Gunpowder shooters usually load their ammunition themselves.
Modern smokeless .38-40 ammunition may only be fired in Colt Single Action Army revolvers with the VP test mark (in triangular shape) on the trigger guard.
literature
- George Madis: The Winchester Handbook . Art & Reference House, Brownsboro, TX 1981, ISBN 0-910156-04-2 .
- John E. Parsons: The First Winchester . William Morrow & Co., New York, NY 1955, LCCN 55-007621 .
- George Madis: The Winchester Book . Taylor Publishing Company, Dallas, TX 1971, ISBN 0-910156-03-4 .
- Norm Flayderman: Flayderman's Guide to Antique Firearms . Krause Publications, Iola, WI 2001, ISBN 0-87349-313-3 .
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Ballistics of Winchester Western cartridges, Form 157, cartridge designation W3840, W4440.