Are LARGE obsolete cartridges actually Obsolete?

[Reverend Al]

Yep, same here. I took my load data from 2 magazine articles by Mike Venturino about reloading for the .40-82 WCF. I had the same results he did with hang fires and shotgun sized "patterns" rather than "groups" as close as 25 yards. Once I used the cornmeal filler that he settled on in his articles my 1886 Winchester would shoot 2" to 2 1/2" groups at 100 yards. Sadly, I was talked out of that rapid taper barrel '86 Winchester by a gentleman who just HAD to have it for his collection (plus he paid me a HUGE amount of money compared to what I had originally paid for the rifle) so I let it go to him. Thankfully I kept the RCBS dies, Lyman mould, and formed brass for it which helped immensely when I found and bought a nice old Winchester 1885 High Wall single shot in .40-82. It likes that same Venturino load with the cornmeal filler too ...

[sharps4590]

Al, love that rifle!! The patina is perfect.

A word on cornmeal filler. If you leave the cartridges loaded very long it turns almost solid. 20 years ago, or more, I pulled all mine, dumped the corn meal then recharged the cases and used open cell foam for a filler. A perusal of the "Finding Out For Myself" articles by Sherman Bell in the "Double Gun and Single Shot Journal" will turn up his comprehensive work with fillers and the pressures they generate. To say it is enlightening is understatement. Also, Grahame Wrights book "Shooting the British Double Rifle" has pressure data with fillers worked up by Kynoch and the Birmingham proof house.

[Kev18]

Yep, same here. I took my load data from 2 magazine articles by Mike Venturino about reloading for the .40-82 WCF. I had the same results he did with hang fires and shotgun sized "patterns" rather than "groups" as close as 25 yards. Once I used the cornmeal filler that he settled on in his articles my 1886 Winchester would shoot 2" to 2 1/2" groups at 100 yards. Sadly, I was talked out of that rapid taper barrel '86 Winchester by a gentleman who just HAD to have it for his collection (plus he paid me a HUGE amount of money compared to what I had originally paid for the rifle) so I let it go to him. Thankfully I kept the RCBS dies, Lyman mould, and formed brass for it which helped immensely when I found and bought a nice old Winchester 1885 High Wall single shot in .40-82. It likes that same Venturino load with the cornmeal filler too ...

You're lucky to have a rifle like that! I haven't seen any at gun shows. Only replicas and one low wall 25-20 in pristine condition that I could of had for a decent price but I just didnt want a small caliber. I would love a single shot that is big bore.

[Traffer]

@Reverend AL,
Sorry you parted with your 86, But that high wall is one beautiful rifle.

[Kev18]

I have a gun show coming up the 20th. Hopefully il find something nice :/ Not 1885 nice but something that butters my buns hopefully.

[Reverend Al]

Yes, I love my old single shots and have a variety of High Walls, Low Walls, Ballards, Maynards, Stevens, Martinis, Rolling Blocks, German Schuetzen rifles, etc. A total of 40 years of efforts in finding and then buying interesting old relic rifles (as long as they still have shootable bores ... I pass on the "rusted out" relics). I've been hoping for a .38-56 WCF too and have a set of RCBS dies on the shelf waiting for one to arrive, but it's tough to find one with a good shooter bore that won't require re-mortgaging the house! I was tempted by another HW in .38-56 about a year ago, but the bore was just too scruffy and pitted to convince me to buy it at the offered price.

[indian joe]

Me to , im attracted to the odd stuff. I dont have a lathe or anything so I try to do everything by hand! Takes a while sometimes sadly. What fps and bullet are you shooting in the 40-82?

Kev
1963 -----I was 15 yrs old and just escaped from 3 years of high school to work on the family farm - took my first weeks pay (five "quid" about 14U$ at the time) and bought a worn 1892 saddle Ring Carbine from a kid I went to school with - we did the handover at the local scout hut one night in the dead of winter - I "borrowed" the farm ute and drove the backroads to town, parked it behind a bush, hopped the fence with no thought of trouble, walked straight into the local cop in full uniform, I had forgot he was the assistant scout master - what r you doin here ? er ........just came to pick up this gun off me mate - -yeah but ya didnt walk in the dark did ya? -- er ......er.... git goin - but the next time I catch you drivin without a licence is trouble ok .

That old 32/20 was the start of it all - two years later I loaded my first blackpowder - my Dad went to a conference in Sydney and came back on the DC3 with five pounds of Blackpowder in his briefcase in the cabin luggage! ..................Imagine that now!!!

I always wanted a big lever gun - missed on a good 76 when I was about your age , again when I was in my 40's a shootable 76 rifle for under a grand and I missed it, same again a few years later - finally lashed out and bought a new Uberti 1876 about four years back - we dont see the big levers much downunder - (never been a need for them really except for feral pests in the desert country and up north) - so a used 76, or 86 or even moreso a 71 is a rare find here. (I have all three in new made replicas so I feel lucky in that) I figure I have 15 years left where I can still lift one of those and shoot it standing up.

Stay safe and enjoy your old guns !!!

[Kev18]

Kev
1963 -----I was 15 yrs old and just escaped from 3 years of high school to work on the family farm - took my first weeks pay (five "quid" about 14U$ at the time) and bought a worn 1892 saddle Ring Carbine from a kid I went to school with - we did the handover at the local scout hut one night in the dead of winter - I "borrowed" the farm ute and drove the backroads to town, parked it behind a bush, hopped the fence with no thought of trouble, walked straight into the local cop in full uniform, I had forgot he was the assistant scout master - what r you doin here ? er ........just came to pick up this gun off me mate - -yeah but ya didnt walk in the dark did ya? -- er ......er.... git goin - but the next time I catch you drivin without a licence is trouble ok .

That old 32/20 was the start of it all - two years later I loaded my first blackpowder - my Dad went to a conference in Sydney and came back on the DC3 with five pounds of Blackpowder in his briefcase in the cabin luggage! ..................Imagine that now!!!

I always wanted a big lever gun - missed on a good 76 when I was about your age , again when I was in my 40's a shootable 76 rifle for under a grand and I missed it, same again a few years later - finally lashed out and bought a new Uberti 1876 about four years back - we dont see the big levers much downunder - (never been a need for them really except for feral pests in the desert country and up north) - so a used 76, or 86 or even moreso a 71 is a rare find here. (I have all three in new made replicas so I feel lucky in that) I figure I have 15 years left where I can still lift one of those and shoot it standing up.

Stay safe and enjoy your old guns !!!

Sometimes we don't require needs, wants are enough! I want alot of things but I surely don't need them

[Good Cheer]

Who wouldn't love to have a good used .350 Remington and shoot paper patched black powder loads in it?
Or in their .375H&H?
Or .416?
Or .458?

These modern guns just give us more opportunities for fun.

[Good Cheer]

Plotting on finding out how much black a .41 Mag will hold behind a paper patched #403169.

[Jack Stanley]

Not obsolete ................. just sometimes hard to get brass for .

Jack

[Kev18]

Some might think they are weak, or obsolete but they look great!

[veeman]

That's a neat picture. Nice 86 too. Caliber?

[veeman]

My 2 favorite obsoletes..

[John Boy]

I wish i could buy. 32 rf! I'm having issues with mind to make brass and i posted in the reloading equipment and gunsmithing threads about my adventures.

Key - Yes you can buy 32 RF cases ... I sent Roberson Cartridge Co a couple of 32 Long RF cases. The toke their 32 Long CF cases and opened up the primer pocket and cut a slit in the rim for 50 cases. I reload the RF's in my Stevens 1872 Tip Up using 6mm Flobert primers and they work just fine

[Kev18]

That's a neat picture. Nice 86 too. Caliber?

40-82 Made in 1888-89.

[Kev18]

Key - Yes you can buy 32 RF cases ... I sent Roberson Cartridge Co a couple of 32 Long RF cases. The toke their 32 Long CF cases and opened up the primer pocket and cut a slit in the rim for 50 cases. I reload the RF's in my Stevens 1872 Tip Up using 6mm Flobert primers and they work just fine

Look on the gunsmithing thread. I made a post about my issues. I ahd to change the firing pin and stuff... It hits way to low on my Favorite.

[Bazoo]

Interesting thread thanks for sharing everyone.

When I read the title, I couldn't help but think, I have what made those old cartridges obsolete... That barrel burnin hotrod of the day... The 30WCF!

[Kev18]

Interesting thread thanks for sharing everyone.

When I read the title, I couldn't help but think, I have what made those old cartridges obsolete... That barrel burnin hotrod of the day... The 30WCF!

Yeah, new cartridges are the issue. 3000 fps and 250grains + of a rocket causing death.

Don't think a 300 + grain 1200fps torpedo wont knock you off your feet

[Kev18]

My 2 favorite obsoletes..

Are they originals? what caliber?