Are LARGE obsolete cartridges actually Obsolete?

[Kev18]

Whats the point in that much speed? Wouldn't the bullet explode on impact?

[country gent]

Some explode in flight even. Try a 45 grn sx at 4150fps

[am44mag]

Unfortunately america has caught magnum itus.

Actually, I'd kind of argue that America has started going in the other direction due to the popularity of the AR platform. How many cartridges have been designed for that platform now that are better for hunting vs the 5.56? 350 Legend, .224 Valkyrie, .25-45 Sharps, 6.5 Grendel, 6.8 SPC, 300 Blackout, .450 Bushmaster, .458 SOCOM, and .50 Beowulf, and that's just some of the popular ones for the AR-15. 9x39 is starting to gain popularity for the AK shooters. You've got rounds like the 6mm Creedmoor, 6.5mm Creedmoor, .260 Remington, .308 Winchester, and the .338 Federal that are all relatively popular in the AR-10 and most can be had in even budget bolt action rifles.

I think we've seen a drift back towards more moderate cartridges in the last decade or two.

Now back to the topic, I guess it depends on what your definition of obsolete is. My definition and the definition that pulled up when I googled it was that obsolete means that they are no longer produced or used. A LOT of those old cartridges definitely meet that definition. I have never heard of a 40-82 WCF before today, and I have certainly never seen ammo for sale for one. I'm sure some people use it still, and I'm sure I could buy ammo if I felt like paying what would likely be a very steep price for a few rounds, but I don't think that's near enough to say it's still being produced and used today. That does NOT make it useless. If it does have ballistics similar to a 44 Mag, that's still a very respectable hunting rounds. It might not be as PRACTICAL as a 44 mag, but sometimes that doesn't matter. I own a few odd calibers, and I don't have a problem hunting with them because its fun to be a little bit different.

If you like the gun, buy it. If you want to hunt with it, go for it. No one else's opinion should dictate what you do.

[Reverend Al]

There are a number of vintage to downright antique rifles in my collection chambered for cartridge cases that were LONG thought to be "obsolete", but with a bit of effort (and in some cases a FAIR bit of effort) I've duplicated cartridge cases that many thought to be made of "unobtainium", so I can still shoot these wonderful old rifles that sat idle for many decades due to lack of ammunition. There are lots of old rifles with matching ammunition down in my shop and none of them are "obsolete" at my house!

[CrystalShip]

So called obsolete cartridges and components are really never obsolete. just not sometimes popular. You just have to know where to get them. As most know it's only a matter of where to get them. Once you Know . it,s no problem. There are several Choices. out there
if you don't make them your self. Graf, Buffalo Arms. Quality Cartridge ,Ammunition Artifacts. Reed. and probable many , many other.
Not Obsolete just not used as Much

[quail4jake]

Yes! All of those dirty old long brass cartridges are obsolete and should be disposed of! I will go out on a limb and offer to buy them all at scrap copper price...just as a service to those who are burdened with these derelicts hanging around. I will even buy those deplorable old rifles that fire them, so if anyone has these crusty clunkers (Winchester 1886 highly engraved for instance) send me a PM and I will make arrangements for disposal! Now don't say I never did anything selfless!

[Traffer]

On a serious note. The rimfire cartridges are what I am interested in. With much better priming compound now, and the RELATIVELY simple process of drawing brass and copper, SOMEBODY should be making them again. Most people in the know have changed theirs over to center fire BUT, wouldn't it be nice to be able to buy a box of .32rf or 41 or 44 or 41 Swiss for the same price as 9mm? The manufacturing process is cheaper (once it is set up).
If I had a good machine shop I would make them myself.

[Kev18]

On a serious note. The rimfire cartridges are what I am interested in. With much better priming compound now, and the RELATIVELY simple process of drawing brass and copper, SOMEBODY should be making them again. Most people in the know have changed theirs over to center fire BUT, wouldn't it be nice to be able to buy a box of .32rf or 41 or 44 or 41 Swiss for the same price as 9mm? The manufacturing process is cheaper (once it is set up).
If I had a good machine shop I would make them myself.

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.

[Kev18]

Yes! All of those dirty old long brass cartridges are obsolete and should be disposed of! I will go out on a limb and offer to buy them all at scrap copper price...just as a service to those who are burdened with these derelicts hanging around. I will even buy those deplorable old rifles that fire them, so if anyone has these crusty clunkers (Winchester 1886 highly engraved for instance) send me a PM and I will make arrangements for disposal! Now don't say I never did anything selfless!

Wow you are a nice individual. Offering all of these services to help out the community. A true hero amongst men! I think you inspired me to do the same.

[Kev18]

So called obsolete cartridges and components are really never obsolete. just not sometimes popular. You just have to know where to get them. As most know it's only a matter of where to get them. Once you Know . it,s no problem. There are several Choices. out there
if you don't make them your self. Graf, Buffalo Arms. Quality Cartridge ,Ammunition Artifacts. Reed. and probable many , many other.
Not Obsolete just not used as Much

Now with the internet nothing is impossible or out of reach. Which is nice in some cases. The problem also is price for people. This is different for everyone, but if one doesn't reload buying just one box of ammo is so expensive. When I got my 1886 I started buying ammo from Buffalo arms. It was extremely expensive especially since I'm in Canada. It was almost 150-200$ a box plus border fees. I bought around 3 boxes several times. Then ordered from GAD. So I have alot of ammo. Since then I started reloading.
I spent over a thousand dollars just on ammo....

[Reverend Al]

When I got my 1886 I started buying ammo from Buffalo arms. It was extremely expensive especially since I'm in Canada. It was almost 150-200$ a box plus border fees. I bought around 3 boxes several times. Then ordered from GAD. So I have alot of ammo. Since then I started reloading.
I spent over a thousand dollars just on ammo....

Ouch! Wish you'd asked sooner since .40-82 WCF can be formed from Starline .45-90 brass that is fairly easily purchased from several Canadian distributors. A set of dies, a suitable 240 to 260 grain mould, a bit of brass, and you're off to the range ... and for a lot LESS than $1,000!

(And if you're interested in some information about loading for the .40-82 WCF pop me a PM. I've loaded for it in an 1886 and in my current 1885 High Wall single shot. It can be frustrating to get it shooting well until you know the "secrets" of loading for it!)

[veeman]

(And if you're interested in some information about loading for the .40-82 WCF pop me a PM. I've loaded for it in an 1886 and in my current 1885 High Wall single shot. It can be frustrating to get it shooting well until you know the "secrets" of loading for it!)

People helping people, it's a beautiful thing!

[indian joe]

Sometimes obsolete means exactly that. A good example is the .348 Winchester. A fine cartridge that is obsolete.

It has little to do with being able to kill game. Heck almost anything will kill deer at 100 yards.

Remember we are a small and unimportant subset of the gun community. Our perceptions will be different.

Depends on yr definition of obsolete I guess - some would argue the 348 was obsolete the day winchester released it
I have a 348 rifle bought new in the late 1990's - could still buy new brass for it a year ago - the cartridge itself is a modern high intensity round - whats obsolete?
OTOH I also have a 45/75 bought new this century - could buy new brass for it a dozen years ago (if you were quick!) - the action design predates modern steel and the cartridge is a blackpowder design from 140 odd years ago - thats obsolete by some definitions but under our aussie LAW - ammo is available someplace so its not classed obsolete for the purposes of registration.
All depends whos writing the definition

[sharps4590]

Obsolete cartridge? No such thing....at my house and, matter of fact, I prefer them. There's a lathe and mill in my basement shop mostly just for cartridge conversion and I am far from being a rarity in that regard. When I'm browsing the auction sites or for sale boards on various web sites the only thing that perks me up is when the cartridge is uncommon, unpopular and best of all, unheard of by most shooters. I hunt with; 9.3 X 75R Nimrod, 10.5 X 47R, 9 X 71 Peterlongo, 9.3 X 57R, 9.3 X 55R, 9 X 57 and 9.3 X 57 Mauser and don't even think about getting my 1886 Winchester in 40-82 away from me. First hog I ever killed was with that rifle and it went down just fine, thank you very much. Subsequent hogs and deer shot with my namesake Sharps 45-90 or my Sharps 40-70 hit the ground where they stood except for one muley forky. He had the audacity to actually turn around before he fell over.

Old, yes. Uncommon, yes. Unpopular, undoubtedly. Unheard of...some of mine are. Unavailable, nearly all mine are. Obsolete.....not on your life.

[Kev18]

Ouch! Wish you'd asked sooner since .40-82 WCF can be formed from Starline .45-90 brass that is fairly easily purchased from several Canadian distributors. A set of dies, a suitable 240 to 260 grain mould, a bit of brass, and you're off to the range ... and for a lot LESS than $1,000!

(And if you're interested in some information about loading for the .40-82 WCF pop me a PM. I've loaded for it in an 1886 and in my current 1885 High Wall single shot. It can be frustrating to get it shooting well until you know the "secrets" of loading for it!)

Thanks! It took me 2 years to find a load. With BP or the wrong smokeless loads. I wouldnt hit a piece of paper at point blank range. I have no idea where the bullet ended up... My 40-82 cases are made of 45-90 ones. I still shoot 90% of the ones I originally had( probably around 20-30 cases) The other 10% I sacrificed while reloading.

It was the first caliber I reloaded for and my first rifle I ever purchased... I was 18 at the time I think. In college. Not alot of money ( still not alot!) You can imagine the frustration and lack of knowledge. I asked everyone I knew and at gun stores but no one knows what that old stuff is. I have every articles, and most of the knowledge about 40-82 and 1886's out there I think. Im 22 now and know this rifle inside out!

If you have anything to share you can PM me if you want. Always glad to gain some know-how

What fps do you shoot at? Mine is an original (original barrel) I know people get new barrels and shoot at 3000fps.

[Kev18]

(And if you're interested in some information about loading for the .40-82 WCF pop me a PM. I've loaded for it in an 1886 and in my current 1885 High Wall single shot. It can be frustrating to get it shooting well until you know the "secrets" of loading for it!)

People helping people, it's a beautiful thing!

Dont you love meeting people with the same passion as you? Its great!

[Kev18]

Obsolete cartridge? No such thing....at my house and, matter of fact, I prefer them. There's a lathe and mill in my basement shop mostly just for cartridge conversion and I am far from being a rarity in that regard. When I'm browsing the auction sites or for sale boards on various web sites the only thing that perks me up is when the cartridge is uncommon, unpopular and best of all, unheard of by most shooters. I hunt with; 9.3 X 75R Nimrod, 10.5 X 47R, 9 X 71 Peterlongo, 9.3 X 57R, 9.3 X 55R, 9 X 57 and 9.3 X 57 Mauser and don't even think about getting my 1886 Winchester in 40-82 away from me. First hog I ever killed was with that rifle and it went down just fine, thank you very much. Subsequent hogs and deer shot with my namesake Sharps 45-90 or my Sharps 40-70 hit the ground where they stood except for one muley forky. He had the audacity to actually turn around before he fell over.

Old, yes. Uncommon, yes. Unpopular, undoubtedly. Unheard of...some of mine are. Unavailable, nearly all mine are. Obsolete.....not on your life.

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?

[762 shooter]

My 109 year old caliber 375 H and H is still fun to shoot, even though nobody uses it much now a days.

762

[sharps4590]

Give it time Kev, you'll get there. I'm precisely 3 times older than you and I've been at it since 1961 when Dad taught me to load with his old Lee "whack-a-mole" handloader. I was loading for the 40-82 long before you were born.....EGADS......I'm old!!!! Nahh...it's only a number. Anyway, I settled on the same 34 gr. of IMR-3031 with an open cell foam filler and either my 260 gr. cast bullet....I think from a Lyman mold or Hawk's jacketed bullet for the 40-82. I'd have to check my records but I'm about positive it's running in the 1430-1460 range.

As far as really obsolete, I have a pretty decent Schuetzen rifle that even the immensely knowledgeable Axel Eichendorff had never heard of. We ended up calling it an "8.7 X 55R" just because that was the dimensions. Had to have custom dies made and until I got them the way I loaded it was.....well, either very clever or could have provided comic relief.

[Kev18]

Give it time Kev, you'll get there. I'm precisely 3 times older than you and I've been at it since 1961 when Dad taught me to load with his old Lee "whack-a-mole" handloader. I was loading for the 40-82 long before you were born.....EGADS......I'm old!!!! Nahh...it's only a number. Anyway, I settled on the same 34 gr. of IMR-3031 with an open cell foam filler and either my 260 gr. cast bullet....I think from a Lyman mold or Hawk's jacketed bullet for the 40-82. I'd have to check my records but I'm about positive it's running in the 1430-1460 range.

As far as really obsolete, I have a pretty decent Schuetzen rifle that even the immensely knowledgeable Axel Eichendorff had never heard of. We ended up calling it an "8.7 X 55R" just because that was the dimensions. Had to have custom dies made and until I got them the way I loaded it was.....well, either very clever or could have provided comic relief.

I reload with 34 grains 3031 and cormeal filler. Nothing else worked! I just got a 300 grain mold made. Works really well, I usually shot a 260grain casted from an ideal reloading tool.