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Thread: Vintage Cartridge ID Help

  1. #1
    Boolit Man
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    Vintage Cartridge ID Help

    Hey guys, I recently won an auction for a few choice rcbs die sets…included in the lot was a bunch of vintage rifle cartridges. One was a 45-75 WCF, a few 50 2-1/2” Sharps, and the guy pictured below. I can’t figure this one out! Some dimensions are shown in the pics, hopefully someone can help me identify what cartridge this is! Second pic from bottom shows the mystery cartridge next to a standard 45-70.






  2. #2
    Boolit Master
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    44-77 Sharps / Remington?

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  3. #3
    Boolit Master Skipper's Avatar
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    Here's a good reference chart

    https://bloodhound.tripod.com/cartridg.htm
    The strongest reason for the people to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against the tyranny of government.
    -- Thomas Jefferson

  4. #4
    Boolit Master

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    No doubt your post will be seen here, but the vintage ammo guys are sure to see your post in the vintage ammo forum.

    https://castboolits.gunloads.com/for...5-Vintage-Ammo
    “Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But, the Marines don't have that problem.” Ronald Reagan


  5. #5
    Boolit Man
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    Quote Originally Posted by oley55 View Post
    No doubt your post will be seen here, but the vintage ammo guys are sure to see your post in the vintage ammo forum.

    https://castboolits.gunloads.com/for...5-Vintage-Ammo
    Thanks oley, I will try and move this post!


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  6. #6
    Boolit Master

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    I think only Moderators have the magic powers to move a post to a different location.
    “Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But, the Marines don't have that problem.” Ronald Reagan


  7. #7
    Boolit Man
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    Quote Originally Posted by oley55 View Post
    I think only Moderators have the magic powers to move a post to a different location.
    Moderators, please move this post to vintage ammo!


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  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by vandeusenps View Post
    Thanks oley, I will try and move this post!


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    I moved it for you.
    Steve,

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  10. #10
    Boolit Master
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    A little more data is needed. What are these dimensions that you have not included?

    Attachment 290020

  11. #11
    Boolit Master
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    Trying to isolate for you but need more info:

    43 Dutch Beaumont M71/78
    44-60 Peabody "Creedmore"
    44-60 Sharps Necked (44-60 Sharps Remington)
    40-90 Peabody
    40-348 Winchester
    11.15x58 Werndl M77
    11.15x58R Spanish Remington
    11.15x60R Mauser
    11.4x50R Brazilian Comblain M74

    and the list continues...

  12. #12
    Boolit Man
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    Quote Originally Posted by Tar Heel View Post
    A little more data is needed. What are these dimensions that you have not included?

    Attachment 290020
    Tar Heel,

    Thanks for steering me in the right direction. Here are the measurements, best I could do with a digital caliper:




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  13. #13
    Boolit Master
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    Problems:
    1. Factory cartridges in-hand seldom match factory spec dimensions. Look at a fired .38-40 or .44-40 case and compare it to a factory fresh case and you will see what I mean.
    2. Manufacturing variations in the mid 19th century were immense, especially regarding ammunition.
    3. Original cartridge cases hold much greater volume than modern cartridge cases (Balloon head cases for example) so a volumetric measurement is pretty much misleading assuming this cartridge was still manufactured.
    4. No observable headstamp.

    I am going to give you a list of cartridges it may be and then I will take a stab at which one it is. I am going to guess. You have one more measurement you can take too. What is the overall length of the cartridge? I will provide the C.O.A.L. of my list and you can get the closest.

    43 Dutch Beaumont M71/78 at 2.54" OAL
    11x52R Netherlands Beuamont aka 43 Dutch Beaumont at 2.54" OAL
    11.43x50R Egyptian Remington at 2.73" OAL
    11.43x41 Peabody-Martini at 2.32" OAL

    My swag is the Peabody-Martini.
    The Handloaders Manual of Cartridge Conversions, John J. Donnelly, 1987 Stoeger Publishing Co, p983

    Given the preponderance of the Martini rifles in the same era, it is therefore most probable this is one of those cartridges.

    Unfortunately it is almost always impossible to match up measurements precisely with what "should be" the measurements of a specific cartridge. One in particular that is still aggravating the heck out of me is a cartridge I recovered in a shipwreck named "City of Houston" which is off the NC coast. She sank on 10/23/1878 so the 44 caliber cartridge should be pretty easy to identify. I simply tell folks it's most likely a 44 Russian. That's the closest I can get with the measurements. I say that with 75% assurance.

    The most reliable measurements are the actual case length, rim diameter, and neck length. The Shoulder Length is hard to measure but we know it's small, not a long shoulder. The Length to Shoulder (J) can change upon firing the cartridge. Again, look at a .38-40 case.

    Sorry I could not nail it with 100% accuracy but I feel confident you have a 11.43x41 Peabody-Martini. Let me know if it measures out to 2.32" or close to it.

  14. #14
    Boolit Man
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    Quote Originally Posted by Tar Heel View Post
    Problems:
    1. Factory cartridges in-hand seldom match factory spec dimensions. Look at a fired .38-40 or .44-40 case and compare it to a factory fresh case and you will see what I mean.
    2. Manufacturing variations in the mid 19th century were immense, especially regarding ammunition.
    3. Original cartridge cases hold much greater volume than modern cartridge cases (Balloon head cases for example) so a volumetric measurement is pretty much misleading assuming this cartridge was still manufactured.
    4. No observable headstamp.

    I am going to give you a list of cartridges it may be and then I will take a stab at which one it is. I am going to guess. You have one more measurement you can take too. What is the overall length of the cartridge? I will provide the C.O.A.L. of my list and you can get the closest.

    43 Dutch Beaumont M71/78 at 2.54" OAL
    11x52R Netherlands Beuamont aka 43 Dutch Beaumont at 2.54" OAL
    11.43x50R Egyptian Remington at 2.73" OAL
    11.43x41 Peabody-Martini at 2.32" OAL

    My swag is the Peabody-Martini.
    The Handloaders Manual of Cartridge Conversions, John J. Donnelly, 1987 Stoeger Publishing Co, p983

    Given the preponderance of the Martini rifles in the same era, it is therefore most probable this is one of those cartridges.

    Unfortunately it is almost always impossible to match up measurements precisely with what "should be" the measurements of a specific cartridge. One in particular that is still aggravating the heck out of me is a cartridge I recovered in a shipwreck named "City of Houston" which is off the NC coast. She sank on 10/23/1878 so the 44 caliber cartridge should be pretty easy to identify. I simply tell folks it's most likely a 44 Russian. That's the closest I can get with the measurements. I say that with 75% assurance.

    The most reliable measurements are the actual case length, rim diameter, and neck length. The Shoulder Length is hard to measure but we know it's small, not a long shoulder. The Length to Shoulder (J) can change upon firing the cartridge. Again, look at a .38-40 case.

    Sorry I could not nail it with 100% accuracy but I feel confident you have a 11.43x41 Peabody-Martini. Let me know if it measures out to 2.32" or close to it.
    Thanks again Tar Heel for your research…just measured oal at 2.38”. I think you may be onto something!


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Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check