early .33 WCF loadings

KWK · Post by **KWK** » Sat Mar 08, 2008 5:41 pm

Whelen's 1918 book says the .33 WCF was 200 gn at 2056 fps, not the 2200 fps often stated for this round. Does anyone here have an old Winchester catalog, circa 1903, showing what the factory was claiming for the early loads?

Leverluver · Post by **Leverluver** » Sat Mar 08, 2008 5:59 pm

Don't have the catalog but I've seen similar numbers quoted. The earliest smokeless rounds were tame by today's standards (velocity, maybe not pressure). When the 30-30 first arrived, velocity was in the 1900s. No where near the 2100+ of today.

Sixgun · Post by **Sixgun** » Sat Mar 08, 2008 6:43 pm

Yes, I do have the catalog (reprint) but I could not find it! Figures, such is life.

I can do better than that as I have chronographed original Peters ammo from the 1930's and it averaged 2140 @ 55 degrees according to my notes. The handload that I use to duplicate factory velocity is 44 grains of IMR 4895 and that load averages 2160 @ 40 degrees. Its slightly warm so be careful. I keep it that way because its my elk load that I use, usually at 10-20 degrees. My usual load when I just NEED to shoot the old '86 in the summer is 42 gr. of IMR 4895 which averages 2050 @ 60 degrees.

My rifle is the standard 24" barrel.--------------Sixgun

KWK · Post by **KWK** » Sat Mar 08, 2008 7:34 pm

Thanks for the info. I'd remembered reading elsewhere the early .30 WCF loads were no where near what the factories claim today, and for that reason I could believe Whelen's number. That 2150 or so Sixgun has found in practice seems right as well, for Sharpe was listing that range as the old (circa 1950) SAAMI reference load. I imagine advances in powders made it all possible. It makes me wonder what sort of pressures the original Krag military rounds were running at; it was faster than some of the later sporting rounds.

Sixgun · Post by **Sixgun** » Sat Mar 08, 2008 8:42 pm

Don't know about original 30-30 or Krag loads but I do have a mess of it around. I'll shoot 'em up and chrono them and post it sometime in the near future. The old 30 WCF's I have are 165 gr.------------Sixgun

3855 · Post by **3855** » Sat Mar 08, 2008 10:16 pm

I can't seem to find a an early 1900's catalog just now either. However, a reprint of the 1920 catalog lists the 200 grain bullet at 2050 fps.