Library

.465 H&H Magnum

.351 Winchester Self Loading

11.15x60Rmm Mauser (aka 11mm Mauser)

.400 Holland & Holland Magnum

Before the end of the Civil War, the muzzle loading rifle had seen its peak of military usefulness. Metallic cartridges were able to be shot at a faster and more reliable rate. Troops, on both sides, were using breach loading and repeating rifles with devastating results. After the war the U.S. Military had a large surplus of the Springfield rifled musket. So, Colonel Hiram Berdan developed a conversion system for these rifles and while the U.S. military never adapted them Spain, Russia and other European powers did. The .58 U.S. Musket & the .58 U.S. Carbine (Berdan) were released in 1869 for use in the Berdan breech loading conversion of the Springfield rifle.

Introduced in 2003 the .243 WSSM is a high velocity round designed to produce high levels of energy. The parent cartridge is the .300 Winchester Short Magnum and is shortened and necked down for the .243 diameter bullet. The short fat design of the cartridge allows for a more uniform and efficient burning of propellant powder than other cartridges. The maximum working pressure of the .243 WSSM (65,000 PSI) did not improve the ballistic performance of the original .243 Winchester (60,000 PSI), as their ballistics are considered identical.

In 2006 rumors of the .17 Remington Fireball circulated within the industry and the introduction came in 2007. The offspring of the .221 Remington Fireball, this micro caliber offers a lot of bang for the buck. While slightly slower than the .17 Remington (4040 fps.), the Fireball is able to produce similar velocities with less powder, which reduces bore fouling. The effective range is 300-400 yards, but I have read post of shots out to 500 yards.

Founded in 1812 by William Westley Richards this 200 year plus company is credited with great designs in both military and sporting good firearms. These accomplishment include the development of solid drawn brass, the monkey–tail breech loading rifle, Anson & Deeley hammerless gun, the hand detachable lock action, single selective trigger, forend ejector mechanism, and model ‘C’ doll’s head fastener with snap action lever work.

Introduced in 1869 by Sharps for their model 1869 Sharps rifle, this was one of the earliest center fire cartridges to be offered. It quickly became very popular and was used in the commercial hunting of the American Buffalo and for target shooting. Most of the Bison hunting occurred between 1871 – 1884 and .44 and .50 calibers were used extensively until 1873, when .45 calibers became popular.  

The 10.6x25mmR German Ordnance revolver was designed, by committee, to replace the single shot pistol used at the time. At the time of its development, the American and British militaries consider a hand gun as an offensive weapon, while the Germans didn’t. They sparingly issued handguns to enlisted personnel and officers usually purchase what they wanted. They consider the handgun as a last-ditch weapon.